We’re sad to see it go, but the summer is almost over. Now, it’s time for beautiful fall which will shortly lead to what’s sure to be another cold winter in Chicago. But we’re not letting inevitability get us down! Instead, we choose to focus on the fun side of fall and winter — holiday parties. But we get a lot of customers who come to us hoping to really spice things up. The fact is, most holiday parties suck. But yours doesn’t have to. Be the office hero, and give this list to your boss or whoever’s in charge of your holiday work party.

Here are 5 holiday work party ideas that don’t suck.

White Elephant Gift Exchange

The best part about white elephant gift exchanges are that nobody knows what to expect. Instead of picking something out for a specific person (who you may not know well enough to adequately gift), everyone who wants to participate brings something fun. It’s easy for anyone to participate – the budget is set at a low monetary amount across the board (usually $10-20). Brit.co put together a massive list of white elephant ideas if you’re running low and need inspiration.

Costume or Fancy Theme Party

If you work in a casual environment, it can be nice to dress up. One of our favorite tips on the holiday work party ideas that don’t suck list is encouraging people to dress up nice. Or wear costumes! Either way, it gives everyone the chance to see their coworkers in a new light. Bonus points if you get a photobooth – those pictures will get shared all over social media and hold a special place on people’s desks.

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Did you know that Catering by Michaels handles a wide scope of events for many prestigious schools in the Chicago area? Some of these schools include Northwestern, Columbia, Roosevelt, University of Chicago, and also K-12 schools like Niles West and Glenbrook North.

Our catering services include full service and delivery for homecoming, reunions, departmental meetings, and more.

We chatted with Shannon Sherwood and Meredyth Brook, who both work with our educational partners at Catering by Michaels, to get their insights on catering for Chicago area schools.

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Whether or not you have experience working with catering companies, it can be hard to choose the best service option for your specific event. What’s the difference between full service and delivery? Let’s break it down and take a look at each different service type and what they include. 

Here’s a quick visual summary via an infographic:

And now we’ll take a more in-depth look at each…

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Have you met David (“Dave”) Sandler? He insists that he’s a boring guy, but interviewing him led to a lot of interesting industry insights, not to mention some great suggestions regarding proper storage of cheese and how to use different types in the perfect homemade macaroni and cheese dish.

Dave Sandler is the Executive Vice President of Catering by Michaels, and has been involved with the company from a very young age. It’s pretty safe to say that working here is something that will never change!

What did you do before working at Catering by Michaels?

Honestly, I’ve worked here more or less my whole life, originally starting when I was 12. I’ve done other things, like when I went away to college (where I ran a local restaurant and bar program), but all of my jobs have been in this field. For the most part, Catering by Michaels has been my career.

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Chicago and it’s neighboring areas provide many exciting opportunities for companies looking for different ways to bring employees together – specifically, team outings. While the standard go-to may point to a White Sox outing or group day at Six Flags Great America, we challenge you to consider something a little more low key. Catering By Michaels is helping Chicagoland companies bring employees together with corporate picnics.

Here’s why corporate picnics are so much better than the aforementioned alternatives.

Food brings people together

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