Holiday Cheer – November 2024

Whether one is a seasoned planning pro or a amateur wanting to adopt a few new fancy tricks this holiday season, Strictly Business’ Company Celebration Checklist and suggestions for Elevated Hosting can help anyone at any skill level shape his/her dream event, an event sure to be overflowing with holiday cheer!

The following tips and tricks aren’t meant to add to one’s already busy holiday schedule, rather these suggestions can be utilized to help one prioritize holiday planning and step into the holiday mindset now, so one can enjoy the relaxation and camaraderie of the holidays to its full extent later. Decorate early; ask, shop and budget early for gifts; make a meal plan and cooking timeline; set the guest list; embrace the chaos by setting an Ugly Sweater theme; or don’t be afraid to simply scale back! Consider adopting this holiday planning mantra, “Early is on time, and on time is late!”

Local Lincoln businesses are not only capable of ensuring one’s holiday planning happens early and efficiently, but they are also delighted to contribute to holiday festivities in any way, shape or form. Take advantage of the talent and expertise right here in Lincoln!

Sleigh Bells & Spirits to Quell

The approaching holidays definitely call for a restock of spirits–in both liquid and emotional form. Businesses should consider encouraging company morale at James Arthur Vineyards (jamesarthurvineyards.com) this holiday season. Bosses and associates alike can enjoy a warm atmosphere at 2001 West Raymond Road in Raymond, Nebraska, where wine, cider, beer, spirits and delicious grilled food items will make the holidays that much more cozy. Consider taking that feeling home to family or friends by purchasing one of James Arthur Vineyards’ pristine wines.

Since James Arthur Vineyards’ (JAV) establishment in 1996, it has hosted thousands of visitors from all over the world. Throughout the year, visitors are able to sample JAV’s wide variety of wines, stroll the grounds or sit under the covered deck by the cascading waterfall. Visitors can also count on a warm, crackling fire in the tasting room during the cold winter days, perfect for a holiday tasting!

JAV is Nebraska’s largest winery, surrounded by nearly 20 acres of grapes and supplemented by local Nebraska grape growers. JAV continues to produce award-winning wines right here in Nebraska and is built on passion, dedication and old-fashioned, hard work.

Located just north of Lincoln, JAV is an exceptional location for any special occasion, family gathering or holiday party. One can also stop by JAV’s tasting room in its From Nebraska Shop, located in the Huber Building at 8th and Q St. in the Haymarket, to check off that holiday shopping list.

Versatile Holiday Venue

From venue setup and teardown; tables, chairs and linens; event coordination, full-service catering and bar services to decoration packages, Talon Room (talonroom.com) is equipped to handle any and all holiday event needs and is perfect for holiday company celebrations. Talon Room goes above and beyond to create an unforgettable atmosphere every time! Conveniently located in downtown Lincoln, hosting company festivities doesn’t have to start nor end at the Talon Room–the possibilities are endless. As Talon Room likes to say, “We set it up, and you make it a party!”

Talon Room is more equipped than ever to execute the holiday events of its clients’ dreams. With a variety of price ranges to fit every budget and event type, Talon Room is a reliable resource for business owners, and its focus is even on corporate events–such as full-day meetings, luncheons, trainings, client appreciation events and of course, holiday parties.

With Talon Room, clients can expect to step into a world where timeless elegance intertwines with modern character. Let Talon Room’s award-winning venue and catering take entertaining clients to the next level.

Talon Room’s accommodations include: start-to-finish event management; a downtown Lincoln historic venue with a 250-guest capacity; convenient parking and hotel options; a wedding suite; a dedicated event team; tables, chairs and basic linens; venue setup and teardown; fully-integrated 65” screens; a sound system; wireless microphones; and lighting and decoration packages.

“Whether you need a venue for your wedding weekend or company gathering, the Talon Room will go above and beyond to make your event special–that’s our promise,” says Owner Matthew Rogge.

Heroic Holiday Catering

As the holiday season approaches, businesses–small and large–across Lincoln are getting ready to host their annual gatherings. These events are a great way to show appreciation, but planning them can quickly become overwhelming. That’s where Greenfield’s Café (greenfieldscafe.com) and daVinci’s (davincis.com) can help! They provide the perfect catering solutions to ensure each holiday soirée is a success with delicious food, affordable options and a stress-free experience.

When planning any holiday party, it’s important to ensure that the event goes off without a hitch. From delicious menu options to seamless service, Greenfield’s and daVinci’s offer everything one needs to keep the event stress-free and enjoyable for everyone involved!

Greenfield’s Café offers mouthwatering breakfast and brunch spreads–ideal for a morning or midday holiday celebration. Their menu features savory breakfast burritos, hearty egg casseroles, fresh salads and comforting chicken and biscuits, which are guaranteed to please the whole team or family. Whether it is a casual brunch or a more formal affair, Greenfield’s has something for every occasion.

On the other hand, daVinci’s, caters to lunchtime and evening gatherings. With their delicious gourmet pizzas, baked pasta dishes, hoagie trays and fresh salads, they offer satisfying meals that will keep everyone fueled and ready to enjoy the festivities. Their salad offerings include classics, such as Caesar and Garden salads, which are perfect as standalone options or sides to complement the heartier dishes.

“Our family has been catering for over 46 years, serving Lincoln’s families, businesses and fun events. Thank you, Lincoln, for all the wonderful times we helped you with your events,” says The Knudson Family.

Whether one is holiday planning for a meal in the break room or a more formal business dinner, Greenfield’s Café and daVinci’s provide options that are sure to impress! It’s never too early to start planning a holiday business party, so start contacting these local businesses today to let their work speak for themselves.

Wonderland-Worthy Drinks and Events

As the season of giving approaches, why not treat your associates to a night out on the town? The holiday season is the perfect time to enjoy a drink or two, or four, with some friends!

The Post (thepostlincoln.com) brings a funky and light twist on the cocktail bar experience. With a mixologist’s frame of mind, The Post creates unique syrups and puts new spins on classic drinks, offering a fresh take on the cocktail scene.

On select Sundays, The Post hosts Sunday Southern Brunch, featuring breakfast food from one of three local businesses: Lila Mae’s Southern Kitchen & Lounge, Sweet Things by Marcy and Deeply Root’d. Southern hospitality is a key part of The Post experience, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere during the hectic holiday season.

The Post invites businesses, friends and families to join in the festivities this holiday season. Special event nights are a staple, including “Motown Mondays,” where you can enjoy classic Motown hits while sipping on your favorite cocktails.

Additionally, The Post hosts a chess club every Thursday night, open to the public, and First Saturday, a monthly event showcasing local artists’ work. Community is a cornerstone of The Post, and the approaching holidays make it an even more exciting time to visit and enjoy the camaraderie.

This holiday season, schedule a Holiday Cocktail Party at The Post! Our trained mixologists will teach you and your guests how to make three festive holiday cocktails while you celebrate with coworkers and friends.

Join us at The Post this holiday season and make unforgettable memories with friends and family!

Now, one might not be the CEO of a company, but one can certainly be the CEO of the house! Take initiative and take this season’s holiday hosting to the next level.

Host-Worthy Hair

Who doesn’t want to look their best during the holidays, especially if one is the host or hostess of the occasion? The holiday season means catching up with friends, visiting distant family and mailing holiday cards. It is vital that one looks and feels their best, and Drybar (drybarshops.com) can help one look fresh and fancy just in time to “deck the halls.”

Named one of the top “100 Brilliant Ideas of 2010” by Entrepreneur Magazine and New York Magazine’s Boom Brands of 2013, Drybar is based on one simple concept, blowouts. The idea was a natural one for curly-haired, Drybar Founder Alli Webb, a longtime professional stylist, who constantly found herself overpaying for blowouts at traditional salons. Those hosting for the holidays can rely on Drybar for a reasonably-priced ‘do that will make one want to perform an Ariel hair flip.

Today, Drybar’s growing product line, created specifically for achieving the perfect blowout, is sold through Drybar franchise shops, Sephora, Nordstrom, Ulta, Macy’s and online. No matter the location, DryBar and its products mission are to provide happiness, confidence and empowerment to people of all hair types.

“At Drybar, our philosophy is simple, focus on one thing and be the best at it!” says Owner Julie Rhule. “For us, that’s blowouts. With that purpose in mind, we are focused on providing the best professional quality beauty products, tools and services to create and maintain the perfect blowout for all individual hair types, so anyone can look amazing while they host this holiday season.”

Holiday Ice

One should make it a priority to dazzle this holiday season, particularly if one is planning on hosting! Luckily, Sartor Hamann Jewelers (sartorhamann.com) can help one look absolutely sparkling just in time for the “most wonderful time of the year.”
Since 1905, Sartor Hamann Jewelers has been the place where Lincolnites go for the finest jewelry. Sartor Hamann Jewelers was Lincoln’s first fine jeweler, and now, as a fourth-generation, family-owned and operated company, it is service driven and known for its cutting-edge style, fashion and innovation.

Sartor Hamann Jewelers carries stunning engagement and fashion jewelry collections from top designers, exceptional diamonds, dazzling gemstones and fine Swiss watches. Sartor Hamann Jewelers’ friendly, highly trained and certified staff is there to help anyone make their jewelry dreams come true, which is perfect for this holiday season’s gift exchanges.

The Sartor Hamann experience is truly unique and is one of the reasons it has been voted “Best of Lincoln” and “Lincoln’s Choice Jeweler” for decades. It has served generations of families for over 100 years and treats its customers as friends. Sartor Hamann Jewelers invites clients to browse its gift guide on the website and stop in to any of its three showrooms, so the team can welcome clients to the Sartor Hamann family!

“At Sartor Hamann Jewelers, we pride ourselves on providing a truly unique shopping experience unlike any other,” says Sartor Hamann South Pointe Assistant Manager Sarah V. “We offer an exquisite collection of one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces that you simply won’t find at big box stores. We understand that selecting the perfect gift for your loved ones is about much more than just the item itself—it’s about the meaning behind it. That’s why we offer personalized service to each and every customer.”

Make a loved one’s holiday one to remember with a dazzling new piece of jewelry from Sartor Hamann Jewelers.

Heavenly Holiday Goodies

Santa Clause and the little ones he visits have one thing in common…a love for cookies! Treat the kids–or the parents–to the most delectable taste bud experience this holiday season with a goodie from Sweet Things by Marcy (sweetthingsbymarcy.com).

Sweet Things by Marcy offers an exceptional dessert experience that captures the essence of Southern culinary traditions. Founded by Marcy Haas in October 2020, Sweet Things has evolved from a cozy home-based operation to a brick and mortar building downtown Lincoln at 1413 N Street (formerly the Korn Popper/Colby Ridge building), responding to the soaring demand for its authentic Southern desserts.

However, Sweet Things’ delectable treats don’t ever lose that homemade taste and feel, which is ideal for the upcoming holiday season, especially if one is trying to redeem oneself from a previous holiday baking disaster. It is rare one is able to live such a thing down, but Sweet Things by Marcy can certainly help!

Marcy’s Alabama roots inspire all Sweet Things creations, including banana pudding, peach cobbler, Kentucky butter cake and sweet potato pie, perfect for uncovering holiday nostalgia or teaching the younger generations what true comfort food tastes like. Sweet Things takes pride in using only the finest ingredients, ensuring each dessert is a masterpiece of flavor and quality. Now, that’s the kind of goodies every holiday host needs on the table.

What more is to be said? Sweet Things by Marcy is a must for any holiday gathering or event!

‘Tis the Season for Tailored Party Buses

Everybody has a childhood memory of that one sparkling tree, holiday dessert or house with the best play room at a family function that just made it the best night, right? BE that host, be that holiday memory with Tailored Dreams. Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses (tailoreddreamslimousines.com) goes all out every time, providing the perfect opportunity to host the most memorable holiday gathering any family member has ever seen!

In 2012, Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses started with just one limousine. They have since grown into a fleet of party buses of various themes, offering countless holiday memories to the Lincoln, Omaha and nearby communities–whether it be for a holiday wedding, family Christmas or just a fun night out with friends!

“Tailored Dreams has been privileged to offer party bus services to the Lincoln and surrounding communities for 12 years,” shared the Tailored Dreams team. “We look forward to being able to continue providing you with the service to make your party bus activities a success!”

Tailored Dreams Limousines and Party Buses’ reputation for delivering a great holiday time has spread. According to one of their recent clients, the Tailored Dreams experience is unmatched; “We just wanted to extend a huge thank you for making our party bus experience so phenomenal. The chauffeur was amazing, and the experience was nothing short of a blast. They kept the party bumping when we couldn’t decide on music and kept everyone having a great time.”

Tailored Dreams is ready to help Lincolnites become the most sought after host and hostesses of the year!

Master the Holiday “Game”

Sun Valley Lanes & Games (sunvalleylanes.com) helps alleviate the responsibility and stress of holiday hosting. The Sun Valley Lanes team does all the work! During the holiday season, to-dos can slip through the cracks, but with Sun Valley Lanes & Games, it’s as easy as choosing a date and arriving for fun! With a multitude of activities to choose from, family members of all ages will be entertained at Sun Valley Lanes & Games.

Sun Valley Lanes has helped those hosting for the holidays for almost half a decade now and encourages its customers to get the ball rolling now. Don’t wait until the last minute to make plans. By then, it’s a struggle to find a date that works for everyone and a rush to get it done, so it’s never too early. During the holidays, it’s become the norm to cram the whole family in one home or a space that is simply too small for the wear and tear of kids. What better way to help the kids expend some energy than Sun Valley Lanes & Games bowling or laser tag! Both the host and host’s furniture will benefit!

“At Sun Valley Lanes & Games, we are fortunate to be in the business of fun,” says Sun Valley Lanes & Games Event Coordinator Jen Miseno. “It is our job to help people enjoy themselves, and that starts when your family walks in the door. We’ll be ready to give you an exciting holiday environment.”

Sun Valley Lanes’ modern facilities, including 32 top-notch bowling lanes, each outfitted with state-of-the-art Hyper Bowling technology, a massive 175-feet wide Neoverse video wall and an expansive redemption arcade are sure to elevate one’s hosting. Between Sun Valley Lanes & Games’ laser tag, Lucky Putt indoor mini-golf course, sand volleyball courts, outdoor green space, corn hole and fire pits and spacious bar and grill, families will be begging their host to host year after year!

Cheerful Cleaning

Who’s hosting for the holidays? Now, who’s confident their home is ready for extended family members’ eyes? Right… Don’t be embarrassed; look no further than Phino Cleaning Services (phinocleaning.com)!

With five plus years of experience serving the Lincoln community, Phino Cleaning Services prides itself on its commitment to transparency, honesty and quality of service. Phino’s team of professionals is dedicated to providing its clients with the best possible cleaning experience, and they stand behind their work with a satisfaction guarantee.

Phino Cleaning Services is providing exclusive holiday offers including, a discount and promotion for loyal clients, free consultation for new clients, holiday themed cleaning packages and partnerships with local businesses for co-promotional opportunities. Whether one needs a one-time cleaning or regular service, Phino is prepared, making Phino perfect for both pre-party and post-holiday part cleanup. Holiday host and hostesses deserve to fully enjoy holiday break, so don’t lift a finger; call Phino Cleaning Services!

The holiday season is the time of year to reflect, be grateful and give to others. On this note, Phino Cleaning Services has an additional, exclusive holiday offer where one can donate cleaning services to a local non-profit or charity. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, and Phino Cleaning Services can help gift the blessing of a stress-free holiday season. Even the smallest donation can mean the world to a neighbor. In addition to Phino’s cleaning services, donations can even provide friends or loved ones with a personalized holiday cleaning consultation and checklist.

Whether used as a resource or donation, Phino Cleaning Services is essential to consider this fast-approaching holiday season, especially those planning to host!

Post-Celebration Carpet Cleaning

Hosting is flooring and carpet’s worst nightmare. From sugary holiday sweets and drinks, to rowdy children and pets, carpets take the worst of it during the holidays. Treat the house to a revival with PureCare Carpet (purecarecarpet.com).

PureCare Carpet Lincoln’s Dry Carpet Cleaning and Service provides the environmentally-friendly, all-over clean its customers expect. PureCare Carpet’s values are centered on creating a meaningful relationship with customers, providing top-notch service and upholding its status as not just the greenest, but also the cleanest!

From PureCare Carpet’s employees to its customers, creating a family environment is one of the most important aspects of its mission. PureCare Carpet believes it should know its industry better than anyone. Only then can it pass its knowledge along to both customers and employees.

PureCare Carpet follows a “never stop learning” philosophy and loves sharing what it knows to help make Lincoln’s homes and businesses cleaner. PureCare’s best processes came about through years of experience and expertise in the market. Those processes ensure quality, detailed service every single time. That’s PureCare’s promise.

PureCare Carpet won’t run from a difficult job. In fact, it believes that accepting challenges creates an opportunity to improve. This is music to any holiday host or hostess’ ears! Being customer obsessed is the basis of PureCare’s services. PureCare communicates with transparency and honesty and is always willing to go the extra mile for its customers.

“Our continued success from one generation to the next can be attributed to the Schlisner family’s tradition of integrity, providing the highest quality carpet care possible on every job,” says PureCare Carpet Co-owner Cory Schlisner. “Let us prove it to you this holiday season!”

Holiday Entertainment

Holiday break seems to go by too fast for students but feel like decades for parents. If this is the case, get the kids out of the house to The Nebraska Communities Playhouse (neplayhouse.com). Kids can enjoy some holiday entertainment, and parents can enjoy a day of less chaos, especially if the house needs tidying for holiday hosting!

The Nebraska Communities Playhouse (NCP) strives to enhance the quality of life in the southeast Nebraska communities that it serves by providing quality theatrical and other performing arts experiences to local audiences and patrons from across Nebraska and the greater Midwest.

NCP knows that seeing isn’t the only the thing that will entertain your kids this holiday season, which is why they also provide the youth program the Y.A.C.H.T Club—Young Artists Collective-Hickman Theater. Y.A.C.H.T exists to provide opportunities for area youth to engage in a variety of artistic disciplines and participate in live theatrical performances. Their monthly workshops are for ages seven to 17 and meet every second Saturday of the month for 10 months! It’s $30 per workshop, or $250 per year!

So much has happened with NCP lately and they cannot wait to share it with you! Their team has been practicing their performance of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas which is set to premier on December 6-8 and 12-15. Tickets are available at neplayhouse.com or by phone at (402) 792-8882 and they can’t wait to see you there!

“The holiday season is a magical time in the theater and The Nebraska Communities Playhouse is no different,” says NCP Events Coordinator Gina Boe. “Between our performances of White Christmas and gearing up for the launch of our 2025 season and our new youth program, we provide several ways to celebrate the season. We have gift certificates for the theater lover in your life, and a performance of White Christmas is a perfect way to gather with family and friends!”

Adhere to Strictly Business’ Company Celebration Checklist and suggestions for Elevated Hosting to create a holiday event that will be remembered by associates or family members for the next decade!