What do you give as a congratulatory gift to friends who are opening a restaurant on opening night?
473112
I think a great "congratulatory gift" if you can swing it..would be to show up at their restaurant with a group of 20 people (reservations of course) in tow..all hungry and thirsty!\n\nor... a reservation for your companies Holiday party!\n\nor... show up once a week with a different group of friends who have not been there yet. \n\nor.... if you are looking for something more.."gifty" what about an ad in the paper congratulating them on achieving their dream? \n\nor a shadow box with mounting and an engraved plate the date for their first dollar bill to be displayed in? (mr. krabs would love that!\n\ngood luck to your friends!
601114
Bring them a present or invite them over for dinner every now and then to thank them for letting your family use their pool
854338
give them a hand made gift certificate good for one year. my hubby gives me like five free car starts which means any time i present a coupon he has to get out of bed and go start my car in the winter. I do several other things as well but you get the idea.
869361
Open a bag of Doritoes.\nI guarentee it will spread love and joy.
701297
Make a list of famous things:  books, movies, celebrities, TV shows, etc...Write each thing you think of on a label and as your guest arrive you give each one a label.  One person is in charge of the handouts and places the label on the person's back so they can't see it but everyone else can.  The person who has the label has to ask yes or no questions of everyone else and try to guess whose name they have.  When they guess correctly they return to the person handing out labels and get a new one.  At the end of the evening I usually give a small prize ($5 or so) to the person with the most correct guesses.  \n\nThis is a good ice breaker if a lot of your guests don't know each other.  It works best with a larger group.
712478
Broadway tickets are nice (along with a dinner out). Buy them a nice souvenir of NYC that isnt gaudy for them to display when they return home. A silver picture frame or a box of goumet foods and/or chocolates are other ideas.
685224
Greet them if possible in there local language. Ask them how are they and what notes they would like to have. Help them in any other products.
1047686
anything that you want to give to your friend.
197362
A night out on the town with your family and friends. one that they will all remember good luck
905332
Gifts\nGift giving is very important both business and personal situations \nStyle is everything. The gift itself is of little importance, the ceremony surrounding it is what matters. \nAlways wrap gifts. And choose the paper carefully, don’t give anything wrapped in white as it symbolizes death. Don’t use bright colours or bows to wrap the gift either. It is better to have the place you bought the gift to warp it to ensure that it is appropriate. \nGive your host some warning during the evening that you intend to give them a present. Don’t surprise your host. \nGive the gift with both hands and accept gifts with both hands. \nGenerally, gifts will not be opened while you are there. If your host insist that you open the gift they have given you, do so carefully. They take pride in gift wrapping, show that you appreciate the effort. \nDo not give gifts in odd numbers or the number four, odd numbers are bad luck and four sounds like the word for death in Japanese. \nGifts should be given at the end of a visit. \nDo not admire anything belonging to your host too closely. The Japanese love to please so you may end up taking it home as a gift. \nGood gift ideas are top choice beef, fruit and alcohol such as brandy, quality whiskey and wine \n\nGestures\nAvoid using large hand gestures, unusual facial expressions and any dramatic movements. The Japanese do not talk with their hands and to do so could distract your host. \nThe "OK" sign; in Japan it means money. Avoid using it \nDon’t point …or blow your nose in public \nDon’t crowd people or stand too close. Because the Japanese live in such a densely populated area, they value their personal space. \nA smile can have double meaning. It can express either joy or displeasure. Use caution with your facial expressions. They can be easily misunderstood. \n\n\nWhen meeting anyone in a business environment for the first time, it is customary to exchange "meishi" (business cards). You  should always present yours to the receiver using both hands to hold onto the corners as you pass it forward, stating your name and company as you do so. On receiving a person's meishi, accept it with both hands and then study carefully what is written on it. Very often business cards will have Japanese on one side and English on the reverse, so you should be able to understand what is written. If you are in a formal situation, it is proper to place the meishi face up on the table in front of you and refer to it as necessary. If it is in a less formal setting you may put the meishi away after looking at it, but please ensure to put it somewhere suitable. Just dropping it into a pocket maybe seen as rude.\n\nWhen visiting the office of a business associate, you will probably be shown into a meeting room and asked to wait. Most meeting rooms will consist of four or more chairs set around a table. As the honored guest it is important that you take the seat furthest from the door (although that maybe modified if it is a big conference style room) and you should stand up and bow or shakes hands when someone comes in the room. When receiving guests you would reverse the process, with you sitting on the side closest to the door, with the senior member of your party furthest from the door on your side. This "furthest from the door" approach also applies in most other situations, including restaurants, bars, taxis etc etc.\n\nWithin your own office life can be somewhat more relaxed although a certain amount of ceremony, involving lots of bowing and scurrying around, will be observed when senior managers are present. Generally though a nod of recognition is fine for those you work with, perhaps together with a comment on the weather or a similar subject. On arriving at your office in the morning a loudly spoken "ohaiyo gozaimasu" or "Good morning" should suffice with an equally loud "osaki ni shitsure shimasu" (literally "excuse my rudene
273622
it depends on how many people are coming! if its a small group, then they will most likely expect you to open them. if there are 30+ people, they might cut you some slack.\nI went to a bridal shower where the bride didnt open her gifts, and nobody really cared. she wrote thank you notes expressing her excitement, so it was fine.\nHave lots of games to keep people busy (or suggest that to the hosts) and by the time they are done, everyone will be ready to go home rather than watch you open presents.
1068894
Go outside if it's nice where you are. \nIf not, bake something for someone nice and then bring it to them...they will be pleasantly suprised.
1132405
Take them a Happy Meal.
739765
have everyone bring a gift and just put Lady or Gentlemen on the tag. have food of course as this is primary importance and liquid refreshment. if liqueur is served have cokes or non alcoholic drinks also as some may not want alcoholic drinks then have a picture cut in two pieces one half for a lady the other half for a gentlemen when the two haves are found these two would be partners for a scavenger hunt.
158549
I don't believe that it is expected but I suppose that it wouldn't hurt. Usually, gift items from a welcome wagon are also a form of advertising for the local merchants. A thank you to the person who delivered it should suffice.
108241
Anything food that can be added to the menu or dessert.  Wine is also an apporpriate thing to bring.  If a different gift is your desire a nice vase or bowl would be acceptable, something that is out of the ordinary.  Do not be surpirsed if you do not receive a gift in return.  That is something that happens in all Orental Cultures.
182244
Have a dinner party or bar-b-que and bring all your neighbors flyers saying something like "Meet Your Neighbor".  Fouth of July would be a good day for something like that because most of the neighbors are cooking anyway.  Just have them bring something over.