Article: Holiday Office Parties in Washington, D.C., Area Lack Punch.

By Donna De Marco, The Washington Times Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Dec. 13--Companies are still holding holiday parties this year but are toning them down.

Bosses are opening up their homes to their employees. Lobbies and conference rooms are turning into festive locations -- all in an effort to ring in the holiday season, despite a weakened economy, the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the war on terrorism.

"The big splashy parties are not happening," said Susan Lacz Niemann of Ridgewells Caterers in Bethesda. "It's back to the basics."

Three out of four employers will host holiday parties for their employees ...

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