2014 Spring Auction Preview
Thanks to everyone who participated in the 2014 Spring Auction. Thanks especially to our chair, Koren Manning, for her hard work. This year we raised $12,000 toward our congregation’s mission – $2,000 above the budget. Below is a partial list of donations. Start planning for next year!
Getaways:
Summer Week in White Mountains of New Hampshire
Rustic condo in North Conway, NH with private bath and full kitchen sleeps 6-8 people. Great for families. Guests must provide own sheets, blankets, towels. The lodge has a common room with cable TV/DVD and comfortable furniture for use by all guests. It is convenient to skiing, shopping, golfing, hiking and many of central New Hampshire’s great family attractions.
Donated by: Lee Pardee
Week at the Jersey Shore
June 23-30, 2014
Enjoy a week in Ocean Grove in Peter Norling and Barbara Dildine’s elegant three-story, four bedroom Victorian home with a wrap-around porch. This historic community was founded in 1860’s as a Methodist retreat. (It’s still a dry town but you can BYOB to restaurants and the principal form of recreation is drinking wine on one’s porch; the beach on Sunday does not open until around noon but we have passes for the adjoining town’s beach, which starts where we enter our beach.) The town is on the National Registry of Historic Places and almost all of the houses are Victorian or in a Victorian style. The house is a ten-minute walk to the beach; badges provided. Sleeps 7-9. Bidding open to Church members only.
Donated by: Peter Norling and Barbara Dildine
Long Weekend on Fire Island
July 24-28, 2014
Grab some friends and spend a long weekend in this lovely home in Saltaire. Sleeps 8 in four bedrooms.
Donated by: Carolyn Ellis and Lake Wise
Long weekend at the “Happy House” in the Catskills
3-day weekend in May, June or July (except 4th of July weekend)
Rustic charm in the Catskills! Get away from the city and enjoy the laid-back country life! Enjoy nearby hiking, biking at the Ashokan Reservoir, antiquing in Phoenicia, and more!. Or just hang out on this gorgeous property and lounge by the pool! Sleeps 7 (12 with sleeping bags)
Donated by: Catalina Bertani
Two Nights at the Stockbridge Ramsdell House Bed & Breakfast in Newburgh
The Stockbridge Ramsdell House on Hudson, a graceful Queen Anne Victorian, is located in the beautiful historic district of Newburgh New York. We are approximately 55 miles from Manhattan and accessible by public transportation via MetroNorth to Beacon. From the Beacon train station you can take a ferry or taxi to Newburgh. Your stay will include a full breakfast with fruit and juice, homemade baked goods, and hot entrée with side dishes. Coffee and tea are available at all times upon request. In season, breakfast is served on our cheerful sun porch overlooking the Hudson River. In colder weather enjoy breakfast in front of the fire in our formal dining room. Within walking distance of the Newburgh Marina which features a variety of restaurants, spa, wine shop, and independent movie theater. We are minutes away from Storm King Art Center, West Point, and other attractions.
Donated by: Nancy Russell
Dinners and other Events:
Summer Sicilian Cuisine and Rooftop Dining
Saturday, June 14, 2014 7:30pm
Join Bill and Lila for a sumptuous summer Sicilian dinner and wine on their roof deck in Brooklyn (up 4 flights of stairs). We’ll all make-believe we’re in Sicily, but instead of viewing the blue Mediterranean sea, we’ll enjoy lower Manhattan, the Freedom Tower and more, while capturing the splendid flavors of Sicilian cuisine.
Seats: 6
Donated by: Lila and Bill Locurto
Restaurant Lisanne Revisited
Saturday, July 12, 2014, 6:30pm
Before Betty Bakery arrived on Atlantic Avenue, there was a Classic French Continental Restaurant named for Lissa and Susanne Wolfe, Restaurant Lisanne. Lissa will recreate the Bouillabaisse that made Manhattan foodies come to Brooklyn. This epicurean extravaganza includes canape hors d’oeurves preceding the summer fish stew, a salad palate cleanser, and a fruit tart to finish.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Lissa Wolfe and Scott Steib
Late Summer Sangria Party
Saturday, August 2, 2014, 7pm
Join us for an enchanting evening of sangria and tapas in Stephanie’s lush backyard in Clinton Hill.
Seats: 10
Donated by: Stephanie Gannon and Koren Manning
Fried Chicken Dinner
Saturday, September 6, 6:30PM
Southern fried chicken and spoon bread in the backyard. Iced tea and lemonade will be provided. Bring a bottle of wine or beer to share. Lots of vegetarian sides available.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Garnett Losak
Summer Garden Dinner
Sunday, September 7, 5:00PM
Enjoy the bounty of the Alcoff’s garden at this summer dinner party! Tomatoes, peppers, and other fruits of the summer harvest will be ripe and bursting with flavor. Enjoy a leisurely dinner in their backyard in Victorian Flatbush
Seats: 6
Donated by: Mariasara and Mike Alcoff
Greek Dinner Party
Saturday, September 13, 2014, 6:30pm
Yasou! A festive Greek-themed evening of dinner with wine, at the home (and garden, weather permitting) of Roger Cooper and Samira Kawash. North Park Slope.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Samira Kawash and Roger Cooper
Brooklyn Heights Brunch
Sunday, September 21, 2014, 1pm
Stroll next door to the home of Langdon and Mark Holloway after church for a special brunch featuring Asian flavors.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Mark and Langdon Holloway
Spanish Tapas Dinner Party
Saturday, October 25, 2014
¡Olé! Rick, Lyuba and Louie are opening their home (hopefully fully renovated by then!) for another fabulous dinner party. We return to our original theme of Spanish cuisine, including paella and tapas, with a mix of meat, fish and select vegetarian items, plus musical entertainment.
Seats: 10
Donated by: Rick Bruner
Tex-Mex Chili Tree Trimming Party
December 2014
Eat, drink and be merry at Mary Most and family’s annual tree-trimming party in December. Enjoy our award-winning 2-Alarm ‘Bite of the Rattler’ Authentic Tex-Mex Chili Con Carne (no beans), and, back by popular demand, a batch of “Lick of the Armadillo” all-bean no-sodium fat-free false-alarm chili.
Donated by: Mary Most
Elegant Afternoon Tea
Sunday, January 11, 2015
Enjoy sweets and savories at this elegant afternoon tea – a lovely way to relax on a winter afternoon after the holidays.
Seats: 6
Donated by: Lee Pardee
Unique Experiences:
Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” at Carnegie Hall
Tuesday, May 20, 8pm
Don’t miss this chance to hear one of New York’s premier Choral groups perform Bach’s beloved “St Matthew Passion”. If you ever attended a FIRST UU Good Friday Service, you are already very familiar with at least one of its amazing chorals. This work features two choirs singing together with soloists and orchestra. Listening to its entirety brings one into a spiritual place.
Seats: 2
Donated by: Florie Maynard
Picnic for outdoor movie
Summer movies in Bryant Park or Brooklyn Bridge Park are awesome! Dave Garvoille will pack you a dinner basket with wine and secure a spot for you to sit and enjoy the film. You choose the park and the movie.
Seats: 5
Donated by: Dave Garvoille
Picnic for NY Philharmonic concert in Prospect Park
Wednesday, July 9, Concert at 8; Basket delivered to you at park entrance at 7pm
Enjoy a delectable picnic for two while taking in the annual Philharmonic concert in Prospect Park. Your hearty vegetarian picnic will include salads, frittata, cheese, bread, a sweet treat, and (shhh) a discreet bottle of chilled wine. All you have to do is BYO blanket.
Donated by: First U TNT’s
Custom tour of the American Museum of Natural History (children welcome!)
Spend a weekend afternoon with the wonderful Arlene Katz, AMNH-certified tour guide. Visit any hall you like or a “highlights” tour of the museum. Includes free entry into the museum and planetarium. Mutually agreeable date to be determined.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Dave Garvoille
A Day at the Races
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Spend the afternoon at Belmont Races. We will leave right after church to the track and provide programs, lunch, box seats, $10 to prime their betting and sage advice on the Ponies. We guarantee that you cannot lose more than you bet.
Seats: 6
Donated by: Sharon and Tom Kennedy
Literary Brooklyn Walking Tour
Saturday, July 12th, 2-5pm
Some claim that Brooklyn is THE place for writers in America. Others argue that the borough is overrated and literary community isn’t what it used to be. Join me for a quirky walking tour of literary sites in Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, and vicinity. I’ll tell stories and do short readings. We’ll end the tour with a drink to continue the conversation. As an added enticement, all participants will receive a free book by a Brooklyn-based author!
Seats: 12
Donated by: Stephanie Gannon
Learn Something New:
Bridge lessons
2 lessons – one in Bay Ridge and a second in Ditmas Park. First lesson on Friday, June 6th from 7:00-9:00PM. Second lesson to be scheduled with the group. We will have a quick overview of the game and then break into groups of four for practice play. Beginners welcome. Lessons include coffee, tea, wine and a delicious dessert.
Seats: 6
Donated by: Garnett Losak and Mike Alcoff
Roller Skating Lessons & Fun!
Join Meagan Henry for two hours of roller skating at the Lakeside outdoor skate rink in Prospect Park. Meagan will offer basic lessons for beginners. She will demonstrate how to do cross-overs and teach how to correctly fall and stop on skates. Proper protective gear is highly recommended: knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and a helmet.
Seats: 8
Donated by: Meagan Henry
Knitting and Crochet Lessons
Saturday, May 17, 2pm
A lesson in knitting and crochet to be held at First Unitarian
Seats: 4
Donated by: Mi Puchon
Candy making workshop
Saturday, November 9, 2-4 pm
Caramel-palooza with Samira Kawash, nationally renowned candy expert and author of Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure. You’ll learn how to make tender chewy caramel candy, a delicious treat like no other. While the candy is cooling, you’ll head back to the stove to whip up some delicious caramel-fudge sauce to drizzle over cake or ice cream. You’ll take home plenty of goodies, plus recipes so you can make more for your friends and family. Perfect for holiday gifts!
Seats: 4
Donated by: Samira Kawash
Special Services:
Sermon topic
You choose the topic, Rev. Ana delivers the sermon!
Donated by: Ana Levy-Lyons
Private Coaching Session in Presentation Skills
Learn to master your fears and correct your “unhelpful” habits when speaking in front of a group. In this 60-90 minute private coaching session, you’ll learn a lot in a relaxed, safe environment. We’ll use video for maximum “fun and feedback”. This session is appropriate for everyone from beginners to seasoned professionals who want to take their skills to the next level. Jeff Levy-Lyons (husband of Rev. Ana) has been teaching presentation skills for over two decades. He’s worked with people in the largest corporations in the country as well as with many faith-based groups. (Value: $1,600)
Donated by: Jeff Levy-Lyons
Biweekly Local Organic Vegetable Share
Enjoy farm-fresh tomatoes, peppers, kale, potatoes, squash and more through the summer and fall season! This biweekly vegetable share from Sweet Pea CSA delivers produce straight from Long Island to First Unitarian. Pickups are every other Wednesday from June-November (12 weeks). You can also apply this to a full (weekly) vegetable share, and/or add on other items such as eggs, fruit, and flowers. ($325 Value)
Donated by: Garden of Eve Farm and Sweet Pea CSA
Performance at event of your choice
Let the Unitones provide musical entertainment at your party or special event! (Date subject to group availability – please coordinate in advance with Bob Bero.)
Donated by: Unitones
Sweet treats of your choice
Let Melissa Paul provide the baked goods for your next birthday party, brunch, potluck or other gathering! Options include (but are not limited to): Cakes, Cupcakes, Bars, Scones, Muffins, Biscotti, Cheesecakes
Donated by: Melissa Paul
Garden Consultation
Dave Garvoille will help you design a container garden that will give your stoop, fire-escape, patio or roof some pizzazz. Design consult will include auditing your current space and growing conditions, access to water, and your budget. Then we’ll go together to a garden center of your choice and load up on everything you’ll need. Winner is responsible for all purchases of plants and other supplies.
Donated by: David Garvoille
Women’s style consultation
1-2 hour style consultation consisting of a lifestyle, color, body silhouette, and personal style analysis by Carin Boyer. You will receive a color palette and wardrobe recommendations as the result. (Value: $300)
Donated by: Carin Boyer
