A Weekend Stay for Four Guests on the St Croix River

THIS ITEM IS PART OF OUR LIVE AUCTION.

TUNE IN ON MAY 13 !

This charming 2 bedroom/2 bathroom house is yours for the weekend! Located on the beautiful St Croix River, in Lakeland, MN- just across the river from Hudson.

Sunbathe and picnic on the large dock, stroll through historic Hudson or nearby Afton, paddle the canoes, or cruise the river in the vintage Boston Whaler. You can relax while staying close to home.

Multiple sleeping arrangements give you options for your stay. Upstairs master has a double bed, downstairs bedroom has a queen and bunks.

Golf and Dinner with Monsieur le Président at Town and Country Club in St Paul

THIS ITEM IS PART OF OUR LIVE AUCTION.

TUNE IN ON MAY 13 !

If you want to feel good about your golf game, play with M. le Président! Enjoy 18 holes of golf followed by drinks and dinner with Bryn Vaaler, AFMSP Président du Conseil d'Administration, and his wife Schelly at beautiful Town & Country Club on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul. This experience is intended for two guests.

Please consider a donation in lieu of attendance.

Each year a significant part of our gala revenue comes from attendance. Every ticket includes a $75 tax-deductible donation, which directly supports AFMSP.

For the first time ever, we are hosting our gala virtually. We are excited to explore new territory, but it also comes at a cost. By moving our gala online, we will still face a significant cut to our fundraiser's income; last year, our in-person event netted over $10,000 in ticket sales alone!

Thank you for your generosity towards our organization!

Enjoy a Tasting Menu for Two at P.S. Steak !

As the name suggests, P.S. Steak was established to continue to the story of the historic space that was once the famed La Belle Vie. Chef Decamp spent 10 years at the former French restaurant; P.S. Steak is his homecoming.

This 5-course tasting menu is a comfortable yet exploratory journey of flavor, designed to evoke memorable and nostalgic culinary experiences in Minnesota. Reminisce on childhood memories and get cozy.

Sample Menu:

AMUSE
Warm Apple Cider with Aromatics of Curry

FIRST COURSE
Coconut Espuma
with Apple, Ginger, Peanuts and Lemongrass

SECOND COURSE
Smoked Sturgeon Rillette with Royal Osetra Caviar, Lingonberry and Lefse

THIRD COURSE
Roulade of Capon with Black Truffle, Chestnut Polenta and Lovage

FOURTH COURSE
Barley Koji Aged Zabuton with Pickled Dulse Seaweed, Crispy Mushrooms and
Bourbon Barrel Aged Worchestershire Sauce

DESSERT
Swedish Pancake with Flambéed Cherries and Cardamom Cream

Served Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Does not include drinks, though wine or cocktail pairing options are available. Gratuity of 20% will be added (gratuity and tax not included).

Take a culinary journey through Spain at home, or chez Pam! AFMSP Board Member Pappas Stanoch and her husband Joe Stanoch invite you to enjoy a traditional 5-course Spanish dinner for 8 people.

Start your evening sipping a traditional sangria. The feast begins with elegant salmon and asparagus tapas and Andalusian gazpacho. Be transported to Valencia with Joe's seafood paella, followed by a delicate spinach and orange salad. End the evening with Pam's Flan de Naranjas (Moorish Orange-scented Flan).

This dinner is available to be either served at Pam's home in St Louis Park, or dropped off to heat and enjoy at your own home.

You invite the guests, Pam and Joe will take care of everything else! Menu is flexible based on the preferences of the hosts.

An In-Home Burgundy Wine Tasting for 6

Join Kristin Watts, French Brand Manager for Small Lot Wine, for a tour of Bourgogne! Discover the distinct regions within one of France's most cherished wine growing areas, and hear about the stories of the people who make distinct wines in Chablis, Cotes de Beaune and Macon.

With her close relationships to the growers of the selected wines in France, Kristin looks forward to bringing you as close to the vineyard as we can be right now - and we may even have a special guest call in!

Kristin will guide you through the region while you taste:

• Domaine Paul Nicolle Chablis 'Vieilles Vignes' 2018
• Domaine Bader-Mimeur Bourgogne Rouge 'Dessous les Mues' 2017
• Domaine de la Saraziniere Macon-Bussieres 'Le Pavillon' 2018

Seize the opportunity to experience the unique privilege of a private tour of the Cycling Museum of Minnesota!

Calling all bicycle fanatics!

You could place the winning bid on a private tour for up 10 people of the Cycling Museum of Minnesota's Vault, with a wide range of bicycles from the late 19th Century to the 21st Century. As a bonus, you also get to take home a CMM sweatshirt (Any size S - XL)!

Spend a day soaking up the beauty of Minnesota with 4 VIP passes for free admission to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

Explore the gardens and the grounds, check out an exhibition in the Andersen Horticultural Library, or join a tour. With over 1,200 acres of professionally maintained gardens and trails, enjoy a beautiful day at the best botanical garden in North American (USA Today, 2019).

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum welcomes, informs and inspires all through outstanding plant displays, protected natural areas, horticultural research and innovative education. The gardens create a welcoming space to learn from and connect with nature.

Have you been thinking of redesigning your garden? Learn how to landscape with native plants with Sally Arneson-Scallon!

Sally Arneson-Scallon (AFMSP Development Director Anna's mom!) is a native landscaping enthusiast and has worked with many local non-profits to create effective rain gardens, prairies, and native gardens. She would love to meet you, help you come up with a plan for your landscaping project, and take you on a trip to her favorite native plant grower, Dragonfly Gardens in Amery, WI.

This isn't her job--it's her passion. Sally is a certified Master Water Steward.

Learn a new hobby with two gift certificates for one ten-week session of beginning Level 1 classes in Middle Eastern Dance!

Belly dancing for fun, fitness, and grace! Join women of all ages, sizes, and levels of experience to participate in the creative expression as well as the health and fitness benefits of Middle Eastern dance.

There are lots of class options; the Jawaahir and the Cassandra School runs four 10-week sessions each year, with more than 15 classes per week in Minneapolis and Bloomington.

You and a friend are invited to join AFMSP's own Dominic Zahner at the Spotter's Park of MSP Airport for an hour of observation and a picnic!

You may not be aware that Dominic Zahner, AFMSP Facilities Coordinator and Delta Airlines Flight Attendant, is also an airplane enthusiast. This childhood interest developed into a hobby for Dominic, whose grandfather was a Pan Am pilot.

Dominic will teach you the ropes (or share in your interest) of 'plane spotting', pointing out outgoing and incoming airliners at the Spotter's Park. In addition to his charisma and sense of humor, he'll also bring binoculars and a picnic.

The prime plane spotting takes place between and 6 and 8 pm, and would be best redeemed when more flights return to service.

... Depending on your bid, we might even convince former AFMSP Office Manager (and avid airplane enthusiast) Erik Blomberg to fly in from Chicago... !

Value: Priceless

Cheer on the Saint Paul Saints with two tickets to a game!

Get ready for the a wildly entertaining baseball experience! As if baseball weren't fun enough, the Saints are known for quirky promotions, like both live pig and costumed pig mascots and themes like Star Wars Night and Friday Night Fireworks.

Have a ball at CHS Field, and keep an eye out for Bill Murray! As a part-owner of the team, he makes occasional appearances at home games.

This voucher is good for two May or June tickets, but if the season starts late, they're happy to extend out the dates.

Enjoy a view from the air during this airplane ride to the Brainerd Lakes Region with Scott Stangeland!

You and another passenger will soar for two hours in a Cirrus SR22. Prepare for takeoff and please make sure your seat belt is securely fastened; this aircraft has a cruising speed of 185 mph!

Your pilot and guide for the day will be Scott Stangeland, AFMSP Board Member. With over 25 years of flying experience and a Commercial Pilot Certificate, Scott considers flight safety and passenger comfort his highest priorities. You'll meet Scott at the Anoka County Airport to learn more about the plane and your headsets before boarding. Then it's up, up and away! You'll see Minnesota Lake Country from a whole new perspective as you cruise towards Brainerd. Upon landing, Scott will treat you to breakfast at his favorite little diner.

On this flight you will learn about the aircraft and some basics of piloting an airplane. He might even let you try your hand at the controls!

Testimonial:

Last year, we had the great thrill to fly to Brainerd on the Cirrus SR 22, once again offered this year as as an opportunity for 2 people to have an exhilarating experience with seasoned commercial pilot, Scott Strangeland. Once airborne, you can take over the controls to "fly" the aircraft on the route to Brainerd and back to the metro. Breakfast at the Brainerd airport (included) is an experience into the north woods scene. Delicious! The plane is one of the safest made and the pilot experienced, and congenial. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the north metro and lakes country from 1200 feet. Go for it!

-Margaret Hughes, 2019 Experience Winner

Experience the best of Twin Cities theatre with two tickets to a Guthrie production during the '20-'21 season!

Get ready for an evening at the theater! Take a friend or partner to enjoy a performance from this upcoming 2020-2021 season, which includes the following works:

• Private Lives
• Red Hot Patriot
• The Little Prince
• A Christmas Carol
• Murder on the Orient Express
• Tiny Beautiful Things
• A Brittle Glory
• Les Blancs
• In the Heights
• The Thanksgiving Play

The Guthrie Theater engages exceptional theater artists in the exploration of both classic and contemporary plays, connecting the audience to the world. Through its extraordinary artists, staff and facility, the Guthrie is committed to the people of Minnesota and, from its place rooted deeply in the Twin Cities, influences the field as a leading 21st-century arts organization.

Experience the beauty and mastery of the St Paul Chamber Orchestra with these two ticket vouchers! to remaining 19-20 season and 20-21 season.

You and a friend can look forward to an evening of classical music with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra, based out of the beautiful Ordway Center in downtown St Paul. These tickets came be used for the remaining 2019-20 season or during the 2020-21 season. The 2020-21 season to be announced.

Don't miss a thought-provoking evening at the Cowles Center with these two tickets to Tellus (May 7-9, 2021)!

Bid on this opportunity to see the world premier of Tellus, a work of modern dance reaturing AFMSP Office Manager Brenna Mosser and Zoë Koenig.

Analog Dance Works is a Minneapolis-based Modern dance company under the direction of AFMSP's very own Brenna Mosser. Analog's mission is to explore the intersections between Dance and Science through choreographic works and roundtable discussions. For this production, they are focusing on Environmental Science - from Minnesota's wilderness to the global impacts of climate change. Join for an evening of learning, curiosity and entertainment!

Photo: Bill Cameron

Pamper yourself with this cleansing and reviving facial with Laurel Vasileiadis!

This exclusive treatment is designed to replenish the skin's ability to hold water, providing instant, long-lasting moisture and relief for tight, dehydrated, lack-luster skin. Featuring double-exfoliation with fruit and marine enzymes followed by a luxurious massage using freshly prepared bolus-bundles filled with red seaweed, this spa experience is unrivaled. The combination of the exfoliation and the massage delivers ultra-hydrating nutrients, anti-oxidants and improved micro-circulation for optimum benefits essential in preventing premature aging. A total relaxing experience that leaves your skin refreshed, plump and dewy with restored vitality. Recommended for all skin types.

Laurel Vasileiadis's experience in skin care spans 20 years. Offering beautiful facials with the balancing touch of timeless techniques, she takes great pride in having made the choice to focus on natural skin care throughout her entire career. Laurel's belief is that lasting beauty and health comes from within. Her goal is providing clients with confidence by implementing effective quality products and services that deliver powerful results, supported with advice and education in nutrition, lifestyle and well being. Laurel currently practices in Minneapolis at Spot Spa in Uptown.

You and a friend can join AF Board Member and owner of C'est Chic boutique Pam Pappas Stanoch for a 10-day trip through northwestern France!

Pam will lead you into designer's salons in Paris, Nantes, and Saint Malo where you can buy clothing and accessories at wholesale pricing, while staying at 4-Star Hotels!

Trip dates to be confirmed: October if possible, more likely Spring 2021.

Itinerary:

• Day 1-2 Flight: Morning arrival recommended. Stay in 4-Star Hotel (tbd). Walking tour of Paris.
• Day 3: Paris garment district. You can buy for the current seasons and pre-order for the upcoming.
• Day 4: Palais Galliera, fashion museum visit. Dinner at Atelier Maitre Albert (included).
• Day 5: Hats and Coco Chanel walking tour, salon visit. Option Opéra Garnier addition for the evening.
• Day 6: Paris to Nantes. Stay at Oceania Hotel, a registered historic building turned hotel near the center of the city. Walking tour. Optional galette and Crepe cooking class.
• Day 7: Visit to designer, Royal Mer followed by local vineyard tour and wine tasting. Dinner at La Cigale.
• Day 8: Trip to Marie Reberat's boutique and atelier, then off to St Malo! In St Malo, stay at the Hotel le Nouveau Monde, located outside the city ramparts on the beach.
• Day 9: Day-trip to Mont St-Michel. Lunch at Mère Poulard (included).
• Day 10: Final taste of Breton specialities and return to Paris.
• Day 11: Return home.

Included:

-4 Star Hotels with Breakfast daily
-Dinner at Atelier Maitre Albert in Paris and lunch at Mère Poulard *Does not include wine or alcohol
-Museum entry: Palais Galliera (Musee de la Mode)
-Visits to designers Salons
-Trains : Paris-Nantes/Nantes-St. Malo and St. Malo-Paris
-Walking Tours, led by Pam Pappas Stanoch
-Metro Passes in Paris

Optional:

-Ballet in Paris (estimated cost is $100 USD, due to the Pandemic, more information to follow)
-Cooking Class in Nantes (estimated cost is $80, this includes class and dinner)

Not Included:

-Flight

-Meals: Lunches/Dinners if not listed
-Transfers: i.e. Airport, train stations and St. Michel (Note: the transportation to St. Michel will be determined by our dates)
-Taxis
-Tips

Remember, this is a trip for two! Find a friend to share in this memorable experience.

Pricing is based on both guests sharing a room.

Pam has led these buying trips annually, but this will be her LAST one ever. Don't miss this special opportunity.

Space limited to 10 people.

Testimonials

Traveling to France with Pam is a once in a lifetime opportunity... No one person I know understands the city they way she does-you get to experience Paris as a Parisian, walking and taking the metro everywhere you need to be. She plans the day according to the neighborhood you'll be visiting, whether it's the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre or the Yves St Laurent museum. She finds distinct, out of the way spots for lunch and dinner. A cooking class, a trip to the ballet ,or outdoor market, and... shopping galore. She shares her knowledge as a teacher would, making sure the entire group understands the importance and significance of what you're experiencing. The trip is breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and unforgettable. You get home and realize that you got to experience the true energy of Paris, not like any tour you have taken or will ever take again. That's why I've travelled with her twice!
Alana LaBissoniere, Travel Advisor and former HS Student

Photos from 2019 Trip by Darcy Berus.