Door prizes, gift baskets, receptions after the concerts and, of course, Christmas a cappella from The Stairwell Carollers

Gift Basket ready for cellophane wrap

            I got a crazy idea while "failing upwards" two weeks ago in the Glebe.

My task: convince local businesses to purchase ads in our program booklet.

My challenge: The Recession.

I sold a few, but some business owners replied to my request with -- "our ad budget is all used up, but if you want us to donate product..."

This is what I meant by "failing UPWARD". This wacky idea bloomed in my mind -- GIFT BASKETS!  Crazy, since I have no gift wrapping skills -- none -- ask Pete. He wraps gifts if we want them to look nice, like with wrapping paper. I wrap round things in tissue paper and use gift bags a lot.

 Anyway...

We already do door prizes at all our concerts and there is always a reception with all kinds of food, coffee, tea and juice after. Hence the name of our cookbook -- Eatwell. Yes, I used to call us the Eatwell Carollers because of all the food scarfing that occurred at the reception. And I'm not talking about the audience. After all, we do expend all that singing energy on stage. Eatwell...Carollers.

I thought it was funny.

Anyway...

This year is set to be bigger better and more Stairwell gifty than ever! Some baskets will be door prizes, and some will be for sale at the CD table. All proceeds going to needy charities in the Ottawa area.

Door prizes, gift baskets, #concerts #Christmas #acappella from The Stairwell Carollers stairwellcarollers.blogspot.ca/2012/11/door-p… #Ottawa #Caroling
— Stairwell Carollers (@StairwellChoir) December 7, 2012

Basket with Twinings tea in a cute sweater wearing cup and chocolates from Loblaws -- and CDS

Starbucks mug, coffee and truffles and CDs too

A few visits to some local businesses and my crazy idea came to fruition.

THANKS to:

Joanne at the Baarhaven Loblaws for two generous Loblaws gift cards to buy items for the baskets. Shopping is fun!

pile o' baskets

Andy at Osgoode Foodland. I told him about my plan and he IMMEDIATELY asked me what I needed. When I told him the toughest challenge was the basket makings -- baskets, bows and cello bags So, he promptly filled my arms with just that.

Blair and Kit at McKinnon's Foodland in Greely were kind enough to offer one of Kits own handcrafted gift baskets for a door prize at our Dec 15th concert at Glebe St. James.

Kirsten at the Starbucks in Orleans for two 1lb. bags of specialty coffee beans and two gorgeous red Starbucks mugs. Thanks Kirsten!

Crystal at the Baarhaven Starbucks matched that donation with two 1lb. bags of specialty coffee and two stainless steel travel mugs!

"Spring" fill

Kit & Kaboodles in Manotick for a generous bag of red "spring fill" to stuff the baskets -- not easy to get, I can tell you!

Beata Nita at Staples in Orleans -- 2085 tenth line rd. -- for a gift card which bought brand-name  truffles and seashell chocolates.  Yum! No, I didn't eat them.

JYSK in Orleans donated a dozen clusters of decorations to add a festive touch.

Decorations, truffles, Belgium seashell chocolates and ... our CDs

So come on out to our concerts -- not for the music, of course -- but for a chance to win one of our amazing selection of gift baskets!


The Stairwell Carollers present their 2012 Christmas Carol Concert season, "Eya, eya, gaudeamus"
 

Saturday, December 15^th
Glebe St James United Church, 650 Lyon Street South, Ottawa (ON) , 7:30pm.



Wednesday, December 19^th
St Columba Anglican Church 24 Sandridge Rd, , Ottawa, (ON), 7:30pm.

For these two performances only, advance tickets can be purchased for $15, using the following options... 

BUY THEM NOW ONLINE through 

PayPal

Purchase tickets at the following locations...

• Leading Note, 370 Elgin St., Suite No. 2
• Compact Music, 785 1/2 Bank Street OR
• Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave.

Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $20. 

Purchase online tickets for these two concerts. Choose a location. Instructions for your online purchase

 

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Other concert listings...

Friday, November 30^th
St-Paul's Eastern United, 473 Cumberland Street, Ottawa, (ON) , 7:30pm.


Saturday, December 1^st
Almonte United Church, 106 Elgin St., Almonte, (ON), 7:30pm.


Sunday, December 2^nd
We will be caroling in the Byward Market area starting around noon. Watch for us!


Friday, December 7^th
Église St Matthieu, 69 rue de Provence, Gatineau, (QC) , 7:30pm.


Saturday, December 8^th
St-James Anglican Church, 225 Edmund Street, Carleton Place, (ON) , 7:30pm.


Sunday, December 9^th
National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr Ottawa, 3pm, in the Great Hall.