BeCause

Silver Screen Travel

January 28, 2015
This is the time of year when even those only minimally interested in movies have one eye on the silver screen. The major award shows seem to come every weekend, and the multiplexes feature many of the previous year’s best releases. Of course, when minds turn to cinema, they often also turn to Los Angeles or New York, the great centers of American film. But making movies is no longer just the province of the two largest cities in the country – and that means that your donors can make a cinema-themed adventure out of a trip to several different locations.

The Mitch-Stuart, Inc. catalog of non-profit auction travel packages includes trips all around the world, for all sorts of occasions. Some of our favorite destinations can make a film lover’s dream come true, all while experiencing a luxurious vacation and benefiting your charity.

A major reason for a film to shoot outside of Los Angeles or New York is when its setting is so iconic that it can’t be faked. Since even a major movie studio likely doesn’t have the space to reproduce the National Mall, Washington D.C. sees more than its fair share of productions. While the actual halls of power – the Oval Office, the Supreme Court chamber, the House of Representatives and the Senate – are reproduced on sound stages far away, other city-specific locations like the Kennedy Center (seen in “State of Play” and “All the President’s Men”), the Lincoln Memorial (“Wedding Crashers,” “Election” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” among others) and the National Mall (“Three Days of the Condor,” “Dave” and “National Treasure”) have all made for important backdrops. The city has loaned more than just federal monuments to the silver screen, too: Local culinary favorite Ben’s Chili Bowl shows up in “The Pelican Brief” and “State of Play,” along with many television shows. Chicago may be best known for its lively theater scene (especially improvisational comedy factories like Second City and iO), but it’s also been the setting for some of cinema’s most beloved stories. In particular, director/writer John Hughes set most of his films in and around the Windy City, and many of the locations seen on the screen can be seen in person, as well. Ferris Bueller and his co-conspirators take in the Art Institute of Chicago and Wrigley Field during his “day off,” Northbrook Mall showed up in “Weird Science,” though many of the stores have changed, and churches like Glencoe Union and Trinity United Methodist hosted scenes from “Sixteen Candles” and “Home Alone,” respectively. Private tours from companies like Viator take tourists around the city on a regular basis, either for general film tours or for movie-specific experiences (“The Blues Brothers” is a popular one). Not every city with a thriving film industry is a major metropolis, though. For a mix of movie magic and a small-town feel, head to Asheville, North Carolina. Films like “Forrest Gump,” “The Hunger Games” and “Dirty Dancing” made use of the city for locations. One setting in particular has become a favorite for Hollywood scouts: The Biltmore Estate has shown up in the aforementioned “Gump,” the film version of “Hannibal” and more than a dozen other recognizable titles. The best news: Visitors can see the estate, tour its vineyards, have a meal at its Dining Room (featuring estate-raised beef and lamb) or even get married on the grounds.

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The Newest of the New

January 20, 2015
Part of making sure that we’re offering your organization the best charity auction travel packages is updating our roster of once-in-a-lifetime trips. Each quarter, we put together new ideas, new adventures and new luxury experiences for non-profits to use as fundraising items at gala auction events. What’s new in the Mitch-Stuart catalog? Let look at some of the latest and greatest options.

Fittingly, our winter update features several new options for your donors who love the rush of skiing. Send them to Colorado with our “Aspen’s Winter Wonderland” package: A four-night/five-day stay at Little Nell Resort and Spa with gift certificates for the spa and dining. Little Nell sits at the base of Aspen Mountain resort, one of the top ski destinations in the country.  Just down the road in Crested Butte, our “Crested Butte Promises a Superb Alpine Adventure” package puts the donor at the base of the town’s ski resort, and gives them access to a VIP members lounge and even a bonus “adventure,” like snowmobiling, hiking tours or even horseback riding. If your donors like runways more than ski runs, the starring edition to our catalog comes from the Big Apple. “Get Caught Up in Couture” sends your donor to New York City for a three-day, two-night jaunt during one of the city’s two 2015 New York Fashion Weeks. Along with the de facto exhibitions happening on the sidewalks of Manhattan each day, donors/winning bidders will also get two premier tickets to a Lincoln Center fashion show, where exhibitors like Prada and Marc Jacobs show off their collections for the next season. Your donors can be on the cutting edge of the fashion industry, all while supporting your cause. Of course, some of our favorite trips every year involve wine, and we’ve added some great vino-related adventures, both domestic and abroad. Our “Raise a Toast to the Pacific Northwest Coast” package focuses on the vineyards of the region, with tours of Chateau St. Michelle and a second boutique winery to be named. For those looking for an international, big-ticket experience, there’s the “Indulge in the Italian Culture and Countryside” and “Wine, Dine and View Art So Fine” packages, both of which involve Florence, Italy-based adventures and tastings in some of the country’s great wine cellars. Each package offers additional fun as well – a tiramisu tasting, a visit to the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, or the sights of the Snoqualmie Falls and a tour of Boehm’s Swiss Chocolate Factory. Want to hear about the latest and greatest once-in-a-lifetime adventures available from Mitch-Stuart, Inc.? Call or email a representative today!

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Super Travel

January 14, 2015
The sporting world turns its eyes toward the Super Bowl every winter, as the months-long NFL season reaches its apex. For this year’s edition, the league returns to warmer weather (the 2014 game was held in New Jersey): Glendale, Arizona, home of University of Phoenix Stadium and the Arizona Cardinals. But whether it’s the rare cold-weather host like in 2014 or the southwestern flavor of the Grand Canyon State, it’s a sure bet every year that the championship game will be played in a great travel destination.

With our catalog of consignment, charity auction travel packages, Mitch-Stuart can send your donors to any one of a number of the Super Bowl’s former host cities. Whether it’s an area that’s hosted a big number of big games, or just a football-mad metropolis that can turn high school contests into major events, these destinations are perfect for the pigskin fanatics in your donor community.

Miami has hosted the Super Bowl ten times over the years, with games split between the Orange Bowl and Sun Life Stadium. The former was the home of the University of Miami before its demolition, while the latter holds the Miami Dolphins. But the game is only part of the spectacle in the jewel of South Florida. For one thing, the Super Bowl’s early February placement on the calendar means that all of the tourists flock to the beaches with the kind of intensity only match by children escaping school for spring break. Local sports watering holes tend to show respect to local football favorites; Bokamper’s (named after linebacker/defensive end Kim Bokamper) and Bru’s Room (named after linebacker Bob Brudzinski) are perennials on any “best sports bar� list.

The Big Easy has hosted the Super Bowl on numerous occasions, and it’s obvious why – there may be no city in America that can become one non-stop party quite like New Orleans. The Saints run this town in terms of rooting interest, but fans of all allegiances can feel at home in the French Quarter. Sports bars like local favorite Cooter Brown’s combine sport and cuisine as well as anywhere in the country; Brown’s features boiled crawfish and raw oysters along with po’ boys and other, more traditional bar dishes. And of course, if it’s not football season, Mardi Gras and New Orleans Jazz Fest are pretty good excuses to end up in the Crescent City, as well.

But for the bidder that wants to feel like he or she is in football country, heading to Dallas might be the best option. The area has only hosted one Super Bowl to date – 2011’s showdown between Green Bay and Pittsburgh – but the sport is an integral part of the city’s life, at all levels. Friday nights are as often about high school football as they are about any other entertainment, while it seems like the entire city is in silver and blue on Sundays to cheer on the Cowboys. For the true fanatic, take a day trip south to Waco for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, which is heavy on pigskin-centric exhibits.

Want to send your donors on a Super adventure? Reach out to a Mitch-Stuart, Inc. travel expert for more information.
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Destination Spotlight: Hilton Head

January 06, 2015
Certain destinations are synonymous with their biggest attractions. It’s nearly impossible to think about Orlando without conjuring images of Disney World. A visit to Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower is unimaginable. And when one thinks about Hilton Head Island, the resort community in South Carolina, golf is the first word to spring to mind. In the past, we’ve written about the amazing opportunities for golfers at Hilton Head. The town has one of the highest concentrations of course available in the world, with difficulty ranging from professional-level to links appropriate for amateur hackers.

But Mitch-Stuart, Inc.’s charity auction travel packages to Hilton Head are about more than just putters and drivers. The city has plenty for the non-golfer, whether it’s natural beauty, culture or fine dining. Whether it’s waiting for a family member to finish up a round, or looking for a refueling stop after 18 holes, Hilton Head Island has a lot to offer. For instance, not all sand in Hilton Head belongs to a formidable golf course hazard. Coligny Beach is a lovely oceanside walk, with public access and nearby shopping and dining, while the Mitchellville Freedom Park features hiking and a look at the interesting history of Hilton Head Island. There’s a beach for every type of vacationer on the island, and they each can make for a great post-golf relaxation spot, an easy way to forget about that hooked drive or terrible three-putt. In addition, Hilton Head has a lively arts scene, especially for a city of less than 40,000 residents (according to the last Census report). Touring Broadway musicals come to the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; shows like “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” and “Gypsy” are on their way to the ACC in the first half of 2015. The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra is also highly rated, and features Maestro John Morris Russell, a Conductor Designate of the world-renowned Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. For a less-formal cultural experience, the annual Hilton Head Island Arts Festival and Craft Marketplace allows visitors to both see beautiful works and take home a memento of the trip. After a day on the golf course, frolicking on the beach or checking out the local art scene, travelers can have their pick of the island’s restaurants, spanning the world of cuisine. An eatery like A Lowcounty Backyard Restaurant replicates family cookouts convincingly, while Alexander’s Seafood is a white tablecloth experience with a wine list in the triple digits and a surf-and-turf-inspired menu. And throughout the year, Hilton Head plays host to a tremendous number of food festivals, like the Seafood Festival (held March 1-7 this year), the Wine and Food Festival (March 9 through 14) and the Beer, Bacon and Music Festival in May. Ready to send a lucky auction winner to Hilton Head? Reach out to one of our representatives today!

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