The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Celebs, non-celebs, nonprofits join the hunt for holiday deals
Wait, it’s holiday season already? Here’s some shopping and nonprofit-related briefs:
⏩ Sometimes I can still impress my youngest daughter, who is working for a neuroscience Ph.D. in Washington, D.C. Like recently when I texted her a photo of two random reality TV stars involved in an event at Foxwoods.
She immediately identified Ashley Iaconetti and Jared Haibon of the “Bachelor in Paradise” TV show and said she listens to Ashley’s podcast. She was very excited; I was amused the comely couple were taking so many selfies, probably for social media. (I know, I know: It’s serious business.)
The event was a contest pitting area celebrities (including a pair of New England Patriots cheerleaders, eesh) and a few media types against each other in a shopping event to win up to $5,000 for a favorite charity in 30 minutes of pulling a wagon around a mall. It was also held to spotlight Foxwoods’ Shop Dine & Win promotion, where shoppers get a $10 gift card to Guy Fieri’s Foxwoods Kitchen + Bar for every $100 they spend at Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods. (You need to show your rewards card when you buy.)
The contest was won by Aubrey Yandow of The Coastal Confidence blog, who collected enough items from special tables outside Tanger stores to come closest to $1,000 without going over. She scored $5,000 for the One Warm Coat organization (onewarmcoat.org).
This New Haven Register editor also participated, procuring about $500 worth of coats, sweaters and other items for ImmaCare Inc. shelter — formerly Immaculate Conception Shelter — in Hartford. (I would have won, but my shopping-contest skills leave a lot to be desired. And the darn cheerleaders
blocked this Giants fan’s path to a pricey coat.)
⏩ The New Haven Symphony Orchestra is offering a 50 percent-off coupon (through Cyber Monday) for three exciting, upcoming concerts, music fans: Handel’s “Messiah” in late December, “Wicked Divas” in February and “Mozart’s Paris” in March.
Use the code “Holiday50” at checkout when purchasing tickets online at newhavensymphony.org, over the phone by calling 203-7874282, or in person at the Long Wharf Theatre box office (222 Sargent Drive, New Haven).
⏩ Speaking of nonprofits, Giving Tuesday is coming up (Nov. 27), when many good organizations who enrich the social fabric of the nation could use a few of your holiday dollars. Think Connecticut Food Bank, various shelters and arts organizations.
⏩ You never need a reason to visit the area’s excellent museums, but today is Museum Store Sunday. Who knew there was such a thing? The day encourages shoppers to support their favorite museums and cultural institutions by offering promotions such as 25 percent off select items, free gifts and new product launches. More than 1,000 museum stores across all 50 states, 13 countries and four continents will offer visitors special deals.
⏩ One more: Everyone seems to have a gift guide these days and the National Park Foundation is no exception. I like this approach, by the way, if it monetizes our great national parks without fracking the freaking fossil fuels out of them. Then again, there’s a National Parks Edition of Monopoly Blogger and $5,000 charity donation winner Aubrey Yandow pulls her wagon at the Foxwoods event.
for sale, which seems counterintuitive. “You landed on Yellowstone and I own it, so you owe me a load of dough!” Or “Go directly to Death Valley; do not pass Go and do not collect $200.”