CL’s Annual Holiday Auction Is Here

As we enter the sixth year of our online holiday auctions to benefit The Children’s Home, I like to remember the encounter I had a few years back with a group of grandmothers who were serving as chief caregivers for their grandchildren. I was immensely impressed by their resilience, and by the Kinship Support Services provided to them by The Children’s Home. Because, while the Home may be known for taking care of abused and neglected children, it’s also about taking care of families — including families that have formed by necessity or chance.

Over the last five years, CL readers have raised $85,000 to help The Children's Home. And this year we're shooting to bring the total to $100,000. You know the drill — our auctions are on eBay, you can link to them here; each auction is 10 days in duration, and in coming weeks we’ll give you even more details — and gift ideas? — as each week’s auction goes live.

So bid wisely. And often.
Grandmothers are depending on you.

—David Warner

Week Four Items: Dec 4 – Dec. 14

Cigar City Brewing wants to brew with you: The perfect, personalized beer
Join the Cigar City team and create your own beer with one of America’s most popular craft breweries. You’ll work with CC Head Brewer Wayne Wambles to come up with your perfect recipe, then actually brew the beer alongside Wayne and Founder & CEO Joey Redner. Marketing Director Geiger Powell will create your label graphics from scratch, and when your brew is ready to drink, Tampa’s Brew Bus will pick you up — along with nine of your friends — and bring you to the release party for your very own beer at the Cigar City tasting room. Plus, you’ll take home 10 cases of 22 oz.-bottles (or the equivalent in kegs) to show off and enjoy. Value: Priceless.

A seven-night vacation getaway on Lake Lure, NC
Escape the Florida heat in August: Enjoy a seven-night stay Aug. 1-7, 2015, at Foxrun Resort on Lake Lure, North Carolina. Foxrun offers luxurious, fully equipped two-bedroom two-bath villas that can accommodate families and larger groups. All villas have a jacuzzi and fireplace and boast either a fairway or mountain/woods view. Vacationers can enjoy golf, tennis, and water activities on beautiful Lake Lure or Bald Mountain Lake. Value: $1,200.

The cover of Creative Loafing
The most coveted prize of all. Win this item and you get the cover of Creative Loafing on a mutually agreed-upon date to do with what you will (with CL approval, of course). Value: Priceless.

Life on the Edge: Killer deals from St. Pete’s EDGE District
The enterprising entrepreneurs of Downtown St. Pete’s vibrant new EDGE District have put together an irresistible sampler package: brunch for two (good for up to $20) at Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro; a $50 gift card from Green Bench Brewing Co.; a $70 gift card from Pinot’s Palette; a $100 gift card from ARTicles Art Gallery & Custom Framing; 30 days free yoga from Peace of Yoga ($55); a goodie basket including a T-shirt, an artwork and a free portrait from Creative Clay; and a bottle of Van Gogh PBJ Vodka ($24.99), a $10 bar tab, and 25 percent discount cards from the friendly-to-everybody bar, Enigma. Value: $400.

Two 2-day VIP passes to Gasparilla Music Festival
Last year’s GMF lineup included the Flaming Lips, Trombone Shorty, Benjamin Booker and Los Amigos Invisibles. Early Bird VIP passes have already sold out, and last year advance VIP passes sold out several weeks before the event. So get yours now and ensure premium viewing at both the main Curtis Hixon and Kiley Garden stages, access to the VIP tents with private bars and lounge areas, air-conditioned restrooms, and three complimentary drinks plus snacks and other goodies throughout the day. Value: $300.

The Get Healthier Package: Harbour Island Athletic Club, Yoga Loft, Swami Juice and Don Me Now
Win this package and you’ll be so beautiful you won’t know what to do with yourself. It includes: a month of unlimited yoga at Yoga Loft Tampa in Ybor City; a one-day juice cleanse from Swami Juice in South Tampa; a gym and spa package from Harbour Island Athletic Club and Spa, including a one-month membership, two personal training sessions and a 50-minute massage; and a two-hour personal styling session at Don Me Now in Hyde Park Village. Value: $535 (Harbour Island Club: $325; Yoga Loft: $100; Swami Juice: $60; Don Me Now: $50).

Tampa Museum of Art & Sono Café Swag Bag
An offer as gorgeous as the museum that’s offering it, the Tampa Museum of Art, this package includes a Sustainer Membership, which includes member benefits and privileges for two adults and children living at the same address; free admission and privileges when visiting more than 700 cultural institutions and museums across the continent; and four free admission tickets to give as gifts. It also includes museum catalogs to three of TMA’s biggest blockbusters, My Generation, Graphicstudio, and Poseidon; two museum T-shirts; two museum hats; two coffee cups; and brunch for two at Sono Cafe, the museum’s Mise en Place-run restaurant, which boasts one of the city’s best views. Value: $335.

Foursome for the Stars and Pars Celebrity Golf Classic
Play with sports and media personalities in the 33rd annual Stars and Pars Classic, one of the longest-running and most respected golf tournaments in the area. Also included: eight tickets to the Stars and Pars Celebrity Pairings Party and Auction on Feb. 22, 2015. Value: $1,200.

Vinyl shopping spree with CL Music Editor Leilani Polk
For this much-bid-upon vinyl lovers’ auction item, the CL Music Editor takes you to five indie music shops around the Bay area — Microgroove and Mojo Books & Records in Tampa, Daddy Kool, Bananas, and Planet Retro in St. Petersburg. The winning bid includes two LPs from each for a grand total of 10 records, and Leilani tags along to offer sage advice. Value: $240.

The magnificent Mahaffey package
Two tickets and one parking pass to each of the following 2015 shows at St. Pete’s sparkling waterfront concert venue: The State Ballet Theatre of Russia presents Swan Lake, Sat, Jan 3, 7:30 p.m.; Merle Haggard, Tues., Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.; Indigo Girls, Fri., Feb. 28, 8 p.m.; Pink Floyd Experience, Fri., March 6, 8 p.m.; Chef Robert Irvine, Sun., Apr. 19, 7 p.m. Value: $500.

A behind-the-scenes, on-the-air experience on WDAE's Ron and Ian Show
Join Ron Diaz and Ian Beckles for a guest appearance on 620 WDAE’s Ron and Ian Show. Give a radio shout-out to your friends, and experience what it’s like behind the scenes of this popular Tampa Bay sports radio show. The show airs weekdays from 12-3; your appearance will take place at a time and date TBD during the first quarter of 2015. Value: Priceless.

The Shutterbug Family Pack: Photo 101 at CL Space, kids’ workshops at FMoPA, and two beautiful books
Sharpen your focus with this combo item. It includes: a five-week Tuesday-night Photo 101 class starting in January 2015 at CL Space with photojournalist Chip Weiner; two gift certificates for children’s photography workshops at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts; and two photo books: One Day Tampa Bay 2013 and INSTANT: The Story of Polaroid. Value: $293.95 (Photo 101: $139; FMoPa workshops: $90; Books: $64.95).

Rollin’ on the river: An eBoat cruise
Get a new view of the city with a two-hour rental from eBoats Tampa. Use your time for a leisurely cruise, a museum-to-museum tour, or perhaps even a riverfront bar hop. You may never look at Tampa the same way again. Value: $170.

South Tampa eat-around-town extravaganza
Eat your way around South Tampa with this merry-go-round of culinary deals: $50 gift cards from Mad Dogs and Englishmen and The Wine Exchange; a $40 gift card from Square 1 Burgers; and five $10 gift certificates to Fruitwood Standup Market, a delicious recent addition to the Hyde Park scene. Value: $190.

A charcoal portrait by Carrie Jadus
A chance to have a charcoal drawing of yourself or a loved one done by acclaimed artist Carrie Jadus, who is known for the quality and sensitivity of her portraiture on both a large and small scale. Go for a sitting at Softwater Studios in St. Pete’s Warehouse Arts District or send her a photo to work with. The size of the portrait, which will show a single view of the subject, will be 18"x24". Value: $250 (Minimum bid: $50).

CL's Food Critic Cooks Dinner for YOU
Creative Loafing Food Critic Jon Palmer Claridge has spent his life stealing ideas from the world’s great chefs on his annual visits to vineyards across the globe. Now he will work with you to plan a 10-course haute cuisine menu for four (with matching wines from his private cellar) that he will cook and serve in his own waterview condo overlooking the Dunedin marina. What can you expect? Well, during his six-year stint on the board of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington, his dinners were a sought-after item as part of the live auction fundraiser — regularly exceeding bids of $2,500. This evening offers ultimate flexibility for your guests to participate as a cooking class, to take part in a seminar on food & wine-matching alchemy, or just to sit back and luxuriate; the choice is yours. One thing is for sure — it will be an indulgent gastronomic tsunami that you’ll never forget, complete with sparkling crystal, fine china, sterling silver, crisp linens . . . and food, glorious food!

A country music cornucopia
The perfect gift for the CMA fan: a collection of autographed CDs by more than 20 of country’s hottest artists. In addition to solo albums by the likes of Luke Bryan, Jennifer Nettles, Dierks Bentley, and Darius Rucker, you also get the star-studded Alabama & Friends CD, featuring (among others) Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Trisha Yearwood, and (of course) Alabama. Value: Priceless.

Yuengling personal tour and tasting
You and up to 24 friends and family members can get a once-in-a-lifetime look behind the scenes of the Tampa location of America’s oldest active brewery. Afterward, you’ll be taken to the tasting room to sample the fruits of these passionate, professional brewers’ efforts. Value: Priceless.

Gasparilla International Film Festival VIP memberships
Tampa’s Gasparilla International Film Festival takes place next year from Mar. 24-29 at Channelside Theaters, reopened especially for the festival. With this package you get two GIFF $500 memberships, which means you get two of everything, including unlimited screening passes; passes to the VIP opening night reception, the Filmmaker Lounge, and the Signature Gala; and six additional tickets to any films during GIFF. Value: $1,000 ($500 per membership).

A year of free deliveries from FoodNow
Don’t want to go out, but still want to enjoy your favorite cuisine? This package removes 100 percent of the delivery fee every time you make an order from FoodNow Restaurant Delivery Service, which delivers meals from nearly 150 local restaurants to residences, businesses, and hotels throughout Pinellas County. This offer doesn’t include the cost of the meals, but how nice to be able to go out to dinner without leaving home — and save time and gas money while doing it. Value: $250-$500 depending on number of deliveries.

Visit the MFA in St. Pete, paint and sip at Pinot’s Palette in Oldsmar
With this package you get 4 passes and a commemorative exhibition catalogue for Jamie Wyeth’s Portraits of Nureyev, the acclaimed exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. Plus, do some painting yourself with a two-hour class for two at Pinot's, plus a nice bottle of wine, two custom wine glasses, and two custom paintbrush pens, all in a holiday-themed basket. Value: $208 (Pinot’s: $120; MFA: $88). Note that this offer is only good for the Oldsmar Pinot’s Palette.

Antique picking with Larry Schiller, shopping at Sherry’s, breakfast at Pinky’s
With this auction item, you get to accompany Larry Schiller of Schiller’s Architectural Salvage in Tampa on a tour of his favorite vintage hunting grounds. Before you forage, have breakfast at Best of the Bay-winning Pinky’s, and later on stop at Sherry’s Yesterdaze, the vintage clothing-lover’s haven in Seminole Heights. Value: $250 (Schiller: $200; Pinky’s: Breakfast for two, $25; Sherry’s: $25 gift certificate).

Listening Room Festival VIP Package
The Best of the Bay-winning Listening Room Festival has perfected the art of the house concert. With this package you get four VIP tickets to the Listening Room Festival Finale, April 26, 2015, at The Palladium; two copies of the Listening Room Festival compilation CD; and maybe the biggest prize of all, a TenTen living room concert (10 songs for 10 guests) by the founder of the festival himself, singer/songwriter Fran Snyder. Value: $800+ (Finale: $300; TenTen Concert: $500).

Tarpon Springs post-holiday date night
A $50 gift certificate for dinner at the popular Costa Restaurant in the Sponge Docks district, and two tickets to the Tarpons Springs Cultural Arts Center to see David Burgess, one of today’s outstanding guitarists, on Jan. 10, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Value: $86.

Week Three Items: Nov. 27- Dec. 7

Photo session with your pet — plus a KESS gift basket
Be the winning bidder on this item and CL photojournalist Chip Weiner will take a high-quality shot of your precious pooch or favorite feline, either solo or with you and your family. And just to make sure Buster or Snowball arrives in style, you also get a basketful of nifty pet accessories from KESS Artist Decor for Pets. Value: $275 (Photo: $150; Basket: $125).

A royal weekend at the Pink Palace: Two nights at the Don CeSar and dinner at Maritana Grille
The Loews Don CeSar Hotel is a St. Pete Beach landmark: pink, palatial and unmistakeable. It’s also a glorious place to stay, and with this two-night package you also get dinner for two at the Best of the Bay-winning Maritana Grille, where you’ll get to select from the new Savory Spice Wine Dinner Menu. Value: $1,165 (Don CeSar two-night stay, $870; Maritana Grille, $295. Good Sunday-Thursday only, based on availability, until Dec. 30, 2015.)

Stay and play at Tampa’s upscale Epicurean Hotel
A sophisticated marriage of comfort and cuisine, the Epicurean in Hyde Park is an ideal destination for the gourmet in your life. With this item, you get $150 to spend on a culinary lesson hosted at the Epicurean Theatre, the hotel’s in-house classroom. Afterward, take a load off in the elegant serenity of a Classic King guest room. Value: $400.

Tarpon fishing charter for four
A fishing expedition is better with an expert aboard. For this fishing trip, you’ll be skippered by seven-time Professional Tarpon Tournament Series Captain of the Year Artie Price — in beautiful Boca Grande, no less — on June 27, 2015. Value: $750.

Fatboy black denim beanbag chair from DOMA
Whether you're full-figured or pint-sized, Fatboy's rendition of the classic beanbag chair will comfort your every contour. This coveted chair from St. Petersburg's Doma Home Furnishings is the work of Finnish designer Jukka Setala, and once you sit down you may never want to get up. Value: $449.

Brewer for a day and pizza party for 12 from Tampa Bay Brewing
Experience the glamour of being a brewer’s assistant at Ybor’s Tampa Bay Brewing Company. You and the brewer will discuss styles and determine which to brew. When it's time for drinking, you will return with 11 friends for a pizza party with pitchers of your beer and two gallons you can take home. Value: $350.

Dinner for two at The Refinery
When the chef is a James Beard nominee like The Refinery’s Greg Baker, you know you’re in good hands when he serves you his Chef’s Prix Fixe Dinner. This seven-course meal, all food and drinks included, is bound to be an unforgettable feast for two at one of the area’s most celebrated restaurants. Value: $250. (Certificate must be used by Nov. 2015. Reservation required. Call 813-943-3208 to reserve. Guests must be 21 years or older.)

A sonnet written just for you by Erica Dawson
You know her from her popular column, "Dark & Sinful," which runs biweekly in CL, but Erica Dawson is also a University of Tampa professor and a nationally known, multi-award-winning poet — and for this year's auction she's going to write a sonnet expressly for you. "Back in the day," she explains, "poets like Shakespeare and Petrarch wrote sonnets about love. For you, I'll take the dead white guy out of the poem and write about anything you want. Anything. Want it clean and simple? Done. Dirty and twisted? Yeah you do. High class? Hood? I got this." Value: Priceless.

American Stage tickets and Casita Taqueria gift card
This very tasty dinner/theater combo gives you four tickets to any mainstage show in the American Stage 2014-15 season, which ranges from Neil Simon to Lewis Black. And while you’re in St. Pete, take advantage of your gift card from Central Avenue’s beloved mom-and-pop taco joint, Casita Taqueria, and feed your Mexican cravings little by little or splurge all at once. Value: $316 (Tickets: $196; Casita Taqueria card: $120).

A go-mad weekend in Madeira Beach
All the pleasures of a great beach town in one amazing package: a two-night stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Madeira Beach; $50 gift certificates for Daiquiri Shak and Mad Beach Fish House; a private tour and tasting at Mad Beach Brewing/The Florida Winery; a 1-hour jet ski rental at Woody’s Watersports in Johns Pass; a year’s membership to Old Salts Fishing Foundation; a fishing rod & reel combo, dry case backpack and MirrOlure baits; PLUS two half-day fishing trips from Hubbard's Marina John's Pass. Value: $1,300. (Blackout dates apply for the hotel stay as follows, all in 2015: March 29-Apr. 5; Apr. 23-26; Apr. 30-May 3; May 21-24; June 17-21; July 2-5; Sept 3-6; Dec 22-31.)

Send your kids to Fantasy Fishing Camp
A terrific opportunity to introduce young would-be anglers to the joys of Florida’s favorite sport. During their day at camp (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), three youngsters will get 2+ hours of training in fishing-related skills (for example: casting & knot-tying) and 4+ hours of guided fishing with a professional captain on a boat. Aspiring fishermen and women will get the chance to catch snook, redfish, trout, jacks, maybe even a shark! Value: $175. (Good for a single day of camp; can also be put toward cost of a three- or five-day camp. No expiration date. See fantasyfishingcamp.com for camp schedule and other info.)

Take the family to the Holiday Classics movie series at Tampa Theatre
Four tickets to each of four Tampa Theatre Holiday Classics movies, including Holiday Inn (Dec. 7), White Christmas (Dec. 14), It’s a Wonderful Life (Dec. 19-21), and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Dec. 28) — plus a treasure trove of Tampa Theatre goodies. Value: $195.50.

Lunch with the mayor
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with the leader of your fair city? Here’s your chance: St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has agreed to be CL’s lunch date at a time and restaurant to be determined — and you will be our guest, chowing down and talking shop with Mayor Kriseman, CL Editor-in-Chief David Warner, and recently hired News & Politics Editor Kate Bradshaw. Value: Priceless.

Waterfront fun: A river tour of Tampa, lunch at the Columbia Cafe, and Florida Aquarium tickets
Enjoy a tour of Tampa’s waterfront with CL’s “Transforming Tampa Bay” columnist (and former City Councilmember) Linda Saul-Sena on Captain Larry’s famed water taxi. Four guests will glide by the Riverwalk and under the downtown bridges as Linda shares her insights about Tampa’s architecture, natural beauty and politics. Then continue your day on the water with lunch at the Tampa Bay History Center’s Columbia Cafe, with a view of Garrison Channel and Harbour Island, and pay a vist to the Florida Aquarium. Available before April 2015. Value: $230 (Tour: $80; Columbia gift certificate: $50; Aquarium passes: $100).

Tampa Bay Lightning tickets and a Zamboni ride
The Lightning are currently Tampa Bay’s hottest team, so they may be just that much closer to the playoffs when you attend the Lightning home game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, January 17. With this item you get four lower-level tickets to the Avalanche game at the Amalie Arena, plus a pre-game ride for four on everyone’s favorite ice-resurfacing machine, the Zamboni. Value: $375-$500 (Zamboni ride: Priceless).

You too can ukulele!
Ukulele is fun and easy to play — you can learn the rudiments of the guitar’s four-stringed cousin in no time flat. This package includes three one-hour lessons from uke whiz and UNRB frontman Noel Rochford, as well as a new Kala Pacific walnut tenor ukulele, padded gig bag, and Eddy Finn digital clip-on tuner, all from Compass Music on Madeira Beach. Value: $400.

VIP tickets for two to every 2015 CL event
You and a guest can enjoy a pair of VIP tickets to every Creative Loafing event in 2015 — Beerfest, Gasp!, Margarita Wars, Lust List, Crafts & Drafts, Best of the Bay — and probably some we haven’t invented yet. Value: $840

Color Mine Magnum: A seriously great date night from Color Me Mine and Cooper's Hawk Winery
Color Me Mine offer includes studio fees for two painters (up to a $10 value each), two pieces of pottery (up to a $15 value each), unlimited paint and supplies, and the glazing and firing. Food and drinks are welcome in the studio, but since they're not provided by Color Me Mine, we're sweetening the deal with a must-have package from Cooper's Hawk Winery: a Magnum (1.5-liter) bottle of Meritage wine; a 3-month complimentary Wine Club membership; and a wine tasting for two. Value: $180 (Color Me Mine, up to $50, expiration date 6/30/15, valid at the Hyde Park Village location; Cooper's Hawk Magnum package, $130).

A passport to the gypsy junQue bus
The gypsy junQue bus has been called "a little treasure chest" and now's your chance to check it out! A mobile boutique showcasing jewelry, clothing and accessories, the junQue bus doesn't deal in ordinary junk; this junQue is either recycled or ripped apart and repurposed to make something uniquely beautiful. Some finds will be new, because they're fun, too, but they definitely won’t be run of the mill. This package includes a $150 “junQue” passport to shop in the bus, plus a junQue flower ($150 value) good for five deals. Here's a couple to tease you —a $25 “junQue” credit, a $10 discount on anything, a free piece of “junQue,” and two more "junQuey" deals. Value: $300. (The winner will contact gypsyjunque@hotmail.com to set up a private shopping appointment. Find out more about the junQue bus at facebook.com/gypsyjunque.)

Digital marketing & website analysis from Big Sea Design
Looking to create the perfect personal or business website, or upgrade your existing online presence? Spend some time with the minds behind one of the Bay area’s coolest and most progressive digital creative agencies, St. Pete’s Big Sea Design. Get up to date on the latest internet do’s and don’ts from the folks who know. Value: $500.

Interview your favorite musical artist
Conduct a phone interview with a band or musical artist of your choice playing the Tampa Bay area between Jan. 8 and June 30, 2015. The package includes coaching from CL Music Editor Leilani Polk and an audio copy of the interview afterward for posterity’s sake, as well as the chance to have a portion published in the paper. Past years have seen Q&As with Gainesville ska-punk faves Less Than Jake, Jimmy Eat World, and Tampa Bay’s own actor/musician Patrick Wilson (of Insidious fame and The Wilson Van). Value: Priceless.

Week Two Items: Nov. 20-30

Dinner for two at Locale Market’s Farmtable
Score an eight-course gourmet dinner for you and a companion at Farmtable, the new dining concept by celebrity chefs Michael Mina and Don Pintabona (pictured) opening soon in the much-anticipated Locale Market in downtown St. Pete’s Sundial complex. Farmtable is just one of many enticing features of Locale, a gourmet emporium stocked with fresh, seasonal goods that promises to be a foodie’s dream — just like this auction item. Value: $400.

Announce the weather at ABC Action News
Join ABC Action News meteorologist Wayne Shattuck for a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio and the weather station… then host your very own personal faux weather show at the studio and take home a copy to share with friends and family. Date for your weather-casting debut is Dec. 27, 2014: Arrive at 5:30 p.m. and you can watch the news being broadcast, then take a tour of the station at 6:30 p.m. and tape your own personal weather forecast. Value: Priceless.

Tiki Night at The Bends for 4
The Bends has been serving fine spirits to local folks for only a few years, but the St. Pete watering hole has become a favored spot for the area’s nighttime denizens, as much for its easy-on-the-eyes ever-gracious bartenders as its hipster-chic ambience and the made-for-dancing room in the back, with its laser lights, glitzy chandelier, neon-lit DJ booth and pinball machines. The winner of this package and three friends are treated to three of the Bends’ best tiki cocktails each (a dozen total) and share one of the famed (multi-straw, multi-alcohol) scorpion bowls. Value: $160.

A year of growlers from Coppertail Brewing and a King Corona gift card
You’ll never be without a new or favorite brew from Ybor City’s newest craft brewery. Once a month for an entire year, you can bring your complimentary growler bottle into Coppertail Brewing Company and have it filled with a “brewer’s choice” selection of their distinctive and delicious handcrafted beers. And while you’re in Ybor, pick up some premium cigars, a Cuban coffee, or a stellar Cuban sandwich — all possible with a gift card from King Corona. Value: $350 (Growler for a year: $300; King Corona gift card: $50).

The Central Arts District Experience
The Central Arts District is a beloved St. Pete destination. Encompassing the 300 to 700 blocks of Central Avenue and its immediate side streets, it abounds with art, restaurants, entertainment, services, and the highest concentration of murals the city has to offer. The winning bidder will receive a mural tour for two, compliments of Florida CraftArt, an art and hot shop experience from the Morean Arts Center, plus goods, gift certificates, food and beverages from the following CAD businesses: Absolutely Beautiful Flowers, Cycle Brewing, Daddy Kool Records, Dysfunctional Grace Art Co., Il Ritorno, Michele Tuegel Gallery, MISRED Outfitters, Strands of Sunshine, St. Pete Brewing Company, Sleeperwoods, VLVT Salon, and ZaZoo’d. Value: $500+.

Kahwa Coffee for a year
Keep caffeinated with 1 pound of coffee per week for a year from Tampa Bay’s favorite home-grown coffee purveyors, Kahwa Coffee. You can collect your coffee monthly if you prefer. Value: $520.

Two VIP Big City Events passes for 2015
The folks at Big City Events plan some of Tampa’s biggest, coolest, and best-lubricated bashes. With this item you get two VIP passes to the biggest, coolest (and possibly wettest): the Spring Beer Fling, the Margarita Festival, the Summer of Rum, and Bourbon & Brew. Plus, you get an invitation to the Big City Events Gasparilla Parade Party on Bayshore Boulevard, and you’re in line for other secret invites and offers throughout 2015. Value: $1,000.

Tattoo Session from David Bruehl @ Red Letter 1
A gift certificate for a session with acclaimed tattoo artist David Bruehl at RedLetter1 Tattoo Workspace in Tampa’s historic Hyde Park. Bruehl’s lush, intricate designs are truly unique, winning him recognition as one of CL’s Best of the Bay. This is a non-transferable offer, and the entire value must be used in one session. Winning bidder must make an appointment within one year of the auction date. The gift certificate is not redeemable for cash, is valid for tattoos only, and cannot be split among multiple people. Value: $300.

Discover your inner pirate wench at La France
Stand out from the crowd by being made over like a classic scalawag for the 2015 Gasparilla Pirate Fest. Your winning auction bid gets you a gift certificate for fashion from the retro-fabulous La France in Ybor City, plus a session with a personal stylist to put together a pinup-worthy pirate costume — or an outfit for whatever festive occasion’s on your social calendar. Value: $200.

Creative Loafing print & online ad campaign Have a product, business or service that you’d like to share with the CL audience? Why not advertise with us? We have a readership of over 900,000 people every month in print and online. Our readers are active, engaged in their community, support the arts and go out to eat regularly. And they’re dying to learn about you! This CL print and online package includes a 13-week campaign of online display ads plus 1/4 page full-color ads in print. Value: $12,935.

A night at Jannus Live and treats from The Kitchen Jump into the hub of Downtown St. Pete’s night life with this prize package from Jannus Live, which includes two tickets to the December 19 show featuring Texas alt rockers Blue October (“Hate Me,” “Into the Ocean”) plus a gift certificate to The Kitchen, Jannus’s adjacent restaurant, whose menu ranges from sandwiches to sushi to short rib pot roast. Value: $150 (Tickets, $100; Kitchen certificate: $50).

Private tour of the Tampa Bay History Center with Rodney Kite-Powell Did the story of Pocahontas originate in Tampa Bay? Are there tunnels in Ybor City? Does the word Tampa really mean “Sticks of Fire”? Did the Rough Riders really get into a drunken brawl in an Ybor City bar? Get the inside scoop during a private tour of the Tampa Bay History Center with Rodney Kite-Powell, the museum’s Saunders Foundation Curator of History and columnist for the Tampa Tribune. Explore three floors of exhibits and theaters covering 12,000 years of Florida’s history — everything from conquistadors to cigar rollers, Seminole Indians to Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders — during this private tour for up to 15 people. Value: $200.

Ultimate Skater Package from Skatepark of Tampa An assortment of goodies from the renowned Skatepark of Tampa that’ll make your favorite skater do a kickflip: one skate lesson, one skate session, a SPoT ballcap, stickers, cards and a gift card to the SPoT Skate Shop that can be used in either the Ybor City or Columbus Drive location. Value: $110 (Lesson and skate session: $40; gift card: $35; cap: $25; miscellany: $10).

Four-shooter team for the Norman Schwarzkopf Memorial Sporting Clays Classic You know there’s someone on your gift list who’ll get a bang out of this one: Winner creates his or her own 4-shooter team for the 21st annual Schwarzkopf Classic and enjoys a delicious breakfast, complimentary ammunition, a full round of clays, outstanding lunch, goodie bag and an awards ceremony. Sat., Mar. 21, 2015, Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff, Land O’ Lakes, 7 a.m. registration; 9 a.m. start. Value: $600.

Miller Lite Party Deck pass for Bucs vs. Saints on December 28 Even if the game disappoints, everyone has a blast in the always-festive Miller Lite Party Deck area. This item includes a pass for two people to see the Bucs/Saints game from the Party Deck, three Miller Lites per person and $10 food credit per person. Winners must arrive between 11 a.m. and noon on the day of the game (it starts at 1 p.m.) to ensure admittance. There are no assigned seats in the Miller Lite Party Deck, but you’ll be having too much fun to sit down. Value: $300. (Must be 21+ with valid ID.)

A Guy Harvey Outpost getaway A two-night stay at TradeWinds Island Resorts’ Guy Harvey Outpost, where the seaside adventure vibe — fishing, scuba diving, even electric surfboards — is in keeping with the renowned marine artist whose name it bears. Good Sunday-Thursday only. Value: $400. (Winner will pay $35 resort amenity fee in addition to amount of winning bid.)

Five-day juice cleanse from Squeeze Juice Works A tempting offer from the wonderful folks at Squeeze, so popular that they recently expanded from their home base in St. Pete to a second branch in South Tampa. A juice cleanse is a way to sustain yourself with fresh, alive juices for a day or a number of days. The goal is not to tax or starve the body, but to replenish it. Thirty percent of the body’s total energy is used to digest food. When digestion is not the number one process, then your organs get some love and attention from the daily grind of processing fats, toxins, and various other unknowns in your diet. During a cleanse, the nutrient-rich, enzyme-packed, alive juices come in to fortify the body, bathing it in vitamins and minerals. On a five-day cleanse your energy will be renewed, your palate will wake up, and you just discover a thing or two about yourself. The cleanse consists of five 16-ounce bottles of nutrient-rich, alive, fruit and vegetable juices — tailored to your taste preferences and goals, plus one 16-ounce bottle of nut mylk to consume over two days. Value: $240.

You do yoga. We'll do the lawn. A very relaxing package for anyone who’d rather salute the sun in yoga class rather than brave its rays while mowing the lawn. This item includes ten classes at Body Electric Yoga Company in St. Petersburg, where they believe that “yoga is for everybody, even you,” and free lawn mowing for four months from GreenPal, the Uber of lawncare companies, which matches lawns with local professionals all over Tampa Bay. (PS: In addition to taking part in this auction, GreenPal is looking to give free lawn-mowing to a needy family in the area. Check out yourgreenpal.com/tampa-giveaway for details.) Value: $320 (Body Electric: $120: GreenPal: $200).

Give out an award at the 25th Anniversary of Best Of The Bay Give props to a deserving winner of your choice: With this item, you get to be a presenter at Creative Loafing’s 2015 Best Of The Bay Awards party — a special occasion because it’ll mark the 25th year that CL has been making the awards. Value: Priceless.

Week One Items: Nov. 13-23

Waddle with the penguins at Lowry Park Zoo
Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a penguin zookeeper is like? Want an up-close encounter with our fine-feathered friends at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo? Then this VIP tour is for you. This exclusive 90-minute waddling, er, walking tour, for up to four guests, provides fantastic photo opportunities and one-of-a-kind memories. You will also receive a work of art actually painted by one of the African penguins at the Zoo. Tour must be scheduled with the zoo at least two weeks in advance. Value: $600.

Down by the river: A night at Aloft and dinner at Ulele
A holiday escape to remember at two of the hottest spots in Tampa: A one-night stay at the über-hip new boutique hotel perched along the Hillsborough River, Aloft, and dinner at Richard Gonzmart’s red-hot, four-star Ulele Restaurant at beautiful new Water Works Park. Value: $309. (Aloft: $209; Ulele: $100. The Aloft room offer must be redeemed by 12/31/14.)

A facial a month for a year from Whole Aveda SalonSspa
With 12 individual gift cards for facials at Oldsmar’s Whole SalonSpa, your face can be a thing of beauty for the next 12 months — or, if you prefer, you can share the glow with friends and family by giving the cards as gifts. Value: $1,000.

Brewer for a Day and Happy Hour for 50 at Brewers’ Tasting Room
Come spend a day at St Pete’s first brewery, Brewers’ Tasting Room, to brew your own beer. Then come back a few weeks later with 50 of your closest friends for a free two-hour Happy Hour to enjoy your brew, get some schwag and have some fun. Value: $1,200.

Fodder & Shine cocktail class
It won’t open till December, but everyone’s abuzz about Fodder & Shine, the new restaurant from The Refinery’s Greg and Michelle Baker. And your friends will definitely get buzzed if you’re the successful bidder on a Fodder & Shine cocktail class for six people, which will provide expert instruction on how to make two classic and two original cocktails, based on the spirit category of your choice. Value: $300. (Must be redeemed by Nov. 2015, reservation required. Call 813-943-3208 to reserve. Limited to 21 years or older.)

The ultimate Dunedin eats-and-arts package
A whole bunch of ways to have fun in Pinellas’ food-and-culture mecca: an assortment of $25 gift cards from eight of Dunedin’s finest restaurants, including Dunedin Smokehouse, The Living Room, Casa Tina, Dunedin Brewery, Olde Bay Cafe, Sea Sea Riders, Kelly’s and Clear Sky Draught Haus; a family membership to the Dunedin Fine Art Center; and four admissions to DFAC’s Trashy Treasures, Tampa Bay’s most beloved art garage sale, and Contain It!, truly the most fun you can ever have inside a POD. Value: $300. (Restaurant cards: $200; DFAC items: $100.)

Chocoholic’s choice: Ashworth Artisan Chocolates and Savory Spice’s Loco Cocoa
A holiday fix for the chocolate addict on your list: assorted chocolate and confection items from Ashworth Artisan Chocolate, the irresistible gallery of chocolate and art in Hyde Park Village, and a unique Loco Cocoa basket from St. Pete’s most aromatic store, Savory Spice Shop, containing a variety of cocoas, including spicy Mayan, smooth, sweet Mexican, and Black Onyx Dutch Process. Value: $130. (Chocolates: $100; Loco Cocoa, $30.)

Jobsite season tickets and dinner at Bella’s
Get in on the fun with the irrepressible and much-beloved Tampa troupe, Jobsite Theater, and enjoy the rest of their eclectic and entertaining 2014-2015 theater season at the Straz: Twelfth Night, Virginia Woolf’s Orlando, Annapurna and Occupation — and bring a date! Plus, get dinner at Bella’s Italian Cafe. a favorite South Tampa spot for before or after the show. Value: $259. (2 Jobsite season tickets: $209; Bella’s gift card: $50.)

Miller Lite Party Deck passes for Bucs vs. Packers on December 21
Even if the game disappoints, everyone has a blast in the always-festive Miller Lite Party Deck area. This item includes a pass for two people to see the Bucs/Packers game from the Party Deck, three Miller Lites per person and $10 food credit per person. Winners must arrive between 11 a.m. and noon on the day of the game (it starts at 1 p.m.) to ensure admittance. There are no assigned seats in the Miller Lite Party Deck, but you’ll be having too much fun to sit down. Value: $300. (Must be 21+ with valid ID.)

Deluxe disc golf package
Clearwater Disc Golf Store, the largest store of its kind in the world, is offering the perfect introduction to a sport that will thrill anyone who’s ever thrown a Frisbee: two Beginner Starter Sets (includes a disc golf bag, putter, midrange, driver, towel and mini-disc marker) and Professional Disc Golf Lessons for two people, followed by an 18-hole round of disc golf. Fore! Value: $318..

Two days of studio time at Rock Garden Recording
Two days is enough time to cut a three-to-five-song demo or fine-tune the hell out of a few singles. The winner of this auction item commandeers 16-20 hours’ worth of studio time with Dan Byers at Rock Garden Recording. Active for several years now, Rock Garden has seen the likes of Zulu Wave, Wolf-Face, Halibut and New Cathedral come through its doors, among many others. The St. Petersburg studio features state-of-the-art equipment — an industry standard Pro Tools HD system coupled with high-end outboard — and an impressive selection of mics and other high-quality gear. Value: $800.

Wedding day special at CL Space
Make it a truly unique day by holding your wedding in a unique, exposed-brick urban loft: CL Space, Creative Loafing’s public events venue. This package includes CL Space rental, photography by Tiffani Jones, lighting by Bay Stage Live, and day-of event planning services from Event Lab 1. You don’t even have to get hitched; this offer is good for whatever event you’ve got in mind. Value: $4,300.

SEO Analysis by Think Tank A complete blueprint for getting your website honed to search engine perfection. One of Think Tank’s experts will walk through the analysis and your site in a one hour in-person consultation at ThinkTank headquarters that can drastically improve the success of your on-line marketing efforts. Visit ThinkTankConnect.com to read more about the clients they’ve worked with. Value: $600.

Scott Harrell Brewery Crawl
Get to know some of the best local craft brews with the guy who’s been covering it in CL’s Meet The Brewers issue and features. You and a guest will accompany Scott Harrell, CL’s managing and online editor, to three of the most popular hometown breweries in Tampa or St. Pete (winner’s choice!) for flights and conversation. No “beer school” here; just some tasty beers and a good time. Value: Priceless.

Auction Schedule

Remember — only 10 days for each auction!

Week One: Nov. 13-23
Auction begins at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 13, and ends at 9 a.m. on Sun., Nov. 23.

Week Two: Nov. 20-30
Auction begins at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 20, and ends at 9 a.m. on Sun., Nov. 30.

Week Three: Nov. 27-Dec. 7
Auction begins at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Nov. 27, and ends at 9 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 7.

Week Four: Dec. 4-14
Auction begins at 9 a.m. on Thurs., Dec. 4, and ends at 9 a.m. on Sun., Dec. 14.

This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2014.