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Check out some of our LIVE AUCTION items to be offered at this year’s Songs from the Heart!

1] Chef’s Table at Crave: Chef’s Table for 10 (including Jason Matheson and his partner as hosts) at CRAVE Downtown (former Palomino location).  4 course meal with wine pairings.  Value:  $1200 (or priceless once you add Jason to the mix, huh?!?!).

2] VIP Tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s OVO:  Great seats for one of the hottest tickets in town!  These exclusive VIP Tapis Rouge tickets offers a unique, surprising & playfully inventive setting dedicated to your enjoyment.  Delectable food and wines provided before the show and during intermission.  Two tickets for the June 8th show at the Mall of America under the Grand Chapiteau.  Site opens at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.

Package includes (from their website):  Preferred seating.  Complementary parking.  Access to Tapis Rouge lounge suite via an exclusive entrance one hour before the show and during intermission.  An array of mouth-watering hors d’oeuvres, fine wines and refreshments followed by desserts during intermission.  Unique multimedia entertainment and original music in a stunning décor with a relaxed atmosphere.  Tapis Rouge souvenir.  A souvenir program.  Priority purchasing of Cirque du Soleil merchandise in the Tapis Rouge boutique.  Private restrooms, terrace and coat check service.

3] Rio de Janeiro:  Live like a real “Carioca” for a week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:  Stay in a two bedroom, two bath apartment is located in Recreio dos Bandeirantes (otherwise known as “Recreio” to locals), the most southern neighborhood in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro. Only recently developed, Recreio nests alongside a protected shoreline with long undeveloped beaches and multiple kiosks selling food and drinks. Unusual for Rio, this apartment building, La Plage, sits right on the ocean without a road in between. The apartment complex has a swimming pool, hot tub and exercise room available for use. Internet is also available. Multiple restaurants are within walking distance as well as multiple beaches.  Recreio is a quiet neighborhood about an hour to an hour and a half drive away from Rio’s better known tourist destinations: Ipanema and Copacabana. To best take advantage of the rest of the city, car rental is recommended. This is an opportunity for the adventurous traveler to experience the “real Rio” beyond the tourist areas like the locals (“Cariocas”) do– so pack your bags and brush up your Portuguese! Maps and guidance will be available for the lucky bidder.

4] An Evening of Jazz, hosted by our good friends Mike and Donna Wolsted:  Enjoy up close and personal jamming with Jimmy Martin in a gorgeous music room at the Plymouth home of Mike and Donna Wolsted.  Gather 20 friends to enjoy the musical delights at this private party.  Wine and hor d’oeurves are provided by the hosts.  Recipient, performer, and hosts will determine a mutually beneficial weekend date. This live auction item has become a Songs from the Heart tradition and is always popular!  Value – $1100

5] GALA Experience to Denver:  Join Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus as our special guests at next summer’s GALA Festival in Denver in July 7 – 11, 2012. The Chorus will be performing a new commissioned work that is certain to be a highlight of the five day festival. Your package will include round trip airfare for two to Denver, Colorado with a five night hotel stay in downtown Denver. You will be registered as delegates for GALA Festival, which will allow you access to see performances of other LGBT choruses from around the country as well as visiting choruses from overseas.  You will also be there to hear the Festival premiere of our new commissioned work. You will have plenty of free time to explore the Denver area as well. This package does not include transportation to and from the airport in to the Denver metropolitan area. Retail value: Approximately $2,000.00.

6] Sonoma Wine Experience VIP Trip and Tour:  Sonoma VIP Wine Experience Features Chauffeur, Winery Tours, 3-Night Stay and Airfare for (2) The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa - Three-night stay including daily breakfast for (2) at this 4-star resort.

• Beau Wine Tours and Limousine Service – Six consecutive hours of chauffeured luxury sedan service.
• Jacuzzi Family Winery / Olive Press (Sonoma) – Private Olive Oil Tour and Tasting for (2) followed by a privately hosted tour of the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and sit-down tasting of 5 reserve wines, plus one gift bottle to take home.
• Ledson Winery & Vineyards (Kenwood) – Private 1 ½ hour wine education with an assistant to the winemaker at their comfortable and intimate reserve tasting bar for (2).
• American Airlines – Round-trip coach class service for (2) from any American Airlines destination in the 48 contiguous United States or Canada to anywhere American Airlines flies in the 48 contiguous United States or Canada, subject to availability.

7] Hawaiian Dinner by Esera:  Esera, local entertainer, author and former MN Viking, will cook a traditional Hawaiian dinner for 6 and do some singing at the home of the highest bidder.  The host will supply the food and beverages.

8] Chinese Dinner / Weekend in Mason City:  You and three friends will arrive at the home of TCGMC friends Dean Genth & Gary Swenson of Mason City, IA on a Friday evening just in time for wine and conversation.  Stay overnight in their home in two private rooms (each with their own bath) while enjoying the hot tub and home theater.  Saturday after breakfast Dean will give you the Mason City tour while Gary begins to prepare a Gourmet, home-cooked Chinese feast!   Each guest will also experience a therapeutic massage by a licensed therapist.  And finally, on Sunday morning, a home-cooked breakfast to send you on your way. This weekend getaway was very popular at last year’s Songs from the Heart!

9] The North Shore Getaway:  The ultimate weekend up north hosted by Lavonne Christensen and Mike Meyer.  A bed & breakfast feel lake home for up to 6 friends located 8 mi north of Two Harbors on Crow Creek.  So many possibilities for your getaway week: kayaking on Lake Superior, a sauna (on premises), guided hiking on the Lake Superior hiking trail, agate & rock gathering at nearby beaches, an evening bonfire on private beach, lunch at the Scenic Cafe and more.  The house has a master suite and 3 more bedrooms with queen beds.  Just 3 hours due north!

10] Thom Pham’s Wonderous Azian Kitchen Party: Thom Pham will host an all you can eat GRAND Dim Sum Brunch for 15. Thom will be your host for this private brunch affair at his restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. It’s all you can eat – and drink (mimosas and bloody marys).

Back to the Songs from the Heart Events Page.