A Word of Thanks from Your Auction Team

We are still tallying credit card fees and collecting outstanding invoices, but today we are eager to put our number-crunching aside to count our blessings for the devoted Advent families and friends who know what it means to “Come Together” for a great school. It looks as if we surpassed our goals for Advent Auction 2013, and we couldn’t have done it without your involvement and support.

On behalf of the entire auction team, we want to thank you for your amazing generosity—from volunteering countless hours and donating dream-worthy auction items to bidding magnanimously and opening your hearts and wallets to the new Battles Fund, which honors Una and Craig for 44 years of distinguished leadership. Even before the auction began, families and supporters who couldn’t attend were making contributions to the AEAE, and we are blown away by the Advent Community spirit of giving.

Headmistress Una Battles and Board Chairman William Tynes

We were delighted to premiere a new film on auction night. It features an original script and an all-star cast (and the artistry of videographer and former Advent dad Jim Bolton), and we are working on securing the right to post it on the school Web site, so stay tuned on that front.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend, and thank you again for making Advent Auction 2013 such a huge success.

Your Auction Co-Chairs,

Julie Bryant
Liz Carraway
Francie MacDougall
Rita Smith

Lights, Camera—Action: Your Auction Night Video

In 1969, the same year that Una Battles took the helm at Advent Episcopal School, the Beatles hit the top of Billboard’s Hot 100 with their 18th No. 1 hit, “Come Together.”

At Advent Auction 2013, we will “Come Together” as an enthusiastic community of families, friends, and supporters to pay tribute to Una and her husband, Craig, for 43 years of devoted service and to raise funds to make a great school even better.

If there were ever an opportunity to give a nod to the Fab Four, this is it. So just as the song rang in her magnificent tenure, it provides the inspiration for a fabulous new film that we’ll unveil during our live auction portion of the evening. Our 4-minute video features an original script and an all-star cast; after you see it, get ready to raise your paddle in Una and Craig’s honor!

A special shout-out to former Advent dad and videographer extraordinaire Jim Bolton, who donated his time and terrific talents to make this film; Anne Barton (aka Mamsie), who helped fine-tune the vision and fit filming into the school day; Beth Peters, who channeled her inner John Lennon with flair; audio engineer Barry Brooks, who welcomed Beth and an adorable team of Advent backup singers into his recording studio—and then made them all sound like Grammy winners; and Rick and Suzanne Phillips, who teach our kids from day one that singing is cool!

Enjoy!
Mindy Black

Can’t Afford an Item? Bid Together!

You’ll have a chance to bid (and get great deals) Saturday night on a host of incredible auction items with values from $50 to $5,000. Don’t feel as if you can afford some of the items that sound most appealing to you? Come together to bid with another Advent family! It is the theme of the night, after all, and a great way to enjoy trips (think Big Sky or Seaside), kids’ adventures (Lunch with Mamsie or Nature Hike with Mrs. Peters), educational opportunities (Writing Workshop with Irene Latham or Volleyball Training with Paul Gorman), fabulous meals (Birmingham Fine Dining or Personal Chef for an Evening), and our amazing array of class baskets!

Art and Home Goods: You Mean There’s More?

With just one day to go until the big event, enjoy this sneak peek at even more charming art and home furnishings that you’ll have a chance to bid on:

Whimsical Nun

Artwork: Whimsical Nun
What We Love About This Auction Item: In her habit and distinctive white cornette, our Whimsical Nun, donated by Leah and Lee McGriff, is getting a bit of exercise with her young charge. Perfect for a girl’s room!
Value: $100

Artwork: Folk Art Fish by Robbi Harrison
What We Love About These Auction Items: Artist Robbi Harrison, who is 5th grade teacher Beverly Miller’s cousin, transforms recycled aluminum cans into colorful creations. Hang these in a kitchen, kids’ room, hallway, or bath!
Value: $135 (large fish) and $45 (small fish)

Le Creuset Crock

Pottery: Le Creuset Crock from The Cook Store
What We Love About This Auction Item: Le Creuset is synonymous with high-quality cookware. A must-have in every kitchen.
Value: $100

Green Glass Vase from Christopher Glenn

Pottery: Vase from Christopher Glenn, Inc.
What We Love About This Auction Item: This gorgeous green vase looks like a vintage wine cask, but it’s brand new.
Value: $100

Artwork: Collaborative Art from Robin Jackson and Advent Art Students
What We Love About This Auction Item: Mrs. Jackson made this with our kids during art classes in 2012-13. What a wonderful keepsake from an unbeatable art program!
Value: $250

Pottery: Ceramic Platter by Jill Lindsey
What We Love About This Auction Item: Donated by an Advent grandmother, this platter would be perfect for serving cheeses when you entertain.
Value: $60

Pottery: Ceramic Vase by Valerie Holley
What We Love About This Auction Item: We love the pretty mottled texture of this off-white, widemouthed vase. Use it to display azaleas in bloom this spring!
Value: $60

Rug: Tibetan Wool from Wallace Burke
What We Love About This Auction Item: The natural tones of this room-size wool rug (detail shown above) would cozy up a bedroom, den, or study.
Value: $1,100

Looking Good! Beauty Roundup

An auction is an excellent opportunity to pamper yourself. Go from blah to brilliant with these fabulous health and beauty items:

Product: Arbonne Spring Break Travel Package
What We Love About This Auction Item: Donated by Advent mom Andrea Rominger, this package includes everything you need: RE9 Advanced Anti-Aging Travel Set for Her and Travel Set for Him; FC5 Travel Fresh Set (Hair, Body, and Feet); Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelée and Fortifying Hair Masque, Arbonne Cosmetics (Bronzer, Makeup Primer, and Lip Polish); Arbonne Essentials Herbal Detox Tea and Energy Fizz Sticks); and Sunscreen (Before Sun SPF 30, Lip Saver SPF 30, and Baby Care SPF 30)!
Value: $350

Product: DermaSweep from Total Skin and Beauty
What We Love About This Auction Item: This innovative “green” system donated by Total Skin and Beauty on 16th Avenue South treats a variety of skin conditions (early aging lines, hyper-pigmentation, photo-damage, acne, surgical scars, etc.) by using bristles and a vacuum for effective exfoliation followed by a customized selection of one or more multiple solutions for total skin rejuvenation.
Value: $150

Product: Salon Services at Triple Platinum Salon
What We Love About This Auction Item: 5K Mom Liz Maske opened Triple Platinum Salon in 1998 and has a thriving business at her Clairmont Avenue location (next to Bogue’s). Covering everything from the latest hair trends to colors to formal styles, Liz makes a number of Advent moms feel absolutely glamorous!
Value: $100 

Product: Cut and Style at Fringe Hair Studio
What We Love About This Auction Item: We hear rave reviews about this hot beauty and hair salon in Homewood! Click here to see what folks are saying about Fringe on Facebook!
Value: $75

Product: Shampoo, Cut, and Style with Peter Sims at Oak Street Hair Group
What We Love About This Auction Item: Many times when someone has a terrific new haircut, they got it from Master Stylist Peter Sims, whose specialty, he says, is “listening very closely”!
Value: $75

Advent Brew: A Crate of ‘Lovely Stuff’!

The beer has been brewed and bottled. All that’s left is the label, which we’ll debut Saturday night. If you attended the Fall Social, you may have gotten a taste. Advent dad Colin Davis donated a case then too. But this brew is special. It is in Colin’s words: “Pale/Wheat Ale (PWA).  Hoppy but not too much.  A crate of lovely stuff—16 (22 oz.) bottles.” In step with the trend toward home brews, Colin has been brewing for 10 years, and he has a host of Advent dads who welcome timely invitations to help bottle and taste.

What We Love About This Auction Item: Colin has a fan base, so we know that his beer, which he customizes to every event he donates to, will sell very well.
Says Advent Dad Thierry Guyader: I try to rarely miss an opportunity to help brew or taste—he’s got a Brit’s natural knowledge of beer in his blood and a Belgian’s way with complexity.

Case of Holman Ranch 2009 Pinot Noir

  

In 2006, Colonial Properties Trust CEO Tom Lowder and his late wife, Jarman, fell in love with the breathtaking views and old-world charm of Holman Ranch in Carmel Valley and decided to purchase it. With their daughter, Hunter, they have restored it into one of the most attractive destinations in California, lauded by several travel experts and sought by celebrities for wedding and other special events. A 400+-acre working ranch, this hidden gem features 360-degree views of the Santa Lucia Mountains, grapevines, and olive trees. Tom’s good friend T. Charles Fry, Jr.,  who has spent time there, attests: “It is the most magnificent property I’ve ever stepped foot on!” It is no surprise that Holman Ranch produces high-quality wines; in 2009, Tom produced his first vintage Pinot Noir.  

You are bidding on a case of the vintage 2009 Holman Ranch Estate Grown Pinot Noir (Central Coast, Carmel Valley, California), signed by Tom Lowder. A wine collector’s dream, this medium- to full-bodied wine contains a fresh cherry and rose-scented nose and has exquisite breadth to its sweet oak-infused, cherry syrup, and perfume-flavored character. With its impressively long and pure finish, this outstanding wine should be drunk during the next 10 years.

What We Love About This Auction Item: The warmth of its inland valley location and the cooling marine layer create a perfect climate for the production of this special Pinot Noir.
Value: $480

 

Fun for the Kids: More Great Camps, Outings, and Other Adventures!

After you win your bid on a favorite artwork, trip, or other treasure, you won’t want to return home without some fantastic find for the young one(s) in your life. Set your sights on these sure-to-bring-a-smile treasures:

Camp: Wacky Nanny Art Camp
What We Love About This Auction Item: Run by mosaic artist (and longtime Advent nanny) Alley Bulka, this fabulous weeklong camp features paper-mache, mixed-media decoupage, and tie-dyeing and culminates with a water-slide party and art show! Choose from camp for little kids (3-5 years) or big kids (6-12 years). 
Value: $125

Camp: University of Soccer from Vestavia Hills Soccer Club
What We Love About This Auction Item: This is a great week of soccer education at the University of Soccer, to be held this year at Sicard Hollow Athletic Complex (SHAC) July 22-25. Run by college coaches from around the country and Vestavia Soccer’s excellent full-time staff.
Value: $250

Day Trip: U.S. Space & Rocket Center—4 Tickets
What We Love About This Auction Item: We’re less than 1-1/2 hours away from one of the most comprehensive U.S. manned space flight hardware museums in the world. This is a great chance for your kids to learn about Huntsville’s role in the making of the moon rocket and the challenges of future missions!
Value: $100

Outing: Fort Red Rock Paint Ball for 2 Kids
What We Love About This Auction Item: Your kids get to pretend they are on a secret military mission and practice their marksmanship at this fun paint ball park near the intersection of Lakeshore and Highway 150 in Bessemer. It’s good clean fun—if your child is good at dodging the paint pellets!
Value: $100

Outing: Plate Date for 4 at Do-It-Yourself Pottery
What We Love About This Auction Item: Give your child and three friends a chance to explore their creative side with a paint-your-own pottery plate date! The kids will get help with every step of the project and get to take their fabulous keepsake home when it’s done!
Value: $50

Electronics: iPod Touch
What We Love About This Auction Item: Donated by Advent uncle Frank Grove, this sleek wonder device has the auction team thinking that we are all really children at heart, right?!
Value: $200

Hyacinth by Tommy Rosenstiel

Painted by Advent uncle Tommy Rosenstiel (uncle to Julie, Frances, and Will), Hyacinth had an improbable start. The physician has studied and painted landscapes and portraits for years. And he says, “Forgive the stereotyping, but many physicians who paint tend to be so precise, almost photo-realistic,” says Rosenstiel. “And I tried that when I started this painting. But it just didn’t work. I had to distill the image down to make it read, so you could see how beautiful the flower was—with its exposed roots and the blossom. I found myself getting more impressionistic, layering and leaving some areas less painted.”

What We Love About This Auction Item: The auction team has fallen in love with this oil-on-canvas piece, and its framing as well. The size is not a standard one, and the frame, which Rosenstiel says is dark because he didn’t want it to compete with the actual painting, gives an old-world feel to this very current image.
Value: $400

What’s in Your (Class) Basket?!

At every Advent Auction, we ask parents in each grade to come together to create a Class Basket that contains goodies based on a fun theme. This year, our parents have outdone themselves: The values of these baskets range from $600 to close to $2,500. We’d like to give a special shout-out to our Lower School parents, many of whom are new to the auction, for jumping in and putting together absolutely fantastic baskets! And to each and every parent who planned, shopped, solicited, donated, and organized for these beauties—please accept our heartfelt thanks! We’re going to need some BIG baskets to hold all of the gems our classes have assembled:

4K Basket: What’s for Breakfast?

Value: $1,000

The centerpiece of the 4K basket is a Royal Cup ROAR machine with ROAR coffee pods, as well as Royal Cup automatic drip coffees and specialty coffees. Also included in this tasty basket you’ll find:

Gift Certificates to Birmingham Breakfast Eateries:
Over Easy
Another Broken Egg
The Original Pancake House
Bogue’s
Chez LuLu/Continental Bakery
Egg and I

Gift Certificates and Coupons to Birmingham Doughnut Shops:
Shipley Donuts
YoYo Donuts, Etc.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Gift Certificates to Birmingham Coffee/Tea Shops:
Urban Standard
Red Cat
Crestwood Coffee Co.
O’Henry’s
Teavana

Breakfast-Making Tools and Cookbooks:
Williams-Sonoma Cookbook
Cuisinart 4-slice Belgian Waffle Maker)
Pancake molds, coffee mugs, and a bundt cake pan
French Press and cast iron skillet from Bresco
Handmade apron, tea cozy ,and hot pad
Teapot
Muffin pan
Egg cooker
Tablecloth (for breakfast table)

Food:
Pancake/waffle/biscuit mix
Syrup
McEwen & Sons Grits
Alabama jams/jellies
Homemade muffin mix

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5K Basket: Smartsy Artsy

Value: $900 

If you’re passionate about the arts, this basket is for you. In fact, you’ll find something for the whole (artistic) family!

Artistic gems include:

Children’s Theater: Four $20 Tickets

Magic City Dance Studio: Two $90 Lessons
Alabama Symphony Orchestra: Two vouchers, each good for two tickets ($180 total value)

Books-a-Million $50 Gift Card

Necklace by Karyn Stalcup

Coasters by Melody Musick

Mask by Nada Boner

Zentangled by Darla Williamson

Scarf by 5K Mom Nikki Baker
Stick Pencils

Sketchbook

Plastic Palette

Paint Brushes

Acrylic Paints

Canvas

2007 Jordan Wine

Two T-shirts and a glass from Cahaba Brewery

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1st Grade Basket: BBQ, Baseball & Brews!

Value: $1,400

Forget Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives—it’s time to talk BBQ, Baseball & Brews. The winner of this basket will have six unique, fantastic experiences involving these perennial favorites in Birmingham and Atlanta!

Day 1: Attend the Southside Baseball and Brews Event at Avondale Brewery on Saturday, April 20!  You are now a sponsor!

Day 2: Head over to Atlanta on Saturday,  May 4! Have a late lunch at Fox Brothers BBQ, then go watch the Atlanta Braves vs. the NY Mets @ 7 pm and spend the night at the downtown Sheraton Hotel!

Day 3: Have lunch at Full Moon BBQ, then tour the largest New York Yankees Baseball collection in the Southeast at the Wininger Law Firm. Discuss all the cool things you saw over a pint at the Cahaba Brewing Company.

Day 4: Check out some Advent kids playing Southside Baseball on any Saturday through May, see your company or family name on a sponsorship sign on the field, then head over to Saw’s BBQ for some lunch and drop by Avondale Brewery for a Sausion!

Day 5: Birmingham Barons, Dreamland BBQ at the stadium, and Good People Brewery afterward!

Day 6: Invite your friends over to watch some baseball; serve them beer in your nifty local draft beer glass collection and whip up some Jim ’N Nick’s Cheese Straws as an appetizer while you slather some Costa’s BBQ Sauce on some ribs!

Enjoy the rest of the summer with your new t-shirt collection and decorate your car with cool bumper stickers all supporting local companies!

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2nd Grade Basket: For Theater Lovers

Value: $1,100

The 2nd grade invites you to win tickets to the best shows around!

Tickets include:
Virginia Samford Theater: Two Patron Ticket Vouchers for 2012/2013 season. (Remaining performances include “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Annie Get Your Gun”Alabama Ballet)
Alabama Ballet: Four tickets to Ovation, April 12-14
Alabama Theater Summer Film Series: Eight tickets
Red Mountain Theater Company: Two tickets to “Disney’s Beauty & The Beast Junior”
Alys Stephens Center: Two tickets to any Winter or Spring “ASC Presents” Performance
Art Play Presents: Two tickets to any performance
Samford Productions: Two tickets to “The Pajama Game” + Two tickets to Neil Berg’s “100 Years of Broadway”
Birmingham Children’s Theater: Eight tickets to “Charlotte’s Web” (4 adults, 4 children)
Alabama Shakespeare Festival: Four tickets to “To Kill A Mockingbird”
Theater LJCC (Levite Jewish Community Center): Two season tickets ($120 value)

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3rd Grade Basket: Everything You Need for 3rd Grade!

Value: $2,470

Calling all Advent parents of students in 4K through 2nd grade! The 3rd grade presents: Everything You Need To Survive Advent 3rd Grade! From academics, extra-curriculars, and parties to haircuts, babysitting, and camping supplies, you’ll be ready….

In this basket you’ll find:
Tongs, brickets, and Crazy Wanda seasoning packets
Williams Sonoma grilling tools
Penzy’s grilling seasoning
Math tutoring: one hour with book
Creative writing: tutoring with book
Social studies: tutoring
Alabama Outdoors Rock Climbing Party ($150 value)
Pelham Ice Rink Tickets for 10 ($90 value)
Hair Techniques: men’s cut
Hair Techniques: women’s cut
Hair Techniques: women’s color
Bed Head products
Barnes & Noble $50 gift card
Movie gift card ($50)
Three hours of babysitting from Anna Cathryn Brown
Three hours of babysitting from Janine Marston
Alabama Outdoors: two backpack rental
Alabama Outdoors: tent rental
LL Bean sleeping bag
Camping Lantern
Eureka tent
DBX: two-man raft
Friends of the Locust Fork: kids’ day on the river (priceless!)
Two stationery kits
To-Do List notepad set
“Me And My Friends: The Book of Us” (by Klutz for Scholastic, Inc.)
Chicks in a nest
Recycling Bin
The Knight School: one year of chess ($800 value)
Lachlan Farms: Four horseback riding lessons ($175 value)
Vulcan Park Family Pass
Slice $50 gift card

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4th Grade Basket: Stock the Bar

Value: $600

Be prepared for your next get-together by having a well-stocked home bar, compliments of Advent 4th grade parents!

Boutique liquors:
Cognac
Bourbon
Scotch
Gin
Vodka
Rum

Other essentials:
Cocktail napkins and tray
Martini shaker and tools
Cigars
Frozen and jarred cocktail snacks (homemade by 4th grade parent chefs!)

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5th Grade Basket: Locavore’s Food Basket

Value: $1,070

If you love to cook using top-notch tools, tried-and-true recipes, and the very best ingredients, the 5th grade basket is calling your name!

The delicious contents include:
Vegetable bin
Favorite vintage cookbooks
Two All-Clad French Saute pans ($250 value)
Wusthof knife ($100 value)
Microplane cheese grater
Williams-Sonoma electronic roasting thermometer
Two dish towels
Braising sauce
Orange marmalade
Soap/lotion set
Scented candle
Three bottles of Rush wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Three linen tea towels that can be monogrammed by 5th grade mom Marci Bagget
Measuring cup set from Anthropologie
Apron
Red Mountain Honey from Continental Bakery
Organic Olive Oil from Continental Bakery
Breadsticks, organic spaghetti, homestyle trofie (Italian pasta), Bolognese pasta sauce, Arrabbiata pasta sauce, and organic balsamic vinegar, all from Whole Foods Mountain Brook

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Upper School Basket: Birmingham Stay-Ca-Tion

Value: $1,400

You don’t have to leave town for a little R&R. The 6th- through 8th-grade parents have assembled a fantastic array of treats to give your whole family a “stay-ca-tion” right here at home!

Gift certificates and tickets include:
Dinner for two at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Bottle of wine ($75 value)
One night at A Loft in Homewood
Birmingham Zip Line at Red Mountain Park: Four tickets
Vulcan Park and Museum: Five tickets
Birmingham Zoo: Four tickets
Fandango $25 gift card
Starbucks $25 gift card
Cheesecake Factory $50 gift card
Ruth’s Chris Steak House $200 gift card
Trussville Playstation Party Pack
Bright Star Restaurant $75 gift certificate

What We Love About These Auction Items: If we ever wonder where our children get their imagination, enthusiasm, and drive to succeed, we need look no further than the fantastic creations of our wonderful community of Advent parents!