FarmFolk CityFolk’s Post

Like bourbon? See below… Dear Fellow Bourbon Lovers – After a year hiatus, I am happy to announce the triumphant return of The Great Bourbon Exchange – 2024 Edition! Like a phoenix (and the Detroit Lions), the exchange has risen from the ashes… I am introducing a few new wrinkles this year that will make the exchange fun and more streamlined to manage. The exchange is a great holiday tradition matching fellow bourbon lovers 1:1 with one another to celebrate the season, make new connections, and experience a new bottle introduced to you by another bourbon lover. Here’s how it works… 1. Click https://lnkd.in/ehGWM35W to make an end of year donation (if you are able to) to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. 2. THEN, click https://lnkd.in/eygqvYgx to join The Great Bourbon Exchange private group on Elfster by Friday, December 13th! Fill out all the information including your “ship to” address (skip the step asking you to create a “wishlist”). On December 14th I will initiate the match, pairing you with another member of the group to exchange with. All matches will be randomized, so get excited to make a new bourbon buddy! Pick a bottle that is meaningful to you, has a special story to it, or is something you just happen to like. Ship your bottle to your buddy with a note (in the package or via email) sharing why you picked what you did. Ensure your bottle arrives to your bourbon buddy no later than New Year’s Eve. All bottles being exchanged must be at least $50 retail. Some of you go hog wild, and I love that, but please ensure you adhere to this minimum. Like always, this email thread will be filled with fun stories, banter and news about the exchange, as will our group page on Elfster. Remember, if you purchase a bottle locally, or have the bottle you plan to exchange in your possession, shipping your bottle via UPS or FedEx is easy. Just be sure to package it yourself at home before arriving to ship and be a little loose with the details on what you are shipping - olive oil for example 😊. If you prefer, purchasing and shipping via Caskers, Frootbat, Cask Cartel, Wooden Cork, or the like is also an easy option and they will drop ship. *** NEW THIS YEAR – if we raise more than $5,000 collectively for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, then whoever is matched with me will receive a very special bottle. Like, a really special one (think impossible to get allocated kind of special)… but to be eligible to be my match, you must have made at least a $50 donation to the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Like Santa, I will be checking the list twice! If you didn’t donate, I will match you with someone else, so no worries, but to get my bottle you have to have made a $50 donation. FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS INVITE WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, COWORKERS ETC. The more the merrier! - Jason Menzo

Taking a break from cooking this week? Why not give back to youth performing arts while you do so, without paying any extra? Introducing Restaurant Week with The Cavaliers Arts, Performance & Education, Inc! Support The Cavaliers and King Cobras Drumline just by going out to eat any day this week with HungryFriend. It's the easiest, tastiest way to support your favorite performing arts organization, at no extra cost to you. Here's how it works: 1. Download the free app at cavaliers.org/hungryfriend 2. Find HungryFriend participating restaurants near you and choose one (or two!) to try this week 3. Register your favorite credit card for dining out within the app (*your card will never be charged*) 4. Use your registered credit card at any participating HungryFriend restaurant That's IT! By paying with your registered card at any HungryFriend partner restaurant, CAPE automatically receives a donation worth 4% of what you spend (including tax and tip). These donations add up and make a big impact for our members. We hope you'll consider giving it a try this week!

For those who have managed to avoid my endless in person updates — Amongst the boundless new projects and clients this year I also managed to devise, write, direct and present a multi-point interactive theatre show! It's these off-clock projects that keep the creative engine running smoothly (though also significantly more sleep deprived) Beyond the show's success. I think the thing I am most proud of is the team that Kate Speakman and I built to help us turn this idea into a reality. Kate came to me one day with a stack of interviews and a series of drafted scripts and said "Yo, creative person, help me make sense of this." Over 6 months, we pulled it from a loose message ("Your embarrassment is valid but not unique, feel the yucky feelings, then let it go") into a simple and clean premise: Your unresolved baggage is a bomb just waiting to go off... Go through airport customs. Then we found 18 people to turn the idea into a real, meaningful, walkable, choose your own journey... Complete with customs declarations forms. It's rare to find people who 'click' into gear so quickly and seamlessly — rarer still to find 18 of them. We managed to not only find talented people, but talented people who understood that this project's success relies on their talent and contribution. On reflection and in discussion with the team, I think that this culture is what made our hair-brained idea work. Each person was consistently made aware of their importance, their responsibility, their value in the room. We trusted each other, we held space for each other, we leant on each other, we held each other accountable. 'Ol mate Kate Speakman champions this attitude. She's the best egg, and a dear friend. Stay tuned for the next side project xoxo

#FunFoodFactFriday On September 19, 1969, the first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store opened in Lebanon, TN. Founder Dan Evins began his concept as a restaurant–gas station combo to help his family’s oil business and give travelers a place to rest and socialize. By 1977, the chain had grown to 13 Cracker Barrel locations. However, the oil embargo of the mid-70s led to a switch in the chain’s focus. They began expanding the menu and creating a “country store” shopping area for the restaurants. The name “cracker barrel” was a nod to the barrels often found on the front porches of country stores. They were used to ship soda crackers to avoid breakage and then became a gathering spot for people to visit and play checkers while visiting the stores. The first menus were handwritten by Dan Evins himself and contained intentional misspellings and folksy phrases to make them look and feel like they were written on brown paper bags. The menu included standard Southern cuisine, such as biscuits, grits, country ham, and turnip greens. The gift shops typically stock toys reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s along with home décor and classic brands of snack foods and candy. They also sell country music CDs, DVDs, cookbooks, branded mixes, and more. Cracker Barrel now has 662 restaurants in 45 states. Other Fun Facts: *** Each Cracker Barrel location contains around 1,000 artifacts that complement the town and the region of its location. However, there are five items found in every location: a deer head (usually above the dining room fireplace), horseshoes (above all front door exteriors), a cookstove (often in the gift shop), an axe yoke (above the front doors), and a traffic light (to show the way to the restrooms). *** Cracker Barrel has an employee-funded non-profit organization called Cracker Barrel Cares, which helps Cracker Barrel employees in times of need. Additionally, the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Foundation supports nonprofits and charities around the country. *** The most popular candy sold at Cracker Barrel is the thin sticks, and the chain sells over 13 million of them per year! #restaurantindustry #innovation #nowyouknow #forhireresults The Newell Group

Fundraiser’s Dinner Etiquette Tip #4: Utensils You find yourself at dinner, but the place setting is much more complex than you are used to. You don’t want to make a bad impression on your dinner companions. Where do you start with all of the various utensils? Here are the main considerations to keep in mind: 🍽️Start on the outside, and work your way in. Utensils for the main course will be closest to the plate. 🍽️If soup is served, the spoon will be on the outermost right side, since it will be the first course of the meal. 🍽️ Dessert forks and spoons will be placed at the top of the place setting. 🍽️ Wine glasses will be arranged from right to left in the order that they will be used. The water glass will be the inmost glass, placed right above your knives. What formal dining situations have you encountered with donors? #DinnerEtiquette #petrusdevelopment #fundraising #development #faithbasedfundraising #fundraisingdinner #EtiquetteTips

How to declutter your home before Christmas Tips on where to start your cleanup, how to get the kids involved, and where best for your unwanted items to end up https://lnkd.in/emjcTDTD #christmas #declutter #tips #cleanup #donations

🎉 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐞 🎉 💡 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐩, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬! “𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬” Ingredients: 1 Celebrity Chef 🍽️ 1 Family-Friendly High-End Restaurant 🏨 1 Impactful Cause ❤️ A Dash of Creativity ✨ Method: 1. Pick a celebrity chef whose persona blends seamlessly with your campaign's mission. Make sure their values resonate with your cause. 2. Partner with a top restaurant (hotel restaurants work great!) and align on the vision. 3. Design a signature dish—every time someone orders it, a portion of the price is donated (think IDR 60k-85k per dish). Simple, yet powerful. 4. For those looking to elevate the experience, offer a second program—exclusive dining tables with beautiful decor for families. Pricing starts at IDR 650k for 4 pax, and guess what? It’s another way to give back. 5. Add the cherry on top by launching with a gala dinner, featuring the celebrity chef cooking live! Guests enjoy gourmet meals, and donations flow in. Pro tip: Want to keep it memorable? Place a 360 camera by the family tables to capture their dining experience—turn it into campaign content later! ✨ 𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐥à—𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐠𝐨! ✨ Got your own secret recipe for fundraising success? Drop it in the comments! #Fundraising #NonProfit #CreativeCampaigns #CSR #FoodForACause #DonationIdeas #CelebrityChefs #ImpactfulGiving

Yay, Kenzie!

Planning your next silent auction? Let’s make it a game-changer! 🏆 Silent auctions are a powerful way to raise funds, but the right items can truly take your event to the next level. From once-in-a-lifetime experiences to high-tech gadgets and luxurious getaways, the right auction items can spark competition, create excitement, and maximize your proceeds. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the most popular auction items that will have your guests bidding in no time: 🚁 Hot Air Balloon Ride: A breathtaking adventure that appeals to thrill-seekers and romantics alike. 🍷 Private Wine Tasting Tour: A luxurious day spent exploring vineyards and savoring fine wines. 🌍 Weekend Getaway: A relaxing retreat at a cozy resort or a city break to unwind and recharge. 🎤 Backstage Concert Passes: Exclusive access to meet your favorite artists and see the show from behind the scenes. 🎮 Virtual Reality Headset: Immerse yourself in another world with the latest in cutting-edge technology. 🍽️ Private Chef Experience: A personalized gourmet dinner in the comfort of your home, created by a professional chef. 🧘♀️ Spa Day Package: Pamper your attendees with a day of relaxation and self-care. 🎬 Private Movie Screening: A unique movie night experience for a group of friends or family in an exclusive theater. These unique and exciting items will grab your guests' attention and have them raising their paddles for more. From unforgettable experiences to high-value goods, choosing the right auction items is key to a successful event. Ready to take your silent auction to the next level? Read our full blog with 60 ideas to to maximize your auction revenue! https://lnkd.in/gtet7TGz #SilentAuction #FundraisingSuccess #NonprofitEvents #AuctionItems #CharityAuctions #EventPlanning #FundraisingIdeas #NonprofitLeadership

Several holidays in the fall call for special holiday meals. Here are 3 tips to assist you organize your spices. 🌶 Check expiration dates every 6 months. Expired spices can lose their taste and freshness. 🌶 Use risers or drawer dividers to keep spices organized. Turntables can assist also if your space has deep corners. 🌶 Organize your spices by use. Frequently used items should be front and center. If you need assistance getting organized, unpacking, or preparing for a move, book your FREE consultation today. #Fall #spices #kitchen #getorganized #declutter #purge #donate #organizingpro #homeorganizer #houstonhomeorganizer #professionalorganizerhouston #hireaprofessionalorganizer #blackprofessionalorganizers #womenowned #NABPO #NAPO #Texas #harriscounty #montgomerycounty #galvestoncounty #iOrganize #YouMatter2Us #fyp