Uncle Pauly’s Big Finish
That’s all folks! There’s still time to donate to needy Christmas charities, but our extra push is coming to an end.
Thanks to you, generous Edmontonians, some of the fears that those charities would fall very, very short of their holiday goals is being alleviated. We just wanted to remind everyone that your help, whether it’s $10 or a small toy, really does go a long way.
Before we announce the winners, we want to thank the businesses, individuals, and organizations that donated a prize to help us help others make the season a little brighter for those less fortunate.
- We’ve got a $25 Chapters/Indigo/Coles card, a $25 iTunes card, a $25 Empire Theatres card, and a $25 Zellers/HBC card thanks to Paul “Uncle Pauly” Poulsen, InvestInEdmonton, Edmonton’s BEST Landlord and Five by Five Creative.
- 2 mugs, and buttons courtesy of The Unknown Studio.
- Marilyn Kontz crafted two coffee sleeves (I keep referring to them as coffee cozies) and Transcend Coffee is giving one donor a 6-month subscription of coffee.
- The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was immediately helpful, offering two tickets to the first performance of the new year, Saint-Saens’s Second Piano Concerto.
- One lucky Edmontonian will be receiving the Viking Weekly Review delivered to their home, as well as a toque and scarf, thanks to Lorraine Poulsen, editor.
- We’ve got a treasure chest of goodies, literally a little treasure chest, thanks to the Katz Group.
- Gord Lacey has offered up Season 1 DVDs of The Cleveland Show and Cougar Town.
- And we have a $100 Future Shop gift card thanks to Richard at Global Analyzer System.
I assure you the draw was random and I couldn’t see the names I was choosing, until placed beside the prizes. On top of those warm, fuzzy feelings they got for donating to worthy charities at Christmas the following people will be enjoying something extra thanks to Uncle Pauly.
Greg gets to eat at great Edmonton restaurants with his Original Fare gift card (the edmontonian donated that prize). Jill will have a little extra to spend at Chapters, Empire Theatres, iTunes, and HBC stores. John will be sipping his lattes from Unknown Studio mugs, well regarded in the mug world. Sarah will be sipping new and exotic coffees from Transcend, while keeping her hands burn-free with coffee sleeves by Marilyn. Chris will be attending the first ESO concert of the new year. Joseph gets to stay warm in a new toque and scarf from the Viking Weekly Review, a newspaper he’ll become familiar with in 2011. Karen gets golf balls, chocolate, and other goodies I couldn’t identify in a treasure chest. Joanna will be watching the first seasons of The Cleveland Show and Cougar Town again and again. And Deja will be buying electronics at Future Shop.
We’ll be contacting the winners soon.
Thanks to Paul for coming up with the idea. Thanks to everyone that sent us a photo, to everyone who donated because of our contest, and to everyone who donates time, money, and stuff, to charities and non-profits the whole year through.
Your kindness made our heart grow three sizes, Edmonton.
Keep Giving
When Paul heard about Christmas charities struggling to feed people this December, when he heard kids would go without a toy, he had to do something.
So, Paul said to us, “Hey, let’s give people a chance at prizes for their donations.”
All you have to do for a chance at our Christmas goodies is send us a photo of you donating to a charity this holiday season. We already told you that you could win a $100 Original Fare gift card and Unknown Studio mugs and buttons.
But we really want you to kick up those Christmas donations (remember, nothing crazy, $10 or a $10-ish toy). So, let’s up the ante. (more…)
Live Local First
You may or may not have heard by now that November is “Shop Local First Month.” Among the various other “months” November is (think of Movember, Family Violence Awareness, etc…)
Now, I like to think I know at least a tiny bit about you, sitting out there staring at me. I bet that some of you shop at local, original stores quite often. You may even go out of your way to shop at Edmonton businesses and support local entrepreneurs. (more…)
Long Live the Fork!
It’s time to sharpen up your forks, and dine at some of Edmonton’s original, local restaurants.
Fork Fest! – Summer 2010 – is on.
Many of Original Fare’s restaurants are offering special menus, some with special prices, to get you to try something outside of the chains. Give them a whirl, and let us know which one is the best local spot to grab dinner.
Thanks to our buddy Derjis for this photo, celebrating the pronged utensil.
Upon reflection, this also works well as a Monday event listing. Check out the restaurants you could be eating at tonight.
Two Things I Learned from my E-mail This Morning
1) That I missed the first wave of Fork Fest.
2) That I almost missed the pre-sale for the Starlite Room’s 5th Anniversary Party with Bedouin Soundclash. Five years, eh? I remember when it was the Rev.
God, I’m old.
Oh, and 3) I really need to check my e-mail in a more timely fashion.
Here’s looking at you, Cheapskates: Local Loyalty Programs
I LOVE DEALS. I don’t require them – but hey, an additional incentive to spend money is always welcome. You probably didn’t know that about me, Edmonton; you also probably don’t care. But that’s just a little glimpse of what makes me tick. I love the smell of commerce in the morning.
Anyway, if you enjoy spending like I do, there are TONS of locally owned businesses with customer reward programs, just to make your money go a little farther.
C’est Sera
Manager Jenn Clark shows off a C'est Sera discount card
The C’est Sera chain (with stores downtown, on Whyte and in Lendrum) has a very popular paid loyalty card.
“It’s $20. With the card, you get 10% off all regular items, at all 3 locations,” explains Jenn Clark, manager of C’est Sera’s downtown location, who I spoke with while I (you guessed it) was buying shoes. She also adds that cardholders get additional perks, like the opportunity to receive sale prices on some items before they actually go on sale.
“It’s a better way for us to get to know our customers,” adds Clark. “It’s more about making people part of the C’est Sera family.”
Le Papier
Le Papier, one of my favorite places to nerd out on stationary and cards,
issues stamp cards to repeat customers. For every ten cards purchased, you get an eleventh for free, up to a value of $7.50 – and the card has no expiry date. They also have a great selection of locally made products.
“We support Canadian card makers and local card makers,” says staff member Denise O’Brien. “We’re out of so many, they’re very popular.”
