The Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur presents GATHER AT THE GALA Friday, December 10th at 6:00 pm Country Club of Decatur 6pm Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres with Silent Auction Music by Terry Brennan and Friends 7pm Dinner followed by Live Auction $115 per person Entree Selections: Filet Mignon with Red Wine Demi-Sauce Grilled Salmon with Citrus Butter Autumn Quinoa Bowl (Vegetarian) Reservations must be received by December 1, 2021. Purchase your reservations online by clicking here or by calling the Decatur Area Arts Council at 217-423-3189 Sponsored by: Herald & Review, Neuhoff Media, and WAND TV Proceeds support the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, the Decatur Youth Orchestra, Scholarships and Music Education Programs funded by the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur.

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2021 Silent Auction

1. Celebrating Sondheim

With Stephen Sondheim’s recent passing, this stunning collection of ten 22” x 14” posters, originally created for The Kennedy Center’s Sondheim Celebration, is a must for anyone who treasures Mr. Sondheim’s amazing talent, and that’s just about everyone! Donated by Captain and Mrs. William Frank, USN-retired

2. Is Your Piano Feeling Neglected?

Has it been a while since your piano felt loved?  If so, John Baird, registered piano technician, will give your piano the love and attention it needs for the best sound. Donated by John Baird

3. Merry Mari-Mann Christmas

Decatur is so fortunate to have a business like Mari-Mann, and this assortment of their fine products is the perfect gift to give yourself or someone you love. Donated by Mari-Mann Herb Co., Inc.

4. Where Decatur’s Best-Dressed Men Shop

It’s no secret that Decatur’s best-dressed men always find their way to The Brass Horn. Use this $50 certificate at The Brass Horn, then head next-door with $20 for lunch at Coney McKane’s. Donated by The Brass Horn and Coney McKane’s

5. Right Next Door!

Ladies will always find that just-right garment or gift with $50 to spend at The Brass Horn Too. Everyone loves Flo’s pies at Decatur’s own Coney McKane’s, where your $20 certificate is good for a sweet treat! Donated by The Brass Horn Too and Coney McKane’s

6. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee!

Marquis Coffee in the morning!  What a joy any time of year, but when there are other lovely goodies in the basket, resistance is futile! Donated by Marquis Coffee Roasters

7. Picture Perfect!

This is simply too perfect for a parent or grandparent to pass up! Child’s Play Photography is donating a $200 sitting fee or that amount applied toward your teen’s senior picture!  Say ”Yes!” Donated by Kathy Locke of Child’s Play Photography

8. It’s so Important to be in Touch!

And you will be in touch with this “World’s First Touch Screen Tablet Messenger Bag. With this clever design, there is no need to ever take your tablet out of your bag!” Donated by Shop on Main

9. A Toe-Tapping Great Evening

Velocity Irish Dance is a “multimedia, high-octane celebration of the past, present and future of Irish dance.”  See you at The Kirkland on Friday, March 25th! This is a two-ticket package. Donated by The Kirkland Fine Arts Center

10. Holiday Table Glow

With its red candles glowing, this holiday centerpiece of silk greens and seasonal touches will beautify your Christmas table for years to come. Anonymous

11. Classic R & B and You!

Kirkland Fine Arts Center donates two-tickets to see and hear Millikin alum Brian Owens on Saturday, April 2. Considered the “new voice in American soul,” this is a performance you won’t want to miss. Donated by The Kirkland Fine Arts Center

12. A Must-Have for Any Music Lover!

This cut crystal quarter note is the perfect addition to any music lover’s home or office. Donated by The Glass House

13. Ninety Years and More Beautiful Than Ever!

In 2021 Merle Norman Cosmetics turned ninety-years-old!  The company’s story and products make this generous basket of beauty products something to please any woman. Donated by the downtown Decatur Merle Norman Store

14. Table for Four Please!

What a table! Murphy & Company is providing a cooking class for four adults and two bottles of fine wine. What fun! Donated by Murphy & Company

15. Truly Joyful!

Artist Judy Kimmons calls this jolly elf Joyful, and he is! It is the highest quality giclee print, framed by the artist, and ready to spread joy throughout your holiday home. Donated by Judy Kimmons

16. Holiday Giggles and a Movie

Is there a more fun store anywhere than Decatur’s very own Giggles?  It’s doubtful, so enjoy a shopping trip to a store filled with holiday delights and more. $50 gift card at Giggles and four tickets at downtown Decatur’s Avon Theater. Donated by Giggles and The Avon

17. Delicious, Delectable Del’s

So much goodness in one gift basket! Donated by Del’s Popcorn Shop

18. Don’t Trust Your Car to Just Anyone!

Bob Brady Cadillac has been in the business for over thirty years, and when their service department takes care of two oil changes and two professional detailing jobs, you will be a very happy driver. Donated by Bob Brady Cadillac

19. More Automobile T.L.C.

Thanks to the generosity of Bob Brady Cadillac, another happy car can have two oil changes and two professional detailing jobs in 2022! Donated by Bob Brady Cadillac

20. Opa! Authentic Greek Pastries!

There’s nothing better than this traditional winter sweet – a tray of baklava freshly made especially for you, just in time for your holiday gathering. Approximately 3 dozen pieces, prepared in the time-honored way – 20 layers of phyllo dough laced with butter, chopped walnuts, authentic Greek spices and honey. Donated by Amy and Paul Chiligiris

21. Styled Just for You!

This gift basket is stocked with an array of goodies –from a bottle of Pinot Grigio with wine glasses and bottle stopper, to Fashion magazine, to fun socks, notepad and pen and more, topped off with a $50 certificate toward Cabi fashions to suit your personal style. Donated by Tracey Albert, independent Cabi stylist

22. Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

It’s time for a great baseball game when the St. Louis Cardinals meet the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on April 12, 2022. This is a four-ticket package! Donated by First Mid Bank and Trust

23. A Welcome Touch

Every door needs a holiday wreath that invites guests in from the cold. Worked in silk greenery with seasonal colors and just the right amount of sparkle, this is the perfect “Hello.” Anonymous

24. Caddy for Me?

Check out one of Decatur’s new post-pandemic restaurants, complete with sports bar and golf simulator! This $120 gift certificate can be used for virtual golf and/or food and beverage service. Book your simulator tee time online. Donated by Caddy Shack Golf Pub

2021 Live Auction

1. Did Queen Victoria II Ever Have Tea with The Governor and Mrs. Oglesby?

We can find no record of Queen Victoria visiting the Oglesbys, but your party of eight can have tea in the governor’s parlor! Enjoy the beauty and charm of this treasured historic home as you step back in time for a lovely afternoon tea in the Victorian manner. Claim this package before December 1, 2022, on a date mutually agreeable with the Oglesby Mansion. Donated by Heidi Sack and Shirley Swarthout; use of the Oglesby Mansion provided by The Governor Oglesby Mansion, Inc.

2. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming

The 15th-century Christmas hymn inspired the theme for this floral celebration of the season. It blooms with snow-covered red silk roses and hydrangeas, accompanied by eucalyptus and glittering pinecones, pears, and singing cardinals. It will add to the beauty of your home for the season or make a lovely gift for those in senior living spaces. Designed and donated by Christina Shields and Jayne Svendsen

3. An Elegant Dinner for Eight – Fit for a Pope!

As many of you know, Dr. Bob Carney is a master Lego builder with a special passion for castles. He and Judy are preparing an elegant dinner for eight that will be, in Bob’s words, “Fit for a Pope” – just like the featured Lego design of the evening – a 45,000 Lego-element model of the Chateau de Villandraut, the residential fortress of Pope Clement V in his hometown near Bordeaux. In the words of the host, “All bidders will be acceptable without regard to faith or creed!” This promises to be a very special evening! Donated by Bob and Judy Carney

4. Meet You in St. Louis?

St. Louis is a great city that just happens to have a great symphony. Enjoy two tickets for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and a VISA card valued at $150 for dining and/or accommodations. Donated by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jim and Kathy Kramer, and Jan and Craig Mandernach

5. Fore on the Links and Four for Lunch

Your foursome will enjoy a round of golf on the beautiful Country Club of Decatur 18-hole course and then relax over a delicious lunch in the clubhouse. What a perfect way to spend a day! Donated by Country Club of Decatur and Jim and Susan Wade

6. The Theatre Lights Have Come Back On!

We’re so glad to once again have live theatre back in Central Illinois! The famed Little Theatre on the Square has generously donated two season tickets for its forthcoming 2022 season.  Applause! Applause! Donated by The Little Theatre on the Square

7. Gazing at the Big Blue Sky

An evening to remember as your party of eight enjoys drinks and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the night sky at Millikin’s observatory in the Leighty-Tabor Science Building. Donated by Millikin University and hosted by Professor Dan Miller

8. Ready for a Windy City Getaway?

We’re all ready for new memories, so why not enjoy the gift of music performed by the world-esteemed Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This is a two-ticket package for one performance event through June 30, 2022. Includes hotel accommodations for one night, to be arranged after date is selected. Donated by The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Kathy and Joe Brown

9. What’s for Dessert?

The answer to that question will come as eight guests enjoy a five-course dinner prepared by Richland Community College’s master chef and program director Brian Tucker. This is a fabulous opportunity to dine and learn from the best! Chef Tucker requests that this evening be mutually scheduled before December 10, 2022. Donated by Richland Community College and Chef Brian Tucker 

10. Roses Are Red . . .

Roses and all manner of beautiful flowers and plants will be yours for a year as three of our finest florists generously share their artistic talent. Six gift certificates, valued at $50 each, will allow you to choose your seasonal favorites every other month throughout 2022. Donated by Bloom Room, Secret Garden, and Svendsen Florist

11. James and Anna Millikin Invite You . . .

Picture yourself in the Victorian era as you and your guests step back in time to sip, nibble, and enjoy the ambiance of this elegant, but warm, inviting home. Your hosts and the James Millikin Homestead look forward to welcoming your party of 12 for an evening that features a wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Wine tasting sponsored by Christina and Terry Shields, Hors d’oeurves provided by Rick Strine, and Millikin Homestead use provide by the Millikin Homestead Board

12. An Artist’s Gift

Quoting from Gallery 510’s homepage, Jessica Disbrow’s “goal in every work of art is to find the joy at the heart of every piece.”  The Gala Committee is honored that Jessica has graciously donated her framed painting of Amish buggies on a winter day. Donated by Jessica Disbrow

13. Cuisine at the Culver House

Be the first to entertain your guests in the newly renovated Culver House! John Strader, newly arrived from New York and now chef at Robbie’s Grill, will prepare dinner for your party of up to 20, with wine pairings recommended by the chef. Menu to be mutually agreed upon with the chef. Redeem on a mutually agreeable date during March, April, or May 2022. Donated by Carol and John Benda, Greg and Jo Carter, Tricia and Steve Miller, Bruce and Kay Nims, Julienne and Zachary Shields. Use of Culver House donated by Historic Decatur Foundation

14. The Lady in Your Life Will Look Like a Trillion!

This stunning trillion-shaped opal doublet features four round, brilliant cut diamonds totaling approximate .08 carats and hangs on a 22-inch 14-karat yellow gold rope chain. Now, think how beautiful it will be on your special lady! Donated by Flora Gems

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