For someone who likes to be pampered
Sawgrass Marriott Cabana Beach Club and Spa memberships: The Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa is offering guests an opportunity to enjoy the Florida sunshine and its world-class amenities all year long with Cabana Beach Club or spa memberships. The Cabana Beach Club is a private club on a beautiful oceanfront location outfitted with a beachfront pool and a shallow toddler pool. There’s casual dining, plus wireless Internet access, shower and changing rooms, chairs and umbrellas, and a wide range of beach and watersports rentals. For more information on memberships, call (904) 280-3403 or go to www.sawgrassmarriottbeachclub.com. The recently renovated Sawgrass Spa features 19 private treatment rooms, including hydrotherapy and couples’ massage facilities. The menu of offerings for skincare, body treatments, massage and hydrotherapy have been expanded to nearly 50 individual treatments, to enjoy either a la carte or in a day spa package. There is also a whirlpool, heated outdoor pool and private locker rooms with a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and relaxation lounge. The spa also boasts a nail care studio and a workout studio. Additional membership benefits include discounts at the Spa & Resort, unlimited facility access and fitness classes, members-only events and more. For more information on spa memberships, call (904) 674-4772 or visit www.sawgrassmarriottbeachclub.com.
The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club holiday specials: The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers a selection of special deals throughout the season, including December’s service of the month “mint chocolate mistletoes,” which starts at $70. The Spa is also offering an extra incentive for those who purchase a Spa gift card: For every $150 spent on gift cards, guests will receive a complimentary $15 voucher. Complimentary vouchers are redeemable Jan. 1, 2018 through Oct. 31, 2018. Gift cards can be purchased at the St. John’s Town Center location (kiosk) through Dec. 24. For more information on The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club special deals, call (904) 273-7700 or visit www.pvspa.com.
For the foodie
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Holiday Surf & Turf: Get a choice of three different cuts of steak alongside twin cold-water lobster tails, plus other seasonal specials. Locations can be found in Ponte Vedra Beach and downtown Jacksonville. For more information, go to www.ruthschris.com/promotions.
The Bread & Board holiday season promotions: The Bread & Board, an independent restaurant in Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood, has holiday promotions for gift cards, prepared meals and boards-to-go. Gift cards are available for purchase, and bonus cards will be offered in the following increments through Jan. 31, 2018: Buy $50 in gift cards, receive a $10 bonus card; buy $100 in gift cards, receive a $25 bonus card; and buy $500 in gift cards, receive a $150 bonus card. The Bread & Board also offers an assortment of The Bread & Board’s house meats that can be pre-ordered to help eliminate the stress of holiday meal planning, and has also created four specialty boards-to-go, designed for guests who are hosting or attending a holiday gathering. Each board comes with an assortment of ingredients packaged for transport and a reusable live edge wood board, and options include an artisan cheese board, house charcuterie, signature ham and brie and holiday sweets. Orders for house meats and holiday boards-to-go may be placed by calling (904) 673-5557 or emailing info@thebreadandboard.com. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance for pickup through 2:30 p.m., Dec. 31 (except Dec. 25).
For the sports fan
THE PLAYERS Championship special holiday packages: THE PLAYERS Championship is offering a special holiday ticket package that includes two Stadium passes, unlimited youth tickets and a pair of island green Stance socks. The packages are $116 (Thursday and Sunday) and $130 (Friday and Saturday). Another package is also available that includes one weekly ticket, unlimited youth tickets and a pair of island green Stance socks for $195. Prices do not include tax. The special offer is available through Jan. 1, 2018, at THEPLAYERS.com/holiday. Additional ticket options are available by calling (844) 868-7465. For more information about THE PLAYERS, go to THEPLAYERS.com.
THE PLAYERS Stadium gift package: This includes a certificate for one round of golf on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course (includes cart, balls and forecaddie), a guest rate of 20 percent off rack rate, a TPC Sawgrass logoed hat, a TPC Sawgrass divot tool set, a TPC Sawgrass towel and a TPC Sawgrass customized bag tag. The cost is $350 plus tax. The certificate is redeemable through Feb. 28. For more information, call (904) 273-3235 or visit tpc.com/sawgrass/holiday/.
For the music fan
St. Augustine Amphitheatre: Some of the upcoming shows include Willie Nelson and Family with guest Los Lonely Boys (Feb. 18), country superstar Brad Paisley featuring Chase Bryant (March 10) and Barenaked Ladies with guests Better Than Ezra and KT Tunstall (July 6). For more information on these shows and other events at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, go to www.staugamphitheatre.com.
Ponte Vedra Concert Hall: Some of the upcoming performances at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall include Henry Rollins’ “Travel Slideshow Spoken Word Tour” (Jan. 1), (Jan. 12) and Black Violin (Jan. 27). For more information on these shows and other events at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall, go to www.pvconcerthall.com.
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra: Upcoming performances from the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra include Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto, featuring pianist Zhang Zuo (Jan 5-6); “Requiem for an Angel,” featuring violinist Anthony Marwood (Feb.2-3); and “Film with Orchestra:” A symphonic night at the movies with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (Feb. 16-17). For more events from the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, go to www.jaxsymphony.org
For the animal lover
Jacksonville Humane Society: With a donation, the Jacksonville Humane Society will send your loved one an exclusive holiday card letting them know you care, or even name a pet in their honor. Orders are due by Dec. 20. For more information, call (904) 725 8766 or visit jaxhumane.org.
S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue of St. Augustine: Give the gift of your time and make a new friend by adopting or fostering animals through S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue, which has saved more than 7,000 lives by rescuing pets from shelters before they are euthanized. Donations can also be made to S.A.F.E. to help give the animals in their care necessary medical treatment, food and supplies. For more information on S.A.F.E., go to www.safe-pet-rescue-fl.com.
Giving back and helping others
Gifts by Rethreaded: Rethreaded is a nonprofit headquartered in Jacksonville with a mission to break the cycle of the sex trade by offering viable and creative work to those affected by the sex trade (i.e. prostitution, drug addiction and human trafficking). Rethreaded has directly helped 24 women locally though providing jobs in the Jacksonville area. Globally, Rethreaded has positively impacted the lives of more than 2,000 women through its import company. A look at some items are made by local sex trade survivors at Rethreaded’s headquarters in Jacksonville.
■ Grace scarf: Handcrafted by a local sex trade survivor, the Grace scarf starts at $28 and is made with 100 percent upcycled cotton T-shirts. The scarf was the first product made by Rethreaded survivor employees.
■ Joy earrings: Made by sex trade survivors using upcycled leather and T-shirts, the Joy earrings start at $20.
■ Dog chew toys: Hand-knotted out of upcycled T-shirts, Rethreaded's dog chew toys, like all Rethreaded products, are made by sex trade survivors and start at $15.
Rethreaded products are sold online, as well as at their retail store, located at 820 Barnett St. For more information visit www.rethreaded.com.
Dreams Come True: Give the gift of a lifetime to an area child with life-threatening illnesses. The locally based nonprofit has fulfilled the dreams of more than 3,700 area children, and 100 percent of donations go toward dream fulfillment. For more information on Dreams Come True, go to www.dreamscometrue.org.
