Brandeis Alumni, Family and Friends
Travel and Recreation
Featured Gift Ideas
Cannúa
If you’re still stuck at home, start dreaming about a stay at Colombia’s first high-end sustainable ecolodge, co-founded by Brian Schon ’06, MBA’11, MPP’11. This hotel in the Andes has earned a 5.0 rating and “slice of heaven” endorsements on TripAdvisor. Surrounded by a forest that’s home to 90 species of birds, the lodge offers yoga and farming classes; rum, coffee and chocolate tastings; and farm-to-table dining. From $120 a night for a Superior Double and $255 a night for a Cabaña Jr. Suite.
Pasta Social Club
Make ravioli, make friends! Get cooking with Pasta Social Club founder and chef Meryl Feinstein ’12, whose online workshops on creating fresh pasta are the perfect activity for a date night at home and a must-have tutorial for comfort-food fans. Virtual classes and workshops from $35.
More Travel and Recreation
A luxury boutique hotel committed to community, The Betsy reflects lessons owner Jonathan Plutzik ’76 learned at Brandeis more than 40 years ago. With inspired architecture and award-winning food, The Betsy offers everything you’d expect from a hotel. Travel + Leisure calls one of the top three in Miami Beach, plus nine art galleries, nightly live music, and an established writers-in-residence program. Give the gift of the perfect getaway, where attention to detail meets appreciation of the arts in an unbeatable oceanfront location. From $499.
The best gift is a getaway to Hawaii. Guests at this bed and breakfast owned by Trina Walzer-Yerlick ’78 will enjoy perfect views of the Big Island west coast and coffee and fruit grown on the premises. It’s truly a place to relax and get back to nature. $155- $195 per night plus Hawaii tax.
Give the gift of a New York Beer and Brewery Tour, NYC's original beer tasting experience on wheels, founded by CEO Marshall Stevenson ’94. For beginners and beer connoisseurs alike, enjoy a fun-filled, delicious ride learning about and drinking beer as you stop at various breweries all around NYC. Signature tour (5 hrs), $125; express tour (3 hrs), $79; Brooklyn beer and sightseeing tour (4 hrs), $59; or choose from a list of public and private tour options for a customized experience. Gift certificates are available for future tours.
Get baking (virtually) with Paula Shoyer ’86. Choose from a variety of themed classes including: French pastry (profiteroles and galette), chocolate desserts, tarts and pies, Jewish desserts (babka and black and white cookies), healthy meals, gluten-free cooking or baking, bread making, holiday meals or a custom class of anything you want to learn. $400 for a private group of six, $700 for up to 25 participants.
Give the gift of a private archery session with an experienced USA Archery coach through the Sattva Center for Archery Training, co-owned by CFO and coach SerahRose Bissell ’00. Private coaching is a perfect way for beginners to get personal, focused attention. For dedicated athletes, private coaching allows the space for deep practice, focused pursuit of goals, more feedback and development of individualized training plans. $150 for a 90-minute 2-person session or a 2-hour 1-person session. Located in Northampton, Massachusetts. $150.