{FLASH #GIVEAWAY} #Win a pair of Tickets to the New York City Autumn Wine Festival from @SmoothJazzNY & @Ascending1

Are your Halloween decorations still out? Even though it's not even Thanksgiving yet are the Christmas commercials putting a little 'bah' in your 'humbug'? If you are not yet in the holiday spirit and want to reset your batteries before the madness of holiday shopping begins, I've got just the thing for you!

Would the chance to enjoy over 200 expertly selected Fine Wines put the holiday cheer in your step? Check out video below from the 4th Annual New York City Winter Wine Fest - 2013 Winter Wine Festival:





About the Festival:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Extraordinary Venue: Conrad New York - A lower Manhattan Luxury Hotel will offer a spectacular setting

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 200+ Fine Wines expertly curated by Vintry Fine Wines from around the globe

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Small Plates and Cheeses by Conrad New York's exclusive caterer - Union Square Events

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Taste and Keep - A beautiful Riedel Wine Glass is yours to keep after the event ($30 Value)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Live Music - What would a Smooth Jazz event be without great music right? Gil Parris Live Contemporary Jazz Grammy-Nominated Guitar Virtuoso and his band will be the musical backdrop to each session. He is known for his special blend of Blues, Jazz, Rock and Smooth Jazz!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pick YOUR session, 3pm or 8pm

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Optional Wine Classes led by the American Sommelier's Association of premier sommeliers will offer a minimum of 5 additional palate-pleasing selections and a thought provoking look behind the wines. The Classes Include: 'History in the Tasting', 'Principles of Blind Tasting', and 'Sugar & Spice and Everything Twice'

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stay the night - Make it a weekend with special deluxe room rates starting at $299

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - And my favorite part? - A portion of the festival's proceeds will benefit Creative Arts Workshops for Kids! - CAW - www.CAW4Kids.org is a nonprofit arts education and youth development organization dedicated to empowering urban youth and underserved Upper Manhattan Communities through the use of the arts!

WIN IT:

Please note butterflies this is a FLASH GIVEAWAY, this giveaway ends at 12 am on Wednesday and the winner must confirm before 24 hours, please do not enter if you cannot attend on Saturday, November 9th! That is THIS Saturday!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: Smooth Jazz has provided Ascending Butterfly with Press Access to the NYC Autumn Wine Festival for Editorial Consideration and is providing one Ascending Butterfly reader entry to the Festival as well. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information. Ascending Butterfly and giveaway sponsors are NOT responsible for lost, late, or mis-directed mail, one entry per household.

Win a VIP @SmoothJazzNY Angela Bofill Experience Concert Cruise with #dinner & drinks via @Ascending1 #Giveaway

#Sponsored: This giveaway has been sponsored by (see below for full disclosure):

I have been partnering with Smooth Jazz New York for a number of years now and it has become an annual tradition that I greatly look forward to! While it's fantastic in summer, it's the final sail that happens right after the beginning of Fall that is my favorite. It's always bitter sweet because I know the Boat Cruises are over for the season until next summer, but it also means a host of other fun events are on the way. 

I didn't get to take the final sail last year and most of you know why by now, so I am looking that much more forward to this year's final sail.

Angela Bofill

The Smooth Cruise season is coming to an end, and the last sail is: Smooth Cruise Encore: The Angela Bofill Experience!

Like me Angela is a Bronx Native and you may know her by her six albums that made the Top 40, (five of which made the Top 100 on the pop charts as well), her albums 'Angel of the Night' and 'Too Tough' made the top 10! With performances by Maysa and Kim Waters, this is going to be some sail folks!

Here is a picture of me and mama butterfly all smiles during our last sail this summer during the Spyro Gyra sail, if you missed my recap of that sail, you can check it out HERE:

Left: Tracy of Ascending Butterfly and Right: Mama Butterfly enjoying the smooth sounds of Spyro Gyra on the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

My Take:

The Smooth Jazz Cruises are my favorite part of summer, and the final sail just gets me in the mood for Fall. Back in my recruiting days it was a favorite client gift. It is just a super relaxing evening with great music, food and people! I have met so many wonderful people throughout the years (I have actually been taking the sails well before my blogging days!)

Win It:

Our friends at Smooth Jazz New York want you to experience the same VIP experience I did! One lucky butterfly (and a guest) will win a pair of passes to the October 4th 2013, 9:30 Smooth Cruise Encore: The Angela Bofill Experience sail including dinner and drink tickets for two as well! This is a true New York Experience not to be missed! (Please do not enter if you cannot attend on 10/4 as this is a very fast turnaround and we won't have time to process a last minute cancellation)

Enter using the link to the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway ˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: Smooth Jazz New York provided Ascending Butterfly with tickets to the upcoming Encore Sail for editorial consideration, all opinions are 100% my own, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.

Win a VIP Experience @SmoothJazzNY Cruise to see Phil Perry w/dinner and drinks via @Ascending1 #Giveaway

#Sponsored: This giveaway has been sponsored by (see below for full disclosure):

One thing that's never been much of a secret is that I'm a born and raised New York City Girl, and like anyone living in a City that is a major tourist hub, there are sites you get sick of because of you have to take family and friends visiting town to these same sites/restaurants and experiences pretty much Ad Nausem, and yes, some of them tend to grow old.

Others however have become annual traditions whether or not someone is in town. That's how fun the experience is, that it never grows old or tired, and you never get that 'been there, done that' feeling afterwards. For me being an official Media Partner for Smooth Jazz Smooth Cruises has been an annual tradition that I greatly look forward to. 

Late 2011 on the night before my sail I fell into the hospital which started an over one year drama that forced me to miss the sail in 2011 I was slated for, and I also missed the sails in 2012 which truly made me sad. The smooth jazz cruises are the best part of my summer memories each year. It gives me dedicated time to connect with family and friends in a totally relaxed environment. No TV, No Distractions, just dinner, drinks, hot jazz on a cool night on the water with an expansive of view New York City all around you. And eventually great dinner, great drinks and great music with close proximity to other tables means you can always meet a new friend and have a great conversation with your table mates or those at tables in close proximity to you. 

You can stay in the lower level and have front seats to the concert, or one level up on the buffet level where you can look through directly to the stage from your seat, and eat your meal in comfort enjoying the smooth jazz sounds around you. And you can always head outside for a bit and take in the view, the night air, a cocktail on deck, and the smooth jazz music that is piped outside so you can hear the music both inside and outside the ship.

The Smooth Cruises are winding down for the season, but that doesn't mean the fun is over my butterflies, it's actually FAR from it, there is a full schedule ahead of other fun activities, as well as a rewind sail in October that we will be sharing with you all very soon! 

The Smooth Cruise season is coming to an end, and the last sail is: the smooth sounds of Phil Perry!

I got to enjoy a 6:30 sunset Sail on the Spyro Gyra Cruise and I had a blast! This was the first time I took a Smooth Jazz sail and stayed indoors the whole time. I normally spend some time on the buffet floor, then grab a drink and listen to the smooth jazz live downstairs for a few, then head upstairs to an upper deck overlooking the expanse of the water and the beautiful view, with the sound of the music dancing in my head and I put my feet up and lean back and feel the breeze that is coming off the water brush my hair back, and I take a sip of my drink and literally feel the stress of the week literally slide right off my back. It's like a meditation for me with music. My mind just goes into a relaxed, zen-like state, and I always leave smiling.

Here are some photos from my Sail, The Spyro Gyra Sail:

Spyro Gyra takes the stage at the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Spyro Gyra takes the stage at the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Lee Pearson takes a drum solo at The Smooth Jazz Spyro Gyra Sail in New York City

Ascending Butterfly filming the action at The Spyro Gyra Smooth Jazz NYC Sail

Left: Tracy of Ascending Butterfly and Right: Mama Butterfly enjoying the smooth sounds of Spyro Gyra on the Smooth Jazz Cruise in New York City

Emcee of the evening was none other than @LennyGreen Host of the Syndicated Radio Show #TheQuietStorm

Tracy of Ascending Butterfly at Pier 62 in Chelsea Piers, I'm wearing: Jacket: Wilsons Leather, Shirt: Covered Perfectly Shoes: Tika Sandals by Earthies

My Take:

The Smooth Jazz Cruises are my favorite part of summer, back in my recruiting days it was a favorite client gift. It is just a super relaxing evening with great music, food and people! Check out our Pinterest Page for additional photos that didn't make the post!

Win It:

Our friends at Smooth Jazz New York want you to experience the same VIP experience I did! One lucky butterfly will win a pair of passes to the 9:30 Phil Perry sail including dinner and drink tickets for two as well!

Enter using the link to the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙˙·٠•●♥ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♥●•●•٠·˙

FTC Disclosure: Smooth Jazz New York provided Ascending Butterfly with tickets to the Spyro Gyra sail for editorial consideration, all opinions are 100% my own, you may visit our full giveaway and disclosure page for complete policy information.