'Tis the Season: Get in the Spirit of the Holidays with CougsFirst!

O, come all ye faithful Coug alumni and fans—bring tidings of comfort and joy this holiday season by thinking CougsFirst!. Look to the growing number of Cougar-owned and-managed businesses this winter for gifts, parties, food, wine and more!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry:

Every holiday platter should have some Beecher’s Handmade Cheese on it, from the popular Flagship cheese and curds to their cult-status mac & cheese; the creamery has heard the rallying party cries. Gordon Estate has a wine to pair with that, including current releases of their Kamiak Windust White and Block 3 Merlot. Avoid holiday meal stress by hiring Herban Feast Catering to provide your party with delicious, artisan choices or use Kitchen Door for their fresh and frozen meals as well as gift certificates.
If the mountains are calling you this season, MTR Western just added round trip ski shuttle services to both Crystal Mountain and Stevens Pass Resort with varying packages. Hop on a “Holiday Ho-Ho Tour” or “Woodinville Wine Tour” to explore the city or wine country with Emerald City Trolley.
Let SH Worldwide alleviate the busy season anxiety and plan your corporate party with their dedicated professionals and legitimate connections. Book Pyramid Staging & Events as your audio-visual guide, offering everything from staging and lighting to videography and sound. Get DJ T-Free on the itinerary to mix up the music while you and your guests mingle to the holiday jingle.
Reserve your holiday party in the jubilantly decorated downtown corridors of Seattle, Bellevue and Kirkland! The Courtyard Marriott Downtown Bellevue showcases nearly 4,000 square feet of function space while the Heathman Hotel in Kirkland boasts Trellis, one of the area’s top restaurants. In Seattle, enjoy the sleek, sophistication of the Hotel Andra or party in one of the many lounges and suites of the Mayflower Park Hotel.

Shop 'til You Drop:

Read and wrap up the WSU School of Hospitality’s book, “Crimson Spoon: Plating Regional Cuisine on the Palouse,” a 200-page, photo-illustrated cookbook featuring many of Executive Chef Jamie Callison’s highly acclaimed gourmet dishes and recipes. Bundle it with a can of Cougar Gold Cheese and the WSU Creamery will ship it directly for you!
Stocking stuffers come in all shapes and size this season. Seely Family Farm has stuffers like their flagship mint products alongside gift cards, Columbia Distributing stocks beer fridges state-wide with sudsy options, Campus Pride Sportswear offers logowear from swimsuits to water bottles, and longtime, local Bartell Drugs has gift registry additions as well as wrapping paper, cards and more.
Tired of lines at the post office? Have all your gifts delivered by Postal Express, the Pacific Northwest’s premiere courier, available for scheduled and on-demand delivery, transportation and logistics for shipping gifts.

Spirit of Giving:

Send season’s greetings through membership this season, with the Cougar Athletic Fund “Give the Gift” membership program, allowing WSU fans to gift a membership on behalf of a friend or family member. A minimum of $50 will earn the recipient full membership benefits, all in the name of supporting the success of WSU Athletics.
For presents in the form of charitable donations, reach out to the Washington State University Foundation. To date, more than 190,000 supporters have made 730,000 gifts, grants and other commitments totaling $944.2 million to support WSU students, faculty, research and outreach. Join the campaign that is dedicated to the spirit of giving!
Choose your access wisely and gift a membership to Cougfan.com, “the independent voice of WSU sports.” With levels varying between a 1-month pass for $9.95 per month with online access only to an annual pass that also includes their recruiting yearbook for only $7.50 per month, this gift is sure to score big with any college sports fan.

For more information regarding CougsFirst! and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities for the 2015 CougsFirst! Show & After Party, visit our website, cougsfirst.org or contact Mary-Jo Bradley Laster at maryjo@avidevents.com.