Giving something that will end up stuck in a junk drawer or regifted is no fun for the giver or the giftee. And for the people who seem to have it all, it can be hard to pick something they might actually want. To avoid these hassles, try giving a gift of experiences that return your sentiment all year long. Many local establishments offer clubs and memberships that provide ongoing benefits for a one-time purchase.
Marché Provisions Wine Club On the first Wednesday of each month, this club provides members with six seasonally appropriate, carefully selected bottles of wine, plus the opportunity to order those six wines at club prices throughout the month. Members receive detailed tasting notes for each wine, plus recipes and pairing suggestions. All club members receive a monthly membership card that entitles them to 10 percent off all individual wine purchases, 15 percent off cases and 10 percent off wine seminars and classes. $60 per month; 743-0660.
Bijou Art Cinema Membership Program Your film buff can receive admission to all regular shows for only $3; one free regular popcorn, fountain soda, coffee or tea each month; invitation to at least one members-only event each year; $1 admission to any film in Bijou’s classics series, Monday through Thursday, or genre late-nights series, Sunday through Thursday; free admission for the cardholder and a friend on their birthday; and discounts at 18 participating local businesses by presenting their card. Carte Bleu level is $100 a year. Other levels available for $50, $75, $300 and $1,000; 686-2458.
Mount Pisgah Arboretum Membership A membership to this park provides a free annual parking pass good for all trailheads in the park — parking is normally a $4 fee each day. Members receive free admission to the spring Wildflower Festival and the fall Mushroom Festival; free admission to the arboretum’s guided nature walks and discounts on educational workshops; quarterly newsletters and advance notice of special events; and free or reduced admission to hundreds of other arboretums and botanic gardens throughout the U.S. and Canada. Memberships are available for students ($40), seniors ($40), individuals ($50) and families ($60), along with sponsors ($75), sustainers ($100), supporters ($250) and lifetime ($1,000); 747-3817.
Friends of Buford Park & Mount Pisgah Native Plant Nursery Sponsoring a seed plot at this plant nursery means more wildflowers and fewer weeds at the popular Lane County park. Three levels of plot sponsorships support restoration projects on and around Mount Pisgah. Small plots (10 feet by 10 feet), $250; medium plots (10 feet by 40 feet), $500; large plots (10 feet by 100 feet), $1,000; 344-8350.
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Membership The JSMA’s collections galleries present selections from its extensive holdings of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and American art. All gift memberships come in a special package, and the recipient will enjoy unlimited free admission to the museum, discounts at the Museum’s Marché Café and The Museum Store, invitations to the opening reception of major exhibitions and more. Individual memberships, $45; family, $55; contributing memberships range from $100 to $1,000; 346-3027.
Science Factory Children’s Museum and Exploration Dome Membership Any family would be happy to receive a membership to our local science museum. It’s a great place to explore and discover on a rainy day — or any day. Members receive unlimited free admission to the Science Factory Exhibit Hall and unlimited free admission to star shows in the Exploration Dome (the planetarium). All members receive discounts on camps, classes and birthday parties and invitations to Science Factory members-only events. The current exhibit, “Roll, Drop, Bounce: The Science of Motion,” runs through January 2014. Individual and family memberships range from $35 to $85 per year; 682-7888.