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Inside Iowa State, a newspaper for faculty and staff, is published by the Office of University Relations.

November 19, 2004

Guide to campus shopping

by Diana Pounds

There's nothing like a little holiday shopping on the Iowa State campus, where the gifts are edible, entertaining and sometimes, entomological. Here are just a few of the gifts available on campus.

Something different: A scorpion

It seems a safe assumption that the guy or gal who has everything doesn't have a framed display of a real white-eyed assassin bug or an emperor scorpion. The entomology department's online Insect Zoo Store can help you fill that void with caterpillars, butterflies and other bugs, mounted in attractive, glass-topped boxes. Prices start at $5. (Another good source of butterfly mounts is the Reiman Gardens gift shop.)

Life of the party: Hissing roach

For those who prefer their bugs alive and, occasionally, hissing, the Insect Zoo team will bring their six-legged friends to your party or club. The 45-minute show, suitable for both children and adults, features such insects as Madagascar hissing cockroaches and eight-inch millipedes. Prices start at $50. More about the zoo and a sign-up form.

Time for Cy

Keep Cy with you throughout the day by wearing the funky and functional Fossil brand ISU wristwatch. The watch and many other items of apparel, gifts and accessories for Cyclones are available online at the Alumni Association store.

Getaways

Outdoor types surely would enjoy backpacking in Mexico, skiing in Breckenridge or sea kayaking in Alaska. All are among Recreation Services trips offered in coming months. For those who want to wander farther afield, the ISU Alumni Association will host tours to such destinations as Vienna, Italy, South America, Australian and Russia in 2005.

Calendars for gardeners, star gazers

Two popular campus calendars are back in 2005 editions. ISU Extension's "Garden Calendar" ($8 plus postage if shipped) can be picked up at the Extension Distribution Center, 119 Printing and Publications, or purchased online. The department of physics and astronomy has been pointing its telescope at the universe again, and the result is spectacular shots of nebulae, galaxies and the sun. The calendar ($10) is available at the University Book Store.

Handmade at Iowa State

Hand-blown glass, lithographs, intaglios, pottery, jewelry and other items made by Iowa State students, faculty and staff will be on sale at the Art Mart on Nov. 30 (1-5 p.m.) and Dec. 1 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room.

Meats and cheese

The Cyclone Spectacular, two 20-oz. sticks of sausage and a one-pound block of cheese for $17, is among favorite selections during the Block and Bridle Club's holiday sales. (See more selections.) Orders may be submitted by phone, fax or mail. The ISU Meat Lab also sells a variety of meats Wednesdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Kildee Hall. (See prices.)

To their health

Fitness gifts available on campus range from memberships in the Exercise Clinic or Leid Recreation Athletic Center to personal trainers. The Exercise Clinic, which is open to the community, features structured classes three times a week. The cost is $60 per semester; contact Warren Franke, 4-8257. Leid center memberships are available to faculty, staff, students and their spouses or dependents (over 18 years). Personal trainers -- exercise science majors who've been nationally certified -- are available through Recreation Services.

Music, a la Iowa Staters

ISU musicians are making beautiful music and it's available on CDs. Among options: The world renowned Ames Piano Quartet (from Amazon.com or the group's pianist William David, wdavid@iastate.edu); the Cyclone Marching Band (at local campus bookstores), the ISU Drumline (from percussion coordinator Barry Larkin, blarkin@iastate.edu) and music professor Lynn Ziegler on the Brombaugh organ (from the music department, 4-3831).

Mascot Bear

The ISU Mascot Bear ($19.99 in December) is a good cuddler for little (and big) Clones on your list. The University Book Store has plenty more Cyclone gear, as well as leather bags, MP3 players and best sellers. The winter open house is 7:45 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 1. Shop in-store, by phone or online.

Cater to yourself

With a little help from ISU Dining's catering service, you can take the edge off holiday cooking chores. The 31-page online catering menu should cover almost any need, from elegant dinner to 10 a.m. sugar fix for co-workers.

Flowers year-round

A family membership ($50) to Reiman Gardens provides year-round entry to the gardens, the lush indoor conservatory, butterfly wing, restaurant and gift shop. Among interesting items at the gift shop: Handblown holiday ornaments and other items made of "Seattle glass" -- glass that contains ashes from the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. On Tuesdays through Fridays throughout the holidays, Reiman Gardens admission is free to visitors who plan to shop or eat there.

Card-carrying gourmet

With an ISU Dining Card, your favorite campus denizen can grab a pressini grilled sandwich at the Courtyard Café, a Starbucks Egg Nog Latte at Hawthorn Market and Café or something equally delicious from any of Iowa State's food courts, cafes, dining halls and convenience stores. Gift cards are available in $10 and $20 versions at any dining location.

Something new for coffee lovers

New coffee blended especially for Iowa State by The Roasterie in Kansas City will make its debut in early December. Campus cafes will sell the new Cardinal and Gold Blend in 12-oz. bags of whole beans ($10.35), or gift pack samplers ($16.99) that include other Roasterie favorites. For your own hot cup of Cardinal and Gold, drop by the MU Café, Business Café or Courtyard Café.

a piece of glass with colored class inside

Karg glass at Brunnier

Handblown glass pieces by accomplished Kansas artist Rollin Karg are among many unique gift items at the Brunnier Art Museum store. A Karg perfume bottle is $108 and an elegant disk, $139. Brunnier gift certificates can be printed for any amount.

That's entertainment

Whether the one on your list is a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n roll, a little bit Broadway musical, a little bit classical or something else entirely, a gift certificate from the Iowa State Center should cover the entertainment bases. Available in $5 increments, the certificates are available at the ticket office in Stephens Auditorium, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Memorial Union and the Fountain of Four Seasons

Iowa State, on your screen

Nearly 100 photos of the Iowa State campus are included on the Cyclone ScreenSaver, developed by students in the MIS Club (management information systems). The screen saver ($13) can be purchased at the University Book Store or through the online Alumni Association store.

Lunch at the Tea Room

The campus lunch crowd enjoys fine dining at the student-run Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom. Gifts certificates ($5.50) can be purchased in 31 MacKay Hall, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Put fans in the stands

Give the Cyclone fans on your list some time in the stands. You can purchase men's and women's basketball tickets in singles or "mini-packs." Wrestling tickets also are available. See the online ticket store. Another possibility for the Cardinal-and-Gold devotees: Media guides ($5-$15) for the various sports are available at the Jacobson Building, 4-3372.

Feel warm all over

Warm up inside and out with a cup of cocoa and a fleece jacket. The cup (for a $75 pledge) and the jacket (for a $365 pledge) are thank-you gifts for membership pledges to WOI radio. You can give gift memberships, too, and the recipients can choose their own thank-you gifts. Contact the membership department at 800-861-8000.

M-Shop T-shirts

A couple styles of T-shirts are available for Maintenance Shop habitués. A white and gray shirt ($12) lists many of the bands that have played the M-Shop. A blue and brown "retro" shirt ($18) replicates the first M-Shop T-shirt ever made.