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   from the issue of December 1, 2005

     
 
Campus shops offer gift variety

Having trouble finding that unique holiday gift for a friend or family member?

Those post-Black Friday blues may be reconciled with a lunch-hour walk and a few stops at UNL shops, which offer goods and services ranging from Husker paraphernalia and classic novels to mounted miniature dinosaurs and hand-crafted jewelry.

"We have gifts that you aren't going to see everywhere in town," said Vonni Sparks, manager of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery gift shop. "That's something we really take pride in."

Sparks said the Sheldon gift shop offers one-of-a-kind jewelry tooled by Lincoln-area artists, alongside kids' toys, home décor, prints from the museum collection, glassware, cards, books, stationery and holiday ornaments.

"Before I even worked here, I would shop here for my mother," Sparks said. "Mainly because of the unique jewelry that you aren't going to find at the mall and every other store."

Like the Sheldon gift shop, Dinosaurs, Etc. in the University of Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall) has a customer base drawn in by museum exhibits.

"We have a lot of people from the university stop in, but most of our customers stop by to look for Christmas gifts because they are just here," said Sarah Gaskill, a UNL senior who works at Dinosaurs, Etc. "But we are the perfect place for parents with children who obsess over dinosaurs."

Along with a number of stocking stuffers starting for under a dollar, Dinosaurs, Etc. offers agate bookends, jewelry, posters, books, shirts and even Beanie Babies. And, like the name implies, the shop also sells dinosaur items ranging from plastic replicas for children to scale dinosaur skeletons for adult collectors.

"We've got all sorts of dinosaur toys, including 3-D wooden build-your-owns that are very popular," Gaskill said. "And, those full skeletons are very nice."

For those seeking to fuel Big Red spirit, a number of options are available on campus. Huskers Authentic and the University Bookstore offer a wide range of Husker merchandise.

Publications and Photography also offers UNL-related items, including a scarf and tie specially designed with the Academic "N." The scarf and tie are available for $35 and $25, respectively. Sales tax (7 percent) will be added for all personal purchases. For more information on the scarf or tie, contact Julie Brebner at 472-2605.

Additional specialized Nebraska public television and radio items are available at the NET Store, online at http://gpn.unl.edu/nptv_member.

For a night on the town, UNL shoppers can purchase tickets to Husker athletics, a Lied Center show or catch a film at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center.

Both the Lied Center and Ross offer individual-event tickets or gift certificates options.

"This is our big time for selling gift certificates," said Laura Sweet, director of audience development and communication at the Lied Center. "Tickets to the Lied Center are great because it's more than just a gift, it's the experience."

Sweet said the Lied offers a number of discount options to UNL faculty and staff. However, all gift certificate purchases must be made at the Lied ticket office, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Along with gift certificates, the Ross offers a number of membership options as gifts.

A traditional meat and cheese gift is also available at UNL through the Dairy Store. Working with the Meat Store, the Dairy Store offers a number of gift box options, ranging from $8.95 (The Pioneer) to $49 (The Sky Box), and all can be picked up on East Campus or shipped across the United States.

All cheese and meat in the gift boxes is prepared on East Campus. A complete listing is available online at http://dairystore.unl.edu. All orders placed before Dec. 13 will be shipped for delivery by Dec. 25.

The Dairy Store also offers gift certificates for use on any of their products, including their handcrafted ice cream.

High-tech options are available at the UNL Computer Shop. Brad Severa, manager of the computer store in the Nebraska Union, said the UNL Computer Shop is the region's largest dealer in iPods. He said the music/video players remain a popular choice this season, however the computer store offers an array of choices, from games to computers.

Books are also in abundance on campus, through the University Bookstore and University of Nebraska Press.

"We really do have something for anyone," said Margie Rine, development and outreach coordinator for University of Nebraska Press. "And, books are a great gift."

A complete listing of University of Nebraska Press books is available online at http://unp.unl.edu. All Web orders during the holiday season will receive a 25 percent discount.

For a hand-crafted gift, the UNL Clay Club will be selling their wares Dec. 9 and 10 in Richards Hall, room 118.

All work for sale is made by UNL ceramic graduate and undergraduate students. The pieces range from functional pottery and vessels to sculpture. Profits from the sale help fund the UNL Clay Club visiting artist program, field trips and conference attendance.

Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 9; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 10. For more information, call 472-5522.

And, for those who need some relaxation after the stress of the holidays, Campus Recreation continues to offer massage sessions. According to Ben McCarthy of Campus Rec, massages are available for both members and guests.

Massage sessions are: 30 minutes, $25 for members, $30 for guests; 45 minutes, $35 and $40; and 60 minutes, $45 and $50. For more information, call 472-3467.


GO TO: ISSUE OF DECEMBER 1

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