Holiday gift ideas from the U
From eNews, December 4, 2003
If you're still looking for that unique gift for someone
special, try shopping at the Unversity of Minnesota. The following
are our suggestions for holiday gifts. For the
overseas-bound
Know a student who's planning to study abroad? Give him or her a
copy of Maximizing Study Abroad, written by the U's Center for
Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, for fun and informative
tips on learning language and culture. The book is $12 at the U
Bookstore or http://www.bookstore.umn.edu.
For ice cream or cheese lover
The U's Dairy Store is offering holiday ice cream flavors including
peppermint stick, eggnog, pumpkin, and cinnamon. Pints are $1.50;
half gallons are $4. Cheese is also a specialty here and runs from
$2.50 to $4 a pound. The products are made by students and faculty
from the food science and nutrition department. Gift certificates
are available in $5 and $10 increments. The store is open on
Wednesdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and is located on the Twin Cities
campus in St. Paul (166 Andrew Boss Meat Science Building). For
more information, call 612-624-7776. For the
knowledge-starved
Have friends who want to learn how to end world hunger, grow a
better garden, and eat healthier with herbs? Then register them for
the College of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences's
"Classes Without Quizzes" on Saturday, April 3, on the Twin Cities
campus in St. Paul. The cost is $20 ($15 for UMAA members). To
reserve a spot, call Mary Buschette at 612-624-1745. For
those with a green thumb
The 2004 Minnesota Gardening calendar explodes with color and
serves up numerous gardening and landscaping tips. It's published
by the U of M Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station
and is available for $7 at the U Bookstore or online here. And to
make this gift extra special, get it autographed by gardening
expert Deb Brown. She'll sign copies and talk shop on Saturday,
Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon at the bookstore in Coffman Memorial
Union on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis. For the
Gopher who has it all
What do you get the Gopher who has too many maroon and gold
T-shirts, mugs, and golf socks? A University of Minnesota leather
executive desk chair, his or her name on a tree, or the chance to
release a bird of prey. The chair is made with top-grain cowhide
and features an embroidered Goldy Gopher on the headrest, along
with leather padded arms, a pneumatic lift, and 360-degree turning
capability. To learn more about this chair and services like custom
engraving or embroidery at the U Bookstore, call 612-625-6000. The
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Tree Tribute allows you to hang a
personalized message on one of its many trees. For about $1,000,
you get the option of selecting the tree or giving someone a
private golf-cart tour to choose his or her own tree to hang that
message. To learn more, call 952-443-1440 or e-mail Lcooney@arboretum.umn.edu.
Through the U's Raptor Center, you can buy the opportunity to
release a rehabilitated eagle, hawk, owl, or falcon to the wild.
The cost ranges from $500 for a small falcon or hawk to $1,500 for
an eagle. In addition to releasing the bird, your gift includes
Patron member benefits for one year, a photo of the bird, and a
certificate of recognition. To learn more about this and the
center's Adopt-a-Raptor program, call 612-624-6146 or e-mail
pommi001@umn.edu. For
all
Buy holiday CDs and ornaments or all-season waterproof jackets in a
variety of colors at the Bulldog Shop on the Duluth campus. Also
available is a collection of new hats, mittens, and scarves. For
more information, see http://www.umdstores.com/public.
Postcards featuring four University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, campus scenes by U photographer Tom Foley are available from University Relations. To see the photos and to order a set, go to http://www.umn.edu/urelate/postcards/. Each set of 16 is $5. For copies of the 2003-04 Even Mother Nature Loves Maroon and Gold poster and notecards, see http://www.umn.edu/urelate/mothernature.