Free events during Finals Week

Finals week is just around the corner here at the University of Iowa. This means that students are probably spending 8 hours a day getting reacquainted with class books they most likely haven't touched since they bought them in January. Of course some are just simply stressing out about how they are going to manage all the things that need to be done in the next two weeks. I know I am one of those people. But if you ever get a chance to take a break (and it's highly recommended by teachers, doctors, and anyone that's human), here are a couple of events that will help take some of that stress (literally in one case) off your shoulders.

First up, CAB is sponsoring a free massage chair area located at the Chalk Talk Lounge on the ground floor of the IMU. It will be held from May 6th to the 8th from 9 p.m. to midnight. So if you got the time, and you think sitting in a massage chair will help you pass that Calculus and Matrix Algebra for Business exam (it just sounds difficult) then stop on by and help yourself.

At the start of finals week the First Baptist Church will open up its doors and offer free pizza to students. From May 12th to the 13th from 9:30 p.m. to midnight stop on by and enjoy some free pizza. Who knows it may be the only chance you get at free pizza for another 5 months.

Of course if you'd rather pass on the free massage and pizza there's always Hawkeye athletics. The baseball team is closing up the regular season at home against Ohio State in a four-game series starting Thursday, May 15th at 6:00 p.m. Remember all students get in free with their IDs.

Finally, this is the most important part (if you're like me and need to do really well on a final just to pass a class). The library will be open 24 hours a day during finals week. This means that instead of only being able to cram until 2 in the morning 3 days before your final you could potentially spend the next three days in the library and nobody would care. Although an occassional nap is recommended if you are actually planning on partaking in that particular journey.

So just remember that finals week doesn't have to be about studying nonstop. Take a break once in a while and relax and check out some of the free events going on around campus. And good luck to all in these last two weeks.

Daytripping: Famous home edition

This is a story about the home in the background, avert your eyes from the handsome farmer in the front

American Gothic, what can you say? Everyone knows the original, everyone loves the parodies of it. It's an American classic and it's very much Iowan. The painter (Grant Wood), the two subjects of the painting (Wood's sister and dentist) and even the background of the painting all have Iowa origins.

The house with the gothic window on the top floor (thus the name of the painting) still stands in Eldon, Iowa (a little under two hours southwest of Iowa City) and has become a destination for families, couples and individuals who want to make their own art masterpiece.

The home was built in the 1880s and discovered by Wood in 1930, who decided to paint who he imagined lived in the house. Amazingly, neither Wood's sister or his dentist actually modeled in front of the house or even modeled together -- each part of the painting was done separately.

The house was lived in even after the painting became famous before being placed on the National Register in 1974. The house is closed on the inside and the back of the house is not supposed to be visited (there actually is another Gothic window on the backside of the home), but the trip is worth making for the new American Gothic House Center across the street and a chance to be a part of an American and Iowa classic. Just remember to bring your pitchfork.

Music to my ears

What: UI Orchestra Spring Recital
Where: Voxman Music Building
When: April 27, 2008
Cost: Free

Ahhhh, recital season. If there is one thing I will miss after leaving Iowa City, it will be the free recitals given by the UI music school. When else will I have the opportunity to hear free recitals given by world-class musicians in a sparsely occupied auditorium? Last December I attended a free recital given by Volkan Orhon, an assistant professor of double bass at the university, in which other faculty members gathered to play together. Now, I’ve never followed classical music closely, but there is something truly magical about hearing it in person. At Orhon’s concert last year, I was moved to tears.

Given my strong emotional response to Orhon's recital, I was thrilled to attend the Philharmonia Orchestra and All-University String Orchestra spring recital. The recital lasted approximately two hours, with a ten minute intermission. Each orchestra played about an hour each. The more amateur All-University String Orchestra played first, playing adequate Mozart, Bach and Mendelssohn movements. The highlight of the evening, however, was the Philharmonia Orchestra's rendition of a Tchaikovsky concerto - absolutely breathtaking. The Philharmonia Orchestra is comprised of only music majors so the sound is significantly more refined and cohesive. However, for student ensembles they both performed very well.

I strongly suggest attending at least one of the music school's many spring recitals. There is one nearly everyday this month! Even if you aren't into classical music, it is unlikely you will have an opportunity to see this caliber of music for free again. Plus, it's sad how empty the auditorium has been at the performances I have attended. If possible, try to see a faculty concert - those are the true gems.

Tip: Come on time. They lock the doors after the recital begins to prevent disturbing the performances.

Daytripping: Extremely large cookware edition

It may not be the world's largest frying pan (you've won this round, Rose Hill, North Carolina), but I'm sure Brandon (an hour north of Iowa City on I-380) is still proud of being the home to Iowa's largest frying pan.

A number of individuals have asked if I had been to Brandon to see the frying pan and when I was going to write about it (yes, people actually do read my blog posts, nobody is more surprised than me). Evidentially, the frying pan is very popular and why would it not be, its the simple transitive theory: people love breakfast, a lot of breakfast items are cooked on a frying pan, thus people love frying pans. I am no mathematician, but that just adds up. 

According to its Wikipedia page (and we all know that Wikipedia is always 100% accurate), the frying pan was created in 2004 by volunteers in Brandon to promote their cowboy breakfast which uses frying pans over open flames.

The pan is 14 feet 3 inches in total length and from rim to rim 9 feet 3 inches. It also weighs 1,200 pounds, so you know that it probably hasn't been used all that often. If it was used though, it would definitely feed a small army and probably most of Brandon's 311 residents, check these numbers out:

• The frying pan is supposed to hold 88 times more than a regular 10 inch frying pan
  
• The pan would hold 528 (or 44 dozen) eggs
• 352 pork chops
• 88 pounds of bacon
• 440 hamburgers

And people wonder why this country is so obese.

Poker and a Movie

As part of Residence Hall Week, put on by the University of Iowa's organization Associated Resident Halls, students will get a chance to enjoy several fun activities over the next week without having to spend a dime.

On Wednesday, April 23rd at 8 p.m. in the Rienow Hall lounge, the ARH will be putting on a free showing of the hit movie Juno. Juno stars Ellen Page (Kitty Pride in X-Men 3) as the title character; a laid-back teen who discovers she is pregnant after a one-night stand with close friend Paulie Bleeker, played by Michael Cera (Evan in Superbad). Not ready for parenthood at 17, Juno decides to put her unborn child up for adoption and finds a couple who live in the suburbs, a step up from Juno's middle class surrounding. However, as life goes things do not always work out as smoothly as planned. As Juno put it she is "dealing with things way beyond her maturity level."
After having recently seen it for the first time, I thought it was a decent movie. It's not without it's flaws, but I can also see why Juno's Ellen Page won several awards and received an Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. If you can't make it to the free showing, I'd recommend that you rent this movie and at least see it once.

On the following evening (Thursday), the ARH is sponsoring its first annual free Texas Hold 'Em tournament in the Burge basement lounge. Play will begin at 7:30 and players will compete at different tables until they have a final table of five players remaining. Those five will at least walk away with some prize in gift certificates. The higher you place the bigger the prize.
Of course, if poker's not your game and you end up getting dragged to the event anyways, there will be door prizes and other mini-games and events going on while the tournament is taking place.

Event 1-
What: Free showing of Juno
When: Wednesday, April 23rd 8 p.m.
Where: Rienow Hall lounge

Event 2-
What: ARH presents first annual Texas Hold 'Em tournament
When: Thursday, April 24th 7:30 p.m.
Where: Burge basement lounge

Spring Madness

A little Madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King.
- Emily Dickinson

Event: Spring
Where: Outside your door
When: Now!
Cost: Free

Ah, spring. It has seemingly arrived in all of it's rainstormy, bird-chirping, bright-greeny goodness. Accordingly, I am in love with the outdoors, the smells of fresh air and sunshine, grass, dirt... life. And lucky me! Iowa City proper is home to 4o parks, giving me many places where I can enjoy the season. I must confess, however, that my favorite park is not inside the city limits, but located approximately 3 1/2 miles north of Iowa City. Which park is this, you ask? Coralville Lake, of course!

I've been coming to Coralville Lake ever since my older sister first started college in Iowa City a decade ago, and have loved it ever since. It is home to many special memories for me - my family has enjoyed picnics, long walks, and even some intense hikes (intense for Iowa, that is) here. My most recent venture out to Coralville Lake was last summer with my parents, so I'm long overdue for a visit.

Camping at Coralville Lake opened for the season on April 15 and the beaches open May 1. Besides camping and swimming, Coralville Lake features hiking, mountain biking, boating, birdwatching and even an amazingly cool Devonian Fossil Gorge - this alone is worth the drive. Most of the these activities are free, including the fossil gorge, swimming at the Sugar Bottom beach and hiking on one of the four trails. You can't lose! I know I'm planning to head out to Coralville Lake for a hike on my next free day! But of course, you don't need a park to enjoy the season - so just get out there!

Daytripping: Captain Kirk Edition

Before Riverside (about 15 miles south of Iowa City on Highway 27) became "that town with the casino" and we heard that annoying B.J. Armstrong on the commercial every ten minutes (did you know that he is a former Iowa Hawkeye and Chicago Bull? Well I sure as hell do since I've heard that commercial 1,396,547 times), it was known for a slightly nerdier reason.

Riverside is the future birthplace (that's right future birthplace) of Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. In case you either weren't born earlier or actually have a life, Captain Kirk was the main character in the show "Star Trek" which though only on for three seasons has spawned 10 movies (an 11th is being made), 5 television series and millions of nerds. Captain Kirk also launched the career of William Shatner which is a gift in itself (because without Captain Kirk, Shatner would not be able to do those very hilarious Priceline Negotiator commercials).

Anyhoo, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry claimed in a book that Kirk was born in Iowa, but did not provide a specific town. So Riverside took it on themselves to make Captain Kirk their native son, well actually future native son, anyway you get the idea.

To commemorate their future hometown status, the Riversiders has their own Starship called the U.S.S. Riverside that sits in their city park and has a stone monument that marks where Captain Kirk will be born on March 28, 2228. So if you are a fan of Star Trek or Shatner or you just want to take a small peek before hitting the craps table come see where a space legend will be born.

And may the force be with you ... (god damnit, wrong movie) And live long and prosper.

Wherefore Art Thou upon a Saturday Night?

What: Live Music - "Oink Henderson and the Squealers"; "Billy Hoake and the Hoax"
Where: Shakespeare's Pub and Grill; The Mill
When: Saturday, April 12
Cost: Free

Two bars, both alike in dignity,
In fair Iowa City, where we lay our scene,
From ancient patrons break to hipsters fresh,
Where civil well drinks make civil bodies drunk.
A pair of mismatched bands take hold the night.

I should have known upon entering Shakespeare's Pub and Grill that I was in for some serious shenanigans. As we pulled the car into the parking lot, a gray haired man wearing a court jester's hat suddenly burst out the door and dashed through the parking lot, a flock of equally aged individuals in hot pursuit, yelling and laughing.

My boyfriend and I giggled at the sight of over-the-hill townies dancing as we settled into a booth in the corner of the bar. The band, "Oink Henderson and the Squealers" was comprised entirely of men in their 60's who donned Hawaiian shirts and court jester hats. While the band itself lost points for playing corny bar staples such as "8675309/Jenny," they weren't lacking in stage presence and crowd approval. They even had a trumpeter whom they lovingly called "Hot Lips." And the townies, who appeared to be celebrating a birthday, were out in droves and were tearing up the dance floor with the same vigor as any crowd at a downtown bar. Also, the well drinks were about 45% larger with a much nicer alcohol/mixer ratio.

But before we could fall down the rabbit hole, my beau and I were inevitably summoned to meet friends at a more student-appropriate locale - the Mill. Noticing that the bars were near closing time, we decided to try to catch the tail-end performance of the band "Billy Hoake and the Hoax" for the reduced cover price of $0 (note that original cover cost is $5). The experience that was to follow was nothing short of scary. The band was screaming into microphones - shirtless - and some were wearing tinfoil so not to "steal the crowd's thoughts." I realized immediately that the band was less about musical quality and more about performance. During the last 'song,' they held up a sign boldly declaring "Free Warren Jeffs," while the crowd watched on stoically. Trying to ease the pain, I sipped my well drink, which tasted like pure alcohol.

Alas, I may be misinforming you all on the magic that is "Billy Hoake and the Hoax," so check out the Mill's calendar to catch their next performance. As for Shakespeare's, I highly recommend this townie gem to those jaded by IC nightlife. Go forth!

Come Support the Hawkeyes...For FREE!!

University of Iowa spring sports are in full swing and in the upcoming weeks there will be plenty of chances for Hawkeye fans to come and support the teams for FREE.

Remember that with your student ID all U of I students get into any spring athletic event for free. General admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children. There's less than 5 weeks of school left so get out to the games and support the Hawkeyes while you still can. Here's a look at the upcoming schedule:

Baseball:

4/18-20 vs. Northwestern (4/19- doubleheader)

4/22- vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Softball:

4/18-19 vs. Wisconsin

4/20- vs. Minnesota (doubleheader)

4/23- Northern Iowa

4/29- North Dakota State (dobleheader)

Men's Tennis:

4/19- vs. Purdue

4/20- vs. Illinois

4/24-27 Big Ten Tournament

Men & Women's Track:

4/19- Hawkeye Invitational

I took the practice LSAT and all I got was this lousy pencil

What: Practice LSAT
Where: MacLean Hall, Room 114
When: April 7, 6-9 pm
Cost: Free

The skeptics out there may think the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) doesn't qualify as arts or culture; I beg to differ. After all, most art evokes a wide variety of emotions - joy, fear, hope and despair are among a few. The same is true of the LSAT! But why is this fun, you ask? I say why not! Anybody can come, and who wouldn't want to take the practice LSAT and find out the next day that they scored high enough to enter the law school of their choice, should they decide to go into law some day? And if you do poorly, then you can cross "law school" off your to-do list without wasting the $123 it costs to take the actual LSAT! Plus, one of the LSAT sections is called "Logic Games!" Games=Fun!

But perhaps I should back up a bit, and explain why I would accept such an offer to take a three hour exam for no apparent reason. Besides needing the practice for the real LSAT I will be taking in June, according to an email they sent me, Kaplan (purveyor of the standardized post-graduate acceptance test) offers a wide range of services in my area including a *free* preparation course! I could talk to a representative at the test!

Well, the test itself didn't allow a format conducive to asking questions about Kaplan's services, but this is highly subjective as I was tired and cranky after 12+ hours on campus. But I'm sure the Kaplan rep, Kevin Stejskal, would have been glad to answer my questions, as amiable of a guy as he was. And while Kaplan says their mock test is the real deal, I don't trust them. A company that charges $1300 for an LSAT prep course (which I discovered as I was searching for info about the "free" class they promised) is not to be trusted.

Incidentally, the "Logic Games" portion was grossly mislabeled - no fun & games here. Sheesh Kaplan, you could have warned me!

Kaplan's next free LSAT event is the LSAT Sample Class on May 5 from 6-8 pm, at a location yet to be determined. Check the schedule for details.

Art & Peace

What: Art show
Where: IMU Ballroom
When: March 28
Cost: Free


If you get the chance, it's always fun to check out the Iowa City art scene. Our little metropolis displays a wide array of talent on virtually every corner. Sure, places like Chait Galleries Downtown or the UI Musem of Art offer a plethora of artwork, but the typical gallery experience can feel a bit detached from the artist and subsequently, the message. That is what was so refreshing about the UI Antiwar Committee's "Make Art, Not War" art show, part of UI's Peace Week. Attendees could enjoy the art, which often carried antiwar sentiments, while mingling with the 16 artists who manned their stations throughout the Ballroom. This lent the art a voice and resulted in an overall vivid experience. Artists like John Paul Hornbeck (above) were readily available to discuss their inspirations or answer any questions you had about their work.

In addition to the art were tables manned by various community organizations that advocate peace. If attendees felt inspired by the art or the artists, they could chat with representatives from organizations, such as Iowa City's chapter of the Iowa United Nations Association, to find out how they can help cultivate peace. There was also a silent auction that sold art from the show, with proceeds benefiting Vets Helping Vets and the Iowa City Free Medical Clinic.

Because the publicity for the event relied largely on word of mouth, the event was sparsely attended (at least while I was there). This makes me sad, considering the caliber of the art and the noble cause. If you are interested in attending an event like this one, check out the UI Antiwar Committee's website to find upcoming events.

It's Tournament Time!

In every sport there's a regular season and a post season. As the school year comes to a close here at the University of Iowa (there's only SIX weeks left!), the UI Recreational Services Intramural Division is getting into the spirit of the post season by holding several outdoor tournaments in April.

The first on the deadline is a non-athlete's dream sport and a fan-favorite at colleges throughout the country, Ultimate Frisbee. Teams need to be formed and rosters turned in for this single-elimination tournament by Wednesday, April 16th at 4:00 p.m. Games will begin Saturday, April 19th at the Hawkeye Recreational Fields and continue through the weekend. It is $15 per team to sign up.    

If you are looking for a little more intense competition -although Ultimate can get just as physical- Outdoor Soccer and 3-on-3 basketball single-elimination tournaments are also gonna be taking place at the Hawkeye Rec Fields. Both Outdoor Soccer ($15 per team) and 3-0n-3 basketball ($10 per team) roster forms are due Thursday, April 20th at 4:00 p.m.

Outdoor Soccer will be divided into three divisions: men's, women's and co-rec. Play will begin on Monday, April 21st and continue through Thursday, April 24th. 

The 3-on-3 basketball tournament will just consist of a men's bracket and a women's bracket with 5 players to a team. Games will begin on Monday, April 21st and will continue until the finals on Thursday, April 24th with games played at the basketball courts on the aforementioned complex running from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The 3-on-3 tourney usually gets a pretty good turnout, so get your teams signed up as soon as possible so you don't miss out!

Stay tuned for the last two Intramural events of the year coming up at the end of April: 4-on-4 Sand Volleyball and Disc Golf. 

Daytripping: Flag Day Extravaganza!!!!!!!!!!

I know what you're saying, "but Flag Day isn't until June, you're two months early." And to that I'd probably say, "you nerd, how do you know what month Flag Day is in," but I am no name-caller, so I offer you the example of Brooklyn, where it is flag day everyday.


Unlike the slightly larger city of the same name in New York, which is famous for its bridge, Brooklyn, Iowa (an hour and fifteen minutes west of Iowa City on Interstate 80) is famous for its flags.

In a small park next to the town's public library flies a 20 foot by 38 foot American flag surrounded by all 50 state flags along with flags for the branches of the military and causes. 35 international flags line the downtown streets and nothing will make you feel dumber than asking a Brooklynite what state a certain flag downtown represents and he responds with Sweden and a sight





The town takes its nickname as the "Flag Community" seriously. A number of businesses have a flag in their logo or flying in front of their store. So a store selling flags in a town of just 1,367 really doesn't seem out of place. So if you're feeling a little patriotic head on out to Brooklyn where every day is a Flag Day Extravaganza (did you see how I brought everything together, damn I good)

Spring Hawkeye Athletics are Underway

Basketball and hockey season are over and the wrestling team has brought the national championship back to where it belongs, in Iowa City. So that's it for University of Iowa sports in the 2007-2008 school year right? Don't even think about it.

For many Hawkeye athletes the 2008 season is just getting underway. The tennis, baseball and softball teams have been going at it for a few weeks now, but with spring break over with, and spring weather finally arriving, action will really start to pick up for the outdoor events. This will also include men and women's track and field.

These sports may not have all the flair of football and basketball, but there is one thing that sets them apart that happens to be very beneficial to all UI students: free admission!

That's right, just present your University ID at the gate and you can watch a Hawkeye sporting event for free. General admission to most of these sporting events is only $3 and $2 for children. Here's a look in the next few weeks of the upcoming home schedule for Hawkeye athletics:

Baseball-
4/2 vs. Illinois State

4/4-4/6 vs. Purdue (doubleheader on 4/5)

4/8 vs. Nebraska

Men's Tennis-
4/5 vs. Minnesota

4/6 vs. Michigan State

Women's Tennis-
3/29 vs. Michigan

3/30 vs. Penn State

4/06 vs. Notre Dame

I'll continue to keep everyone up-to-date on any upcoming sporting events as the seasons progress. For more information on schedules, ticket information, or anything regarding Hawkeye athletics, visit http://www.hawkeyesports.com/.

No Venue for Old Men

What: CAB presents "No Country for Old Men"
Where: Illinois Room, IMU
When: March 13, 9 pm
Cost: Free

What exactly does CAB do? I haven't a clue. But my inner tightwad couldn't resist a free movie. Especially a free movie I was longing to see but had missed at the theater. Enter CAB's presentation of "No Country for Old Men," the Coen brothers' take on the cat-and-mouse/thriller genre bloodied by Texan drug runners, contrasting Tommy Lee Jones retirement from law-enforcement. Acting: A+. Cinematography: B. Story: C-. Sorry Coens, but this was a snooty, self-indulgent, subtly racist version of my dad's favorite western; I mean, an air gun? But I'm not an expert, so check out what real critics thought.

As for the venue, showing a movie in the Illinois Room, which provides a large screen and theater seating is a good idea, right? Wrong! There is little-to-no ventilation, and a crowd filling the space quickly begins to heat up and smell. And no, it wasn't just the old guy sitting next to me. Also, the seats were arranged on an incline that was so gradual that peoples' heads blocked the screen (See illustrations). Pft! Shoddy engineering, UI!


To end on a positive note: free popcorn!

If you want to see Marilyn Manson's girlfriend sing Beatles' songs for free, check out CAB's next movie "Across the Universe" this Thursday, March 27 in the IMU's Illinois room at 9 pm. Just make sure you arrive early and sit behind a short person.

No Spring Break in Tahiti, No Problem

Why is this beach empty? Because if you're
like me, you're too poor to be there.

Okay, so you're not on some beautiful island or on a Floridian beach and instead are staring at another cloudy 40 degree day in the Midwest, but lets not have those lucky bastards who are drinking tequila and getting ready to appear on the next Girls Gone Wild video have all the fun. Here are a few activities for us poor people:

Sleep: They don't call it Spring BREAK for nothing. If you're in a tropical paradise you almost feel the need to be awake and experiencing it, not so in the Midwest, see if you can sleep for more hours than you're awake. Even if you lose, you win!

Read a book: I don't care if its Tolstoy or Dr. Seuss (my current read, who wouldn't want to eat Green Eggs and ham on a boat, with a goat, with a fox or on a box?) This is also a good time to catch up on all the books you were supposed to read this semester or finally buy them.

Watch a movie: If you are going to annoy your friends, roomates, co-workers with every line from Superbad or Anchorman or Old School or Waynes World, please get the lines right. Here's your chance to re-watch these movies and annoy everyone for the rest of the semester. Schwing!

NCAA Tournament: So what if your bracket is destroyed by the time the Thursday's first games are over, there is always a chance for that monumental upset or buzzer beater: remember when that small school from Louisiana used a buzzer beater to upset Iow... you know what lets move on.

Work: I know work sucks, but it's a novel idea. While your friends are wasting their money buying drinks for girls they'll never see again or buying weed from one of their destination's 10,000 dealers, you can be making money to buy drinks for girls you'll hope you never see again.

And last but not least, watch TV: Okay, so you're not on the beach with hot girls or guys walking by you and you're not nursing your tenth mai tai and soaking in the sun on the fourth straight 90 degree day, but you could be watching the travel channel and seeing at least the beach and you don't have to worry about sand in hard to reach places or the fact that you're 385 pounds.

Oh, who am I kidding? Spring Break in the Midwest sucks.

Intramural Softball

Hello and once again there is an intramural event coming up that I want to inform you about now, so that you won't forget over Spring Break in case you are interested.

Intramural Softball is the next sport in line offerred by the University of Iowa Recreational Services. The deadline isn't until Wednesday, March 26th, after Spring Break, but you'll want to start as soon as possible in getting a team together as they will only take a maximum of 72 teams. And it fills up pretty fast. It's $50 per team but you can have up to as many as 15 players on a roster, so money shouldn't be an issue.

Once teams have been assembled and signed up, schedules will be produced and posted on Thursday, March 27th. Play begins the week of March 31st. Each team will play 3 games and the top 2 from each 4-team division will then move into a single-elimination style tournament, which starts runs from April 25-27. There are three main divisions: men's, women's, and co-rec.

All games will take place at the University of Iowa Hawkeye Softball Complex.

Miniture Golfing at Colonial Lanes

Did you know that Colonial Lanes has miniature golfing? If not, it’s time to start practicing your putting! It is cheap and there are plenty of difficult holes to try. There are 18 holes at par 2 and it is a mere $2.50 for a round. If you can’t afford less than $3, I’m extremely sorry.

Colonial Lanes is located at 2253 Old Highway 218 S. If you’re like me, once you get a little outside of Iowa City, you feel lost. Well it’s not hard to find, as long as you keep heading south, going out of Iowa City on Riverside, you will pass the Iowa City Municipal Airport and the road will turn into Old Highway 218 S.

Usually bowling is pretty hot at Colonial Lanes with leagues and all. But the golfing stays pretty calm, so you won’t have to worry about waiting like you do for bowling (one time I tried to bowl there and the wait was around 1-2 hours). Though every night I have gone, my friends and I have been the only people golfing, Jake Smith, an employee of Colonial Lanes for 1 year, says that there are many people who come for the golfing. “It’s a tough course, all the holes are par 2,” Jake says after claiming that he takes miniature golfing pretty seriously with his family.

Aside from par, there are definitely a few obstacles in the course. The windmill takes some practice and timing. Also, being it is at a bowling alley, there are many bowling balls and pins to increase the difficulty. One in particular I love is hole 6 where the words “PUTT PUTT” are standing up on the course so that you need to place the ball directly in between the correct letters. CAUTION: another obstacle you might face will be the random bowler who likes to give you “pointers” when you’re on hole 2. Considering the hole is right next to a bowling lane, there are always bowlers lurking. (From my experience, don’t take their advice.)

Rove Madness

What: Karl Rove Lecture
Where: IMU Main Lounge
When: Sunday, March 9, 7:30 pm
Cost: Free

I was lucky enough to attend the UI Lecture Committee's Karl "the Architect" Rove's lecture on Sunday evening. I don't know if lecture is the correct term. Lecture implies there was a speech. This wasn't as much as speech but a volatile back-and-forth between Mr. Rove and the audience that teetered the line between obnoxious and scary.

The IMU was quite packed with about 1100 people in attendance, and as a result, hot and smelly. Because I was taking photos for a publication and happened to know a committee member, I was able to secure a decent seat close to the stage. However, this wouldn't be the case if I'd just shown up.

The crowd was amazingly diverse in age; everyone from students to the elderly attended. There was a noticeable absence of children. However, there was no lack of childish behavior on the part of the audience and Mr. Rove. Between the crowd's demand for a refund of the $40,000 Rove was paid for the event, to Rove calling the crowd small-minded and "stupid," the evening was reminiscent of the arguments I had with my siblings at age 9. Ok, I won't lie. We still argue like that. But not at the expense of so many people sacrificing two hours of time, or the disputed $40,000.

I've attended UI lecture series events in the past and have found them both interesting and intellectually stimulating. I usually leave the event feeling I've gained some requisite knowledge from the speaker. Not this time. The session played out like a Public Relations "How-to-Spin-the-Facts" seminar, with Rove demonstrating classic spin tactics when prompted with questions criticizing the Bush administration's behavior surrounding the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina. As a result of such questions, he didn't get much of a chance to discuss things that weren't Bush related, but still of interest (such as the current presidential campaign). I guess the people had some issues to get off their chest, and that wasn't one of them.

Oh well, better luck next time, I guess. Check out the next speaker in UI's lecture series, Marjane Satrapi, April 6, 7:30 at the IMU Main Lounge.

Daytripping: Hero Edition

What better way to start our guide to the odder and more interesting aspects of the great state of Iowa, than by touring an attraction extremely close (I'm lazy) and not particularly odd (I'm dumb), the attraction though is extremely important.

Just north of Coralville on First Avenue (take exit 242 and drive about a quarter mile past the Holiday Inn) is the Iowa Firefighters Memorial. The website says that this particular memorial is the first state-wide one of its kind and pays tribute to the 20,000 firefighters who serve Iowa.



The Memorial has four seperate walls with the names of 1,497 deceased firefighters who had 10 years of experience as well as former presidents of Iowa Firefighters Association and people who helped make the Memorial a possibility. On top of each of the six individual sections of the walls are the words: "Memory...For...Those...Who...Have...Served"



In between the four walls is a single wall that has the name of those who died while they were in the line of duty (if you look closely in the next two photos you can see our handsome yet oblivious photographer).

This was actually the second time, I have been here. The first was when I was younger. My Great-Uncle Walter is on this wall of people who died during service (he suffered a heart attack while fighting a fire).

The Memorial is definitely worth a trip, so if you're looking for a small diversion during an otherwise busy week feel free to stop by and remember those who can really be called heroes.

I'm lost...on the idea of a 2-D labyrinth

What: Canvas labyrinth
Where: Old Brick, 25 East Market Street, Iowa City
When: Sunday, March 2, 3-8 pm
Cost: Free

When I discovered a canvas model labyrinth would be displayed at Old Brick today, my imagination went wild. Thoughts of David Bowie and Jack Nicholson with an ax immediately entered my mind. What a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon - tapping into my most fearsome (and awesome) childhood memories! I could navigate an actual - albeit canvas - labyrinth? I could hardly contain my excitement.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Not only was the labyrinth not 3-D, it was printed on a piece of canvas (yes, I was warned the labyrinth would be composed of canvas, but canvas comes in other forms besides fabric. Walls, for instance. It could mean canvas walls). When we entered the church we thought it was decorated for a wedding. No, these ended up being the event decorations. White and purple drapery. And strange music (not Bowie-esque AT ALL) was playing. The event turned out to be a prayer/Lent/religious service. Now, I don't have anything against religious services, but when I hear the word "labyrinth," prayer service doesn't immediately come to mind. I guess I should have known the event would have religious undertones, considering it was in fact held in a church. But the Old Brick is also considered to be a community center, which houses decidedly secular events.

To add to my confusion, apparently "prayer labyrinths" have long been a religious tradition, and enjoy quite the cult following. So, while I sadly did not frolic through a 3-D maze today, I have tapped into an interesting subculture. That is the price one pays, I suppose. As for the event, I carried my agnostic self out of there fast, but not without grabbing some brochures first.

The Hidden Museum

So my assignment was to go out and cover a free event held at the Johnson County Historical Society Museum. In honor of Black Hisory Month, the museum was displaying several artifacts and pictures from past African-American Iowan athletes. Being a sports guy myself I had to check it out. What I got out of it was much more.

Not only is the museum open and free to the public, it is a great place to come and learn about the history of the Iowa City area, or in otherwords the place we've been calling home for quite some time now.

In the athletic display, frames of legends such as Iowa State footballer Jack Trice, Drake All-American Johnny Bright, and Iowa All-American Duke Slater hung in the cases for all to see and learn a bit about what these athletes contributed to the advancement of the African-American athlete in the early half of the 20th Century.

Aside from the athletic display, which will continue to be shown until February 29th, inside the main room are items, maps, pictures, illustrations, and artifacts from throughout the history of Johnson County. For those history buffs it will definitely pique your interest.

In the next room is a place for historical cars. Automobiles such as the Model-T are on display for those car gazers who can't get enough of checking out classic models. There's something for everyone at the Johnson County Historical Society Museum.

The only way money is involved depends on how generous you are feeling. The museum takes free will donations as a token of appreciation and gratitude for you're visiting their fine institution.

The thing is thousands of people drive by it everyday and probably don't even realize it's there. It's located on 860 Quarry Rd in Coralville. A quick way to get there is to hop on I-80 and take the 1st Avenue exit south. After that turn onto 9th Street down the brickroad towards the fairly new Marriot Hotel and you will see the museum. Here's a quick link to their website if you have any further questions or interests: http://www.jchsiowa.org/.

Daytripping: An Introduction

For those who don't think Iowa is "head and shoulders"

better than Missouri: here's your proof

Ah, this old beautiful state. With it's "Hawkeye State" hat, overalls and bushy moustache, no wonder we make all the other states jealous. Iowa is more than corn and farming though, this state has a lot of neat things to offer if you know where to find them. This is where this blog can be helpful.

Every week, I will try to highlight a different local attraction that is worth visiting whether that be a Library for a President who only spent 11 of his 90 years in Iowa (evidentally that's enough) or a giant wagon wheel sculpture (and you thought there were no more uses for wagon wheels anymore).

So even if you're from out of state (I'm looking at you Chicago suburbians), strap on your overalls, put on your lucky Hawkeye hat, grab your corn stalk and comb your mustache because for once a week were gonna put a little Iowa in you (that's what she said).

Free movie night! Catch it if you can!

What: Aviation-themed Movie
Where: The Alexis Park Inn & Suites, 1165 S. Riverside Drive, Iowa City
When: Tuesday Nights, 7 pm
Cost: Free!

When my friends and I drove up to the Alexis Park Inn & Suites to watch a free aviation-themed movie last week, we weren't sure what to expect. Would there be a bunch of old, woolly aviation buffs crouched around a TV, loathing our non-airplane loving presence? And would the 'movie' be some grainy documentary about an obscure WWII aircraft?

Well, the Steven Spielberg-directed Catch Me If You Can, starring Leonardo diCaprio, could hardly be considered obscure. And the crowd, though clearly aviation fans, were very welcoming. As soon as we entered the room the owners of the hotel immediately sprung to their feet to introduce themselves. They kindly showed us where to hand out coats and sit. The other attendees (about 10 - a slow night, according to the owners) engaged us in friendly conversation. To my surprise, there was a moderately-stocked snack bar - also free - with Sunchips (yay Sunchips).

All in all, the experience was positive. The chairs were comfortable, the company hospitable. The screen was a hefty 104 inches, and with the surround sound speakers, it definitely felt like a movie theater. And while the topic of aviation isn't exactly my number one (or number 100) interest, I'd definitely come back again for movie night. The movies shown aren't always as appealing to the masses as Catch Me If You Can, (they do in fact, show more obscure aviation-themed movies), but the owners say they want to attract all types of people (including college students) to the movie nights, in order to draw attention to the declining field of aviation. There was a donation basket, and considering the quality of the evening, we left a couple of bucks. But it is entirely optional.

So, if you want to meet some friendly folks and watch a free aviation-themed movie in a theater-style setting, I'd highly recommend movie night at the Alexis.

Upcoming Intramural Events

Hello everyone. Here's a look at the upcoming University of Iowa Intramural events. These events are open to all university students whether you were all-state in high school or closer to what you would consider "athletically challenged". It doesn't matter if you couldn't shoot a basketball or throw a baseball without looking like you were a five-year old throwing with his wrong hand. Students are encouraged to participate in any and all events. And, to get to the point, they are cheap.

The next event upcoming is wiffleball. The deadline for this event is Wednesday, March 5th at 4:00 p.m. so start getting your teams together now if you're interested. It's only $15 per team which if you divide it really isn't that much at all. You can have up to 10 players on the roster while six can be on the field. The tournament, which is single-elimination, will be held Saturday, March 8th through Sunday, March 9th at the Main Gym of the Field House. Games will be played from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

If wiffleball isn't for you then maybe a trio of Intramural contests and games are. Billiards, darts, and Silverstrike bowling will be held at Brother's Bar and Grill. Singles billiards and darts, as well as Silverstrike, will be held on Monday, March 10th, while doubles billiards and darts will be on Tuesday, March 11th. It's only $3 for singles in billiards and darts and Silverstrike, and $5 for doubles. The deadline to sign up for these events is Thursday, March 6th at 4:00 p.m.

For more information and sign-up sheets for any of these Intramural events, go to the UI Rec Services main office located at E216 in the Field House or visit their website at http://www.recserv.uiowa.edu/ and go to "Programs" and click on "Intramurals".

So, if you've got nothing better to in the first few weeks of March and want to spark a fire in your competitive spirit once again, check out these cheap upcoming events put on by the University of Iowa Recreational Services.

Not so cheap, but got my money's worth

Event: Play - The Vagina Monologues
When: February 14-15
Cost: $5 students, $10 adults

In honor of V-Day, UI theater and medical students, the Emma Goldman Clinic, and the V-Day Organization collaborated to perform Eve Ensler's (pictured, right) acclaimed play, The Vagina Monologues. Now, I know that for a blog dedicated to cheap area attractions this event was a bit expensive, but it was for a good cause (the proceeds benefited the Emma Goldman Clinic and the V-Day Campaign) so I couldn't resist. Plus, I'd always wanted to see the play.

Each character was played by either a theater student, a medical student, or an Emma Goldman employee. Although I suspected which actresses were theater students and which weren't, I was very impressed with them all and thought they all performed superbly.

I'd seen parts of the HBO documentary about the play, so I was expecting it to touch on themes of female sexuality with a mixture of humor, poignancy and tragedy. It didn't disappoint. The play began with silly dialog about the taboo nature of the word "vagina" in our society. In one monologue, an actress depicting an elderly Brooklyn-ite spoke of her sexually deprived life and recurring sexual dreams about Burt Reynolds. Another notable character was a young Bosnian woman who spoke metaphorically to describe her brutal rape and the atrocities of war.

From a guy's perspective, my boyfriend said he enjoyed the overall performance. However, he seemed to think the guy sitting next to him was a bit squirmy/uncomfortable at times. But then again, the reactions of the whole audience were uncomfortable at times. Also, the language (and the content, for that matter) would definitely not be appropriate for children.

We were pleasantly surprised that after the play was over, there was a reception with an impressive variety of free drinks (nonalcoholic) and snacks. I must say that for $5, I definitely got my money's worth!

Check out this youtube link if you want to see a performance (NOT from the Iowa City version) that was a highlight. Disclaimer: Sexually explicit content.

Welcome cheapskates city-wide!

In case the title (or subtitle) didn't give it away and the picture of an empty pocket didn't clue you in, this blog is all about things-to-do, events to see and just about everything else for students (and adults too, we don't discriminate) who know how to pinch a penny. So keep your eyes peeled and prepare to save your hard earned money for more important things (probably alcohol).