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.