Holiday Shopping Around Penn's Campus |
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December 4, 2012,
Volume 59, No. 14 |
Astrology and Labors—A Medieval Year 2013 Calendar
The Lawrence J. Schoenberg Collection of Manuscripts, donated to the University of Pennsylvania Libraries by Penn Libraries Board members Barbara Brizdle Schoenberg and Lawrence J. Schoenberg (C’53, WG’56), embodies the great scientific and philosophical traditions of the ancient and medieval world. This 13-month wall calendar features illustrations selected from two astronomical treatises dating from the 1400s (LJS 463 and LJS 449). Digital photography for the calendar is provided by the Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text & Image. Designed by Andrea Gottschalk, the 12” x12”, 13-month wall calendar is available for $14.99 (plus $5 for shipping and handling). Purchase at www.pennlibrarystore.com |
Accessories and Apparel
At the Natural Shoe Store, shop for men’s, women’s and kid’s boots, moccasins, sneakers and loafers. There are year-round discounts and clearances on name brands like Ugg, Minnentonka, Clark’s, Timberland and Nike. Take advantage of markdowns on Nike sneakers ($50), waterproof Ugg boots ($206) and men’s Clark’s loafers ($80-$100).
Want comfy, winter basics for the December chill? Gap has you covered! Cowl neck sweaters in solids or stripes will keep you stylish and warm, as will plaid scarves ($24.95) and cable knit tights ($14.95). Men can bundle up in puffy vests ($79.95), smart pea coats ($138), or casual henley sweaters ($34.95). Shop for cozy lounge wear too: plaid pajama pants ($24.95), patterned fleece-lined house slippers ($24.95) and fleece bathrobes ($49.95) will add flair to those cold winter mornings. Also check out the sales rack for markdowns of up to 25%! Info.: www.gap.com
Ann Taylor LOFT is full of festive necklaces and jewel-toned bangles perfect for any holiday soiree. Accessorize any of their sleek and chic dresses, such as their black, sequined shift dress ($118), with an elegant champagne-colored necklace ($49.50), a belt with an adorable rhinestone bow ($34.50) and romantic lace booties ($118). Vivid red silk blouses and cardigans are the perfect holiday hue and sparkly sequined sweaters, such as their grey cardigan with a rhinestone Peter Pan collar ($69.50), are subtle yet glamorous enough for day-to-night wear. The store also has a variety of sumptuous cable knit and wool sweaters, sophisticated skirts and cozy scarves. Shop the sales rack for 30-40% off. Penn students get a 15% discount with their PennCards. Info.: www.anntaylorloft.com
Have a quirky, offbeat holiday with Urban Outfitters! The store is packed with various knick-knacks and humorous photo books on fashion, lifestyle and music as well as trendy clothing for both men and women. Christmas-themed items such as mini tinsel trees ($15), instant canned snow ($7), Hello Kitty ornaments ($14) and sock monkeys with reindeer antlers ($17) will put you in the holiday spirit and are perfect for children and adults alike. Women’s sequined beanies ($24) and alpine wool gloves ($20) are stylish accessories for the holiday snow, while men’s reindeer sweaters ($59), red plaid ties ($24) and colorful wool caps ($29) add a festive twist to keeping warm. Check out the top floor sales rack, where clothing goes for $39.99 or less. Info.: www.urbanoutfitters.com
Shop for warm and classic basics at American Apparel this season. Their timeless staples come in a wide variety of colors, from basic black to salmon pink and every color in between. Shop for simple hoodies ($46), men’s wool cardigans ($82) and classic wool coats ($100) to layer in style this winter. Simple yet elegant turtleneck sweater dresses ($40-$48) can be accessorized with a timeless gold and black watch for a casual, chic winter look. Tights come in a diverse range of colors and patterns which will spice up any outfit. Fuzzy earmuffs ($20), fingerless gloves ($12) and scarves ($28) all come in a variety of hues and nail polishes and would make great stocking stuffers. Info.: http://americanapparel.net
Bath and Beauty
Join Blue Mercury’s beauty and skincare experts for the Holiday Shopping Party on Friday, December 7, from 2-8 p.m. Get expert advice on choosing the perfect gift, enjoy free product samples and bring a friend along to the shopping party. Sales will be discounted 10% for purchases over $100, 15% for purchases over $175 and 20% for purchases over $250. There will be holiday exclusives for skincare, makeup, haircare and fragrance products. Some exclusives are also available for pre-shopping before the party. Gift sets and gift cards are also available. Info.: www.bluemercury.com
Joseph Anthony Hair Salon offers services for hair, nails, tanning and waxing. This holiday season, pamper yourself or someone else with unlimited tanning for $40 or the Get-Ready-for-the-Weekend Special, which includes a manicure and bikini, eyebrow and lip waxing for $40. Info.: www.josephanthonyhairsalon.com
The Saturn Club Hair Salon provides haircare, skincare, nail treatment and waxing. Info.: www.thesaturnclub.com
Books, Gifts and News
There are plenty of places around campus to find great gifts for book lovers, news seekers and magazine readers.
Of course, the Penn Bookstore is a must. Take advantage of the Penn Bookstore’s Salebration, Thursday, December 13 and Friday, December 14. Save 20% on storewide gift items including Penn-branded merchandise, books, games and other items. They have a large selection of holiday themed items and sales. Holiday boxed cards are all 30% off. There is an “Under $10” table which features great books, mugs and bags to fit any budget. In another holiday section, find holiday cookbooks ($12-$14). How about The Black & White Book of Holiday Crosswords ($14.99) for crossword buffs? For children, choose from How the Grinch Stole Christmas ($15) and Merry Christmas, Elmo!, which comes with a plush Elmo ($14.95). For history lovers, Christmas with the First Ladies is available for $25.95.
Penn Bookstore also carries a large selection of games for all ages. They offer fun classics like Scrabble and Clue ($16.95), Beatles Monopoly for fans of the British band ($39.95) and great card games such as Chase 10, UNO and Skip-Bo ($5.95-$7.95). If you want a holiday themed game, try a Rudolph-shaped puzzle ($14.95), Rudolph Operation or Monopoly ($24.95-$39.95) and Christmas Shrinky Dinks ($19.95).
Over at the Penn Book Center, they are offering a fantastic two-for-one sale. Special literary classics and cookbooks from Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press are buy one get one free. Also, they are offering 20% off of coffee table books and books from their Art section. To browse online, go to www.pennbookcenter.com
House of Our Own is a two-story house packed with new and used books in every room of both floors. The staff are extremely friendly and can help you find just what you are looking for, be it children’s books, books on the world wars, or much loved fiction novels. Go in and ask about special holiday sales and enjoy the cozy atmosphere or contact them at (215) 222-1576.
Know a coffee aficionado? Then Avril 50 is the place to go. They have a large assortment of fresh gourmet coffee beans any coffee-lover would rush to try. They also have many international publications for sale. While there, peruse the many cute and clever post cards and cards that can be used to send holiday greetings to loved ones. For more information, visit www.avril50.com
TheLast Word Bookshop is a large, used bookstore that has books on every available surface. Everything is clearly labeled and you are sure to find what you are looking for. The Last Word sells, buys and trades books, meaning something new is always showing up. And you might be pleasantly surprised to see a friendly feline walking around greeting customers as they shop. For more information, visit http://lastwordbookshop.com
Locust Moon Comics is the place to go to find comics, graphic novels and even art, DVDs and video game paraphernalia. Recently moved to the cross streets of 40th and Ludlow, Locust Moon Comics expanded to include an art gallery. They also have classroom space, where they provide drawing lessons and writer’s workshops, which could be a great gift for a budding artist or writer.
Electronics
On December 13 and 14, in conjunction with the Penn Bookstore’s Salebration Days, stop by the Computer Connection for raffle prizes, refreshments and giveaways. Beats by Dre headphones ($199.95) are perfect for the music-lover on your list. For children, interactive Disney CDs will educate as well as entertain them. Musicians will love the Key Station mini keyboard ($79.95). Pop Phones ($29) that come in neon colors and function as handsets for cellphones are quirky and fun gifts for retro junkies. Environmentally friendly products include cables made from recycled parts and solar-powered batteries.
Current promotions include: buy an iPad 4 and receive a free polyurethane Smart Cover or buy an iPad mini and receive a $25 gift card to Penn Computer Connection, promotions through December 31. For more promotions, coupons and deals, download the 2012 Holiday Wishbook at the Computer Connection website, www.upenn.edu/computerstore
Flora
Liven up your holiday décor with floral arrangements from Roses Florist. With holiday-themed centerpieces, wreaths and more, you’ll find the perfect item to complement your home. A classic poinsettia plant dazzles for $49.99, while a wreath adorned with pinecones and berries brings cheer for $68.99. Smaller items are also available, with poinsettias starting at $4.99 and individual carnations available for $1.99. Visit the store at 36th and Chestnut or go online at www.uofprosesflorist.com to browse their other holiday options.
There are great gift ideas for the gardener or nature enthusiast in The Shop at Morris Arboretum. Members receive a 20% discount at The Shop, now through December 31. Items include: eco-friendly gift wrap that you can actually plant and wait for beautiful flowers to grow; fashionable clutch bags, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and flower pins; scented soaps, bubble bath and hand lotion; great books and educational toys for kids; whimsical swan watering cans to celebrate the new Arboretum swans (Almanac May 1, 2012) and the photo book, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Through the Lens of Paul W. Meyer by longtime Arboretum director Paul W. Meyer. This book captures the beauty of Morris Arboretum through high-quality photographs as the gardens transform season-to-season. The book is available at The Shop for $39.95. Be sure to add a 2013 calendar to your purchase, depicting the most iconic images of Morris Arboretum’s garden in every season. Calendars are only $5—a great stocking stuffer! For more information, see www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/visit_theshop.shtml
Food
Delight the food-lovers on your list with holiday-themed treats from the Metropolitan Bakery. Enjoy the taste of the holiday spirit with apple pie ($29), gingerbread pound cake ($14), spiced nuts ($7.50), pumpkin custard tart ($29) and pumpkin, pecan and cranberry bread ($6.55). Gift packages and gift certificates are also available. Info.: www.metropolitanbakery.com
Purchase delectable breads and pastries at Artisserie Chocolate Cafè Their selection includes items baked with seasonal ingredients such as pumpkins, pecans, cranberries and peppermint. The bakery now offers pies at 2 for $22. Info.: http://artisseriebakery.com/about-34th-street.php
Furniture and More
For apartment furniture and other essentials, check out Furniture Lifestyle’s extensive selection. The store’s holiday year-end sale features 20% off furniture, computer products and mattresses, and runs through December 24. The store also offers a wide selection of smaller gifts, including fun tabletop air hockey, pinball and table tennis games ($19.99); practical lap desks for late nights of studying ($12.99-$29.99); Skull Candy ($29.99-$39.99) and Sony earbuds ($19.99-$59.99); as well as pre-lit mini Christmas trees ($14.99), which are perfect for decorating homes, offices and dorm rooms alike.
International and Unique
The University City Arts League at 4226 Spruce St., will host their Annual Holiday Craft Show for the general public December 8-21 with special opening nights December 7 for UCAL members and for the general public December 8, 6-8 p.m. Additional shopping hours are: Monday-Friday, 3-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, noon-6 p.m.
Shoppers can save at the Annual Holiday Sale at the Penn Museum, December 5-9. Both the Museum Shop and the Pyramid Shop offer shoppers 10% off all purchases; 15% for Penn, University of Pennsylvania Health System and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania staff and students (with PennCard or employee ID); and 20% for Penn Museum members (with membership card).
At the Museum Shop, the “Party Like It’s 13.0.0.0.0.” gift collection includes t-shirts at $19.99, coffee mugs at $9.99, pint glasses at $9.99 and shot glasses at $6.99. They are available throughout the holiday season.
Other Maya-inspired gifts include the popular, tiny Worry Dolls from Guatemala (as little as $3.99) and an array of colorful scarves and bags ($2.99 to $29.99). For food-lovers, the Museum Shop features ground chocolate ($9.99 for a tin, $1.49 for individual packets), ceramic tableware and glassware imported from Mexico ($14.99-$39.99) and Mayan cookbooks ($15.95 -$34.95). As a perk, shoppers who bring a same-day receipt from the Pepper Mill Café to the Museum Shop receive 10% off select cookbooks.
Shoppers can also purchase beautiful, one-of-a-kind ceramic pottery pieces made by native Nicaraguan artists and imported by Chaka, a fair-trade company. Each item includes a tag with a photo of the artist who created it. Prices range from $60 to $129.99.
In addition to Maya-inspired items, the Museum Shop offers a wide range of fascinating and unique gifts from around the modern and ancient worlds. These include Chinese zodiac figurines and silk purses ($4.99), African masks ($4.97-$16.99), handmade baskets from Senegal (different sizes, $24.99-$119.99) and a figurine of a King Tut sarcophagus, complete with mummy ($12.99).
The Penn Museum children’s gift shop, the Pyramid Shop, provides exciting and educational toys and games for the younger set. The Master Builder Set offers a 3-D architectural puzzle to builders ages 5 and up. These wooden sets, available in Mayan temple, Egyptian temple and Pyramid, offer children the chance to build as the ancients did, or perhaps create their own designs ($59.99).
Excavating History kits offer a fun and educational experience at a low cost. Each kit provides a plaster block with an artifact hidden within and tools and instructions so children 8 and up can excavate the object themselves. The kits come in Egyptian Mummy, Maya Statue, Greek Athlete and Chinese Warrior ($7.99).
Shoppers can find additional toys, games, stuffed animals, jewelry and a treasure trove of children’s books about ancient civilizations and modern world cultures at the Pyramid Shop. The items appeal to a wide range of ages and are offered at a range of prices.
Visitors going exclusively to the shops may enter the Museum for free. For general information, call (215) 898-4000. A selection of items are available at the Museum Shops’ website, www.penn.museum/museum-shops.html
Music
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World Cafe Live has released two new CDs. The first is Live at the World Cafe 20th Anniversary Edition featuring 32 artists including Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, Old 97’s, Adele, Richard Thompson, Coldplay and many more ($19.99). For more recent music, check out Live at the World Cafe Volume 33 which features music from recent sessions ($16.99). Both CDs are available for purchase at http://shop.xpn.org |
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The coed jazz and pop a cappella group Counterparts has released its latest album, Low Key. The CD features songs from the past and present including, “Love is a Beautiful Thing” by Al Green and “Criminal” by Fiona Apple. The album is available by mail for $10. To order, see www.dolphin.upenn.edu/cparts/recordings.html |
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The fifth album by Dischord A Cappella, Lights Out, includes fourteen songs featuring and arranged by its talented members. The co-ed a cappella group features a repertoire ranging from modern rock and pop to alternative and even 80s and 90s classics. The CD is available for $15 by mail. The group also has a special offer of 10 CDs for $130. To order, see http://upenndischord.com |
Penn Insignia
Shop the 2012 Treasures of Penn gift catalog this holiday season. Visit www.upenn.edu/pennbookstore/gifts to visit the digital catalog and view truly unique collectibles such as the Palestra line and the LAGOS® Pride of Penn Collection. Free shipping on all catalog and online orders through December 7. (Use code UPENNSHIPS).
For your favorite Quakers, PennAthletics.com offers a wide range of gifts, apparel and gear to show your Penn pride. Apparel starts at $9.95 for value t-shirts, although a full range of clothing options—from classic sport polos ($29.95-$49.95) to practical jackets ($49.95-$124.95)—are available to choose from. Many apparel items are also customizable with the name and/or logo of your favorite Penn sports team! Be sure to check out the new 2012 Ivy League Champions shirt from Penn Football ($19.95). In addition to apparel, the online store stocks a variety of smaller gifts, including baseball caps ($19.95), mugs ($12.95) and pennants ($14.95-$29.95).
Recreation
Philadelphia Runner is the perfect place to stock up on practical as well as stylish gifts for the runner on your list. The University City store stocks its own clothing brand in partnership with Nike, supplying cold weather gear ($34.95-$49.95) and soft t-shirts in a rainbow of colors ($20). You can also choose from more unique runners’ items, like Saucony vegan sneakers ($52.95-$59.95); Janji athletics clothing, a brand developed by a Penn student, with profits funding projects in Haiti and Kenya ($29.95/shirts, $37.95/shorts); and Picky vegan energy bars, which come in a variety of flavors and make perfect stocking stuffers ($2.95). And if you’re looking for a sale, check out the store’s 50% off apparel rack! Info.: http://philadelphiarunner.com
Whether you’re looking for high-end cold weather gear, winter sporting equipment, or innovative camping supplies, chances are that Eastern Mountain Sports has it in stock. For the die-hard mountaineers on your list, check out their new high-performance neoshell ($299), Smart Wool socks ($12-$20), headlamps ($20-$49.95) and DryBags, an essential for any outdoorsman ($17.95). The store has also just released the SustainU t-shirt ($25), a limited edition, 100% recycled shirt perfect for the eco-conscious. Finally, check out snowshoes for kids ($34.95) and adults ($59.95-$159.95), as well as the vast “Stocking Stuffers” section near the front of the store. Info.: www.ems.com
For the avid biker on your list, Trophy Bikes offers a refreshing approach to the practical side of commuter and tour biking. The store primarily sells multi-gear bikes, from Surly bikes ($350+) to the collapsible and customizable Brompton ($1,385+). Beyond this, Trophy Bikes features an in-store repair shop, stocks all replacement parts and offers full-bike tune-ups ($68), perfect for any biker. They also offer a variety of bike accessories, including Kryptonite locks ($36-$40), Nog blinders ($44.95) and Bern helmets ($70). Electronic gift cards can easily be purchased online at http://trophybikes.com or by phone at (215) 222-2020.
Related: Holiday Happenings at Penn; Free Animated Holiday eCards; One Step Ahead: Protecting Your Finances During This Year's Holiday Shopping Season
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