Give the gift of UW–Madison this season
With the holiday season comes the opportunity to give gifts to loved ones. Here are some possibilities for your favorite Badger fan.
Something for everyone
Bring your Badger spirit home for the holidays by gift shopping for your relatives at the Badger Marketplace.
Run by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, the online store features Badger-themed folding chairs and coolers for your sports fanatic cousin, and sporty caps that can be customized with a school and graduation year for that aunt that went to Wisconsin Law — and won’t let anyone forget it. For that particularly nostalgic sibling, consider a membership to the Wisconsin Alumni Association, including the quarterly WAA magazine, Badger Insider, or exclusive, custom-framed prints of your favorite campus landmarks and traditions. And don’t forget about that spouse or significant other that deserves a little something more, especially for listening to you scream at the TV all football season.
For that special someone, the Badger Marketplace offers sterling silver jewelry and key rings, TAG Heuer and M. Lahart men’s and women’s watches, and various collectibles. Place your order online or visit the WAA Marketplace for more information and ideas. Three-day shipping is available until Dec. 19. Call WAA, 262-2551, with any questions.
For your four-legged Badger
To honor the family pet, or for the cat lady that lives down the street, consider sending a holiday greeting card from the School of Veterinary Medicine. For a suggested $10 donation per card, the school will send the indicated recipients a greeting card explaining that a donation was made in their name to the School of Veterinary Medicine. This year’s card features artwork from nationally renowned Wauwatosa artist Carolyn Kenney-Carter who depicted her Kipling in a portrait, “The Cat Who Walked by Himself.” Order on the VetMed Web site or contact the school’s Office for Advancement, 265-9692.
Natural beauty
Because the holiday season is often too chilly to immerse yourself completely in nature, the next best thing is surrounding yourself with it. The UW–Madison Arboretum Bookstore’s field guides, natural history books, children’s books and exquisite nature calendars make the perfect holiday gift of bringing the outdoors in, without the frostbite. The bookstore also sells gifts from local artists including handmade wooden bird ornaments, hand-crafted jewelry, hand-painted scarves, stoneware pottery bird houses and vases, Folkmanis puppets, organic coffee and chocolate, photo and watercolor note cards and more. While some books are available for order online, gifts are in-store only. Visit the Arboretum Bookstore at 1207 Seminole Highway or call 263-7888 for more information.
Tralalalala…
Give the gift of song this holiday season by purchasing a CD from the School of Music. Recordings boast both faculty and student talents with a diversity of styles and instruments including brass, symphonic, piano, jazz, guitar, opera, vocal and more. Jump and jive to swing tunes from the jazz band or relax with a bottle of chardonnay and good conversation to the Pro Arte Quartet. All CDs are available at the School of Music’s online CD store for between $15 and $25, or for discounted prices in the main office of the School of Music, 3561 Mosse Humanities. All proceeds go to scholarships in the School of Music.
Reindeer tales
There’s nothing like curling up next to a warm fireplace with a good read to kick off the holiday season. Check out the diverse collection at the UW Press, including fiction, historic, regional, poetry, photography, scholarly and more.
New fall titles feature “Picturing Indians,” a collection of photos, letters, diaries and periodicals chronicling Ho-Chunk life in the Wisconsin Dells at the beginning of the 20th century by Steven D. Hoelscher; “Crunch,” the history of potato chips by Dirk Burhans; and “Purebred and Homegrown,” a photo-driven inside look at America’s County Fairs by Drake Hokanson and Carol Kratz. Stimulate your imagination by immersing yourself in “Night Sisters,” a romantic and suspenseful novel by Sara Rath complete with ghosts, a 1920s actress, a murder and, of course, Wisconsin. Visit the UW Press Web site for more titles and ordering information.
Raise the steaks
Give your family a meaty surprise when you bring home a variety of meat products from Madison’s Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory’s store. Only five months old, the store offers a variety of fresh meats, including sirloin, lamb chops, Polish sausage, steak and Jordan and Clayt’s Hot Sticks — a tasty treat developed by two dairy science students who work in the lab. The store, located adjacent to the lab at 1805 Linden Drive, is open only on Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Save the date
Adorn your fridge — or those of your friends and family — with children’s artwork this holiday season by purchasing a 2009 calendar from the Friends of the UW Hospital and Clinics. This first-ever calendar features 13 pieces of children’s art done by patients and siblings from the American Family Children’s Hospital. All proceeds go to patient and family needs at American Family Children’s Hospital. The calendar is available for $14.99 from the children’s hospital gift shop, the UW Hospital Gift Shop, local Barnes and Noble stores and online at the Friends Web site.
Travel in style
Let your Badger pride drive you to purchase a personalized university license plate this holiday season from the department of motor vehicles. In addition to the annual registration fee, a $20 donation that will help provide scholarships to need-based students will put Bucky on your tail in no time. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Web site.
Score the perfect holiday gift
Put yourself right in the action with a personalized photo from the UW Athletic Department. On the Wisconsin Athletic Department’s online photo store, you can see your name printed on the back of a football jersey in a mid-game photo, or have the marching band spell out your name on the field. Unframed prints start at $64.95 while custom framed photos begin at $169.95. Be sure to also check out other team, fan and action shots from the various renowned Wisconsin sports teams.
For the friend in knead
Help a student wind down after a busy semester with a University Health Services massage gift certificate. For an affordable $40, give the gift of 50 minutes of rest and relaxation as massage therapists knead out 14 weeks of stressful campus hustle and bustle. Gift certificates can be purchased at 115 N. Orchard St., where massages are given year-round.
She’s a brick house
Salute your fond memories of shower stalls, cafeteria lines and bunk beds with a commemorative brick from the nearly demolished Ogg Hall. Saying goodbye is never easy, but for only $25, you can take a piece of history with you. Be sure to order quickly because bricks are limited. Visit the University Housing Web site, download and print the PDF order form and mail it in with payment.
Dip your hand in the cookie jar 6
Satisfy your family’s sweet tooth by surprising them with holiday cookies from University Housing. This year, four delectable recipes will be making their debut: Peppermint Meltaway, Lemon Iced Spritz, Chocolate Cherry and Double Chocolate. And of course, familiar favorites, including Caramel Chew, Double Peanut Butter Cup, Mexican Wedding Cookies and more, will return to this year’s assortment. You can also have your choice of size and style. Bring the Holiday Treat Box, which holds three dozen cookies, to your family gathering for only $9. But for your big holiday blow-out, be sure to show up with five dozen cookies in the new, hard-sided Premium Gift Box for $16.25. Holiday cookies are available at Newell’s Deli in Smith Hall, Ed’s Express in Gordon Commons, Now or Later in Chadbourne Hall and other residence hall cafeterias around campus. Be sure to call ahead if you want a larger order. Visit the University Housing Web site for more information.
When there’s nothing left to do but dance
Tap your feet and clap your hands at a UW–Madison Dance Program concert. The Spring Student Concert on Feb. 26–28 and the Spring Dance Program Concert on April 23–25 will have you and your friends dancing in the aisles. Buy your tickets at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, with student tickets starting at only $5, or contact Melissa Erickson to purchase dance apparel.