December 9, 2011 · 3:10 pm

My Ten Penn List: Bookstore Gifts for the Holidays

Author:  Casey Ryan, C’95

I’m assuming that most of you, like me, are in the middle of holiday shopping.  I’m busily trying to get all of my gifts sooner rather than later .  However, I eschew the malls and do most of my shopping on-line.  Usually, I get free shipping on my purchases or I find some good discount codes on Retail Me Not. When my packages arrive, our front desk receptionist will buzz me or e-mail me to let me know and it’s like I’m the one who is receiving the gift as I knock one more name off my long list.

To balance out my on-line purchases, I will venture out into our little neighborhood in West Philly and visit the nice little shopping area along Walnut Street.   There’s Douglas (for Mom), GAP (for my nephew and niece), American Apparel (for my friends) and CVS (for wrapping paper and cards!)  Lest I forget, there’s also the Penn Bookstore.  Luckily for me, my brother and sister-in-law are Proud Penn Alumni (C’99 and GEN’06, respectively) and my folks (including a CGS’97 alumna) still love wearing Penn gear.

Here are my choices for Penn-themed gifts at the bookstore. I’ve including the link to each item since you probably can’t just hop down to campus for a quick purchase.  Though, you can order it on-line and have it mailed to your office.  When your receptionist buzzes you, you can feel as good as I do when the mail comes.

Remember the Penn Bookstore Official Site is a Barnes and Noble site. Many B&N coupons, gift cards and promo codes can be applied to your purchase.

10. Alta Gracia Hoodie for $27.73
There’s nothing like a good hoodie to have around the house for a lazy day of watching movies or snuggling up with a good book.

9. Storm Duds Large Golf Umbrella for $28.98
I love a golf umbrella to keep me dry on a rainy day.  Though I don’t play, I appreciate the cover it provides.

8. Penn Gear Polar Fleece Full Zip Jacket for $33.73
A fleece is a good choice in jackets. It can be warm separately or paired up with a windbreaker or a vest when it’s colder out.

7. Penn Legacy Adjustable Twill Hat for $19.98
I love a good, simple split P hat to wear.  I wear it everywhere – to sporting functions, on road trips and out Holiday shopping when I forgot that I’m avoiding the malls.

6. Penn Men’s Wristwatch with Leather Strap (or Women’s) for $109.98
Keep the time with Penn on your wrist.  Stylish and functional, it keeps in line with Franklin’s appreciation of the most useful and the most ornamental

5. Penn Foam Basketball for $14.98
For a less serious gift, a foam basketball is a great toy for the future Penn student as well as young at heart alumnus or alumna.

4. Penn Business Card Holder for $42.98
Tasteful and reserved, this card holder exhibits Penn Pride in a confident manner.  I know there’s a Princeton joke that I could make here about how orange isn’t reserved.  However, I’ll be nice; it is the holidays.

3. Varsi-Tee Blanket for $124.98
I think that this is a great and different Penn accessory… so much so that I want this! So, Mom or Dad, if you’re reading, I would love to open this up when we exchange presents…

2. Penn Hydro Nalgene Bottle for $32.98
Be green and health-conscience in one fell swoop.  Let everyone at the gym know that you went to Penn.

1. Penn Yikes! Rolled T-Shirt for $14.99
A gift for all budgets, this Penn T-shirt is comfortable and durable.  Choose your favorite color and almost literally wear your Penn Pride on your sleeve.

So, those are my seasonal Penn-related recommendations. I would love to hear other ideas from those of you who have started your holiday shopping early this year.

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Filed under Alumni Perspective, Campus Life, Casey R., Top Ten

December 8, 2011 · 7:37 pm

On the Road Again with Engaging Minds in New York

Author: Jason Strohl

On Friday, December 3, I had the pleasure of joining over 400 alumni at the most recent Engaging Minds event at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Four of Penn’s brightest professors engaged the audience in discussions ranging from how corporations benefit from data mining our digital identities to the attempt to control the ever-growing cost of healthcare in the United States to a quiz designed to measure confidence levels in decision-making.  If you were unable to attend, videos of each of the lectures are available on the Making History website, along with additional information about each of the speakers. Also, check out the Engaging Minds page for a preview of events coming to San Francisco and Los Angeles in early 2012. We hope to see you there!

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December 8, 2011 · 3:31 pm

From PA to WY and Back Again

Author: Liz Pinnie

The last time I spent a December in Philadelphia was eight years ago.  I was seventeen, had just been accepted as an “early decision” candidate to college, and was quite frankly “over” high school and the suburban town I grew up in.  Being a teenager requires one to behave in ways that are largely dramatic.

My time at Hamilton College was the complete opposite of my four years in a suburban Philadelphian Catholic girl’s high school.  I was told to pick classes that “spoke” to me. I went backpacking for the first time. I learned how to steal (a pie from the dining hall), drank too much caffeine, played (many) lacrosse games in the snow, and studied all night.

After graduating from college, I felt good about how I had spent the past four years, but entirely uncertain about what I wanted to do in the future.  So, I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  Slipping sideways from one cold, tiny, Northern locale to another (colder and still tiny) Northern locale seemed like a good idea and a great adventure.  And indeed it was.

With my friends

In Jackson, I delved deeper into the technical gear-wearing, back-pack-toting, mountain-skiing side of me.  I rafted and served beers to surly cowboys, bought my first mountain bike and wrestled a pig, experienced negative thirty degrees and no humidity.  It was a wild, beautiful, fantastic time.

I'm Just About to Catch Him...

Yet, after three years of this crazy adventure, the squawk of eagles reminded me of seagulls at the Jersey Shore, the sound of bluegrass made me crave The Sound of Philadelphia, and my fingers kept leading me to Google searches for jobs in Pennsylvania.  And so, much like I came, I packed up a station wagon, drove for three days, and moved back to Philadelphia.

On the surface, my transition from tiny Hamilton College and the wilds of the West to the bustling streets of Penn’s campus seems to be a mad leap: country to city, small to big, cold to warm, terrible sandwiches to mind-blowing food trucks.

Photo credit: mla.march.Penn

Yet, I find that here at Penn, I am discovering some important similarities.  Despite the sheer size, I have found that there is a strong community feeling that rivals my minute prior locales.  And even in this concrete jungle, there is a sense of exploration and adventure that matches any wild river guide or rock climber.  Though many might think that my time of exploration is behind me in the classes of college and the mountains of Wyoming, here at Penn, I feel that once again, I’m about to begin and new and thrilling adventure.

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December 7, 2011 · 3:08 pm

Hidden Rooftop Oasis

Author: Amanda D’Amico

On Sunday, I celebrated my second anniversary as a Penn staffer.  Over these two years, I feel like I’ve gotten to know Penn – the history, campus, the students, the staff, and the faculty.

But something still plagued me. I was puzzled by pictures of this location:

I’ve walked through much of the campus, but I couldn’t figure out where this area was.  The building behind these lights was clearly Jon M. Huntsman Hall, but I couldn’t find a grassy area near Huntsman, let alone one adorned with these lights.

But last week, I happened to be on the second floor of Huntsman Hall when a coworker pointed to the window.  There it was!

Koo Plaza, accessible from the second floor of Huntsman, is a tranquil and quiet area, juxtaposed to the busy hustle and bustle of Huntsman Hall.  The Plaza is complete with benches, tables and chairs, and it is an opportune space to enjoy your lunch on one of these unseasonably warm days we’ve had recently.

And, if the above picture hasn’t convinced you of the beauty of the space, here are a few more that might persuade you:

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December 6, 2011 · 2:39 pm

Penn Men’s Basketball: The Dunphy Rollout Edition

Author: Stephanie Y., C08

Penn Men’s Basketball fans can always count on The Red and Blue Crew to bring clever rollouts to the games. It looks like the students had a message for Fran Dunphy, Temple’s head coach, at the Penn vs. Temple game.

The rollout at the Penn vs. Temple Men’s Basketball game reads "Dunphy: We mustache you a question, but we'll shave it for later. #NoShaveNovember.”

The rollouts can be quite competitive and mean-spirited sometimes, but The Red and Blue Crew keeps it tame and tasteful when it comes to Coach Dunphy. Dunphy was head coach of Penn’s Men’s Basketball from 1989 to 2006. He won 10 Ivy League titles in his 17-year career at Penn before he went on to be head coach at Temple. He did so much for the basketball program at Penn, and he will always be a legend in the Palestra.

The next Penn Men’s Basketball game is on Wednesday, December 7 at 7 PM! Hope to see you there when Penn plays Delaware in the Palestra. Go Quakers!

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December 5, 2011 · 7:00 am

The Frankly Pennies

Author: Leigh Ann P.

Surely you all read my previous post about party culture at the Sweeten House.  If not, I’ll wait. 

Finished?  I’m sure you were wildly entertained!  Did you leave a comment?

Last week our fearless Frankly Penn blog founder, Aimee LaBrie, hosted a fabulous soiree (can it be a soiree if it’s at 4 PM?) honoring all of us blog contributors – both of the frequent kind and of the once-in-a-lifetime kind.  Aimee created awards for each and every blogger and presented them at the event along with personalized gifts.  Everyone is so excited about their awards, and a few people around Sweeten have displayed them proudly in their workspaces.

Nicole is so excited about her award, she has it displayed right beneath her office nameplate!

 

Can you spot Lynn’s award among all of her daughter’s artwork?

Lisa V. doesn’t ever want to spin her chair around and NOT see her Frankly Penny.

Mine is covering up my William + Kate tea towel.  Am I finally tired of them?

Jason’s only regret is that the certificate is too small for the frame he had picked out for it. 

Hoopes’s award is displayed proudly on his credenza, along with his blogger pride pencil!  No wonder he’s proud: who else has an award featuring a cat climbing a ladder?

This is the best award Cecilia has ever received!

Have you ever received an award for anything?  Let us know in the comments!  If you want to be awarded next year with a Frankly Penny, you could be!  All you have to do is contribute to the Frankly Penn blog.  Contact Aimee LaBrie at alabrie@upenn.edu for more information.

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Filed under Aimee L., Awards, Cecilia R., Hoopes W., Jason S., Leigh Ann P., Lisa Marie Patzer, Lisa V., Lynn Carroll, Mari M., Nicole M., Photos, The Sweeten Life

December 2, 2011 · 9:51 pm

Top 5 Reasons to Love Penn in December

Author: Kelly Graf

There are thousands of reasons to love Penn all year long. But today, with the holiday and winter seasons upon us, I choose to focus on the best aspects of Penn during the festive month of December! Below is a list of five reasons to enjoy Penn this month. Feel free to add more to the comments (or to deride or applaud my choices as well). Happy December!

1. Locust Walk Decorations. Nothing can top the magical feeling of walking down locust walk in the evening and see the lights shine in the trees. It truly feels like you are miles away from a city and in your own Winter Penn Wonderland.

Photo Courtesy of the Wharton School

2. Holiday Garden Railway at Morris Arboretum. The Garden Railway Display is returning again this winter as the Holiday Garden Railway Display at Penn’s Morris Arboretum. Visitors of all ages will be wow-ed by a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with fifteen different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under), and bustling model trains, all set in the lovely winter garden of the Morris Arboretum. The buildings are all decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle along the tracks and around the surrounding landscape.

3. Winter Break. Who doesn’t love time off? Students trudge through finals in the first two weeks of December, furiously studying for their end-of-semester exams. Then, they are set free for a full-month to vacation, visit home and take a break from studying. Their excitement can be felt across campus! Most faculty and staff also enjoy a week-long break from the campus to regroup and come back stronger than ever in the New Year.

4. Ivy Stone Society December Drive. The Penn Fund launches its 3rd Annual Ivy Stone Society December Drive this month – an initiative focused on reaching at 4,200 Ivy Stone Society members in the month of December. ISS members are undergraduate alumni who have made a gift to The Penn Fund for three or more consecutive years .These loyal donors are the backbone of Penn’s philanthropic support.

5. Amazing Resources Available at Penn. I am always amazed by the different facets of the University that offer valuable information and resources. This holiday season, for example, the Vet School offers up a four-page PDF educated pet-owners on how to keep their animals safe during the holidays.

But don’t take my word for it…Come back to campus this holiday season and see for yourself the wonders of Penn in December.

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December 1, 2011 · 2:51 pm

State of the (Union?) School

Author: Dan Bernick, SAS ‘14

“Madame Speaker!  The President of the United States.”

The State of the Union address always begins this way, followed by the President’s report on the state of our union.

Penn had its own version this week.

State of the School (SOTS) is an opportunity for the six branches of Penn Student Government to discuss what they accomplished over the past year and what their plans are.

This year’s theme was “Moving Forward.”  As a member of the Undergraduate Assembly, I interacted with people who may (or may not have) voted for me and got to hear what new projects they needed me to “move forward.”

The event was held at the Penn Museum and students wore business casual.  Admissions Dean Eric Furda spoke and we listened to presenters from each branch.  But the best part – as always – was the food.  Students mingled while eating a tantalizing array of appetizers including lobster bites, vegetable pizza, pita with hummus, and mini burgers.

Photo Courtesy of the DP, 11/29/11

I am glad that, unlike in the real world, student government can all agree on one thing – how to have a good time!

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November 30, 2011 · 3:32 pm

Glee Club Sets Sail

Author: Lisa Ellen Niver, CAS’89

One of my favorite things about campus life at Penn was all the incredible student performances. I loved to see  performances by Counterparts, Mask and Whig, and the Glee Club. Not being musical myself, I am still convinced in my importance on the theater team because without an audience– it is only a dress rehearsal!! Now that I am long gone from campus life, I still love live performances and being connected to Penn and my friends.

The Original Glee Club members, circa 1915

Recently, a fellow alum put me in touch with the current Glee Club members who are celebrating their 150th Anniversary. And now, they will be performing on the Celebrity Cruises ship, the Summit, this summer in Bermuda.

Always wanted to see Bermuda? Ready for live performances from your favorite Penn Group? Need an excuse to get away? The Glee Club wants to celebrate with you!

Don’t miss the boat. Join the Glee Club May 20, 2012 as they set sail from New York to Bermuda on the Summit. Feel free to contact me as soon as possible to reserve your room at lniver@cruiseandresort.com.

 

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November 29, 2011 · 7:43 pm

The Art of the Office Wall

Author: Lisa Marie Patzer

A recent blog post in MIRANDA, titled “A Space to Inspire Them: Art at Work”, made me think about the art that I am surrounded by here at Penn.  From the Arthur Ross Gallery, to the Kelly Writers House, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, arts and culture play an important role in life at Penn.  During Homecoming Weekend I took the Gallery Hop tour and visited The Arthur Ross Gallery for the first time.  Their current exhibit, Double Take: Series, Multiples, and Prints features prints, photographs, pastels and sculptures from the University of Pennsylvania’s diverse art collection.  One of my favorite photographs in the exhibit is Queen, by Audrey Flack:

Audrey Flack (b. 1931) Queen, 1975 Dye transfer photograph Gift of Seymour Passman

The gallery hop also included a tour of the Institute of Contemporary Art.  Here I was introduced to the work of Charline von Heyl.  I am now a devoted fan.

Charline von Heyl

Painting by Charline von Heyl at the Institute of Contemporary Art

The point of Rachel Pastan’s story, however, is that art belongs not only in galleries and museums, but also in factories, offices, cubicles and other work spaces where we spend most of our time. Pastan emphasizes the importance of being surrounded by art on a daily basis, not only for a sense of décor, but also because art improves employee morale, productivity and helps stimulate the imagination.

I still plan to frequent the museums, performance spaces and galleries at Penn, but Pastan’s article brought my attention to the wall I face while at work.  I have a few artistic images hanging amidst my work related materials, but there is a lot of opportunity to improve the artistic aesthetic of this space.

Office Wall number 1

Bits of art hanging on my office wall

Office wall photo 2

More bits of art hanging on my office wall

How about you?  What does your workspace look like?  Do you see art on a daily basis?

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Filed under Fine Art, Lisa Marie Patzer, The Arts, The Arts at Penn