December 1998

Related Links University Bookstore Patriot Computers

Do Your Holiday Shopping George mason Style By Tami Dimock Short on time but long on names on your holiday shopping list? Why not purchase some of your gifts right here at George Mason? If your weekends are booked solid and you don't like the idea of speed-shopping at the mall during your lunch break, here are just a few ideas for gifts you can acquire without ever leaving campus. For those with a penchant for the performing arts, give the gift of culture: a pair of tickets to one of the many exciting performances at Center for the Arts. For a schedule of upcoming events, call the Box Office at x38888 or visit CFA's website at www.gmu.edu/cfa. For the voracious reader in your family, stop by the University Bookstore and choose from nearly 2,000 general reading selections, including New York Times bestsellers, travel guides, cookbooks, poetry, biographies, and children's literature. Or give a friend the gift that keeps on giving: a subscription to his or her favorite magazine. Just purchase a copy from the bookstore, remove and fill out one of those annoying little subscription cards that prevent you from turning the pages with ease, drop it in the mail, then gift wrap the magazine you bought--making sure to explain when opened that a whole year of reading pleasure is on its way. While at the bookstore, be sure to pick up a CD or two for the music enthusiast on your list. You'll find tunes from Phish, Bob Dylan, Jewel, Alice in Chains, Beethoven, and Strauss, among others. And don't forget about the vast array of George Mason apparel for the entire family, such as sweatshirts, windbreakers, t-shirts, hats, nightshirts, and even baby clothes. For the golf enthusiast, how about a George Mason golf shirt, golf balls, or a golf towel? Other gift ideas include Cross pens and pencils, Sony Walkman stereos, Eastpak backpacks, and Ty Beanie Babies. In addition, the bookstore carries an assortment of 1999 calendars, lava lamps, artist portfolios, colorful Ziro clocks, umbrellas, and a variety of prints and posters suitable for framing. Also stocked are film, videotapes, and batteries (for those "some assembly required" gifts). Be sure to show your valid George Mason faculty/staff ID card at the register; it's your ticket to 10 percent off all University Bookstore purchases (except textbooks and software). For your favorite film buff, stop by the Johnson Center Express convenience store, which offers discounted tickets (just $5 each) to movies at area Multiplex Cinemas. While you're there, grab some candy for stuffing stockings. Patriot Computers has a number of items for today's techno-junkie. Besides the obvious (the latest hardware--including the iMac--and an assortment of software applications), the store offers lots of accessories for those who compute and want to have fun doing it. For example, an assortment of Looney Tunes products is available, including mouse pads and diskettes bearing the likeness of such cartoon characters as Bugs Bunny, Tweety Bird, and Sylvester. There's even a mouse with the Tazmanian Devil on it. Colorful "Disk Duo" diskette cases and Quick Reference software guides make great stocking stuffers, while those who indulge in computer games will appreciate a shiny new joystick. Other gift ideas include PC speakers, software manuals, Dilbert mouse pads, laptop carrying cases, padded wrist rests, computer toolkits, and cases for CD-ROMs and Zip disks. Patriot Computers also issues gift certificates. For the fitness enthusiast in your family (or as a little present to yourself), what could be better than 10 visits to Mason's brand new Aquatic and Fitness Center? You can purchase a 10-Punch Pass for just $30 with your valid faculty/staff ID card. The pass allows access to all of the center's facilities, including both swimming pools, the whirlpool, and state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Best of all, it never expires and can be used by anyone. For those who frequently dine on campus, and who welcome an occasional departure from fast food, Crossroads Restaurant sells gift certificates in any amount you desire, making it easy to treat a friend to a nice, sit-down meal. Not sure what to get? U.S. Savings Bonds make great gifts in a pinch and can be a fun way to introduce kids to saving and investing money. United Bank, in the Johnson Center, issues Series EE bonds in a variety of denominations from $50 to $10,000. The cost of a bond is half of its face value, so you can walk away with one for just $25. When you've finished shopping, be sure to visit the Mail Services Center in SUB II, where you can ship out-of-town packages via U.S. Mail, Federal Express, or UPS. (U.S. Mail transactions require cash, while credit cards are the only method of payment accepted for FedEx and UPS.) While you're there, stock up on postage stamps for holiday greetings, thank-you notes, and (yikes!) January credit card bills.