Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | fall 2004

FALL 2004
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Cover Story:
Surviving Stroke

Feature:
37 things to do on an ISU football weekend

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A new tradition

125th Anniversary Celebration:
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37 THINGS TO DO ON AN ISU FOOTBALL WEEKEND

The car is loaded up: tailgate coolers, clothing for all seasons (hey, it’s Iowa!), those snazzy car flags you clip on your windows – and did you remember the tickets? It usually takes some effort to pack up for a trip to Jack Trice Stadium, so why are you blowing in and out of town like a Cyclone? Next time, take off your grilled bratwurst-scented Cardinal & Gold parka and stay awhile. Here are 37 suggestions for making a fun-filled weekend out of a Cyclone football game:

1. Go downtown
and check out shops like Worldly Goods for unique treasures, the Pumpkin Patch for toys, and Wheatsfield Grocery for organic food. The main attraction for history buffs and architecture lovers might just be a Main Street Historical tour, sponsored by the Ames Historical Society.

2. Poke your head
into State Gym. It’s still cool.

3. We dairya
to go to Ames’ most famous restaurant, Hickory Park, and just order a bowl of their velvety Wisconsin cheese soup so that you’ll have plenty of room to order a sundae: one of the big ones. And eat it
all by yourself. (Hey, we won’t tell!) Or, just go whole hog and order the barbecue – after all, that’s what Hickory Park is all about!

4. Of course, of course
there’s a horse or two to be seen at the campus horse barns…a great place to stroll by with your kids, especially if they’re city slickers in need of some agri culture.

5. Step out
and around the Zodiac in the Memorial Union, just like students have done for more than 70 years. Legend has it that he who steps upon the bronze relief adjacent to Gold Star Hall is sure to flunk his next exam, but many believe the bad luck isn’t just for test-takers. The good news, however: If you do accidentally tread on the Zodiac, just throw a penny into the Fountain of the Four Seasons to render the mischance void.

6. Show your kids
where you used to sit at Iowa State football games on the aerial Clyde Williams Field photo that hangs over the mantel at Clyde’s Sports Club, a sports restaurant located in the new Union Drive Community Center. After you dine on a Cy’s Pie (pizza) or Personal Fowl Chicken Sandwich, sneak at peek at Clyde’s collection of ISU sports memorabilia, which dates back to the 1890s.

7. Grab some popcorn and Raisinettes
and settle down for a movie at the historic Varsity Theater on Lincoln Way, which has been bringing a
little slice of Hollywood to Ames since 1938.

8. Get some help with your love life
at Lake Laverne. Take a moment to sit by the campus landmark and watch ISU’s most famous pair of star-crossed lovers, Lancelot and Elaine. Perhaps you can ask them for relationship advice; after all, swans mate for life. If they aren’t much for conversation, just stroll three times around the lake with your beloved. If you do, ISU legend says you’re destined to be together forever.

9. Put yourself to the test
at one of the state’s top public golf courses: ISU’s own Veenker Memorial, which has been frustrating even the most skilled golfers with its tough twists
and tight turns since 1938.

10. Shhhh…
don’t tell Parks Library’s best-kept secret: It’s not just a great place to study, browse the archives, and well…get lost; it’s also a great showcase of Christian Petersen and Grant Wood artwork!

11. Wind your way
through the Shoppes on Grand, an old house at the corner of Grand Avenue and 6th Street that’s packed full of unique gifts and collectibles. You can dine on their scrumptious Ivy’s Tea Room fare, including out-of-this-world desserts. But you should probably do that before you have to maneuver your midsection through their merchandise. It’s a tight fit!

12. Head for the hall
of fame display in the Jacobson Building’s atrium on Friday afternoon to see tributes to ISU athletic greats.

13. Bug out
at the Insect Zoo in the Science II building, a great place for kids to learn about biology…and, of course, the world’s insect population. Request a tour in advance online, where there’s even a Webcam for those who prefer to experience insects – like giant cave roaches – virtually.

14. Live it up
at the Memorial Union’s Maintenance Shop, Ames’ oldest continuously operating nightclub. The M-Shop, created as a live music venue in 1974 upon closing of the Union’s old (real) maintenance shop, has over the years hosted acts such as Muddy Waters, Chick Corea, War, Soul Asylum, and Smashing Pumpkins. With only 200 seats, attending a show in the M-Shop is still one of the most up-close and personal ways around to enjoy live music.

15. Take a hike
through Pammel Woods, McFarland Park, or nearby Ledges State Park. It’s a serene contrast to Jack Trice’s Cardinal & Gold craziness.

16. Get smart
and tour one (or both) of ISU’s museums: the Brunnier Art Museum or the Farm House Museum. Sure, you know they are there…but when was the last time you went in and looked around?

17. Put the pedal
to the trail and enjoy a bicycling adventure along Ames’ bike trails. Find your way by picking up a map from Skunk River Cycles on Main Street.

18. Those crazy kids
are crazy fun to watch at the Ames Skate Park, located near Brookside Park on 6th Street. The park was opened two years ago to the joy of inline skaters and skateboarders, who now have a place to fine-tune their skills. A crowd can often be found surrounding the concrete paradise, staring in awe at some of the more daredevil stunts.

19. Get cheesy
with a pizza from Great Plains Sauce and Dough Co., which this year is celebrating its 25th year serving up slices of fresh pizza heaven in its little corner of Main Street. It’s crowded on football weekends, but it’s well worth the wait to sink their famous thick crust into a puddle of honey.

20. Pamper yourself
with the royal Cyclone treatment. Get a massage or have a pedicure at Finesse Spa.

21. Find fresh-from-the-farm foods
at the Ames Farmers Market every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. to noon. The local merchants set up shop in the North Grand Mall’s north parking lot through Oct. 30.

22. Rock your world
with a trip that will drive you up the wall in the Lied Rec Center. Their 1,110-square-foot climbing wall puts flatlanders to the test every day. If you’re not a Lied Rec user, you can be a user’s guest for the day for only $5. (ISU Alumni Association members can also join the Rec Center by showing their membership card at the main desk.)

23. Point yourself
in the direction of campus and take a self-guided
historical tour by checking out ISU’s new “Points of Pride” signs, which tell you why – if you didn’t already know – you should be proud to be an Iowa Stater!

24. Throw yourself into the melee
at one of Campustown’s favorite student hangouts: Paddy’s, Sips, Welch Avenue Station, People’s Bar and Grill, or anything else you find in the Welch Avenue area.

25. Get beady-eyed
searching through the huge collection of beads at Grandma’s Jewelry Box on Lincoln Way in Campustown. It’s paradise for the crafty.

26. Sign up
your teenager for a campus tour with the Office of Admissions. It’s never too early to indoctrinate your future Iowa Staters!

27. Let college students make you a fancy lunch
at the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom in MacKay Hall at noon on Friday (reservations required). For only $5.50, ISU’s hotel, restaurant, and institutional management students will pull out all the stops for you.

28. Stay the night
in a Memorial Union guest room and be at the heart of ISU. And while you’re there, don’t ignore the convenience of the bowling alley, food court, bookstore, and art exhibits.

29. Say “hi, butterfly”
at the Christina Reiman Butterfly Garden at Reiman Gardens, where it’s a tropical paradise filled with exotic winged friends all year long. Two of the butterflies’ favorite colors? Cardinal and gold.

30. Chug along
the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, just 10 miles west of Ames. Your kids will especially love riding
the rails!

31. Say bravo
to a student theatre or musical production on campus, or check out a touring show at the Iowa State Center.

32. Warm up on a chilly game day
at one of Ames’ many coffee shops. Local Joe joints include Gregory’s, Café Diem, the Stomping Grounds, Taraccino, and the Bohemian Bean. Plus, you can grab a cup in several crannies on campus…including the MU Café, where ISU alumnus Danny O’Neill’s Roasterie brand is a Cyclone favorite.

33. A world of cuisine
awaits you at Ames’ many ethnic restaurants. Chow down on Indian, Vietnamese, Greek, Peruvian, Irish, and other fare in a variety of locations across town.

34. Stay up late
and visit the famous Campustown gyro stand, proudly serving night owls since 1993. Recently expanded to a second Welch Avenue location, these once-post-11 p.m. snacks are now available some nights as early as 9 p.m. The gyro stand has become such a staple of Ames culture that its owner, campaigning largely on the platform of being the eyes and ears of ISU students, was recently elected to the Ames City Council.

35. Be a kid
on the playground equipment at Ames’ Brookside Park.

36. Get ink
at one of Campustown’s three tattoo parlors: The Asylum, the Jaded Angel, or Lasting Impressions. If you’re particularly impressed with a Cyclone victory, why not get the score tattooed on your derriere? Then again, maybe just a Cy logo would work, too.

37. Drop by
and say “hello” to our Alumni Association staff. We’re in our new digs Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fisher-Nickell Building on Richardson Court, which was originally built in the 1950s as a “home management house” in which young women would practice housekeeping. We’ll try our best to practice, too.

About the Writer | Kate Bruns is the Iowa State University Alumni Association's assistant director for electronic communications.