On Campus: Allison Shapiro

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Summer Festivities 101: Art Fairs

Since there is more free time during the summer, we get stuck on what we should do and drive ourselves into complete boredom. However, there are probably many things going on in your community that you’re missing out on. Art fairs are a popular summertime event and many cities, big and small, have them. CGM decided to spend a day at the “Old Town Art Fair,” a neighborhood art fair in Chicago, and see what it had to offer. Check out some of our favorite things we saw.

1. The art (of course...)
Paintings, glass art, photography, jewelry, sculptures ... the list goes on. You will find almost every type of art. Many artists come from different parts of the country to showcase their pieces. The art can be a bit pricey, but it’s cool to just look at all the different collections. Sometimes you’ll find some artwork or jewelry that is reasonably priced and would make an awesome gift for a friend or relative. The artists love to talk to you about their work and their stories are usually interesting.

2. Live music
Sometimes at the bigger art fairs there will be a few bands playing. No major headliners at this particular art fair, but most of them were decent. It was nice to be able to walk around, look at the art and listen to music. It gave the art fair a more vivacious feeling. There were some energetic folk who danced near the stage to the band’s cover of “Twist and Shout.” Hopefully next year they will have Beyonce headline.

3. Food

Some people come for the art, but almost everyone stays for the food. Art fairs are great to try local restaurants’ cuisine without having to wait an hour get a table and an extra hour to get your food. Even though they don’t cook up everything on their menu, they usually serve their most popular dishes for the public to try. It gets pretty hot during the day, so it’s a good thing there are refreshing beverages. These watermelon lemonades (below) sold like hotcakes at the fair!

4. Freebies
That one perfect word. Being a college student, saving money is of utmost importance for us. Scoring all that free stuff felt like catching gold. Some freebies at the fair included protein bars, reusable water bottles, drawstring backpacks and sunglasses. Good thing they were giving out backpacks. It came in handy for holding all the free goodies.

After a wonderful day spent at the art fair, it’s easy to say that art fairs are a great way to spend your free time during the summer. There are lots of interesting pieces of art to look at or to buy to decorate your place. Even if you’re not a big art person, most art fairs have a live band you can watch or tasty food to try. Check your local paper or city’s website to see if there are any upcoming art fairs or events in your area. Let us know what’s going on in your town this summer!

By: Allison Shapiro | Images: Allison Shapiro

Allison Shapiro City Spotlight Foodie Mizzou Mizzou-team

Foodie City Spotlight: Chicago

Portillo’s hot dogs and Giordano’s deep dish pizza are always favorites, but for your next trip to Chi-Town, why not try something new? Chicago is the place for adventure, especially for your tastebuds. It has everything from Parisian to Peruvian. So, if you’re a frequent visitor to the Windy City or planning to make a trip there in the near future, definitely make some time to visit these delicious hot spots!

SOUPBOX

Soupbox, located in downtown Chicago (and a second location in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood) has the perfect comfort food for the chilly winter season. Some of their popular items include their Signature Creamy Chicken & Wild Rice, Fresh Tomato & Basil Bisque and Signature Lobster Bisque. They also make fresh salads and grilled cheese sandwiches, perfectly paired with any of their delicious homemade soups.

Location: 50 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611
Price: $10+
Website: soupbox.com
Twitter: @soupbox

FOREVER YOGURT

Forever Yogurt opened its first location in Chicago’s Wicker Park only a couple years ago, and it now has several locations nationwide! Even though cold weather is amongst us, Forever Yogurt serves one of the city’s best frozen yogurt. Red velvet, maple bacon donut and key lime sorbet are just some of the flavorful flavors at FY. Their topping bar is huge and has a large variety of toppings to choose from. Best part is, it’s self-serve, so go crazy!

Location (multiple): 1924 W. North Ave. Chicago, IL 60622
Price: $5 - $10
Website: www.foreveryogurt.com
Twitter: @ForeverYogurt

TIPAROS THAI CUISINE & SUSHI BAR

Feeling oriental? Tiparos, located in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood, has appetizing Thai dishes and fresh sushi. Chicago is home to many Thai restaurants, but Tiparos is one of the few that stays truly authentic. It’s also vegetarian-friendly, so everyone can enjoy something off their expansive menu. Favorites include: Thai spring rolls, green curry chicken and pad thai. Save room for dessert! Their Thai custard is to die for.

Location: 1540 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL 60610
Price: $15 - $30
Website: www.tiparosthai.com

By: Allison Shapiro

Allison Shapiro Lifestyle Mizzou Mizzou-team

Surviving the Second Semester Slump

In some ways, the academic school year is like the Superbowl. During the first semester, or first half, players come in feeling strong and ready. They have a few fumbles but manage to make it out alive. Winter break is the half time show; fun at first, but then it just kind of drags on and you’re ready to get back in the game. Here comes the second half; the players feel refreshed and eager to tackle any new obstacles, but what’s their game plan?

Enough with football … second semester can be a lot to handle sometimes, but CGM wants to help you take it on without fear. Here are some tips to keep you on track in the second half.

First semester fumble: You made friends who you don’t want to keep in touch with second semester.
The fix: Luckily going to a big school means there are plenty of people you can meet. Try sticking with the friends you do like, and join some of the classes or clubs they’re in. They’ll probably introduce to some other people you’ll get along with, too.

First semester fumble: You didn’t make the grades.
The fix: Meet with your academic advisor during the first few weeks of the semester and talk over your schedule. Make a study schedule each week; study between classes and meet with tutors.

First semester fumble: You broke up with your boyfriend or girlfriend.
The fix: Talk to friends and find a distraction. The less you think about your past relationships, the easier it is to get over them.

First semester fumble: You didn’t get along with your roommate.
The fix: Spend less time in your room. Keeping your distance for a while allows you both to recuperate. If your living situation first semester was extremely unpleasant, speak to your RA about switching dorms.

Second semester brings a new set of challenges, but hopefully these tips give you the confidence to take on any obstacle. Since you’re more comfortable with the campus and the environment, it will be less intimidating when meeting new people or trying new activities. Every semester in college is different, so don’t worry about the mistakes you made previously.

By: Allison Shapiro | Image: Source

Allison Shapiro Lifestyle Mizzou Mizzou-team

Helpful Hints on How to Ace Your Next Exam

As comfortably cool weather slowly transforms into bitter cold, you know what that means: It’s time to start preparing for finals. With midterms just behind us, it’s hard to imagine conquering exams again … but don’t worry! CGM is here to give you some advice on how to tackle that next big test. Happy studying!

BREAK the chapters covered on the exam into sections. Aim for two to three chapters/topics for each section (depending on how many chapters are covered on your test).
SCHEDULE which days leading up to the exam you will work on those sections. Then, plan how many hours you will spend on each section.
FIND a comfortable study spot (e.g. library, coffee shop, common area in your dorm/apartment).
REVIEW your notes the day before your exam. This means, all your sections should be covered two days before the exam, so you can devote more time to reviewing your notes.
RELAX and find some down time in between all your studying. Hit up the Rec, watch a movie on Netflix, give yourself a facial, etc.

Study tips from MU students:

“Go through your notes from lecture, take out key terms and simplify their definitions,” sophomore Rebecca Gale said. “This makes it easier to remember them for the test.”

“I make a ton of flashcards,” sophomore Tiffany Melecio said. “I use them all the time, even while I walk to class, I’ll be going through them.”

If you're still not sure how to get started studying, attend TRiO's workshop "Preparing for Finals: A Four-Week Process" on Thursday, November 8th from 7-8:30 p.m. in Strickland Hall 204 on MU's campus.

By: Allison Shapiro | Image: Source