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DECEMBER 1, 2013, ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Classics staging a comeback at Trump’s Hobbies Remember slot cars, plastic models and trains? Trump’s has ‘em
“I’m not in it for the money, I’ll tell you. It’s a really fun job because people come in because they want to.”
BY MIKE MCINALLY
JIM TRUMP
In the world of games and hobbies, the classics are staging a comeback — and the shelves at Trump’s Hobbies in Corvallis offer the visual evidence. Jim Trump has been involved in selling supplies and gear for serious hobbyists in the mid-valley and beyond since the days in the early 1970s, when he started showcasing model airplanes in a tiny space he rented from a buddy who ran a diaper service. Nowadays, Trump’s operates from a storefront in the Timberhill Shopping Center, and Trump himself has seen trends — and economic conditions — rise and fall. The last five years have been a tough stretch with the economy, he said — but he’s seeing some welcome signs of economic improvement. And some of the classics — with new high-tech twists — are leading the way, he said. For example, he pointed to a new radio-controlled gizmo: A four-propeller flying device about the size of a hockey puck that
AMANDA COWAN
Jim Trump of Trump’s Hobbies in Corvallis looks over the variety of board games in his store. can be attached to a tiny video camera if so desired. The cost is about $130. As for the video feed, Trump joked: “I’m so boring that I have to invade my own privacy.” Radio-controlled aircraft continue to be a strong seller at Trump’s, but people who prefer more old-fashioned pursuits have options as well: Trump noted, for example, that plastic models — the kind you assemble and glue together by hand —
are enjoying a resurgence as well. The same holds true for wooden models — ship kits, for example. All of those offer one constant, he said: The satisfaction of making something by hand — and Trump’s offers a variety of tools and parts for hobbyists at any level. Other toy and hobby classics are experiencing a boom in popularity, he noted: Model railroading, for example, seems to be gaining new fans. And
even a pursuit such as slot car racing is picking up fresh steam these days, propelled in part by technological innovations such as a feature in a new racing set in which cars run out of “gas” mid-race if drivers are careless about attending to that detail. Board games still pull in customers, Trump said,
and a title like “The Settlers of Catan” and its sequels draw well. The typical customer for “Catan” is someone who’s just had the opportunity to play the game for the first time and got hooked. But even longstanding favorites like “Battleship” get high-tech updates: An elaborate new version of the game, “Battleship Galaxies,” moves the action into outer space. Also still selling briskly,
Trump said, are tradingcard games such as “Magic: The Gathering.” The fact that his store sells merchandise that people use for fun is a big appeal to the job, Trump said: “I’m not in it for the money, I’ll tell you. It’s a really fun job because people come in because they want to.” Mike McInally is editor of the Albany DemocratHerald and Corvallis Gazette-Times.
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, DECEMBER 1, 2013
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Books are the ultimate in last-minute gifts BY GAIL COLE
Besides being quick to wrap, easy to transport, and never, ever at risk of spoiling, books can make wonderful gifts — at the last minute and for any occasion. Here are some suggestions for those hard-tobuy-for people on your holiday lists:
For the naturalist “Holdfast: At Home in the Natural World,”
by Kathleen Dean Moore. (OSU Press, re-released in 2013 with a new foreword by the author) Moore, an environmental philosopher and Oregon State University professor, challenges readers to consider humanity’s inherent connections with the natural world through a series of essays, many of which set in Oregon.
For the historian “Ava Helen Pauling: Partner, Activist, Visionary,” by Minda Car-
son (OSU Press, 2013) Both a lifelong activist and homemaker, Ava Helen Pauling’s story frames the social upheavals of the 20th century and further illuminates what we know about her well-known husband, Linus Pauling. Oregon
State history professor Carson researched and wrote this nonfiction text.
For the lover of author readings “This Boy’s Life,” by
Tobias Wolff. (Grove Press, first published in 1989) As the most recently named recipient of the Stone Award for Lifetime Literary Achievement, Wolff is slated to give a public reading at OSU this spring. Prepare for the event with Wolff’s memoir, “This Boy’s Life”: an honest, gritty but ultimately beautiful comingof-age tale.
For the young adult needing a thoughtprovoking read “Cat’s Foot,” by Brian Doyle. (Corby Publishing)
The prolific Doyle’s foray into young adult fiction was a 2013 Oregon Book Award finalist for the Leslie Bradshaw Award for Young Adult Literature. In the novel, an aged war veteran decides — in a disarmingly simple way — to travel to the country where he fought to attempt to find what he lost.
For the movie-lover Give your friends and family the opportunity to read (or revisit) these literary giants before their film counterparts are released in the next year or two. “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck.
This Depression-era tale of the Joad family’s plagued trek from Oklahoma to California was already adapted into a clas-
sic film with Henry Fonda in 1940, but Steven Spielberg is rumored to be considering directing a contemporary adaptation. “The Sound and the Fury,” by William
Faulkner. James Franco, who directed and starred in an adaptation of Faulkner’s “As I Lay Dying,” is also rumored to give a similar treatment to this modernist look into the psyche of a Southern family in shambles. “Romeo and Juliet,”
by William Shakespeare. Yet another adaptation will be released in February, but this drama-accessible because of the likelihood that anyone who will receive this text as a gift has
already read it in ninth grade-provides an readers with an immersion into the humor, horror and, of course, genius of Shakespeare. “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” by Mark
Twain. To be released as “Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn” in 2014, readers young and old can use this film as an opportunity to revisit one of Twain’s less controversial but still witty narratives.
For fiction readers (or anyone, for that matter) “Selected Stories,”
by Alice Munro and “Dear Life,” also by Munro (both
published by Vintage) The 2013 Nobel Prize for Literature recipient’s stunning portfolio of short fiction gives readers ample chances to explore her subtle yet magnificently complex stories. 1997’s compilation “Selected Stories” provides an overview of Munro’s earlier collections, while her most recent release, 2012’s “Dear Life,” demonstrates the quiet evolution of her writing over the course of her career. Gail Cole is a graduate student in the School of Writing, Literature and Film at Oregon State University. She received her bachelor’s degree at OSU and also worked as a Gazette-Times reporter.
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DECEMBER 1, 2013, ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Look to local merchants for the cook in your life BY MARIA L. KIRKPATRICK
Cooks may be a picky lot when it comes to sharing their kitchen — but it can be quite easy to find a holiday gift for them to excite and inspire their culinary talents. We asked area merchants for their suggestions for the perfect present and found no shortage of ideas. Hot right now are silicone bowl covers, said Loraine Kiest, store manager at The Inkwell Home Store in Corvallis. They come in different sizes and styles. The covers fit over bowls and seal airtight. Made by Charles Viancin, they come in different colors and can go from oven to the freezer. Also popular are Lékué silicone cookware pieces for the microwave, including steamers, rice cookers and little cake molds. For the serious baker, Kiest suggests Emile Henry baking stones for pies and lasagna dishes. Swiss Diamond nonstick cookware is available at a “try me” price, which, Kiest said, makes it affordable to add something new to culinary preparation. Holiday linens in earthy patterns and colors are popular and appeal to many settings. For a little bit of fun and unusual, Kiest said, check out the ChicWrap, plastic wrap in a fun and decorative dispenser. The walls at the Inkwell are lined with kitchen gadgets and offer endless stocking stuffer options for any chef or chef wannabe. From avocado scoops to banana slicers to carrot peelers, basic kitchen tasks can be made fun with the right tool. Books are a great gift of encouragement to chefs of all levels of expertise. Grass Roots Books and Music in Corvallis offers books for every meal and many ingre-
AMANDA COWAN
Loraine Kiest, store manager of The Inkwell Home Store, displays some silicone lids for bowls, which are popular gift items this year, in downtown Corvallis.
dients. Bookstore owner Jack Wolcott has a few favorites he can recommend that include everything
from chocolate to vegetarian and from French cuisine to gluten-free. Notable is “The Art of
Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution” by Alice Waters, a leader of the
local sustainable food movement. Included in Wolcott’s list of favorites are “Cooked” by Michael Pollan. In the book, Wolcott said, Pollan discusses the “uncharted territory of his own kitchen.” “Patisserie: Mastering the Fundamentals of French Pastry” by Christophe Felder, makes French pastries accessible for the home cook and includes many “gorgeous photos,” Wolcott said. “Seriously Bittersweet” by Alice Medrich is seriously delicious, Wolcott said. With “beautiful layout and photos,” he said, “this is a gourmet’s guide to the wonderful world of cooking with chocolate.” Additional suggestions include “Moosewood Restaurant Favorites” by
the Moosewood Collective. This book compiles the most requested recipes from favorite vegetarian restaurants and the revised version includes glutenfree and other relevant dietary concerns. “Pacific Northwest Cheese” by Portland author Tami Parr is a lively history of regional cheese making. Portland author Maggie Stuckey believes that gardens equal food and in her book “Soup Night” it’s easy to tell she is both gardener and cook. Wolcott said this cookbook is a guide to bringing neighbors together over soup. “Lonely Planet Food Lovers’ Guide to the World” by Mark Bittman is a great and wonderfully colorful introduction to the cuisines of the world. It includes the best places to find local dishes and cultural tips and how-to-eat etiquette. The selections at GrassRoots are many and, Wolcott said, staff is well versed and happy to help shoppers find the best gift for various cooks and food enthusiasts. For the up-and-coming chef or the cook who wants to add Italian dishes to their recipe box, Pizza King in Albany offers cooking classes. Taught by restaurant owner Ruby Lewis, classes are created with the intent to teach and inspire students to be successful in the kitchen. Buy a class, or two, and give it with a list of upcoming classes. Recipients can schedule classes based on their availability. Lewis also has two cookbooks available at her restaurant and online: “A Taste of Italy: My Favorite Soups” and, to complete any authentic Italian meal, “A Taste of Italy: My Favorite Desserts.” Maria Kirkpatrick is a freelance writer.
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, DECEMBER 1, 2013
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Toys: Look for tech, nostalgia to sell big this year BY LINDSEY ROMAIN CTW FEATURES
Innovation. Building skills. Out-of-the-box thinking. This year, toys trends are more about stretching the mind than providing temporary entertainment - or finding new ways to do both. “This is the year of toys powered by kids’ imaginations,” says Marianne Szymanski, the founder and president of Toy Tips, Inc., an international child development research group. Billy Lagor, senior vice president of U.S. marketing at Hasboro, agrees: “This year it’s all about customization, and the merging of digital and face-to-face play, along with new ways to play with classic favorites.” Meaning, in simple terms: tablets, robots and building toys with a million little pieces are all the rage.
Tech Bytes Tablets were a big deal last year, but in 2013 the “tablet market has exploded,” according to Laurie Schacht, co-publisher of Toy Insider, also known as the “Toy Insider Mom.” The VTech Inno Tab 3S ($99.99, ages 3 to 9) and the XO Learning Tablet ($149, ages 4 to 14) are two popular tablets for kids, as is the Disney Creativity Studio - Smart Stylus ($50), which works in conjuncture with the Disney Creativity Studio iPad app ($4 in the Apple Store). It’s a nice treat for kids with iPad-owning parents who aren’t afraid to let them handle the device. That technology crossover - using something new, like a stylus, to “renovate” an existing product, like an iPad - is a big trend in the toy world
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Both the Disney Interactive’s Disney Infinity and the Doc McStuffins Get Better Check Up Center should be hot gifts. right now. The Telepods line is a “digital gaming platform for the mobile generation,” Lagor says. With the Angry Birds Star Wars II app (available September 19), kids can “teleport” physical Angry Birds toys into the app and use them within. They just have to tap the Telepods icon in the game to get started. When the game is off, they can play with the Angry Birds toys, which they can set up and strategically knock down, just like in the game. Disney Interactive’s Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force (both $74.99 for a starter pack) use that same concept mixing physical toys with a virtual world - and are both expected to be big hits, according to Schacht.
says of this trend. Updates on classics are also making rounds. Lagor makes note of Monopoly Empire, a new spin on everyone’s favorite money-hungry board game. In Empire ($19.99, ages 8 and up), properties are replaced with popular brand names of entities kids will recognize, like McDonalds, Xbox and Coke. Twister, the dotted arm-tangling game, also has an update: Dance Rave ($34.99, ages 8 to 14), which hooks up to an MP3 player and comes with movable Twister spots that get players dancing.
Big Name, Big Money
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The XO Learning Tablet.
Nostalgia Rules For parents perturbed by the thought of glitzy teleporting tech, fear not -
classic toys like Cabbage Patch dolls, Smurfs, Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs
are big again this year. “Parents and grandparents love to share the toys they
remember and adored growing up with their kids and grandkids,” Schacht
Kids are also suckers for anything recognizable to them - which is why toys based on popular movies, TV shows and preexisting brands are some of this year’s most anticipated. Continued on Page 6
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DECEMBER 1, 2013, ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
Tech, big names and nostalgia are the rule for toys Continued from Page 5
Sofia the First, Talking Sofia and Animal Friends ($39.99, ages 3 and up) should be a big hit with little girls, as should anything Doc McStuffins-related. McStuffins toys, also based on a hit Disney show, were some of the top sellers last year. This year, the Doc McStuffins Get Better Check Up Center ($79.99, ages 3 and up) should be a hot gift. As for movies, the minions from “Despicable Me 2” were the breakout characters of the year - and that should translate to the toy world, too, like with the Talking Minion doll ($39.99, ages 4 to 12).
Can We Fix It? If a kid can build it, a kid will want it this year. VTech’s Go! Go! Smart Wheels Con-
struction Playset ($34.99, ages 1 to 3) lets little ones assemble a puzzle-like race course. First Builder’s Billy Beats Dancing Piano ($39.99, ages 1 to 5) is both musical and builder-friendly - he even holds other First Builders blocks under his red hat. For slightly older kids, K’NEX Thunderbolt Strike ($119, ages and up) comes with 850 pieces and over 17 feet of connectors.
At the End of the Day Even with all the gadgets and intricacies in toys this year, the biggest name of the season is… the Rainbow Loom? Yes, the Rainbow Loom. The colorful bracelet-making kit, invented by a Michigan man named Choon Ng for his daughters, took off earlier this year. The Loom is only avail-
able in specialty stores and runs for $14.99, and “while it may not remain as hot as we head into the holidays, it will remain a great and inexpensive gift for kids of all ages,” according to Schacht. “Kids have become crafty, more imaginative and are now interested in making their own designs,” says Szymanski of the trend. Regardless of what your kid is yearning for - from techiest of the tech to the simplest bracelet maker - Schacht says to remember that they’re the ones you should be listening to. “It’s all about what your kids love,” Schacht explains. “Understanding how they play, and what they like best will help ensure a great choice for a toy that is played with and enjoyed many times over.”
CTW FEATURES
Moving spots get players dancing with Twister Dance Rave.
ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, DECEMBER 1, 2013
Practical doesn’t have to be boring Neither do gifts that promote fitness Whether you have an avid athlete or New Year’s resolution junkie on your list, running gear is an adrenaline-fueled gift that will be used and abused for months to come. Check out the latest, trendiest gear that attempts to defy the laws of physics and turn even the average runner into a superhero. Do gifts get any better than that? No. No, they don’t. -Matthew M. F. Miller, CTW Features
Shoes • Adidas Running Springblade Shoe, available in men’s and women’s; $180 Multiple “energy blades” decorate the bottom of the shoe, providing extra inches of height, impact absorption and extra bounce in your step. • Nike Free Flyknit+, available in men’s and women’s; $160 Incredibly lightweight and flexible, this breathable, knitted shoe fits more like a sock than a traditional sneaker. • New Balance 1260v3; $145 This seamless (there are literally no sew-welded seams), soft-density foam cushioned shoe is quite the looker, too. Available in many unique, flashy color combinations. • Reebok ATV 19+; $140 This spacey-looking shoe has 19 “podular lugs” lining the bottom of the sneaker, designed to make all-terrain running a comfortable ride.
Apparel Asics Lite-Show Favorite Running Top; $4448 depending on style
The entire Lite-Show line features a reflective thread on all seams, which bounces light rays back at the source to make runners more visible. • New Balance Windblocker Tight Women’s Bottoms; $90 Eco-friendly coffee grinds compose the NB Heat technology that claims to provide a twodegree skin surface temperature increase. They are also flexible and reflective. • Under Armour Men’s Alter Ego Compression Shirt; $45-60 Runners often feel like superheroes, but now they can look one, too. Choose
from Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and Hulk. • Nike Engineered Hooded Women’s Training Top; $125 Stylish, comfortable and breathable, this training top keeps runners warm on chilly outings, but could double as casualwear when not working up a sweat.
Gadgets • Sennheiser Adidas PMX 685i Sports headphones; $80 Headphones that are comfortable, sound good and stay in place? Yes, and they’re also sweat/water resistant and fit under
your bike helmet on crosstraining days. • TomTom Runner GPS Watch; $170 Provides outdoor and indoor tracking, and even works on treadmills. Vibrations alert runners to their progress even when music is playing. Adjustable for all wrist sizes and very durable. • Jawbone Up; $130 The latest competitor to the Nike Fuelband, Up tracks your movement, sleeping and eating patterns. Attach photos of your food for easy meal tracking and get morning feedback about how long you were in a deep sleep.
• Reebok Women’s inShape Fitness Monitor; $80 Simple, no-frills tracking device that is worn like
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a watch and tracks running speed, heart rate, distance and calories burned, and also works as a pedometer.
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DECEMBER 1, 2013, ALBANY DEMOCRAT-HERALD, CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES
A gift-giver’s guide to buying jewelry Know how to choose a trendy or classic piece that your loved one can cherish BY RACHEL GRAF CTW FEATURES
Bracelets, anklets, necklaces, rings, hoop earrings, post earrings, dangly earrings and the list goes on. With so many jewelry options, it’s useful to know what’s in style to ensure you pick the perfect gift for your loved one this holiday season. Jewelry trend forecaster Rocks Paper Metal began as a website in 2011. Because of its success, it has since launched its own jewelry line. Rocks Paper Metal’s cofounder, Diana Rochford, says big jewelry pieces will remain in style this holiday season. This could mean either one big statement piece of jewelry or many smaller pieces of jewelry that have been layered on top of each other. With regard to jewelry materials, crystal colored with deep purples, blues and greens are very big this upcoming season. Midnight blues, deep plum and especially emerald are all good colors to shop for during
the fall and winter seasons. You can also add this crystal to a pendant for a more complete look. Metals such as silver, titanium and rose gold are very in this season as well, says Ruth Batson, executive director and CEO of the American Gem Society. “There’s a whole punk girl trend going on with mixing materials that you wouldn’t have seen before,” Rochford says. “You see a lot of pearls mixed with crystal and spikes.” The geometric look is also trending: Triangles and spikes are both very hot. The geometric look can also be created with repetitions of patterns of circles, squares and triangles. However, Rochford warns to stay away from Aztec and tribal pieces, as that trend is on its way out. To determine jewelry trends, the forecasters at Rocks Paper Metal look at collections from big-name designers a year before they hit the market. Rocks Paper Metal is a global company, so they look at trends everywhere from Los Angeles to London. Usually, they focus on big-name costume jewelry companies such as Topshop that have quick turnarounds for products. These quicker turnarounds allow
“If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” AMANDA GIZZI, SPOKESPERSON FOR JEWELERS OF AMERICA costume jewelry companies to pick up on trends they think are coming into fashion, of which Rocks Paper Metal takes note. “It’s not rocket science,” Rochford says. “It’s not like the trend changes magically from season to season. There’s always a progression.” Professional jewelry companies like Jewelers of America and the American Gem Society also have knowledge of industry trends because they work very closely with many jewelers. For gift buyers who plan to make a big investment in jewelry, timeless pieces and looks should be considered as well. Mixing black and white metals, either as one piece or as two pieces stacked on each other, is a timeless look, says Amanda Gizzi, spokesperson for Jewelers of America. Earrings, particularly studs, and diamonds are other examples of timeless pieces, Batson says. Before purchasing a diamond, ask for a diamond grading report by a not-for-profit diamond grading laboratory,
which will evaluate the diamond’s karat weight, color, clarity and cut. “The cut of the diamond can be the biggest factor on its value because that’s what makes the diamond sparkle,” Batson says. After determining the type of jewelry to buy, it’s important to be mindful of the quality of the jewelry, especially if making a significant investment. Start with finding a reputable jeweler, Batson says. You can do this by researching online before visiting the jeweler in person. A good place to start is with jewelers who belong to the
American Gem Society or other reputable jewelry groups. Members of the American Gem Society go through rigorous education about their products and must be re-certified each year to maintain membership, Batson says. These are businesses who want to protect their good name and are more likely to do honest business with you.
Other tips for buying jewelry are to ask for the return policy up front and to know what price range is reasonable. “Don’t be dazzled by discounts,” Gizzi says. “Any time you see some place that always has incredible sales, be cautious about that, because if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”