Holiday Gift Guide 2013

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

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SPECIAL SECTION

h a p y holid p ay

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SIMON SAYS Interview with Instructional Professor of chemistry Simon Bott PAGE 6

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2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

THE DAILY COUGAR

Black Friday planning profits shoppers Hadiya Iqbal HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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cross the nation, Black Friday holiday shopping is known as one of the most competitive, stressful and time consuming chores of the season and is often lauded as a large amount of time and money wasted based on unfortunate shopping stories heard on the news or by word of mouth.

However, there is a workaround. For those who want this year’s holiday shopping to be affordable, convenient and pain-free, devising a game plan is the best place to start on the road toward getting there.

Black Friday is the one day of the year when shoppers can find all items at their lowest price, even without standing in lines three hours before the stores open. While it may seem impossible to obtain what you want, the task is easier than it sounds.

Stores like Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy lure shoppers by promoting their “door

It’s always something different for me every year. Last year, me and my cousin went camping out at an electronics store, waiting for it to open.

I’ll be working. I work at a restaurant, and we’re usually pretty busy on Black Friday.

JESSICA GONZALEZ Kinesiology (Junior)

I’m definitely going to hit up WalMart and Best Buy because that’s the day when there are all these really good deals.

JEAN-PIERRE SARUESINGH Computer Science (Sophomore)

ANDREW LIM Computer Science (Sophomore)

busters” deals, which are lowpriced items held in limited quantities. Only the first few shoppers will be at an advantage.

Unfortunately, these deals are where most of the negative stigma of the shopping frenzy stems, as the stores who endorse this also allow the trampling and violent conflicts that tend to occur.

Luckily, the Black Friday deals that are available in-store will also be available online on Cyber Monday morning.

According to Dealnews.com, data collected from previous years shows that up to 70 percent of in-store Black Friday deals were also available online

for the same price or less. With this, it is very possible to do your Black Friday shopping with less tension and in the comfort of your pajamas by engaging in online shopping.

For many who plan to purchase electronics, background research is a necessity. Compare prices between the nation’s lowprice rivals, Amazon.com and Wal-Mart, in order to guarantee the best possible buys — especially for video games, video game consoles, Blu-Ray players and iPads.

Even though malls will open Thursday at midnight, mall shoppers should wait to purchase toys, brand-name HDTVs

and winter apparel. Toys are at their lowest prices right before Christmas, HDTVs between December and February and winter apparel after Christmas.

However, if you do have to buy these items, ShopItToMe. com CEO Charlie Graham told Forbes that it’s best to get them at their best discount price.

“We looked at brands where average discounts were less than 30 percent during all of 2011. If you see any of these on sale for more than 30 percent, I’d urge you to scoop them up, as they are rarely discounted,” Graham said.

A large cup of coffee and a box of donuts will get you through

this crazy day of shopping, but that smartphone in your pocket will be a gift from the shopping gods. Black Friday-specific phone apps are readily available with the touch of your thumbs, instantaneously leading you to some of the best deals on major items.

RetailMeNot allows you to load discount codes directly onto phones, and it can also send alerts when you’re nearby a store with deals. ShopSavvy’s app lets smartphone users scan QR codes to unlock pricing information on countless products. The CouponSherpa app lets you locate in-store coupons.

During these times, it’s easy to forget that things like shopping lists and budgets exist. Set a budget, make a list and check it twice. Black Friday shoppers should also be sure to keep in mind that even though items may have an exceptionally good price, it’s always a good idea to do research before you buy them. Following all these steps should bring about a surefire road toward a pleasant shopping experience.

UH AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES

HAPPY KWANZAA! Day 1

UMOJA (unity)

Day 2

KUJICHAGULIA (self-determination)

Day 3

UJIMA (collective work and responsibility)

Day 4

UJAMAA (cooperative economy)

Day 5

NIA (purposefulness)

Day 6

KUUMBA (creativity)

Day 7

IMANI (faith)

628 AGNES ARNOLD HALL, HOUSTON, TX 77204-3047 (713) 743-2811

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 3

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EDITOR’S

NOTE It feels like Christmas has come early, and it’s only N o v e m b e r.

My neighbors DUPONT-GRAY have set up their Christmas lights, which triggered my mother’s urge to start pulling out decorations.

A Temptations rendition of “Silent Night” just played on the radio and the weather shifted on the chilly side — so much that I almost tricked myself into thinking it would snow.

While all of these happenings have certainly lifted everyone up to high holiday spirits, I believe my handson work on this special edition of The Daily Cougar has amped up my

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

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want for Santa Claus to leave my PlayStation 4 under the tree — and yes, as with the tooth fairy, I still believe he’s real. It’s just as real as the contents of this Holiday Gift Guide.

From holiday-appropriate restaurant recommendations and on-campus holiday fun to the fashion trends and, of course, the gift guide.

I’ve ensured that the gift guide will both cater to every wish list for UH students and to be the big pull for this year’s special holiday edition.

This should be your ultimate guide for this year.

Grab some eggnog, eat some cookies and enjoy this guide.

Happy Holidays and go Coogs!

Snow sledding was a student favorite during last year’s Winter Wonderland. Photo by Aisha Bouderdaben The Daily Cougar

Campus transforms into

Winter Wonderland

Erika Forero HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Program Board, students will receive the opportunity to celebrate the season at this year’s Winter Wonderland.

The event be place from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Lynn Eusan Park and will provide fun and festive activities for everyone looking to have a stress-free push into Winter

W

ith the holidays right around the corner, students have something more to look forward to this winter than just chilly weather.

Bryan Dupont-Gray

Courtesy

of

the

Student

break.

This annual winter-themed spectacle brings students together from all majors and organizations throughout the University, and each organization is encouraged to set up its own themed booth and WINTER continues on Page 4

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAPPY HOLIDAYS

SIMON SAYS Interview with Instructional Professor of chemistry Simon Bott PAGE 6

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Advertising supplement to The Daily Cougar SECTION EDITOR Bryan Dupont-Gray COVER PHOTO Fernando Castaldi

Department of Campus Recreation & Campus Recreation and Wellness Center

REDUCED HOURS THANKSGIVING BREAK Nov. 27, 2013 Nov. 28–29, 2013 Nov. 30, 2013

COVER DESIGN Andres Garcia COPY CHIEF David Bryant

Jan. 20, 2014

COPY EDITORS Rachel Sloan PRODUCTION Andres Garcia Farah Hasnie Syeda Jafri ADVERTISING Gabriela Padilla

6AM–7PM CLOSED

(Sun) (Mon–Tues) (Thurs) (Fri) (Sat) (Sun) (Mon–Thurs) (Fri)

12PM–8PM CLOSED 6AM–9PM 6AM–8PM 10AM–8PM 12PM–8PM 6AM–9PM 1PM–8PM

RESUME REGULAR HOURS

WINTER BREAK Dec. 22, 2013 Dec. 23, 2013–Jan. 1, 2014* Jan. 2, 2014 Jan. 3, 2014 Jan. 4, 2014 Jan. 5, 2014 Jan. 6–9, 2014 Jan. 10, 2014

COVER PHOTO MODELS Rashad Eaglin Kaitlyn Priess Ody Ezeigwe Holy Chou

(Wed) (Thurs–Fri) (Sat)

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY (Mon)

10AM–11:30PM

NOTES

*December 23, 2013 thru January 1, 2014 (Monday–Wednesday) Semester Break / Building Maintenance Natatorium will be closed Thursday, November 21 through Saturday, November 23 for the UH Invitational Swim Meet Please check the website for Natatorium, Outdoor Adventure/Climbing Wall, Intramural Sports hours The Campus Recreation Center will close early @ 7 PM on Monday, December 9, 2013

FOR MORE INFO:

(713) 743–PLAY

or

www.uh.edu/recreation

4 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

THE DAILY COUGAR

BOOTS

Cooler winter weather allows for an accessory that can rarely be used in Houston —the scarf.

Cool looks for the cold Julia Davila HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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s temperatures begin to drop and shorts and tank tops are put in the back of the closet, layering will be the key to keep warm.

Wearing dresses and miniskirts over long-sleeved shirts and adding tights is trending this winter. Adding a plaincolored turtleneck underneath your outfit allows dresses and miniskirts to remain a part of a wardrobe. For a daring evening look, wear a black turtleneck

WINTER

continued from page 3 attractions.

This gets the UH community involved with what is going on around campus.

“It also gives them an advantage in promoting their organization,” said SPB special events chair Catherine Lara.

Lara said this time around, SPB is looking to add something big, something that will complement the inner activities of the event.

“We’re hoping to bring a synthetic ice rink this year,” Lara said.

Not only does the university community come together to celebrate holiday cheer at the end of the fall semester, the event also aims to remind students that college isn’t all work and no play.

Students from last year recollect the event as having a great turnout and being an opportune time to chill.

“I didn’t expect last year to be so fun and crowded,” said media production junior John Patterson. “It definitely was a nice way to get away from

underneath a dress with a plunging neckline and finish it off with a statement necklace.

Whether you are preparing for a mild ‘winter’ in Houston or traveling to places where the weather can get to below zero degrees, looking great while staying warm can be extremely easy if you have the right pieces in your closet.

WINTER WHITE When the temperatures drop, people tend to gravitate toward dark colors, but wearing white during the winter gives a fresh take on any outfit.

Choose weather-appropriate

campus and still have fun with fellow Cougars. Usually December is hectic at school, but Winter Wonderland is a huge event that gives students the break they need.”

Lara agrees, and says that the event makes UH a university that engages students outside of the classroom.

“Events like Winter Wonderland promote the college experience for all students. It is vital for students to experience more than just tests and homework,” Lara said. “Campus events are what make college the best years of your life as well as introduce you to bigger and better things than what’s in your dorm room.”

Helping out with Winter Wonderland and other campus events is not just for SPB members.

Students who want to get involved can contact Lara at spbse@central.uh.edu as soon as possible.

Students who are interested in joining SPB can contact the Vice President of Membership, Recruitment and Development, psychology

pieces like oversized cable knit sweaters and infinity scarves.

For your 9-5 job, pick a graphic sweater and an embellished bootie with a sleek white pencil skirt.

For going out on the town or on a date, switch up your office pencil skirt with a pair of white trousers, a fitted blouse and some slingbacks.

Where To Buy: + Pencil skirt (Macy’s) + Graphic sweaters (XXI, Target) + Trousers(Dillard’s, Nordstrom) + Fitted Blouse (Gap, H&M) + Slingbacks (Steve Madden)

Boots are an absolute must for anyone to have in their closet. There are many different styles to choose from that will go great with a comfy outfit for the weekend or an evening out with your friends.

Riding boots are popular for the fall and winter because they are versatile; they come in different colors and they can be worn with almost everything.

Ankle booties can be worn during the day and a night out. A closed-toe bootie will give your little black party dress some flavor. Finding the right embellished bootie can bring your outfit to be both edgy and feminine.

Where To Buy: + Riding boot (Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, Steve Madden, Target) + Ankle booties (Shopbop, Barneys New York, Marshalls, Net-a-Porter).

SCARVES A scarf is the perfect accessory to mix with your winter wardrobe including coats, dresses and evening wear.

Nowdays, wearing a scarf is not just about staying warm.

Scarves give every outfit that extra spice it needs and can also be a good topic of conversation at holiday parties.

A light scarf is the right choice to wear for your workplace by casually wrapping it around the neck, tying it in a

bow or creating a magnificent structure.

When the weather becomes colder, shawls, wide scarves of thicker material and infinity scarves help you create volume.

Where To Buy: + Ann Taylor + J. Crew + Old Navy

COATS Coats for the winter come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.

Pair an oversized coat with a chunky knit sweater and a huge scarf. This style provides ample room for the arms and shoulders, and it is a great idea for those who want to draw attention away from their midriff area.

If you are petite, be careful about choosing one that is not too big, otherwise it will swallow you up.

Pale pink is the best color to wear for the winter this year.

The color will be an anomaly within a crowd full of black trousers and white button downs.

Where To Buy: + Neiman Marcus + Saks Fifth Avenue + Burlington Coat Factory + ASOS + Zara + Topshop

Students are always encouraged to join the Student Program Board to get involved on campus and help build college experience. Photo by Aisha Bouderdaben The Daily Cougar

junior Isaiah Ross, at spbvpmr@ central.uh.edu.

“Becoming a member of the Student Program Board offers a variety of opportunities that will transcend through a number of life events both during and after college,” Ross said. “We are offering students

the change to truly make a difference at the University of Houston and leave their mark on their school. I think every college student searches for the chance to foster growth and change within their higher institution of education, and SPB offers that chance.”

According to the board’s 2012–2013 Program Questionnaire, this year’s goal for special events is to gain popularity on campus and especially to maximize Winter Wonderland, turning it into a major UH tradition.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 5

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

+ Roku 3

$

94.99 (Amazon.com)

Stream more than 1,000 movie and TV channels, including Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, with the new Roku 3. With a headphone-friendly remote, plug in for private late-night watching or enjoy motion control games like Angry Birds.

For a completely different experience, use the free Roku app on an Android or Apple device and send music, photos, videos and

t he

2013

Gift

GUIDE

+ NIKE + Fuelband SE

173.99 (Amazon.com)

$

The Fuelband SE from Nike makes getting in shape simple and exciting. It measures the daily movements of the entire body and the workout intensities of any exercise or sport and compares them to a daily goal. It can connect to iOS devices and is optimized for Windows to bring up-to-date information.

Lookin’ Fly

181.89

Tech Savvy + Audio-Technica ATH-M50

143.85

$

(Amazon.com) Not only are these headphones great for music gurus looking to get a better sound out of the mixing and mastering of their music, these bad boys are also great for canceling the noise in your surroundings.

+ Nintendo 3DS XL

198

$

(Amazon.com) Despite naysayers, Nintendo has one of the best handheld console in existence. The top screen and the bottom touch screen are bigger than the regular Nintendo 3DS, allowing for the color and graphics on the system to really pop out in their true, gorgeous form. With a huge lineup of games ranging from “Mario and Luigi: Dream Team” to “Fire Emblem: Awakening,” the Nintendo 3DS XL is sure to keep a gamer happy this holiday season.

+ Anker Astro mini external battery charger

19.99

(Amazon.com) Made with 98 percent cotton and 2 percent elastane and machine-washable, which makes it easy for the woman on the go, these jeans have skinny leg opening and rip and repair detail with embroidered back pockets.

+ Dog Zone NCAA UH Cougars Pet Football Jersey

19.99

$

(Amazon.com) Spread the Cougar Pride with the whole family and your petite dog in this stunning UH football jersey. If only you could take little Fido to the games.

+ Cards Against Humanity (Amazon.com) Cards Against Humanity’s politically incorrect, awkward and raunchy humor is a surefire way to spend time with friends and make new ones. The game’s simple and straightforward rules complement its basic black-and-white design. Overall, this card game is a classic and a great way to start or end a college night.

+ Houston Cougars Flat Bill Script Snapback Hat Cap Red Navy

17.96

$

+ True Religion Men’s Long Sleeve Western Shirt

158

$

(Amazon.com) Long-sleeved, indigo plaid shirt with white pearl snaps on the front and pockets, which feature stitched classic logos and the right fit for a man who wants to spark up his attire.

(Amazon.com) Houston Cougars Flat Bill Script Snapback Hat Cap Red Navy: Cougars have swag, too.

While it’s not necessarily licensed by New Era, the snapback look with the Cougar logo is definitely a plus for any student looking to provide some flair to their style.

(Priced at $17.96 on Amazon.com)

+ UH Business Card Holder + Men’s Black G-Shock Digital Anti Magnetic Gold Tone Watch

133

$

(Amazon.com) G-Shock watches are still in style after all these years, and they’re certainly making some strides in their aesthetic makeup.

Great for any guy looking to add some suave to his attire, this beautiful goldplated watch is shock-resistant and waterresistant up to 200 meters.

+ Jessica Simpson JS Aura Knee High Boot

54

$

(Amazon.com) These Jessica Simpson Aura tall platform boots allow any woman to set off a strong, sexy vibe to her attire. The boots are bound to turn heads with 5.25” heel and 1.75” platform.

+ Puma Suede Classic Sneaker Palace Blue

30.47(Amazon.com)

$

For someone who knows what true style is, Puma Suede Classic Sneakers are a solid choice. The lace-up closure provides a secure fit and a cushioned midsole provides comfort and support. With its smooth suede and streetwise swagger, these throwback kicks remain Puma’s most epic icon of sport-inspired style.

15

$

(Amazon.com) Landing that first job takes networking.

Networking requires business cards, and lots of them. A business card holder with the UH logo will keep those cards pristine, organized and ready to go.

+ Livescribe Echo Smartpen 2 GB

115

$

(Amazon.com) For students who don’t already take digital notes, this is the best of both worlds. The Livescribe Echo Smartpen tracks written notes, provides real-time syncing with up to 200 hours of audio and creates a digital file that can be accessed on a computer, taking studying to a whole new level.

MOST WANTED Xbox One & PlayStation 4 (Xbox One Day One Edition priced at $499.99 on Gamestop.com. PlayStation 4 priced at $399.99 on Gamestop.com)

iPad Air (Priced at $546.50 on Amazon.com)

Kindle Paperwhite (Priced at $119 on Amazon.com)

$

(Amazon.com) The flashing red LED is but a prelude to the inevitable: death. Phones are meant to keep people connected, and with the Anker Astro mini, dead phones can be a thing of the past. The lipstick-sized battery charger provides more than a full charge for any Apple or Android smartphone.

For Cougars

25

$

From the next best tech to the finest threads, The Daily Cougar Holiday Gift Guide is filled with the best suggestions possible.

10.90

$

(Amazon.com) This budget-friendly sleeveless, stretchy black dress with gold studs is perfect for women looking for a classy look during the holidays.

$

+ Silver Jeans Aiko Skinny

Christmas isn’t cheap. Every year, we turn and toss around newspapers filled with store guides trying to find the best items at the best prices possible. Here, it’s a bit different.

While there’s no doubt that technological items will be the dominant force under your Christmas tree this year, The Daily Cougar Holiday Gift Guide also aims to account for the small things. Whether you’re on a budget or you’re lucky enough to throw around some cash, there’s a gift here for you, your friends and your family.

+ Allegra K Deep V Neck Gold Tone Stud Decor Tank Dress

+ MLB Texas Rangers Authentic On-Field 59Fifty Cap, Royal

17

$

(Amazon.com) Go for the casual hip-hop look and represent your home state in a big way with New Era’s take on the Texas Rangers’ baseball cap.

Nikon 1 J2 10.1 MP HD Digital Camera (Priced at $304.42 on Amazon.com)

Microsoft Surface RT (Priced at 306.99 on Amazon.com)

Composed by Bryan Dupont-Gray, Nora Olabi and Amy Zuckero | Infographic by Andres Garcia and Farah Hasnie

6 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

THE DAILY COUGAR

Simon Says

Professor shares holiday highlights Simon Bott with his daughter Alexandria in 1996.

Rebecca Heliot

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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hether students have taken one of his chemistry classes, met him during freshman orientation or heard his Texas A&M University jokes, the joy that Department of Chemistry Instructional Professor and Undergraduate Chair

Photo by Fernando Castaldi

Simon Bott brings to students makes him one of the most beloved instructors on campus, and it’s the same type of joy that is brought about during the holiday season. Christmas and Bott definitely go together.

The Daily Cougar caught up with Bott to find out about his holiday traditions.

THE DAILY COUGAR: What are your holiday traditions?

SIMON BOTT: Me and my family do lots of carol singing, if we can. And if we can find some Christmas crackers — you know what they are?

TDC: What are they?

SB: It’s like a little cardboard chew with a little wrapping around it. It has a little present and a silly little hat, and then a little strip that has some gunpowder in it. So you grab it from each end and you pull that strip

and cracks open. Whoever gets the bigger portion gets the hat and the present. But that’s what we do if we can find crackers.

TDC: Do you plan to do any shopping this year?

SB: Our biggest one is our little boy, and he wants the Xbox One or something, is it? That would be the biggest present shopping for. Then the next one would be my wife, which I have to surprise her with stuff she wants, she always tells me about and then pretends it is a surprise when she gets it.

TDC: What would you like to receive from Santa this year?

SB: Well, peace and goodwill on Earth, right? (Laughs).

I always go up to see my wife’s family up on the other side of Dallas, and there’s a really good secondhand bookstore in Denton. I always go there with

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my Father Christmas money and spend it there.

TDC: What is your favorite part of the holidays?

SB: These days, it’s just getting rest. Back in the day, I liked it when it was cold, because growing up in England, it was always cold. It was really nice walking down a cold street and seeing all the Christmas decorations and hearing all the Christmas carols going on, but you don’t hear that over here in Houston.

Here, it’s typically not cold — even though most Houstonians would say it is, but it’s not really when you’ve grown up in England, where it really is cold.

TDC: What is your favorite holiday dish?

SB: Turkey. I love turkey sandwiches. The Christmas meal where you have every little kind of dressing and potatoes and cranberries — just get that out of the way. I’ll get the rest of the turkey and go make turkey sandwiches out of them.

TDC: What kind of decorations do you usually put up?

SB: My wife is heavily into wreaths, so we have a tree and a full wreath that we hang on the front door. We have a ridiculously expensive Nativity scene that we put in the front yard and hope nobody steals our little cow and baby Jesus. We, maybe once every five years, get enough motivation to hang little lights from all the gutters, but most years it’s just the tree and the wreath.

TDC: What were some traditions you had as a child?

SB: We’d always go to midnight mass, so that would be midnight on Christmas Day. Then we’d get home and be able to open one present, which really would sort of annoy us because we knew it was Christmas Eve. Why not just get all of them, right?

Then we’d get up Christmas Day and open all the presents and then watch the queen at 3 in the afternoon. She would always do a little 10-minute address to the nation. It was all gibberish, really.

Anyways, back then there would only be three channels on TV, so the lovely thing about the holidays is that there would be some really good movie playing after the queen’s speech. Often it was like a “James Bond” or some other classic movie.

Then, the day after Christmas would be Boxing Day, which was another huge holiday in itself.

One would just play with their presents, eat too much chocolate and too many turkey sandwiches and then again, there would be a big blockbuster movie that would be on in the afternoon and we’d all gather around and watch that too.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013 7

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A refreshing respite from reading routines Andrea Sifuentes

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

W

ith all the down time during winter break, it can be hard to decide what to do with your time.

Vacationing, spending time with family and eating more than you should can come at the forefront, but sometimes it is best to curl up next to a great book.

Here is a list of some mustreads during the holidays.

The Great Santini

By Pat Conroy (Novel) The Great Santini tells the story of Bull Meecham, a Marine Corps fighter pilot who is the absolute law of his family. His wife Lillian’s cool head keeps her kids out of as much trouble as she can, but their oldest son Ben is tired of never satisfying his father and decides to stand up to him.

The Great Santini became an Oscar-nominated film, starring Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner and Michael O’Keefe, with critics calling Bull Meecham the character you love to hate, but eventually love.

The life Conroy led as a child gave life to The Great Santini, with a main character strongly resembling his father.

This caused a major rift in Conroy’s family, but led to Conroy’s most recent book; The Death of Santini, a memoir chronicling the later years of Conroy’s father’s life in which they were close and shared a relationship.

lighter side, pick up a copy of this slightly unorthodox book, filled with Robertson’s memories and wisdom.

Whether he’s delving deep into his childhood or recalling his adventures in Vietnam, Robertson storytelling should surely tickle anyone’s funny bone.

“When you’ve sat in a duck blind for more than half of your life, you have to figure out some way to pass the time! It’s better than looking at Willie and Jase for six hours!

“Many of the stories I like to tell happened when I was a young boy or when I was in Vietnam. At my age, a few of the details are cloudy, but I’ll recollect the coming stories as

By Si Robertson with Mark Schlabach For

something

on

the

By Charles Dickens This Barnes and Noble classic contains the five Christmas stories Dickens wrote between 1843 and 1848: A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, A Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man. With these stories Dickens had hoped to “awaken

Signs of Life

By Natalie Taylor (Memoir) This memoir tells the story of a 24-year-old high school English teacher who was living the life she had always wanted with an amazing husband and a baby on the way, but her life

changes forever when her husband dies suddenly in a freak accident.

Her husband’s death comes four months before the birth of her son and Taylor is at a loss for how to handle life without her husband and eventually, how to not only be a mother, but to be a single, widowed mother.

Taylor chronicles her healing process and pulls lessons from books like The Catcher in the Rye, The Color Purple and Harry Potter (oddly enough), as well as Ira Glass’s This American Life radio show.

This memoir is heartbreaking, heartwarming and funny all at the same time.

Holiday Season!

By Jess Walters

Si-cology 1: Tales and Wisdom From Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle

A Christmas Carol and Other Stories (Barnes & Noble Leatherbound)

some loving and forbearing thoughts” became synonymous with the Christmas season.

This edition also includes 16 other stories published in Christmas issues of two magazines Dickens edited between 1850 and 1870 — Household Words and All the Year Round, all celebrating virtues of home, hearth and holiday cheer, said Barnes and Noble.

WISHING YOU A WARM AND HEALTHY

Beautiful Ruins Dee Moray is a dying 22-yearold actress who arrives by boat at the dock of a town in April 1962.

This fictitious small town just off the Italian coast south of Genoa can only be reached by boat. Moray attracts the attention of an innkeeper with an empty inn, who aspires to turn the town into a resort town.

This novel jumps through time from the set of Cleopatra in 1962 to present-day Hollywood, navigating through a variety of characters.

best I can. Hey, just remember it isn’t a lie if you think it’s true! It’s up to you, the reader, to figure out what’s truth and what’s fiction,” Roberston’s prologue said.

FROM THE UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER The University of Houston Health Center is a comprehensive health care facility open to all currently enrolled students, faculty and staff where providing for your health care needs is our mission. An experienced team of board certified doctors as well as nurses and health care professionals are available to serve you.

All visits and inquiries are confidential!

HOURS M/T/Th/F: 8AM–5:30PM W: 8AM–6:30PM Hours subject to change

Entrance #6 off Wheeler Building #525 on Campus Map Call us at 713-743-5156

8 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013

THE DAILY COUGAR

Season’s eatings Nora Olabi and Kathleen Murrill HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

F

ew things go together more perfectly in life than holidays and food. But why cook when you could be out saving big bucks on that thing your brother or sister or mother always wanted?

So whether you are saving your energy to cook the big holiday dinner or just looking for a place to stop in between intense bouts of shopping for yourself and others, consider this your guide to the best holiday eating in town.

Birraporetti’s 500 Louisiana St. Located in the heart of the theater district, Birraporetti’s is “a great Italian restaurant and a heck of an Irish bar,” offering entrees priced generally between $12 and $17.

Its downtown location in close proximity to the Alley Theatre, Wortham Theatre, Jones Hall and the Hobby Center makes for a great location. A must-try is their cheese tortellini or one of their hand-tossed, stoneoven pizzas. Then, top it all off with their signature Irish coffees.

Birraporetti’s has been around since 1974 and is open late seven days a week, including

a Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., when Italian dishes and dessert sampling are available.

RA Sushi 3908 Westheimer Road If you find yourself in Trader Joe’s picking up some fresh veggies to stuff inside your turkey, consider RA during happy hour for a quick late lunch or early dinner.

Happy hour, lasting from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, offers select sushi, appetizers and tapas for under $7.75. RA’s edamame and sweet potato fries are to die for and are a perfect way to switch it up during the heavy eating of

The red motif at RA Sushi fits into the feeling of the holidays, and the menu provides a welcome change of pace from heavy holiday meals.

the holiday season.

Open both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, RA Sushi is the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat.

Buca di Beppo 5192 Buffalo Speedway An Italian restaurant that serves up its food family-style

Happy Holid ays!

Turquoise Grill & Bar

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is the perfect place to go if the big meal gets ruined. At Buca, all the dishes are served up family-style, meaning one small entree feeds two to three people.

Everything on the menu is $40 or less, with most of the familysized entrees falling between $19 and $23. The restaurant is offering Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and Day specials, for which you can reserve a holiday party online and enjoy a full holiday dinner no matter the size of your party.

A must-try at Buca di Beppo is the apple Gorgonzola salad — it’ll change the way you look at salads.

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This restaurant offers up a great combination of Mediterranean food and atmosphere. There is a lot of indoor and outdoor seating for enjoying the live jazz music at the Sugar Land location every Wednesday and Sunday night. Turquoise offers a variety of food from around the Mediterranean. From Turkish sujuk pide to a gyros calzone, Turquoise is the place to get a taste of the exotic.

With the majority of their menu items at less than $10, grab the family and head over for Thanksgiving. They even have happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. to get the party started early. Better yet, bring the feast home by ordering from Turquoise’s Thanksgiving TakeOut menu.

EurAsia Fusion Sushi 1330 Wirt Road As the name may indicate, this sushi restaurant is a unique hybrid of European and Asian cuisine rolled into delicious sushi, but they offer up more than just rolls. They have teriyaki, katsu and yaki udon. To top it all off, their sushi is wellpriced and comes in around $15. Go out with family during Christmas and Thanksgiving or hit their sushi bar with friends to enjoy the calm, modern aesthetics of this Asian fusion restaurant.