Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Gilding the Lilly

View into the back room of the library from the main room.
     The Lilly Library is one of those places on campus that always makes it into IU brochures and that students never make it into. I have to admit that, as a sophomore on campus, this is the first year that I have visited the library. It's quickly become one of my favorite places on campus!

A brochure for the show.
     The library is currently showing an exhibit in honor of its 50th anniversary called "Gilding the Lilly: A Hundred Medieval and Illuminated Manuscripts at the Lilly Library." This show, which will run until December 18, features 100 of the library's "most important" medieval manuscripts. The library has no need to be gilded, though! It is always a beautiful, serene place. It definitely makes for some cool photography, if I do say so myself!

A beautifully illustrated item from the exhibit.
     You should definitely take a break from stressing about finals to visit the library before Christmas break. It will make you feel calm and oh-so cultured! And, be sure to check out the lectures the library features next semester. They're really interesting! You often get to actually touch and examine pieces from the library... and these lectures also often offer great food! Go to www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/index.php for a calendar of the library's events or more general information on Lilly Library.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Exploratory Students

     Why is it that when it really gets cold for the year, when you really need to be studying and gearing up for finals most, all you want to do is hibernate? I love this time of year, but when the cold sets in, all I want to do is read books, watch movies, and sleep. You know that point when studying isn't even about getting something done but about staying awake? Well, when I hit that point, a change in venue often helps make my study time more productive. Try getting out of your room to study! I've found that this favorably affects my ratio of time spent achieving my homework goals versus time spent sleeping on top of my keyboard.

A student gets to work.
     Go check out your center's library. I love the cozy atmosphere of the Collins library. I also recently explored Eigenmann Hall's library and found a similarly delightful atmosphere—with less steps to get there! If you're in the mood for some stark serenity, try the SoFA library. There's also a small library on the ground floor of the graduate student's side of the Business School that friends have recommended to me as one of the best-kept-secret study spots on campus.

Eigenmann's library offers lots of seating and study space.
     Wherever you end up, try exploring some new study spots on campus. You might be surprised at how helpful getting away from the distractions and sleep-inducing comfort of your room may be!

Studying at the library means that you can always pick up
something for fun to take home with you!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Partying It Up

     Beware: This post may contain some intense material. It's no secret that IU is a party school. I, for one, love to party. At tea parties, that is!

Good stuff.
So graceful.
     I think that lots of people worry that IU is a party school and nothing else. I, however, am a firm believer that you make your own college experience what it is. If people want to party at IU, they obviously have lots of options for doing so. But, I think that it's important to note that the party scene is not all that Bloomington has to offer. There are lots of options for staying out or staying in in Bloomington. I think that it's most healthy to try to take in a balanced amount of both of these options.

"Is it cool enough yet?"
     Speaking of being healthy, many of my friends and I have recently become addicted to tea-drinking. It may be the cold weather, or it may be our desperate attempts to get and stay well in the wake of The Terrible Fall Cold. At any rate, we have been imbibing copious amounts of the liquid. Lately we've taken to midnight tea parties. Talk about an alternate form of partying! If nothing else, you should try getting down with some Earl Grey this weekend. Earl Grey and maybe some silly bands.

Silly bands add fun to every occasion!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Lunch with an Old Friend

     I am generally a fan of the food at Collins's Edmondson Dining Hall, my source for most meals. However, variety is always nice, and part of the fun of living in Bloomington while at school is exploring the town. That is I what I did with an old friend last Friday; we went to lunch at Wee Willy's Incorporated, a bit of a dive restaurant on the south side of town.

Yum!
     Willy's, located in a a small, squat brown building off Walnut Street, offers tasty and affordable breakfast food all day. I believe they also have a scrumptious selection of classic comfort food. (Think meatloaf and apple pie.)

Bacon.
     I had fun trying this place that seemed a bit off the beaten path for the typical IU student. (While we were there, I believe that we were the only people at Wee Willy's under the age of 65.)

Look at that enthusiasm.
     The plan is to try a new breakfast place every week! I'll keep you posted.