Month: August 2012

Free

Free

If there is one thing a college student likes to hear, it is the word “free“.  Free is great, especially for penny-pinching, savings-savvy college students looking to get through the year by tapping into free meals offered all over campus.  Thus I have create a list of things going on at Welcome Week at WTC this August, highlighting the “free“.

August 22: Pizza Wars is a popular Loyola event where Loyola students have the opportunity to vote for their favorite Chicago-style pizza.  Pizzerias participating include Giodano’s, Connie’s, Go Roma, Pizzeria Uno and Pizano’s.  Pizza is free and good times are guaranteed.

August 23: Trolley Tours is a free chance to see the beautiful city of Chicago while on a historically popular trolley. Learn information about Chicago you never knew, and then use it to impress your friends and family next time they are here for a visit.

August 26: “The Avengers,” the summer blockbuster hit, will be screened in the Lawson Center parking lot for all Loyola students.  This begs only one question: Who wouldn’t want to see a free outdoor movie while enjoying free Garrett’s Popcorn?

August 27: Trailblazer Reception is a great opportunity for incoming Loyola transfer students to come enjoy the WTC campus while meeting staff and faculty from Loyola.  This is a great way for transfer students to meet other students here at Loyola while enjoying free food and drinks.

August 30: Block Party is the grand finale of the WTC welcome week events.  Hosted at Rush and Pearson (next to Corboy, Terry Student Center and the Communication School), the block party features many fun activities, such as free henna tattoos, Michael Jackson Experience on Wii and free caricature paintings.  Plenty of free food and local treats will also be provided.  What Loyola student does not like free food?

Like I said before, there are many enjoyable events that WTC plans at no expense to Loyola students.  I certainly hope students will come down here and appreciate all of the great opportunities to engage the Water Tower Campus and their free enjoyment.  But if not, it’s just more free food for me.

No Rest for the Hungry

No Rest for the Hungry

Before I begin, I’d like to officially title this blog, “No Rest for the Hungry: Or, a thank you to my mom’s friends for making sure I don’t starve” by Ellen Gordon.

Anyway, remember a few weeks ago when I blogged about all of my cooking adventures? I neglected to mention one thing: I can’t actually cook.

At least, until last weekend, I couldn’t.

And what happened last weekend? Well, I journeyed to the distant land of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to visit my old Judaica tutor, Tzvia, and her family. After seeing me stumble around the kitchen like a lost puppy, fascinated by the fact that, as a real grown up, she could afford more than one box of cereal, Tzvia quickly realized that I had no idea what I was doing.

Forever my tutor, she sought to remedy this situation. Thus: 48 hours of emergency cooking lessons.

We went through all the cooking basics a college student might need.

We went from scrambled eggs with spinach and mozzarella…

…to guacamole…

…to tuna lasagna…

…to omelettes…

…and finally, minestrone soup!

However, after learning to feed myself, I still had the minor problem of being unable to fill my pantry. Luckily for me, my mom’s friends are constantly worried about my survival.

So, after hearing that, despite my new culinary knowledge, I spent my monthly grocery money on books (whoops…), Rose and Larry (pictured below) took me to Whole Foods to teach me what steel cut oats look like, get produce for me and buy me a box of cereal.

Lovin' some steel cut oats!

That’s right! I’m now the proud owner of my own cereal box. And while I don’t have five boxes yet, I’m definitely on my way up!