PLAY
THIS WEEKEND
Japanese Kimono and Obi sale
The Lawrence Palpung Dharma Foundation will host a vintage Japanese Kimono and Obi sale Friday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St., from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Proceeds will help support a variety of the foundation's programs, including bringing Tibetan monks, artists and exiles to speak in Lawrence.
The foundation began informally in 2003 when members organized a visit from Mingyur Rinpoche, a notable Buddhist monk.
Tibetan Buddhism has a long tradition of making offerings to sacred elements of nature, such as mountains, magnificent trees and flowing streams. Ling-Lung Chen, director of the foundation, says Tibetan Buddhists believe the beauty in these elements bring great joy to whoever sees them and invoke in them a sense of sacredness.
Last year, the foundation began purchasing Japanese wedding kimonos to decorate Tibetan shrines, because the kimonos use many natural symbols, such as pine trees and mountains.
"Eventually, some people got the idea that since wedding kimonos are so unique, why not use them as a fundraiser!" Chen says.
Chen says the fundraiser will be an opportunity for the foundation to reintroduce itself to the community.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Chen giving a brief lecture about Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to the kimonos, the sale will also feature artwork and books from Tibetan artists and monks. Do not pass up this extremely rare opportunity to view vintage Japanese clothing, the likes of which are usually only seen by visiting the country itself.
—Derek Zarda
out & about
Where do you go to relax off campus?
Hastings, it's really laid-back and they have couches, which makes it a great place to relax and read.
—Kuanysh Kuramyssova, Taraz, Kazakhstan, sophomore
I like to go to coffee shops like Dunn Bros. to do crafts, like crocheting with friends.
—Meliah Clark, Lawrence senior
I like going over to Jefferson's with friends. It's a typical gameday activity.
—Kevin Tietz, Plano, Texas, sophomore
I like to go to La Prima Tazza on Mass. Street because it's a cozy place to drink coffee and talk with my friends.
—Elsa Rosales, Wichita freshman
The Lookout at Wells Outlook Park, because I like to be outside, and from there you can see all of Lawrence. —Kelsey Hooker, Denver senior
My friend's house, because she has cable. I'm on campus all day long with three different jobs, so it's nice to just sit down and veg afterward.
—Oscar Cuevas, Cherryvale junior
Black jack Battlefield in Baldwin City, because it's something different to do and it's a historical place in what led up to the Civil War.
Amanda Turner, Overland Park senior
I like to go out to the dam at Clinton Lake.The sunset is really beautiful to look at from out there. —Molly Fuller, Oswego sophomore
I go to Wal-Mart and put the expensive DVDs in the clearance bin, then follow people to the cash register to watch the customer-cashier meltdown.
—Luke Rosebaugh, Ashton, Md., senior
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—Derek Zarda
November 13,2008