Holidays
Local stores have gifts wrapped up
'Tis the season decide what to get for those on your list
Holiday shoppers in the Lawrence area have a variety of shops and discount stores to choose from while searching for a perfect Christmas gift.
"I plan to buy University of Kansas sweatshirts for friends back in Oklahoma." Punley said.
With the KU football team going to a bowl game and the basketball team more than likely heading toward another successful season, the Kansas Sports Club, 837 Massachusetts St., offers sports apparel for every Jayhawk fan.
Tammy McConnell, sales associate, said that one hot item at the store was Starter jackets. The jackets feature logos for many different college and professional teams including the Jayhawks.
Kristie Punley, Apache, Okla., senior, plans to spend at least $200 this holiday season on family and friends.
"Most college students take home University of Kansas sweatshirts as gifts," McConnell said. "They also take home all sizes of souvenirs for friends and a lot of Kansas basketball shirts."
Cinda Garrison, owner of the Kansas Trading Co. and Prairie Patches, 811 Massachusetts St., stocks up for Christmas all year.
"We do a lot of Christmas-oriented decorations," Garrison said. "We do a lot of personalized ornaments, which is unique and not something that you'd find everywhere."
Garrison said that her company had a University license, which allowed her to carry unique University of Kansas Christmas ornaments.
Stores such as the 1/2 Price Store, 2727 Iowa St., have a variety of gifts from which to choose.
Tara Dill, merchandise manager choose one item that stood out above the rest.
Tara Dill, merchandise manager, said that it was bored.
"Toys are our biggest seller," Dill said. "We have a wide variety in our store, but toys is probably our biggest department."
Toys are also a big seller at the recently opened SuperTarget, 3201 Iowa St.
Kevin Day, team leader of the toy department, said that trucks were bringing in merchandise almost on a daily basis.
"We really started heavy stocking right after Halloween." Day said.
son.
Day said that Hot Wheels and Power Rangers action figures were a big seller for boys, while Holiday Barbie was a hot seller for girls.
We can hardly keep the Holiday Barbie in stock.
Brady Tapedo, Lawrence sophomore, will spend his Christmas with his 3-year-old daughter.
"We can hardly keep the Holiday Barbie in stock," he said.
"Students want to get engaged, and the holidays are great for young ladies to show off what they got at college." Winter said.
KevinDay
Jeff Winter, owner of the store, said that bridal sets were one of the store's biggest sellers during the Christmas sea-
If wedding bells are in the air, McQueen Jewelers, 809 Massachusetts St., may be the shopping stop for some.
"I plan on spending all of my money on my daughter," Tapedo said.
Tapedo said that he planned on visiting all of the toy stores in the area and would also look for a unique gift for his daughter.
The Sharper Image in Kansas City's Country Club Plaza has gifts for the person that has everything.
"Our hot item this year is the Sony Watchman," said Bob Milner, the store's manager. "The Watchman is a 2-inch color television that you wear around your neck."
of the $159.99 television.
The necklace acts as an antenna and the television hangs upside down so that the wearer can watch television while walking, Milner said.
"The reception is amazing." he said
The Sharper Image has gifts ranging from $19.95 for walkie-talkie sets to $2,799 for the ultimate lounge chair, which includes a temperature control and body massager.
Finally, for those looking for a sensual gift for that special someone, Christie's Toy Box, 1206 W. 23rd St., has many possible gifts.
Brandy Anderson, manager, said that the store had an assortment of items perfect for couples.
"One big seller would be our 'Merry Kissmas' gift packs," Anderson said.
The gift packs come in different sizes and include an assortment of flavored massage oils and powders, she said.
With 18 shopping days left until Christmas, the stores in the Lawrence area are ready for your shopping dollar.
BY ERIC BAILEY
Arrival of holiday season evokes various emotions in KU students
When Dave Sodorstrom, Wichita sophomore, walked into SuperTarget on a mid-October day, he was overwhelmed with holiday cheer.
Actually, he felt more as if he had over dosed on holiday cheer.
"They should not be allowed to put up Christmas decorations before Halloween because that is just wrong," Sodorstrom said. "They're making too much money off of it as it is."
"I don't like the commercialization of Christmas at all because they overdo everything," said George Titus, Emporia freshman. "Christmas is a birthday, so there should be gifts. But everyone has lost sight of what it really stands for."
Many students resent this commercialization of the Christmas holiday.
Ben Siegan, Chicago freshman, agreed that Christmas had been commercialized, but he said that it was a positive thing. Siegan is Jewish and said that it was good that the religion behind the holiday was not perceptible in public.
"If people want to decorate and put lights all over the place, that's fine," he said. "I've desensitized myself to any religious or serious implications."
Siegan said that the publicity surrounding Christmas was something that everyone should enjoy, regardless of religious affiliations.
"If it were up to me, I would have streamers and Christmas lights all over the place all year round," he said. "It just makes things far more colorful and interesting.
People who get bothered by it are way too serious.
"People who get enraged about Christmas lights or any of that type of trivial thing are very insecure about their own beliefs," he said. "It's not like the lights are going to alter or affect your beliefs."
For some non-Christians, the hype about Christian holidays and traditions can seem one-sided.
"Not everyone in this world celebrates Christmas," said Renee Chaykin, Leawood freshman. "People can be kind of ignorant of other religions and cultures."
She said that when she was younger and missed school for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, other kids would ask her things such as, "Is that when you fast, or is that when you eat that flat bread?"
Chaykin said that the attention given to Christmas was unfair to other religious holidays.
"Considering most of my views tend to be a little atheist, all I seem to look forward to is getting presents," said Sam Iga, Pittsburg sophomore. "It's just another day, only it's called Christmas."
For those who celebrate it, Christmas has various meanings. Some may see it for its religious aspects, others may see it as a family occasion and still others may see it as just a date on the calendar.
"Schools always plan so that Christmas will be during break, but do they plan for other holidays? No, they don't," she said.
BY JACK BIRMINGHAM
=Hill • December 6, 1995
Hawaii Holidays 11
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