By: Shannon Ryan

A heady bout of travel anxiety is the common preface to a trip well–traveled. Questions arise from the ambiguity of suitcase packing — how many blouses is really too many blouses — to the memory of what items are essential suitcase stuffers — oh where, oh where is my iPhone charger?

I’ve compiled a list of pre-plane, train or automobile travel tips to ease your fleeing mind and body.

Overall, it’s about how to minimize stress when traveling, yes, but it’s also a farewell piece from this resident fashionista. Do remember the apparel advice I’ve tossed your way in earlier columns, and I’ll leave you with this: To the senior class, happy graduation, and to all students, safe summer travels. Keep on stylin’.

Pre-packing wisdoms

Grab a notebook and a pen — or your fingertips and an iPhone — and scroll down your trip’s essentials: its length, the predicted temperatures and any paramount activities you have scheduled.

Now note how many clothing items, shoes, technologies, shades of lipstick, etc., you’ll need. This is the scripture to follow throughout the packing process.

Pull out all the garments you anticipate needing, and then cut those in half. Select tops and bottoms by creating outfits in your mind; don’t select items arbitrarily. Make sure to grab dresses, skirts, shorts and pants to add dimension to your take-away wardrobe, and always pack more tops than bottoms.

Keep fabrics in mind when choosing clothes. Knits, wools and cottons tend to resist wrinkles more than silks and linens, so be alert to that. Consider packing a petite steamer if you’ll be in a location without an iron. Wrinkles are the acne of clothing — icky.

Packing to perfection

Advising someone to roll instead of fold their garments when packing is like telling someone to wear running shoes with denim skinnies — it’s lousy guidance. Folding your clothes is more of a space-saver.

Put shoes on the bottom of the suitcase, as they’re the most difficult items to stow. Place items inside of them; stuff socks, underwear, tights, etc., to conserve space.

Wrap breakable items in bulky sweaters, and place them in the middle of your goods. Make sure those items are wholly surrounded by soft fabrics and are separated from each other.

Stow inexpensive jewelry pieces in a seven-day plastic pillbox or store them in a 35-millimeter film container lined with tissue. If you find it pertinent to take precious, expensive jewels during your travels, then I suggest wearing them to reduce the risk of loss or theft.

By: Lucy Nieboer

What: Zion I

When: 8 p.m., Wednesday

Where: Triple Rock Social Club, 629 Cedar Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $15

Age: 18+

Zumbi and Amp Live have been broadening the definition of hip-hop since the late ’90s. Pulling from soul music, Middle-Eastern beats and unique instrumentation, the independent producer-lyricist combo Zion I has gained national attention for their positive, trippy tunes. Their song “Coastin’,” an anthem of West Coast love, pumped from the speakers of every Californian class-of-2010 student.

The Bay Area group prides itself on moving past the message of materialism that has taken over present day hip-hop.

“You can always tell, for me, when someone is drinking all the time in the studio or all they’re concerned with is getting girls,” Zumbi said. “It’s all about making their bread. You can hear it in their music.”

Amp Live and Zumbi have always wanted to push the boundaries of creating a cutting-edge sound. Their songs pull from Amp’s affinity for house music and Zumbi’s love of reggae, among other eclectic influences.

The group’s mixed-bag approach to musical style also contributes to free-flowing lyrics. Zumbi explained that when they were first starting out, the Bay Area music scene was very open to listening to new kinds of hip-hop.

“There’s an open-mindedness out here. There’s a fusion of different ideas. People seem to collect things from Europe, things from the East Coast, from wherever, and then fuse them,” he said.

For Zion I, pairing the duo’s unique sound with powerful positive messaging was a natural process.

“When I got introduced to it, the things that are cool now, like yes, Big Daddy Kane had on a big-ass chain and all that, but it was like these cats are talking about so much more,” he said.

After Zion I’s first mixtape dropped in 2000, Zumbi was hooked on spreading his message of positivity.

“The wealth that was hip-hop was like our CNN — people without a voice. This is a voice for the voiceless,” he said.

Forming an independent label seemed like the only feasible option for the group that didn’t quite fit anybody’s mold. Zumbi said in the digital age, controlling your own content is more important than ever.

“With the Internet and with the way that records don’t sell, it’s all about merchandising and touring and licensing — you don’t need a label to do that anyway,” he said.

Zumbi admitted that being an independent artist and producer is a lot of hard work but worth it to have a hand in every aspect of creation.

“If you’re like a Wiz Khalifa dude and that’s just how you get down, fine, but if you have counter messages to what’s popular in the media, do it yourself,” he said. “You don’t have to wait for anybody to validate you.”

Now, in addition to working on a new album due out in October, Zumbi is mentoring up-and-coming artists to follow in his footsteps. He thinks forging ahead solo — although intimidating at first — pays off.

“You can be creative, live out your dreams, speak your truth and prosper from how you feel about the world,” he said, “and I think that’s what the independent grind is all about.”

By: Shannon Ryan

Doesn’t it seem like everyone you know is getting married? It sure seems like that to me. And the majority of those weddings take place during the summer — the season of love. You’ll presumably be attending more than one this season, so that means you’ll need to update your event wear.

Rules definitely apply when getting dressed for the event, so take note of the do’s and don’ts I’ll toss your way.

When choosing dress color …

The rule of no white to a wedding is a hard-and-fast rule — it’s simply courteous. It’s the bride’s day, so let her be the focus of all the eyes. Avoid really any shade of white, including cream, ecru and bright white. All other colors are fair game, though sticking to one that’s fitting for the season is the loveliest way to make an appearance. Choose from a fresh palette of the colors on reserve for spring or summer 2013. Dismiss winter’s moody hues of black, charcoal, oxblood and plum, opting instead for a rich fuchsia, bright crimson red or citrusy orange. All of those are vibrant, bold and optimistic — complementary to the weather indeed.

On dressing for the time and place …

There are two types of ceremonies — those in the afternoon, which tend to be quite casual, and evening soirees, which are more formal. Taking into account what time the wedding takes place is key to your outfit’s success. During the early afternoon, it is perfectly appropriate to don a floral sundress or a pastel maxi; however, during the evening it’s not. Opt for a chiffon cocktail dress or a silk shift dress in a more saturated hue for a night wedding.

Nowadays many weddings call for a wardrobe change between an insouciant daytime ceremony and a lavish evening reception. Determine how much to dress up or down according to the time and venue of the wedding. But by all means, do dress up for the occasion. The warm weather and blasé summer attitudes are not excuses to wear denim shorts and a tube top to a wedding. Even a low-key barnyard affair calls for a skirt or at least a pair of tailored trousers. A true fashionista doesn’t stray from decorum. Show the marrying couple that you understand the significance of their wedding, and dress to impress.

When selecting accessories …

Because the weather is a delight and your skin has a healthy glow, you’re probably going to be wearing a weightless, flowing dress, and your accessories should follow a similar style. Cumbersome baubles look inappropriate with an airy ensemble, so swap your chandelier earrings for a classic pearl or a polished stud. A little bling goes a long way in the summertime.

In terms of footwear, a bright pair of sandals or strappy heels is the perfect partner to a summer dress — flip flops are not OK. For a more elegant affair, select a strong stiletto or a pair of peep-toes. And if you’re attending an outdoor wedding, you may want to opt for wedges or flats that won’t get stuck in the grass or sand.

By: Joe Kleinschmidt

What: Nick Drake’s Musical Legacy

Who: Joe Boyd presents Mason Jennings, Steve Tibbetts with Wendy Lewis and Haley Bonar

Where: Cedar Cultural Center, 416 S. Cedar Ave, Minneapolis

When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesday

Cost: $10

Only slight traces of Nick Drake remain today. Before his death in 1974 from an overdose of antidepressants, the English singer-songwriter refused to give interviews or regularly perform in front of audiences.

Without widespread success, the Cambridge University graduate recorded his feathery but grave voice with American producer Joe Boyd. Boyd, who’s worked with everyone from R.E.M. to Pink Floyd, gives a human understanding of the folk musician now mythologized.

“People felt very protective of him because they thought he was fragile,” Boyd said, recalling his time working with Drake on his first two releases. “Although, he was very strong.”

In fact, Boyd said, he holds a record in the 100-yard dash at his school in Wiltshire.

Most people remember Drake for his voice, though acclaim among critics and fans would only arrive years later.

In response to Drake’s resurgence of popularity, Boyd organized various tribute concerts in 2009. “Way to Blue: The Songs of Nick Drake” collects the best live renditions of the folk singer’s spare songs.

“Recording a live concert is the closest I get to working the way I used to work in the studio,” he said, “because everybody these days works very differently.”

Countless musicians, including Kate Bush and Beck, give Drake credit for influence. On “Way to Blue,” both Robyn Hitchcock and Vashti Bunyan appear in especially haunting performances of “Parasite” and “Which Will.”

“To get that live feeling and energy that I like to get on a record — the only way to do it is to put people up on a stage and record them that way.”

Boyd’s relationship with Drake represents a brief time in his life, but the producer still held onto song rights in 1999, when an advertisement sparked even more interest for “Pink Moon.” Recorded in two midnight sessions spanning four hours, the album suddenly received interest from a car company.

“I got a message that Volkswagen wanted to use ‘Pink Moon’ in a car commercial, and I said, ‘Forget it.’ That didn’t sound like a good idea at all,” Boyd said.

When he later looked at the storyboard for the commercial, he realized no voiceover would taint the lyrics to the title track of Drake’s final album.

“I thought it looked to me more like a commercial for Drake than a commercial for Volkswagen,” he said.

Boyd accepted Volkswagen’s offer, and the use of “Pink Moon” led to more appreciation for Drake’s music. “White Bicycles,” Boyd’s 2006 memoir, chronicles his time in the psychedelic and folk scene among British artists in the ’60s and ’70s. But Drake still holds a special place in his memory. At the very least, “Way to Blue” offers a small window into Drake’s legacy.

“I do feel that it’s wonderful music, and it’s gratifying that people appreciate it now,” he said.

“I wish they would’ve appreciated it sooner.”

By: Shannon Ryan

What: “Threads”

When: 7 p.m., Wednesday

Where: Weisman Art Museum, 333 E. River Road, Minneapolis

Cost: Free for University studentsstudents and WAM members; $5 general admission; reservation required

Collaboration between art and fashion is at the nucleus of “Threads,” a design event showcased at the Weisman Art Museum tomorrow evening. “Threads” is a design competition that will feature 10 original garments designed and executed by 10 selected individuals from the University of Minnesota’s apparel design sophomore class.

This event is the follow-up to 2012’s “No White” design competition, which insisted designers not use white materials during construction. 2013’s competition follows a similar formula, albeit a different restriction. The designers could not use traditional materials, i.e. fabric, buttons, zippers, etc.

The inspiration for this avant-garde approach to design comes from “The Greenheads Series,” which comprises 43 gouache paintings by artist Laylah Ali. The Greenheads are a group of ambiguously sexed, round-headed beings that pervade a dystopian world where eccentric and sinister exchanges are customary. The garments that will parade the runway are interpretations of Ali’s series.

Students used a number of unconventional objects to construct their projects: braided and frayed ropes, coffee filters and puzzle pieces that were dyed to mimic Ali’s color palette, among others. Sophomore Lauren Kacher used a piece of her everyday transportation for the base of her garment.

“I used bike tires to execute my interpretation and to communicate a message of being bound, oppressed and taken away from society and forced to watch while everyone else was free,” Kacher said.

The designers’ garments not only parody the physical construction and appearance of Ali’s paintings but also a selected piece of the rather ambiguous message her work signifies. Allise Prew, one of the presenting designers at “Threads,” communicates this idea not only in her nail-covered mini-dress but also in the ambiance of her runway presentation.

“I went a darker route with my music,” Prew said. “I drew inspiration from her [Ali’s] meanings, which are somewhat dark, so my song correlates with that. ‘Such Small Hands’ [by La Dispute] is a little bit scary, a little bit harsh.”

This design class project turned public fashion event definitively combines artistic thought with creative execution, which is something the Weisman Art Museum Collective — the student group behind the event — wanted to do. “Threads” is their brainchild.

“We were trying to connect two ideas: how Ali’s work is done through storytelling and how these students are expressing those stories through fabrics or threads in this case,” Emily Macy, campus relations manager of WAM Collective, said.

And those threads will parade the runway juried by five local art, fashion and design enthusiasts in hopes of being the best to wholly craft and execute “The Greenheads Series.” “Threads” attendees are urged to view the series, which is currently the featured exhibit at the Weisman, before attending the event.

“I would encourage people to look at her work because I think they’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of some of the themes she’s [Ali] talking about,” WAM representative Katie Covey said, “and also a deeper understanding of where the designers are getting their inspiration from.”

By: Joe Kleinschmidt

Atypical subjects rarely faze Mary Roach, a science writer who has penned books about everything from cadavers to the feasibility of sending humans to Mars. For the latest line in her taboo-oriented books, “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal,” Roach leads a journey through the miraculous inner workings of the human body akin to a fact-filled version of “Fantastic Voyage.”

“Gulp,” available in bookstores Tuesday, reads as stomach-churning at times and thoroughly enlightening at others, an expedition devoted to the overlooked milieu of a topic considered foul.

“It’s interesting to look at why things are taboo because they tend to be things that are a part of everyone’s life: death, sex, eating, excreting,” she said. “These are all things we all do, and yet we don’t want to think about them.”

Her previous book about National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s research into the hazards of human space flight provided plenty of coarse material. As she pored over scientific literature for 2010’s “Packing for Mars,” she found a choice article to help guide her exploration of all things related to guts.

“It was the weirdest study I’d ever seen,” she said. “A bunch of students were put into a metabolic chamber and were served a slurry of dead bacteria — they were looking into bacteria as space food for a Mars mission.”

The paper’s title sums up the study’s excruciating backfire for the six young men who gave up several days to perilous research in 1968: “Human Intolerance to Bacteria as Food.” Even if the concept of “bioregenerative” foods farmed from astronauts’ waste never took off after the article’s publication, the study gives Roach a comic and viscera-covered launching point for “Gulp,” a no-holds-barred approach to entertaining and informative science reportage.

“It just got me thinking of eating not as a sensual pleasure, but a physiological, biological process,” she said. “We tend not to think about it that way.”

Roach relishes the absurdity of her subject while grounding the bizarre history and current research with informational factoids. As she explores the complex ecosystem of the mouth, “Gulp” enlightens with facts about the immense antiviral properties of saliva, which is not just a “bacterial cesspool,” she said.

Working her way to the anus, she makes a stop along the tour to discuss the rectum in all its glory as a storage facility. She doesn’t just take cues from scientists — Roach contacted the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to get an inside peek at prisoners who brazenly use their rectums as “handy pockets,” she said.

“It was sort of a once-in-a-lifetime scenario to sit down and talk about rectal smuggling with an inmate who was a convicted murderer,” she said.

The prisoner informs the anus-centered chapter of “Gulp” as well as the historical figures and researchers also backing the book. Roach also discovered the backdoor cavity’s immense potential: Prisoners regularly smuggle cellphones, rolling papers, tobacco and other drugs.

Roach plunges into her subjects as an ignorant and sarcastic outsider, wholly interested in her subjects without the technical expertise to bog down a casual read. “Gulp” may not represent a thoroughly methodical account, but that’s hardly the point.

“I don’t necessarily always want to go to a lab or a hospital — that’s not always the best way into the subject,” she said. “This isn’t a book about digestive health. It’s about the human food processor, a marvelous and very strange machine.”

By: Shannon Ryan

Say it with me, “April showers bring May flowers.” This we know and this we accept. In our minds we limit the heavy rainfall and monsoon minutes to a span of four weeks, though it too often exceeds this preconceived stretch, and we end up staying mostly indoors for the month of April with a strong distaste for its weather.

And that’s blasphemy if I’ve ever heard it! Of course walking 20 minutes to class in a torrential downpour is not ideal, but who made the rule that your mood needs to match the weather? I’ve got a few tips, tricks and wardrobe words of wisdom for those of you interested in breaking the rules. Cheers to looking lovely in the rain.

Outerwear

The transition from snowflakes to raindrops marks a significant change in outerwear, specifically the coat. We see a sharpening of the silhouette and a lightening of fabrics — sayonara goose-down parka! In this conversion, however, we must still be mindful of the new season’s weather adversities and select a coat that works well when the weather is not. Seek shelter in a trench coat, a canvas jacket or a waterproof poncho.

The trench is an impeccably sharp and seasoned vet in the trend world, showing no signs of ever going out of style. And because you can wear this type of coat into autumn, too, choose one in a neutral color: ecru, khaki, navy or black. Similar rules apply for a canvas jacket, which is slightly heavier than the trench, though a bit more protective. As for the poncho, purchasing one that is anything but a hideous shade of McDonalds’ yellow is appropriate, though dark tones will draw less attention to you. And though less tailored than the other two, the poncho’s redeeming quality is the hood, the key to hair-happiness.

Footwear

In terms of footwear, the choices are slim to have truly pleasant and dry little piggies in a rainfall, coming down to one option: the rain boot. Investing in a pair with a bit more room — opting for a half size up — will allow you to put on a pair of socks for added warmth and protection.

Color choices are up to the wearer, though I will note that a dark shade of navy, forest green or classic black looks more sophisticated than a pair of pastel or polka-dotted wellies. And because the right pair of rain boots will last for seasons upon seasons, choosing a color that is less likely to go out of style might be a wiser investment in rubber.

Note: If you have a strong aversion to the rain boot, a waterproof pair of leather boots is an alternative, though they more often than not will need repairing after a few seasons. Regardless, an alternative they are.

Accessories

If you’ve stayed mostly muted in your rain gear up to this point, things are about to get freaky. Go wild with a printed umbrella, ella, ella, eh. Umbrellas are fun, and they’re cheap. Purchase a few in various colors and prints with panache, but don’t spend too much money on them. A leftover umbrella in a lecture hall is like a solo mitten on the sidewalk — a depressing and all-too-common sight at the U.

Cosmetics

There is nothing more unfortunate than looking like a rainy day vis-à-vis your makeup and hair. On a dreary day, less is certainly more. Choose a tinted moisturizer in lieu of a heavy foundation, and use a waterproof mascara to prevent raccoon eyes. The weather will add a dewy glow and a pop of color to your cheeks, so limit the use of blush, and add a berry stain for a flush to the lips. Fight the ultimate rain demon of frizz by braiding your hair or pinning it into a tidy ballerina bun for a feminine frizz-fighting do.

Looking sharp in a rainfall does require a bit of planning in advance, but once you’re locked and loaded in a water-resistant outfit, you’ll find a bit of solace in the gray shades and raindrop gifts of April. Stay dry without sacrificing style.

By: Joe Kellen

What: “Deathtrap”

When: 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays; 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sundays; March 29-May 19

Where: The Jungle Theater, 2951 S. Lyndale Ave., Minneapolis

Cost: $20-38

Bain Boehlke does not own a harness or a set of carabineers. This won’t stop the artistic director of the Jungle Theater from insisting he’s a climber, though.

“I call iconic plays the great mountains we like to climb. Hamlet would definitely be a K2,” he said. “And we all like to scale those mountains — can we do them? Can I summit? Can this actually happen?”

He’s talking about Ira Levin’s “Deathtrap,” the second play in the Jungle’s season this year. The murder mystery thriller is a solid classic in the theater canon due to its unexpected twists and sharp dialogue. First produced in 1983, it holds a spot as one of the longest-running plays on Broadway, spawned a film starring Michael Caine and is frequently revived internationally.

Rather than intimidating Boehlke, this draws him to the piece, positioning him to make something new.

“There’s nothing groovier than smashing people’s expectations. It means they have to give up. They have to surrender, and then they have to go on a journey that they know nothing about,” he said.

Audiences will clutch on to the black comedy of “Deathtrap” if Boehlke gets what he’s hoping for. The play is a fast-paced and traditionally structured mystery that centers on washed-up playwright Sidney Bruhl and his plot to murder a younger writer and steal his script.

“There’s thunder and lightning and all of that — an amber velvet curtain that flows in an amber velvet proscenium arch. It’s got that good ol’ time religion theater feel about it,” Boehlke said.

Actress Cheryl Willis asserts that the multilayered play avoids the cornier stereotypes of the murder mystery genre through Boehlke’s embrace of the basics.

“The audience is given credit to use their intelligence and we’re not forcing some style or anything upon them. All we do is go back to the script,” she said.

According to Boehlke, this is all the Jungle tries to do in their work. He deeply believes in sticking to the simple logic of a play and creating a world from it rather than using gimmick.

“It’s the architectural plan for an event that touches and moves human beings and lives in the specific time of its being done,” he said.

It’s a technique that works for the company, with Boehlke receiving a Lifetime Achievement Ivey Award in 2011 and holding a permanent mark in the Twin Cities theater community with his co-founding role at the Children’s Theatre Company.

In fact, Boehlke’s become something of a local legend among the artists he’s worked with. Willis attributes this to his willing and filter-less personality.

“He comes from an instinctual place,” Willis said. “He moves forward, forward, forward — it’s a joy to be around, and it’s also really scary because you don’t know what he’s going to say.”

Whatever he ends up saying, Willis adds that it’s usually useful, even if it’s not immediately obvious.

“He has his ears open in that he listens to the sounds and the rhythms of the language,” she said. “He feeds you a lot of things that are sometimes to alien to your mouth, but once it all comes together, you end up with a character that you didn’t even know was there.”

By: Lucy Nieboer

Pink Peeps and Cadbury Eggs have some stiff competition from the contents of the brown and white shells care of Mother Hen/Mother Nature. No sugary treat can compete with a soft egg white, crisp and buttery on the edges and tender in the middle or with a broken middle — a flowing stream of rich, intensely yellow yolk.

According to the College Kitchenista’s research, a generation of college cooks is putting all their eggs in the lowest possible basket — scrambled. To add a touch of refinement to any holiday brunch function, use these methods to up your culinary game.

Deviled

This wickedly delicious appetizer isn’t tricky to tackle but can look really fancy if you nail the presentation.

1 dozen eggs, hard-boiled

2/3 cup mayonaise

1 tablespoon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1 pinch tumeric

1 pinch cayenne pepper

1 pinch paprika

To hard boil the eggs, cover them in a large pan with about two inches of water. Bring the water to a full rolling boil, then switch it off and cover the pan. Let the eggs sit for 12 minutes. Submerge the eggs in a cold bowl of water until they are completely cool. Gently tap the shells to crack them and peel the shells away.

Cut each egg down the middle length-wise. Setting the clean whites aside, remove the yolks and put them into a bowl. Mash them with a fork until they are finely mashed. Add all the remaining ingredients except the paprika.

Put the mixture into a pastry bag or a plastic baggie with the corner snipped. Pipe a dollop of the yolk mixture into the empty whites. Sprinkle the finished product with paprika. Adapted from Shanon Lacy’s “The Best Deviled Eggs.”

Poached

This method of cooking eggs can be a killer if the proper steps aren’t taken. Follow the instructions to a tee and you should have a perfectly portioned, sophisticated breakfast for one.

1 egg

Distilled white vinegar

Slices of tomato

Butter

1 piece bread

Salt

Pepper

Fill a small pot with water. Add a splash of vinegar to the water. This will keep the poached egg’s white tighter and closer to the yolk. Bring the water and vinegar to a simmer. If the water begins to boil, turn the heat down.

Crack the egg into a small bowl. Be careful not to break the yolk. Using a spoon, vigorously swirl the water in the pan so there is a whirlpool effect in the middle. Drop the egg into the space created in the middle of the pan. This helps keep the white of the egg from flying up in slimy strands.

After three or four minutes, remove the egg from the water with a slotted spoon. Drain on a paper towel.

Toast and butter your piece of bread. Add slices of tomato and top with the egg. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Sunny side up

This breakfast not only tastes great, but it starts the day on a positive note. There’s no waking up on the wrong side of the bed when a bacon smiley face greets you at the breakfast table.

2 eggs

2 pieces of bacon

Salt

Pepper

Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon to your preferred level of doneness. Drain on a paper towel. Without removing the fat from the pan, carefully crack the eggs onto the hot surface. The salty oil will make for a beautifully brown crust on the edges of the eggs.

Transfer the skillet to an oven preheated to 350 degrees. After about four minutes the whites should be solid, and the yolks still runny. Remove the pan from the oven, and plate the eggs and bacon. Season generously with salt and pepper.

One of the first steps to achieving the title of “Iron Chef: College Kitchenisto/a” is mastering the basics. Once you crack the case of the yolk and the white, tougher recipes will be a breeze.

By: Shannon Ryan

Is it in the gaze from behind their wide-framed spectacles? Their smooth vocal delivery of the sociological perspectives of race in the mid-1960s? What about the flawless curve of their cursive letter “c” on the whiteboard? Whatever — some professors are just downright appealing, and we wonder what they’re like outside of the classroom.

The ballots are in and the nominees accounted for. We’ve asked four of the top tempting teachers questions deemed first-date worthy. Answers sufficient for second date inquiries.

Jacqueline Schiappa: Department of Writing Studies

If you could resurrect any musician, who would it be and why?

That’s difficult for me to answer because I love so much music, but probably John Lennon because of the politics surrounding his death.

If your house was on fire and you could save just one possession, what would it be?

My cat, Nala.

What’s your favorite dessert?

Tres leches cake; it’s Spanish for three milks. That’s my favorite cake for sure.

What is your morning breakfast routine?

Tea — black tea, and that’s it. I usually don’t have time to eat.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

Probably when people say they “could care less.” What they mean is that they couldn’t [care less]. It’s this thing where I’m like, “That’s not what you mean!”

Stephen Bennett: School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Did you — or do you — have a nickname? What’s the story behind it?

One that’s stuck with me is Creebins. My brother, when he was younger, couldn’t pronounce my name Stephen correctly, so he called me Creebins, and for whatever reason, it stuck with me through the years.

What’s your favorite movie of all time?

A tie between “The Emperor Strikes Back” — the Star Wars film — and “Fight Club.” I guess “Emperor Strikes Back” because I was such a Star Wars fan when I was younger and still am, and I like the modern messages of “Fight Club” as an adult.

What’s your favorite television theme song?

It’s funny, but probably “Downton Abbey.” The show is so dramatic, and when you hear that song, it evokes so much emotion. It’s very effective and matches the themes of the show very well.

How do you like to spend your Saturdays?

I have to spend my Saturdays doing work, but I like to spend my Saturdays outdoors. Going camping or running or fishing is usually how I would like to spend those days.

What’s one of your favorite childhood memories?

I grew up in Wisconsin, but I used to spend a lot of summers in Minneapolis with my cousin, so probably those summers skateboarding and rollerblading in Minneapolis on [the University] campus.

Bruno Chaouat: Department of French and Italian

What were you like as a college student?

I was not very diligent, not as diligent as I would have liked to be. I hope I’m a better teacher than I was a student.

Do you prefer cats or dogs?

Cats.

If you could choose anywhere in the world to live, where would it be? Why?

America, because that is the country I’ve chosen to live in.

What’s your favorite region of the United States?

Probably the Northeast.

What are your “words to live by?”

Intellectual integrity — standing up for one’s convictions.

Jennifer Ball: School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Where did you grow up?

I grew up mostly in Chicago, though I was technically born in Springfield, Ill. I definitely affiliate myself more with Chicago.

Who is your favorite author, and which of his or hers is your favorite book?

Just for fun, I love “Harry Potter,” so I will go ahead and say J.K. Rowling. I really like “The Goblet of Fire,” so I think that perhaps would be my favorite of the series.

When you go to a coffee shop, what do you usually order?

A white chocolate mocha with skim milk, and sometimes I throw in an extra shot of espresso if I need it.

What’s your favorite restaurant in Minneapolis?

I’m still doing a lot of exploring, but I did have a really nice meal at The Capital Grille. I’d say that’s the nicest restaurant I’ve experienced.

What’s your favorite four-letter word?

Hope.