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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 3, 2000)
ING BREAK Continued from lile the Colorado mount* ; continue to attract thesp crowds each year, Brittiai ajority of clients this yet; j where it is wanner, here are no flights [left] to! Brittian said, ncun, according to Aggie* itures, has been one of tit destinations for universiti this year. Coming in a close South Padre Island, and aytona Beach, Florida, -ing break trips are notnect t expensive, look forward to just relaxit each for a few days in C i. We are staying in Texas,* ceep costs down, but wewil e to have fun. idn’t want to just sit all tting on the beach will s will be exciting,” tan Brooks, sophomore mart aior. AOOTFT TFF JL, JL JL 1 wJ A-J JL JL JSLma*S Fiidav, Marfch 3, 2000 THE BATTALION Page 3 The B-side of H-town Houston offers alternative to mainstream tourist attractions SUSAN REDDING/Thk ll,\rT\UO\ )NING Continued from Pagt (>S(' | was created to take cd it end of the business and alio continue researching.” .ilure cloning prices have determined. Westhusin saidtlsi : future clones will cost at? able amount less than Missy! , cloning may not be the rights for everyone, n the future, we hope to ma| tore affordable. But petclonii dways be more expensive tta > to ;i dog breeder, a pet store limal shelter,” Westhusin sail . will not be for everyone- 4 erve only a select group ofpeti Westhusin said that the corap? ;o hopes to make advancemenu mting cattle with a more res$ mmune system, any think there are otherwayst# ;c a lost pet. Kathy Bise,dii the Brazos Animal Shelter,sail tore arc over a half millionp® sleep every year in TexasaW t’s sad that there aretwogrof ts out there. [There re loved and cared for so mud /hen they die, their ownersaif g to pay thousands of dollars] them cloned” Bisesaid.1 here are those that are abusft ft to be euthanized because wants them.” /hat people need to understand! iis is not the way of getting ick,” Westhusin said. ‘'You g at best to get a pet that exit# of the same characteristics.’ BY JUSTIN GARRETT The Battalion A s the largest city in Texas, Houston is filled w ith modem venues of entertain ment. From world-class theaters mid con cert halls to live-star restaurants, Houston stands tall in its ability to provide first-rate cul tural commodities. 1 lowever, for those who tend to shy away from commercialized, trendy hotspots and would rather check out the local punk scene than the local string quartet, Houston still re mains an excellent location for an unforgettable experience. Just under the surface of this expansive me tropolis lies a vast unexploited realm of vintage shops, chic cafes and even a shoe store for cross-dressers. Although College Station has never been a common rendezvous for drag queens, there is always a first, and Bmcette’s shoe store is more than willing to help. Need a pair of lace up, knee high stilettos but can’t seem to find your size in die women’s department? Check out Brucette’s where larger sizes are all their speciality. 11'cross-dressing, or even being seen in a store catering to that lifestyle, does not sound enthralling, yet fashion is still of interest, then perhaps a vintage store would be a more w orth while venture. Ifso. then the Buffalo Exchange on Westheimer is an excellent choice. Once in side, the sweet, musty aroma of yesteryear's threads and ’80s punk reverberating from hid den speakers will make one forget today’s pop ular cargo pants and techno rock. Should the overwhelming array of clothing prove to be too much to take in all at once, the courteous and well-tattooed sales stafifis always happy to pro vide assistance. Another vintage store, located on Bissonett, offers used clothing and accessories in a re freshingly uncluttered setting. The store has many interesting items, yet die most amazing tire displayed behind the counter. These rare collectible may be taken only through trade. The most interesting item, a 14-year-old girl’s skull, would be impossible to obtain anywhere else—legally, dial is. Hopefully the stalf could also give advice on where and how to decorate your home with such a delightful artifact. Just down the street from the Buffalo Ex change sits the oldest full line hemp shop in America. Prided on having one of the largest assortments of hemp products around, the Texas 1 femp Co. (T11C) is a delight to all die senses. Although the store has several items common to all stores of its kind, it is an entire ly dilferent breed of alternative store. Owner Richard Tomcala said the store is devoted to promoting items that are less harmful to die en- xironment than their cotwentional counterparts. ‘'We’re try ing to create a living demonstra tion of alternatives to traditional human needs. Consider w iping your ass with a 20ryear-old tree and what’s gone into that brief contact with your person,” Tomcala said. Without a doubt, litis store is a one-of-a- kind establishment. With little provocation, Tomcala will remove his thick, black-rimmed eyeglasses and reveal his eerily vast knowledge of environmental destruction, government scandal and, of course, the countless practical and efficient uses of hemp-made products. In little time, one is rendered speechless and a lit tle more Entrusting of die world that awaits out side the door. Aside from running the THC, Tomcala also publishes'his own environmental paper titled Hemp Magazine. Copies are available in his store and contain articles dedicated to provid ing environmental awareness as well as publi cizing hemp retail stores across die nation. Also located in this neighborhood is a pe culiar shop ottering new designer clodies at sig nificantly reduced prices. Adding to the excite ment die store provides are the shady characters lingering beside the building who stare at you through dark sunglasses and thick smoke emerging from whatever is burning between their lips. Although most people encountered in this area are extremely friendly, some oftheir appearances can easily engender temporary un easiness. Once inside, though, the mood quick ly lightens upon seeing price tags so unbeliev able they require a confirmation of validity from the sales clerk. The women’s clothing is predominantly Express and the small but intriguing selection of men’s clothing is primarily from Structure. Most of the clothes show few if any defects •— deeming them a thritty shopper’s dream. 1 t one is seeking escape from the fast-paced Houston streets dien perhaps the Ale I louse off of West Alabama could provide relief. The es tablishment was originally a home built in the late 18()()s, and apparently one inhabitant de cided to never leave. “We're not really sure who the ghost is, but we’ve had different psychics in and they believe that she was a servant who was left here as a young girl,” employee Angela Jenkins said. Modeled after a British street pub, the bar otters an expansive variety of beers and liquors to choose from. In back there is a quaint beer garden and local bands frequently play upstairs. However, none of these attractions draw as many people as the frequent show put on by the local specter. “We’ve had things like voices, candles light up, lights come back on. It’s just her letting us know she’s still here,” Jenkins said. Should one want to avoid a personal en counter with paranormal beings, but still satis fy an interest in the occult and other mystifying areas, the Aquarian Age Bookshelf is more than fulfilling. Not only does the store carry all the latest literature in astrology' and other new-age genres, it also has tarot cards, jewelry, new-age music, aroma therapy oils and candles. Behind the store in a garage apartment known as the “treehouse,” classes in astrology and essential oils arc taught. The store has been in operation since the ’70s and isco-owned by Virginia Gray, the mother of John Gray, author of Mars and Venus self-help books. Given this, the store is a truly remarkable place to chat as well as browse. These are but a few of the unique and amazing experiences Houston has to oiler. Although many of the well-publicized at tractions in Houston are well worth visiting, few can compare with the many lesser-known establishments that offer a doorway to the valuable subcultures that flourish throughout this amazing city. RETHINKING THE WAR ON DRUGS Come hear Dr. Alan Robison from the Drug Policy Forum of Texas speak about the social and economic costs associated with the modem war on drags. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session where audience members are encouraged to express their opinions and concerns. JL; Presented by MSC Current Issues Awareness Tuesday, March 7,2000 at 7 pm in Rudder Theater & Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to (he best of our ability