Holiday gifts? Get in the spirit at UC Berkeley
Check out the wide variety of Berkeley-tinged gifts available right here on campus, from the UC Botanical Garden to the Discovery Corner Store. (If your tradition includes a tree, yours may be waiting for you at the Cal Forestry Club.)
December 9, 2015
Looking for holiday gifts? Look no further than UC Berkeley. At the very least, check out the wide variety of Berkeley-tinged gifts available right here on campus, from the UC Botanical Garden to the Discovery Corner Store. (If your tradition includes a tree, yours may be waiting for you at the Cal Forestry Club.)
Here’s a sampling of places on campus to snag a gift:
Swing by the Garden Pop-Up Shop at the UC Botanical Garden for unique gifts crafted by local vendors and the garden itself, from handmade goods for nature lovers to succulent gardens to grow at home. This free event is open to members on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and to the public on Thursday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you’d rather your gifts have a more personal touch, the garden is holding two workshops for adults and families to create their own nature-inspired crafts, from festive wreaths and garlands on Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. to ornaments and other decorations on Saturday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click on event links (above) for fees and registration requirements.
200 Centennial Drive, (510) 642-7082, [email protected]
For the science lover in the family, the Discovery Corner Store at the Lawrence Hall of Science has a slew of fun and zany presents, from a cactus-growing kit to an ant farm to a human-powered light bulb. Stop by Saturday, Dec. 19, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for Discovery Corner Shopping Day to enjoy treats and get hands-on with this season’s top holiday picks, or shop online. No admission required to shop in the store.
1 Centennial Drive, (510) 642-5132, [email protected]
Berkeley Art Museum-Pacific Film Archive 
BAMPFA’s grand reopening of its new building in downtown Berkeley follows the holidays, but the museum’s online store is open for business and will be fulfilling orders up until Dec. 21. The online shop is stocked with a wide range of books, toys, housewares, cards and posters, as well as jewelry by local artists. Members receive a 10 percent discount on most items. Museumgoers can also lock in a low membership rate by signing up for a charter membership by Dec. 31 using the promo code MEM2015.
(510) 642-1475, [email protected]
The Cal Forestry Club, one of the oldest forestry programs in the nation, hosts its biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual holiday tree sale, from now through Monday, Dec. 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every year, students travel to the Sierra Nevada to harvest trees donated by Sierra Pacific Industries that wouldn’t normally survive into adulthood. Tree species harvested are mainly white fir, red fir and incense cedar, and sizes range from one foot to 10 feet, with larger trees available upon request.
Trees on sale outside of Mulford Hall on the UC Berkeley campus, [email protected]
(UC Berkeley photo by Anne Brice)
Make it a blue-and-gold holiday at the Cal Student Store, where school-spirited gifts include ornaments, clothing, toys and games, plus household items like coasters and wine glasses. A portion of the proceeds supports student programs.
In addition, students, staff and faculty who don blue and gold and show their Cal1Card will get a 20 percent discount at the bookstore Wednesday, Dec. 9, through Friday, Dec. 11.
2470 Bancroft Way, (510) 229-4703, [email protected]
Dancer Jamar Roberts (Photo by Andrew Eccle)
Give the gift of entertainment with a gift certificate to Cal Performances, the largest performing arts presenter in Northern California. Gift certificates start at $10 and are good from the date of purchase, with no expiration date. Specify an amount, or browse the event listings to choose an amount corresponding to a particular performance. Be sure to get a certificate by Dec. 20; the performance center is closed Dec. 21 through Jan. 4.
101 Zellerbach Hall, #4800, (510) 642-9988, [email protected]
Stay up-to-date next year with the Museum of Paleontology’s 2016 Fossil Treasures Calendar, featuring spectacular images from the museum’s four collections. Calendars are $10 ,and all proceeds support museum research, education and outreach. For collectors, there are also Fossil Treasures calendars from 2015, 2014 and 2013 available for $2.
1101 Valley Life Sciences Building, (510) 642-1821, [email protected]
Student Environmental Resource Center
Berkeley students, staff and faculty can revel in savings this holiday season while supporting local merchants by downloading a free sustainable living app. The resource center teamed up with Chinook Book to create the app, which provides resources and discounts from many local merchants, including Saturn Cafe, Mike’s Bikes, Urban Ore and nearby farmers markets and coffee shops.
(510) 643-2992, [email protected]
Support the Cal Bears by ordering season tickets to cheer on your favorite sports team. Tickets are available for every team, from football and water polo to women’s basketball and gymnastics. Buy tickets online or over the phone.
(800) 462-3277, live chat available
The Berkeley Art Studio is hosting a holiday pop-up shop, featuring ceramics, photography, paintings, jewelry and more created by local artists. The shop will be open Dec. 1 to Dec. 11, noon to 7 p.m. during the week and noon to 5 p.m. on the weekend.
The Berkeley Art Studio also offers discounted gift certificates that pay for a portion of an art class through the studio. Registration for classes in ceramics, design, painting, drawing and photography is open to the entire community as well as UC students, faculty and staff.
ASUC Student Union (1st Floor), (510) 642-6161, [email protected]
University of California Press
Learn about the life and times of Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known by his pen name, Mark Twain — by ordering a fresh copy of one or all three volumes of the legendary American author and humorist’s uncensored autobiography. The autobiography was published by UC Press, courtesy of editors at the Mark Twain Papers and Project at UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library. Order online or purchase at a local bookseller.
(800) 343-4499, [email protected]