Shopping in University

In business for more than 25 years, the eponymous family behind Tagge’s Famous Fruit cultivates and nurtures a bountiful harvest of fresh fruits and veggies. Today’s Groupon nets eager ghouls and goblins enough locally grown Halloween pumpkins ($2–$7 each) to adorn the most festive domicile or malevolently appointed minivan on the block. Tagge’s fruit stands overflow with the bright-orange gourds, which can be baked into a pie, carved with a spooky face, or baked into a spooky-faced pie.

Named one of Parents magazine's Top 10 Birthday Chains in 2010, Color Me Mine's international franchise of DIY ceramics studios cater to an older crowd as well. Hundreds of unadorned ceramic pieces—including vases, flatware, and busts of Elvis—await the attentions of muses of kids and their keepers alike, as do glazes in earthy tones and bright crimsons to frighten bulls away from china cabinets. Guests follow simple step-by-step instructions that leave plenty of room for creative expression. When painters are satisfied with their work, the professional kiln-workers help glaze and fire it for them before customers retrieve the finished piece 7-10 days later.

Bodeen Ski and Sport's trained and certified staff of seasoned skiers arm customers with the properly tuned equipment and attire they need to partake in arctic athletics. Patrons lug their blades into the shop, where dexterous handymen apply a hot wax to the base of their sliding platforms to ensure optimal slipperiness for careening down hills or rapidly fleeing dull holiday office parties. A specialized grinding machine then levels the base and sharpens bottom and side edges for improved snow slicing. Technicians adjust repairs to address the specific concerns of each pair of skis, and will inform customers if their instruments would benefit from additional servicing or a hot-stone massage.

Precocious K mixes women’s basics with more structured duds into a mod commingling of fashions flexible enough to adapt looks from the workplace to evenings out. Customers can feel at home within the store’s intimate confines while resisting the urge to pay the electric bill amid diverse offerings such as an emerald-green romper ($60) and the ever-useful black crisscross-neck dress ($60). The imminently layerable tube-top shirt dress ($55) sports a bow-tie back and skirt-like hem, easily paired with a bevy of bottoms. The boutique also carries a thorough selection of threads and accessories from notable brands such as Mavi Jeans ($65–$92) and Wanted shoes ($12–$65).

The personable staffers at Name Droppers usher guests through the multihued storeroom to help find inimitable threads, meshing free personal shopping assistance with high-quality consignment and resale garb by major brands. The bounteous selection of duds rotates regularly, encouraging deal lovers to snag one-of-a-kind purchases, such as a pair of 7 for All Mankind jeans ($19.99) or a Diane Von Furstenberg dress ($42). Shield peepers from the sun's steamy glare with Coach sunglasses ($29.99), or swathe cash and maps of Atlantis scrawled on napkins in a Juicy Couture wallet ($19.99). With designer goods regularly priced 50%–80% off their original retail cost, frugal fashionistas can snag fancified frocks for a night out on the town with enough left over to buy a sliver of that night's moonlight.

Ready, Set, Bag! documents the quests of eight state-champion grocery baggers as they prepare for the National Grocers Association’s competition for Best Bagger, held every February in Las Vegas. As each contestant trains for the big event and brings order to a chaotic universe one egg carton on top at a time, their life stories and infectious love of what they do will thaw the frozen caveman hearts of any viewer. Best of all, you can stay comfortably reclined on sofa seating during the whole film, as Central Cinema’s wait staff will bring your large popcorn right to you. Practice attentive viewing before the main event with a screening of a new, hand-animated short called Leonardo, from Academy Award nominee Jim Capobianco.