I’m graduating June 8.

Technically I graduated last year, but since there was no big ceremony in the winter, I have yet to “celebrate” my accomplishment.

While I suspect my kid won’t be too ecstatic about three hours of Pomp and Circumstance and a couple of other key individuals I’d like as witnesses will be out of town for the event, I think the whole “walking” thing is an important step, no pun intended, as I’m the first in my family to get a university degree. And yes, I have to admit, this works as a way for me to try to milk gifts out of my loved ones.

Also, since the significant one and I never did the wedding thing, I figure this may be my big chance to pretend to be princess for a day, though the gown will be black, not white, and the veil will be a mortarboard. 

As such, I figure this week’s column can act as either a “what to get a grad, around and about Pac Ave” guide or “Jessica’s wish list.” You decide.

I love the University Book Store, not just for its books and events but for the fabulous selection of funky novelty things that make me laugh, like the Nancy Pearl librarian action figure (with exclusive shushing action).  I’m also a bit of an office-supply addict, and the bookstore has enough of a varied selection of organizational office-y things that make me clap my hands and dance like a ninny.  Or wander aimlessly as I try to remember the one item I went in for (1.3 leads for my fatty mechanical pencil.) UBS gift certificates? Good pick.  Even Cougar-types will like to see there’s a selection of crimson and grey merchandise.

Just down from the UBS, BKB & Co has the sort of handcrafted art goodies that newly intelligent people like me can wholeheartedly dig.  And it’s here that my favorite item lives, at least until someone writes me a gift check or buys me one: “Gnome-Be-Gone,” a fabulous metal sculpture with gnarly teeth, wherein lies a gnome.  The gnome makes me happy, thinking of the movie “Amelie,” while the sculpture itself sends that “welcome visitors” message repeated by the headless fluffy Easter Bunny (one of the Bill pup’s projects) that’s been sitting on my front porch chair for the last two years.

Perhaps your grad has gotten a bit pudgy while pursuing higher education.  Maybe a South Sound Running Gift certificate will send the hint, subtly, that there’s a great world out there to discover, and it can be found on foot.  In the shop, there’s also a great world of running garb and information that will tempt even the most sedentary of souls into giving the “moving” thing a whirl.

No quest for groovy intelligent graduate gifts should go without a trip to the Tacoma Art Museum Store where any number of items are universally hip enough for any graduate to love.  With my penchant for office goodies, the plastic paper clips with bill-paying messages caught my eye, as did the anemone-like pen and pencil holder.  The jewelry lover in me loved all the pieces in the jewelry case, and was excited to learn my good friends Marty and Brit-Simone, together the jewelry company Vinosus, will be selling their handcrafted gorgeousness there, too, in a few scant weeks.

A skip and a hop across the street and up a hill gets grad shoppers to Tacoma Art Supply, where UWT Alum Warren Caves sells all manner of artsy goodies that discriminating fingers twitch for.  I make regular stops here for Moleskin notebooks, which anyone from 3 to 93 can use.  They have a hand-friendly quality that makes them easy to use and love, though they must be embedded with some sort of addictive substance, because once you’ve used a Moleskin notebook for anything from grocery lists to brilliant ideas for the Next Great Novel, you can’t go back to some spiral-bound Mead thing.

Going back down the hill and back onto Pacific Ave, you come to Grassis.  Go in looking for a gift or for a quick bite at the Garden Café, and come out with a big bouquet for your grad.

Though in the end it won’t be about the things grads are given, since the accomplishment is its own reward, it’s awful nice to know the accomplishment is appreciated.



[University Book Store, 1754 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8080

[BKB & Company, 1744 Pacific Ave.,  Tacoma, 253.272.6884]

[South Sound Running, 1717 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.593.8786]

[Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.4258]

[Tacoma Art Supply, 1552 Jefferson Ave., Suite 101, Tacoma, 253. 444. 2341]

[Grassi’s, 1702 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.627.7196]