Visiting Iowa City

Main Library, University of Iowa:

If you are unfamiliar with the UI campus, you may want to take a peek at the UI Main Library floor plan [PDF]. Here is where the Main Library is on a Google Map.


View 0000ff; text-align: left;" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Main+Library,+Iowa+City,+IA&aq=0&oq=main+librar&sll=41.580696,-91.897668&sspn=4.395999,9.865723&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Main+Library,+Iowa+City,+Iowa+52242&t=m&z=14&iwloc=A&ll=41.659654,-91.538568">My Saved Places in a larger map

Getting here:

The nearest airports are The Eastern Iowa Airport / Cedar Rapids (a 30-minute drive), and the Quad Cities International Airport (about an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive). A roundtrip cab from the Eastern Iowa Airport is approximately $75 + tip (as a result, it may be worth renting a car).

Iowa City is serviced by MegaBus and Burlington Trailways.

Places to stay:

The Iowa House Hotel is located in the student union. The Sheraton and Hotel Vetro are downtown and very close to campus; Iowa City also has several bed and breakfasts within walking range of campus, including the Brown Street Inn and The Mission House. If you’d like to ask about staying with a local host, please contact Katherine and Melody at THATCampIC (at) gmail (dot) com and we can try to find you a place!

Places to Eat:

Iowa City has many wonderful restaurants–just exploring on your own (or asking someone on the street!) is likely to bring you somewhere delicious!

Some of our favorites, located right downtown:

Oasis: Falafel anchors a fairly diverse Middle Eastern menu. Inexpensive, vegetarian and vegan-friendly, fairly quick, delicious.

The Hamburg Inn: An institution. This all-American diner is a campaign must for politicians during the Iowa caucus season, and its walls are lined with pics of politicians making campaign stops over the past few decades.

Masala: Right next door to Prairie Lights, Masala is a small, all-vegetarian Indian restaurant. If you want something more carnivorous, India Cafe (next to the Englert Theatre) is also delicious–and its $8.95 lunch buffet is the best lunch deal in town.

126/Hearth: Upscale French-American cuisine, with an extensive wine list. 126 is downstairs; Hearth, on the second floor, is more casual.

The Sanctuary: Standard pub food, but a diverse international beer/drinks list and a nice atmosphere.

Local Events:

THATCamp will be busy, but if you like to stay super-busy, Iowa City has lots to do! The Mission Creek Festival will be the same weekend, so you can check out some live music and shows. Prairie Lights is an independently-owned bookstore, well known for hosting NPR’s longrunning “Live from Prairie Lights” readings series. They also have a coffeeshop on the second floor, featuring locally-made pastries and food.

Designing Culture: The Technological Imagination At Work, April 3, 5pm Art Building West

Anne Balsamo visits to discuss the technological imagination. Per the DSPH website, ” In this talk, Anne will be joined by interactive designer Scott Minneman and Computer Scientist Dale MacDonald, two of her former RED (Research in Experimental Documents) collaborators, to reflect on and describe the process of collaboration among designers, engineers, scientists artists, and humanists.” Q&A to follow Dr. Balsamo’s talk.

 

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