Dispatch from Bill's

Czarina Gregorio, a high school student at the University of Iowa for a journalism workshop, was inspired to write an essay about Bill's Coffeeshop. Here's an excerpt:

Wild Bill's Coffeeshop is approaching its 30th year and has lost neither its original spirit nor legendary ambiance.

Nestled into a quiet corner of North Hall sits the coffee shop where antiques are lined up against the wall for sale. On top of the tables reside Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head. The freezer, christened Al, offers frozen foods to distract from the summer heat.

A makeshift clothesline dominates the space between two walls where decorated CDs are hung as pieces of artwork, done by random visitors who pop in and out of the shop. Coloring paraphernalia in the form of markers, crayons, and even the occasional bottle of nail polish litter the tabletops. Random neckties are showcased above the booths, hung by a piece of string suspended on two walls. Various knickknacks are displayed for sale in shelves lining the walls of the shop....