No wonder MSU students get rowdy, they've had a lot to celebrate recently. AP

DOSE OF CULTURE: East Lansing meets Broadway at the Wharton Center, where Hairspray visits Oct. 18-23.

MUSIC MUST-STOP: The Temple Club is just that: a 100-year-old converted church cum music venue. Aspiring DJs rule the roost on Tuesday "Open Deck Nights."

GETTING AROUND: Big Daddy Taxi asks who's your daddy? (no, really; it's on the door) and charges $3 for a van ride just about anywhere.

TICKET MASTER: Check out AllMSU.com for big game tickets (... and apartments, and class books...).

ONLY AT MICHIGAN STATE: The most practical MSU student gear? Try a gas mask -- especially if you're frequenting Cedar Village on the South Side of campus. Big games (big win? big loss? who cares?) are often an excuse for Spartans to wreak Peloponnesian War-like havoc, and campus cops generally don't react kindly.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Michigan at MSU football, Oct. 1.

RITE OF PASSAGE: Pucker up and kiss a cutie in the shadow of Beaumont Tower to become a true Spartan. Or don't -- it's supposed to be haunted.

Check out No. 9 Illinois