In print | Published August 27, 2009

Though you probably won’t tire of your new home for quite a while, it’s not called the “Swarthmore bubble” for nothing. So, when the urge for a change of pace hits, here are a few off-campus attractions for your consideration.

Of course, the obvious jumping-off point for an off-campus adventure is nearby Philadelphia. Convenient, as the college’s very own R3 Septa Regional Rail stop sits at the base of Magill Walk, those wary of a dent in the pocketbook should look to our free-of-charge Philly Shuttle service. The shuttle runs on Friday and Saturday nights and later than the Septa train, quite useful when you find yourself stranded in Philly at midnight. With a reservation on the Swarthmore College website, you can get carted from Parrish circle to the indie-loving Ritz movie theaters in Old City, or to the lively bar scene of South Street, or to Chinatown to indulge your bubble-tea cravings.

For a day trip to the city, look no further than Philly’s grand Parkway Museum District, where the Benjamin Franklin parkway is flanked by museum after museum — from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Natural History Museum to the Franklin Institute Science Museum. A ways off from the parkway is the less prominent but absolutely fascinating Mutter Museum of various medical oddities that gave this writer a newfound appreciation for his perfectly mundane body. Back in Old City, the area’s art galleries hold free open houses on First Friday, the first Friday of every month from 5 to 9 p.m.

If your Swat-stuffed schedule only allows for a thirty-minute trip, the college’s surrounding suburban setting still has its options. Showcase Comics is the generic comic book store that every downtown college town is obligated to have. Sad to say, it’s not in the Borough of Swarthmore but in sister town, Bryn Mawr. The same goes for the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, which plays new limited-release films as well as revisiting random classics and occasionally is a venue for Philly’s film festivals. Take the Tri-Co Shuttle from outside Bond Hall and visit our Haverford and Bryn Mawr counterparts while you’re at it. But be warned! The Tri-Co Shuttle gets a tad complex on the weekends, so plan wisely.

While the Swarthmore’s “Ville” may underwhelm, the Borough can take pride in its community theater scene in the Players Club of Swarthmore, which is a mere five minutes away off of Chester Road. This season, the Players Club is doing productions of Neil Simon’s “Rumors,” Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and “Doubt,” among others. Only a little farther is another well-kept theater secret, the Hedgerow Theatre in the adjacent town, Media. For much cheaper than a play in Philly, these theater groups are a refreshing reminder there’s tons of talent outside the city as well.

And as you inevitably tire of the Appetizer, Picnic, and Pasta Bar rotation (you’ll be well-acquainted soon), you’ll want to venture out to the surrounding area to find something edible. And so the quest lies in your hands, intrepid first-year. Go forth, explore and burst through that bubble.

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