Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
‘Twas the night before finals and all through the hall, not a Swattie was sleeping lest they miss the call, of the textbooks all strewn on the desk and the floor, or that nasty old problem set that made one want to snore… Yet what to my distracted ears should I hear, but a scream that was primal though nonetheless dear, and I knew that when from much sleep I did wake, I’d get through my exams and break would I take.
But in the meantime… Since we all need to take a little break now and then for the sake of sanity (lest we be reduced to writing suspect poetry based on cliché Christmas carols) there are still *lots* of things you can escape to before heading back home for break. On campus, the Kitao will be the stage for a performance art piece, “We All Must Wake” and Philly offers a million (not unmerited) potential distractions.
The marathon of holiday-themed events continues with a Chanukah concert on this Sunday at the Rotunda on Walnut Street, which includes both a benefit concert and, I quote, “thousands of calories of home-made latkes, fair-trade gelt, and other desserts;” for those who can’t get into Christmas without Handel, the ubiquitous “Messiah” will be performed “in baroque pitch” at the Church of Holy Trinity tonight.
Off the beaten track: Monday night there will be a special Relache at the Holidays concert, in which the audience walks through Center City bearing boom-boxes to fill the streets with the sounds of Phil Kline’s “Unsilent Night.” The walk is free, the boom-box provided, and refreshments are served. Relache, for those unfamiliar, is a composer-performer collective dedicated to presenting new music to both the national and international community. Also if you get the chance, tonight grammy nominated South African group “Sharon Katz and the Peace Train” will be performing at the Tin Angel (they’ve worked with Sting, Elton John, and Madonna, among others.)
Here are two of my personal favorite winter treats: the Blue Cross River Rink on Penn’s Landing and, though by no means exclusively winter-oriented, catching a performance at World Café Live. The River Rink is Philadelphia’s Outdoor Ice Skating rink open weekdays and Sundays until 9 (skating under the stars is particularly recommended) costing $9 for admission and skates, reduced admission coupons available through their website. The World Café Live is also a great Philly experience, a venue for new and established independent artists. The pick of the month, for those planning ahead: Vienna Teng live on January 21.
But whatever you happen to do with your time over the next few days, one thing I wish: Luck with finals to all and to all a good break!
