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.
Congratulations, you have now officially survived three quarters of the school year (more or less) and “Spring” (again, more or less) is here. Spring break is a chance to escape, enjoy yourself, and (if you live anywhere near me) wonder why March is never as warm as it ought to be.
That being said, if you happen to be sticking around Swat this break, don’t forget you still have plenty of ways of ‘vacationing’ and sneaking off into the city, or further afield, to adventure a little before break ends.
Philly, as always, has a nice selection of activities. You can go window shopping in Rittenhouse Square, check out those local landmarks (ever been to Elfreth’s Alley?) that you’d been meaning to see since you got here, and soak up some culture.
The Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival is starting with “Othello,” showing from March 14-17. The Pennsylvania Ballet is running “Carmina Burana” at the Academy of Music (tickets are as low as $10). New Orlean’s jazz classic Preservation Hall is at the Kimmel Center next weekend, and “Spamalot!” is coming to Philly as well (rush tickets are $25 at the Kimmel Center- *Ni!*).
If you want to do something a little more elaborate than a Lucky Charm breakfast to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, this Sunday the parade will hit Broad Street and the Philadelphia Flower Show (a great place to pick up Spring Fever, shop, and wander through bewilderingly elaborate floral displays) is Tir-Na-Nog themed this year.
If you want to get a little further out of the bubble, consider taking a second train from Thirtieth to Chestnut Hill East. Chestnut Hill is one of the trendier and more attractive neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area for its shopping, restaurants, craft studios, and cobblestone streets (head in on St. Patrick’s day and stop at a pub.) If you go on a good day, the cab fare to nearby Morris Arboretum is definitely worth it to see one of the loveliest gardens in the area, including a Japanese, Rose, Victorian, Swan, and (my personal favorite) hidden Roman temple garden.
Whatever you do, enjoy your break, avoid work at all costs, and catch your sleep (daylight savings time is yet again upon us) so you can spring ahead!
