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.
To all those who read this: you have officially survived the semester’s classes! All that’s left are exams, sunshine, and a few more rites of spring.
This weekend is loaded with events, particularly with Spring Fling upon us. With a reading week laden with music and dance, this weekend offers such delights as Kielbasafest, Willets Carnival, Movies on Parrish Beach, and Worthstock. This, in combination with department picnics makes it possible for you to go days without eating anything in Sharples, take advantage of the free food and beverages.
Also this weekend, if you haven’t been keeping up with the Fetter Chamber Concert series, stop by Lang on Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8 o’clock to hear the beautiful strains of the campus’ varied ensemble groups. For those interested in contemplating the complexities of spring fever, catch a showing of “The Bacchae,” the tragic tale of one man’s defiance against the god of revelry and debauchery and his frenzied female followers.
If you’re interested in heading into the city, bear in mind that Saturday is the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, a 10 mile footrace through Center City. Sunday is a great day to go in for some of the best food in Philadelphia as some of the priciest restaurants offer samples of their cuisine at the Rittenhouse Spring Festival. The Festival is located from Broad through 19th Street on Walnut and also includes live music from local musicians, an all day fashion show, and such delights as balloon animals (pretend you don’t love them) and face paint.
If you’re interested in the visual arts, consider stopping by the U Arts’ “May Collective,” a free showing of student work with an emphasis in photography and the cutting edge creative work in “string sculpture.” The Philadelphia Museum of Art is showing several unusual exhibitions, including one feature art made using words and another of Japanese Ink Painting.
Finally, if you’d like to catch a little music there’s a wide range of genres to enjoy. The popular indie rock group Arcade Fire is performing on Saturday at the Tower Theater while the Philadelphia Orchestra is performing Mahler’s “Resurrection.” The opera “Falstaff” is running at the Academy of Music and those interested in the doleful sounds of Portuguese Fado should check out the Kimmel Center performance of Dulce Pontes on Sunday.
In closing, I hope that these suggestions, if nothing else, inspire you to take a little time every week to consider the arts around you from that girl on your hall who sings in the shower to the works of Dali on tour. Best of luck with exams and enjoy the summer!
