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.
While parents parade to campus, determined to happily reunite with their children, many students wonder, “What am I supposed to do with them!?” Show off Swarthmore, of course. At the moment, our arboretum couldn’t possibly be better timed as everything on campus appears to be blooming and there are plenty of activities worth dragging the folks along to which should more than fill your time.
The Fetter Chamber Concert Series begins this weekend in Lang as does the List Gallery’s Senior Art Exhibit showing Meredith Leich and Sebastian Duncan Portuando’s work. “The Wild Party,” Drama Board’s Mainstage Musical, is another good choice and will be performed tonight and tomorrow at 8 and Sunday at 2 pm. You can also stop by the Kitao for the Student Art Sale this weekend, the proceeds from which will benefit the Chester Mural Collective.
Sunday sends parents on their way with a few more options including the Crum Regatta at 10 am, the Gamelan Concert in the amphitheater at 3, and the Orchestra 2001 concert in Lang at 7:30. You can also take this as an opportunity to show off Philadelphia. Favorites for parents in the city include the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Kimmel Center (you can catch Mahler being played at the Perelman theater or the opera “Norma” at the Academy of Music.)
If you take the train, stop at Market East and give your parents a tour of the adjacent Reading Terminal Market for great food and various goods from used books to Amish honey. Depending on how adventurous your parents are feeling, you can also suggest some of the fancier dining options in town including Le Bec Fin, for French fare in a rococo setting, or Morimoto’s, the original Iron Chef’s restaurant with crazy lighting and modern Japanese food.