Hi all, I was just on campus yesterday for the women’s lacrosse first fall playday. The campus was active and fun, with tons of people out and about, tailgating at both South fields and Stagg Field. In two weeks, the color will be absolutely spectacular! I am excited for family weekend, and wondered if anyone has recommendations or tips of must-see/do events. So fun!
Here are my suggestions:
- I like to take fall color pictures. U. of Chicago fall foliage is simply breathtaking. It makes the Gothic Campus a stunning place to walk around on a sunny, crisp fall day. My recommendations for where to take pictures are as follow. One, in the middle of the Main Quad (Circle Garden) there will be a couple of fiery red maples. Take the pictures in the morning before 9:00 am when the sun angle is just right. Two, Culver Hall on the opposite side of Botany Pond. The orange and red ivy on the wall will make the building look like as if it were on fire. Also take these pictures before 9:00 am. Three, Cobb Gate and Hull Court looking north in early afternoon. To me that is the quintessential U of Chicago picture and experience: leaving classroom and heading towards Reg.
- Go to Saieh Hall for Economics. As least for the first floor it is open to the public. You don't have to like Economics to enjoy the architecture. There is conveniently a Starbucks just off the main entrance. You can sit on the bench in a medieval castle like hall way and just take in the surrounding scenery. As the rehab architect says it herself: this is Hogwarts ;) !
Now if you like Economics and are fan of the Chicago School, it will be a pilgrimage to visit the exhibit “Chicago Economic Experience”. There you can find the Nobel Prize medal and award certificate for Milton Friedman. It is open on weekday between 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Maybe it will be open for Family Weekend on Saturday.
- The Arley D. Cathey Learning Center at the Harper Memorial Library.
https://college.uchicago.edu/academics/arley-d-cathey-learning-center
It is frequently featured as one of the most beautiful libraries and reading rooms of the world. Go there at night. Sorry for the Harry Potter reference again but you can easily imagine Hermione and Harry studying at the long table while Ron snoring away at one of the comfy (although a bit beat up) sofas. I have done that before :).
^^In addition to all of the above, some parents also said the tailgating/block party has great food, and also the football game was fun. Someone else said the Dean’s brunch also had fantastic food, and someone else recommended the bus tour of the city.
Check out the Oriental Institute Museum. Very impressive collection of artifacts from Ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Nubia, Anatolia . . .
A glorious view of the Main Campus from UChicago Tweeter feed. Picture by J. Scott Sykora (Class of '87)
We had so much fun during Family Weekend. Some people said the weather wasn’t good, but I thought the weather was great, except for a few drops of rain here and there on Sunday.
Saw the Econ exhibit, the Oriental Institute (wow, that King Tut statue!) and took pictures of the fall foliage on the quads. So beautiful.
Loved the block party (beverages and food! Yummy apple cider!) and saw part of the football game. Go Maroons! They beat Ripon College 36-6, who also played a good game, at least the part that we saw.
The Dean’s Champagne Brunch was awesome. The food was amazing! Salmon, pork belly, carving stations, cooked food, breakfast foods, pastries, and more, and of course alcohol, lol. Dean Boyer gave a good speech.
It was so delightful to be able to see my son and felt lucky we saw him multiple times because they’re all so busy. He’s doing well, especially after his midterms, which coincidentally ended right when we got there. His feedback is that each week was more intense than that next. The first week, he was so intimidated by the Sosc class that he began questioning whether the adages about the school were really true. The 2nd week was even busier with all the apps for some of the rsos due, and the third week was even more intense than the 2nd. The 4th week culminated with midterms and papers, which he successfully completed, and also got into an rso that he wanted. He’s also gotten the hang of all his classes now, so there is relief in that.
Finally, he got a breather during Family Weekend and we loved hearing all of his stories. His said there is much going on in the college all the time. So many house activities, rsos, neighborhood volunteering, trips and excursions, etc. He really loves his suitemates, house, dorm, and the people that he’s met at the college. His resident deans/heads/assistants are all very loving. In addition, he can’t say enough about the kids who go to the school and is very impressed by them. He has met so many bright kids and said that they challenge him in a good way. This upcoming week is Halloween, and they’re all getting ready for some shindigs and parties going on. I believe their dorm is welcoming little kids to roam around inside and go trick or treating, and my son is looking forward to that.
We didn’t get a chance to do it this time, but one of these days, we’ll sit in on a model class.
My son suggested we go to Museum of Science and Industry, so we’re going there tomorrow before our flight in the evening.
All in all, it was so wonderful to see how the school is cultivating our son after only a few weeks, and of course wonderful to be on the lovely campus again.