<p>D called about an hour ago and said she had gone to see it. Van Gogh's Cypresses was also part of the exhibit. The rest of us now have to go to NYC to see them.</p>
<p>My son saw it too, and I had a similar reaction, riverrunner. What an opportunity our children have received.</p>
<p>There's a good article in the YDN today about it: Yale</a> Daily News - Two paintings, infinite buzz</p>
<p>bump because the Harvard parents wanted to see what we talk about over here. Hi Harvard parents!</p>
<p>Welcome to any H parents peeking in!</p>
<p>Ah, Parents Weekend would be so nice to attend. Hopefully, one of these years I'll go. My youngest would really enjoy hearing "How to Cheat at Hangman, and Other Great Ideas of Computer Science." There are a few events on that schedule I think I'll point out to my student as they look up his alley. </p>
<p>Speaking of said student, he is certainly enjoying himself. He's also thankful for his high school English teachers who had a writing-intensive curriculum. He said it has been a huge help.</p>
<p>Hello anyone who has done Parents Weekend before:</p>
<p>I see that the res halls are open for all meals. I'm assuming one or two meals there would be adequate, and that my child will want to try out some local restaurants. Has that been your experience? </p>
<p>Also, what should be my expectation for how much time said child will spend with us? I see there are some lectures/events designed for parents (and I'm sure to give kids a break from the 'rents). Do kids attend games, concerts, etc with parents, or are parents expected to function on their own while kids continue with life as usual? I know not all kids are alike in this respect, but just wonder what the norm is, and how much we should ask from our wonderful, busy, socially connected child. We live far away so will not visit again this year, but she'll be coming home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.</p>
<p>D spent part of the time with us and part of the time doing things on her own, including studying (or so she said!) We ate one dinner at her college and took her out for a lunch and a dinner. She took us to an a capella concert, and walked us around campus to show us all the sights (a must-see: the Beinecke Library and its Gutenberg Bible.) We went to the Yale Center for British Art and walked around the city a bit on our own. It worked out very well, at least for our family.</p>
<p>riverrunner: if you're able, see if D can bring along a friend or two (whose parents aren't there for the weekend) for one or two events. My parents were never able to visit until graduation. Having friends' families visit and take a bunch of us out for a restaurant meal was marvelous.</p>
<p>^^I guessed right and told D to invite available friends to dinner on Friday. </p>
<p>Booklady, thanks for suggestions!</p>
<p>Riverrunner....
it is probably different with girls than boys....but, you can always take the girls to Ikea for a few hours....definitely fun.....we always took the other (roomates) boys out to dinner... Central Steakhouse has great steaks and wonderful red wine.....also excellent seafood... expensive but a "memorable" meal.....I think it is the best food in New Haven... </p>
<p>go to the football game...it is always fun to do....I sat next to a gentleman who was in George Bush #41's class...played football with him(is that right, did 41 play football or baseball at Yale? I used to know....) </p>
<p>Do the Sterling Library tour.....do the British Art Gallery.... go to the supermarket and stock up on things the gals want for their rooms....</p>
<p>It will go by in a heartbeat.....if they have a reception at the President's home, either go early and get on line asap....or go at the very end and get on the end of the line..... you just don't want to have to wait on the line for 2 hours.....</p>
<p>the biggest disappointment I had with parents weekend is that mid-terms are the following week and my guy always felt a little torn about time with us and the work that was waiting for him.....so, be aware that there might be real work waiting in the wings that is competing for your child's attention....</p>
<p>my youngest has an "official visit" this weekend....so I expect to log some serious Ikea time myself!!</p>
<p>^^maine, do you know if there is a need to buy tickets to the football game before we travel or is this a non-issue, buy-at-the-stadium thing?</p>
<p>Ikea already has all my money after move-in weekend. See earlier posts in this thread. :)</p>
<p>Non-issue. Get General Admission ($7) at the Bowl. The Bowl seats 60,000. There might be 25,000 there if it is a nice day. Sit near the student section and the YPMB to get the flavor of the undergrads.</p>
<p>I'm finally getting around to buying plane tickets for the trip home at Christmastime and am in need of advice. In comparison to flying out of Tweed, it will be about $600 cheaper if my son flies out of JFK when coming home and lands in Newark when returning. He hasn't been to NYC and has practically no experience with taking a bus, train, etc. How hard are these airports to get to from Yale? What's the best way to get there? About how long does it take? Given the time of year, would he be risking not being able to get to the airports due to snow? Any input would be appreciated!</p>
<p>He can take the [Metro-North[/url</a>] commuter train (or [url=<a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Vertical_Route_Page&c=am2Route&cid=1080842092684&ssid=134%5DAmtrak%5B/url">http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Route/Vertical_Route_Page&c=am2Route&cid=1080842092684&ssid=134]Amtrak[/url</a>], but it's more money) from New Haven to New York and then the subway and [url=<a href="http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/%5DAirTrain%5B/url">http://www.panynj.gov/airtrain/]AirTrain[/url</a>] to JFK. I'll bet he can find a friend or other student who will be making the same trip, who can help him with the logistics. Learning about public transportation is a good life skill.</p>
<p>Getting back to New Haven from Newark is very easy, since Amtrak trains stop at the airport: [url=<a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&c=am2Station&cid=1080080551526&ssid=97%5DAmtrak">http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&c=am2Station&cid=1080080551526&ssid=97]Amtrak</a> - Stations - Newark - Airport, NJ (EWR)](<a href="http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm%5DMetro-North%5B/url">http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm). Snow, unless there's a really big blizzard, isn't usually much of an issue for the trains, and if there's that much snow, the planes won't be taking off anyway.</p>
<p>Try Connecticut Limo [ctlimo.com] which a lot of kids use from campus to the other area airports:Laguardia, JFK, Bradley or Newark [which has the least number of runs but it still makes 4 trips a day]. They pick up the kids at Phelps Gate right near Old Campus on a regular schedule and deliver them back from the airports. I just bought the round trip for LaGuardia in November and it was $85 when booked on line.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input, Booklady and Branfordmom! We will check out those options.</p>
<p>I agree w/Branfordmom that CTLimo is easier than using the trains & subways. Just plop aboard and snooze. Leave extra time as travel thru metro NY can be dicey. I recall running at top speed in Newark because we were slow getting there. </p>
<p>My favorite airport was Bradley (CT Limo serves this too). Sometimes cheap flights available thru that airport. I know that some people use White Plains, NY. I've not done that but I know some Yale staff will use that one too. Maybe check that? Dunno the ground transport options to WP, however.</p>
<p>I always go to BDL and rent a car from the Bradley Airport. This is not suitable for students to go home on holidays, but a reasonable choice for parents' weekend. We are not going for the parents' weekend though. However, we are planning couple of trips (in conjunction with other meetings).</p>
<p>^^We live across the country and have found Bradley to be convenient and comparable in price to the NY/NJ airports. It's a little airport so not much traffic, and it's easy for kids to find their way to and from gates, ground transport, etc. CT limo is expensive and not always prompt on the leg from the airport to school. They've been fine getting her to the airport on time. I'm seeing a business opportunity for someone willing to compete with them....</p>