April is my favorite time to be a Tufts student. Good weather finally comes to stay, spring fever prevents you from caring about your work, and then that glorious three-day weekend arrives almost serendipitously to give you time to enjoy it all.
And, well, for me at least, it's the middle of yet another week in which the absolution and resolutions of the weekend can't come fast enough. Luckily, in addition to being a beloved "long weekend," the weekend also heralds a cherished "holiday" for college students across the country. And no, I don't mean Passover ... the other one.
In honor of this holiday and the long weekend of beautiful weather, I suggest you pack a snack, a brownie perhaps, and extend your celebrations beyond the library roof.
To begin with, a chillaxed day trip into the city needs to have a certain middle school field trip vibe. Museums, aquariums and parks - anything you would have brought a sack lunch to.
One of my favorite day trips is the Museum of Science. Maybe it's the giant dinosaur (I love dinosaurs) greeting you out front, or perhaps it's that crazy two-story marble maze thing, but from beginning to end, I'm as content a five year old. The hands-on exhibits, everything from touching a pig lung to feats of physics, are fun at any age, but you might have to shove around a few 8-year-olds to get your turn.
After you've finished the exhibits, you should definitely buy a ticket for the Omni IMAX, Planetarium or Laser light shows. This weekend's schedule is "Laser Rock 70's" (AC/DC and Boston set to trippy lights), "Into the Unknown in the Planetarium" and the 3D's "World of Sharks!" Can we say saweeet?
The New England Aquarium is another good place to feel like a kid again. But word on the street is that the Penguin Exhibit is temporarily closed. The penguins are still there, but you don't get to touch them; they can only be viewed through a window. Not as cool. But there is plenty of other marine life to enjoy. The Aquarium also has an IMAX theater where you can catch either "U2-3D" or "Sea Monsters."
One lesser-known museum is the Mapparium, located in the Christian Science Center (behind the Pru). The Mapparium is somewhat difficult to explain - a giant globe made out of stained glass is the best I can do. Tours are led every 15 minutes into the globe. The globe is fascinating, not only because of the beautiful stained glass work, but also because it is acoustically 'perfect.' This means that you can stand on one end of the globe and whisper to a friend standing on the other end, but it sounds as if they're right next to you. The Mapparium is a must.
Another one of Boston's hidden gems is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Adjacent to the Museum School and the MFA, the ISGM is the personal home and personal collection of famous patron of the arts, Ms. Gardner. But the ISGM is most infamously known as the site for the largest art theft in American history. Although the sleuths made off with several priceless Rembrandts and a Vermeer, the museum's collection is still impressive. What makes the museum special is viewing the art in what is really a home, not a museum.
Last but certainly not least is the Boston Common. On a long weekend you have no excuse not to soak up the sun and enjoy the city.
Robin Alberts-Marigza is a senior majoring in psychology. She can be reached at Robin.Alberts_Marigza@tufts.edu.
