Top 8 Study Spots at Bryn Mawr College

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One of the mysteries of Bryn Mawr is the seemingly endless amount of study spots that present themselves just when you need them. I like to think of them as Bryn Mawr’s equivalent to the “Room of Requirement.” I’m sure every Mawrter has their own special study spot: the nook by the window in Rockefeller; the bench under the willow tree across from College Hall; or the perfect sunny bench or cloister that always makes for a productive studying experience. Here are my 8 favorite study spots on campus:

Photos by Nattalya Pacheco ’18

  1. Tables outside Campus Center — Settle in with your laptop and a coffee from Uncommon Grounds.
  2. Senior Row — Bring a book and sit in a patch of sun under a tree or enjoy the hammocks nearby, but make sure not to walk down Senior Row without looping around a tree once or you might not graduate! Beautiful in any season, but ideal in warm weather.
  3. Carpenter Beach — A grassy spot within view of Rockefeller’s turret, perfect for picnicking, tanning and studying. Across from my favorite library: Carpenter.
  4. The walkway between Pembroke West and College Hall — Glorious during the golden hour, just as the sun is setting.
  5. The Cloisters — Accompanied by the pleasant gurgle of the fountain, a view of the stained glass windows and turrets of College Hall, you will feel like a Hogwarts student.
  6. The Statue of Athena in College Hall — Take your homework and become inspired in the presence of Athena. Remember an offering…if you’re lucky, your prayers may be answered!
  7. The London Room — A cozy room down a little corridor in College Hall with the most elegant windows and filled with books about England. Difficult to find which makes it all the more intriguing.
  8. Rockefeller Common Room — Common rooms are lovely, they provide a change of perspective (and a piano!) without the need to leave your dorm. My favorite aspect: perched on the newels of the stairs are dignified carved owls.

What are your favorite spots to study on campus?

Plenary 2017

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Twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring, the Bryn Mawr student body gathers in Goodhart Hall for Plenary, where together we make and pass resolutions. Anyone can make a resolution, and in the weeks leading up to Plenary, the resolutions are presented before the Self Government Association. Each resolution must be accepted by one-sixth of the student body for it to be presented at Plenary. The student vote at Plenary will ultimately determine whether a resolution will pass.

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French Mutations Film Festival

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“Avril et le Monde Truqué Image.” Http://Alliancefrancaise.org.sg, Alliance Francaise , July 2016, alliancefrancaise.org.sg/event/avril-et-le-monde-truque/.

Have the French Mutations Film Festival signs caught your attention? Were you intrigued by the selection of films? Because there is never a shortage of student activities (both on campus and off), sometimes the choices can be overwhelming. There is even a daily newsletter compiled and sent out by the Bryn Mawr College Communications team. Should I go to the lecture depicting the travels of Europeans in China during the 17th century? Should I go to the 7 p.m. showing of Avril et le Monde Truqué put on by the French Department? Perhaps I should just stay in my room and finish that paper which is due tomorrow. As much as I am often the person scrambling to finish work on time, I would still defend attending activities that pique my interest.

“French Mutations Film Festival Poster.” Bryn Mawr, Departments of French and Francophone Studies at Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College, www.brynmawr.edu/french/activities/french-mutations-film-festival.

Thursday night I joined several other students for Avril et Le Monde Truqué (April and the Extraordinary World.) I knew nothing about the film other than the fact Marion Cotillard plays the voice of the main character. Two hours later, I was a Jacques Tardi fan. Tardi, a French graphic novelist, is the creator of this fascinating reimagining of Paris had the Franco-Prussian war never taken place. (In this alternate reality, there are two Eiffel towers, and scientists mysteriously are disappearing from the world!)

Guest Speaker André Benhaïm/ H. Novak

This film and six others have been carefully selected by the Bryn Mawr and Haverford French Departments for their French Mutations Film Festival. Furthermore, after each showing, the departments have invited guest speakers, (specialists in the movies or topics the movies cover,) to answer questions based on our reactions and interpretations to each film.

*All the films are shown with English subtitles. The discussions following each film are conducted in English. Anyone is more than welcome to attend!

Check out this complete list and summary of each of the films!

 

A Bryn Mawr Welcome: Parade Night 2017

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A Bryn Mawr Welcome: Parade Night 2017

 

How good it is to be back at the Mawr! On Friday, Bryn Mawr College celebrated its first tradition of the year; Parade Night. Bryn Mawr has a plethora of traditions yet each one is unique. This wonderful week— full of hugging friends we had not seen all summer, exploring our dorms, choosing our classes, culminated with Parade Night; a grand welcome to the new class of 2021.

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Springtime at Bryn Mawr and snapshots of our campus in all its glory

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Bryn Mawr holds at least two Accepted Students Days in April. Congratulations to Mawrtyrs Class of 2021! We are so happy and cannot wait to welcome you! I still remember my excitement, receiving my acceptance package complete with an owl mask. It is hard to believe I will finish my sophomore year in two weeks. One of my friends from high school was accepted at Bryn Mawr. Another was accepted at UPenn. They were eager to see the campus. At the time, the trees had just started to bloom, and there were little patches of white crocuses popping up on the lawn.

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Little Nonna’s

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A Taste of Italy in Philadelphia

Seafood/ H. Novak

Nestled in a residential part of 13th Street at the intersection with Pine sits a cozy Italian restaurant called Little Nonna’s. Good Italian food is not hard to find in Philadelphia, especially along Christian Street, south of Center City and around the Italian Market. However, if you’re going to a show, Little Nonna’s is ideal, as it is within walking distance of Broad Street. Little Nonna’s serves up some amazing Italian comfort food, providing both the flavors we’ve come to expect in Italian cooking (basil, rosemary, sage . . .), along with the warmth and aroma of an Italian kitchen.

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Crispy Roast Duck

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Ting Wong

Ting Wong/ H. Novak

If you stand beneath Chinatown’s main gate, Ting Wong’s bright red sign on the left side of the street is hard to miss. So are the roast ducks hanging in the window. One of the better-known establishments in Chinatown, Ting Wong is famous for its roasted meats at reasonable prices.

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Capogiro Gelato

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A Taste of Italy in Philadelphia

Rainbow of Gelato/ H. Novak

My parents took me to Rome for the spring break, where I indulged in far too much gelato. I can think of only three places to find gelato in Philadelphia—Capogiro, Gran Caffe L’Aquila, and Anthony’s Italian Coffee House. There are surely more, but Capogiro seems to be the  top spot for gelato lovers, and for good reason. Their gelato is the best I have tasted outside of Italy . . . and even better than some of the Italian offerings.

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Rice Cakes and Dumplings

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ShangHai 1

Street View/ H. Novak

ShangHai 1 is a little restaurant on the right-hand side Chinatown’s main street, if you’re approaching from Jefferson Station. Look for the sign with an enthusiastic-looking steamed bun wearing a chef’s hat. The bun’s expression captures the vibe of the restaurant—delicious food and enthusiastic eaters.

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