Here Come the Parents

Spend some quality time with mom and dad during this year’s Parents Weekend. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

Parents Weekend is here and you’re probably scrambling for ideas about what to do with your mom and dad during their visit. Rest easy. There are plenty of events designed to appeal to every interest: lectures, films, sports, and theater among them. For starters, the deans of each school or college are hosting receptions today, where parents and students can meet faculty members and learn more about the curriculum. Find the schedules for the individual receptions here.

Below is a sampling of the many events you might want to attend. Events are free unless otherwise noted. A complete list of Parents Weekend events is here.

Friday October 21

Faces of Revival: Postwar Russia in the Art of Felix Lembersky (1913-1970)

9 a.m.-11 p.m.
Hillel House, 213 Bay State Road

The Rubin-Frankel Gallery at the Florence & Chafetz Hillel House is currently hosting an exhibition of Russian painter Felix Lembersky’s work. His images explore universal themes of survival, memory, and spirituality, offering a vision of hope prevailing over violence and despair. The exhibition is on view Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

BU Then and Now: The Evolution of Our University

2-3 p.m.
Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Mugar Memorial Library, 771 Commonwealth Ave.

The Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center is home to the University’s archives, which hold the papers and memorabilia of many famous people and chronicles BU’s founding and development. BU archivist Diane Gallagher will talk about the University’s transformation from its founding as a small theological seminary to a major international institution. Also on view is the exhibition A View from the Vault: 45 Years of Collecting, which showcases some of the thousands of items in the Gotlieb’s collection.

Tournées Film Festival: Un Prophète

7 p.m.
Photonics Center, Room 206, 8 St. Mary’s St.

The Department of Romance Studies and BU’s Study Abroad program will screen the Oscar-nominated drama Un Prophète, as part of the Third Annual Tournées Film Festival at BU, running throughout October. The film tells the story of an Arab man who becomes a mafia kingpin when he is imprisoned in France.

Programming Council Presents: Second City Live at Boston University

8:30 p.m.
George Sherman Union, Metcalf Ballroom, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

Looking for some laughs? The theater that launched the careers of such great comics as Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Tina Fey, Horatio Sanz, and Steve Carrell is performing at BU. Note: Some material may not be suitable for younger viewers.

Tickets: $25 each

Saturday October 22

Men’s and Women’s Crew Presents Head of the Charles

All day
DeWolfe Boathouse, 619 Memorial Drive, Cambridge

Come cheer on the BU men and women’s crew teams as they take part in the world’s largest two-day rowing regatta. This competition attracts nearly 9,000 athletes rowing in 61 events. See who will claim supremacy of the Charles River. The event continues all day Sunday at the same location.

Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore Hosts a Jazz Brunch

9:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

What goes together better than live music and good food? Join the dean and the Dean of Students Office for a jazz-filled brunch. Enjoy a BU-cooked breakfast with music provided by BU’s Music Organizations. There is limited seating because of space restrictions. For questions, contact the Dean of Students Office at 617-353-4126.

Tickets: $40 each

Hacking and Humility: Lessons from the News Corp Scandal

1 p.m.
School of Management, 595 Commonwealth Ave.

James Post, the John F. Smith Professor in Management at the BU School of Management, will discuss the scandal that has left the news business buzzing. He will talk about Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and how it highlights the need for ethics in business and the media.

Through the Eyes of Alfred Hitchcock: Film and Lecture by Professor John Fawell

1-4 p.m.
College of General Studies, Room 511, 871 Commonwealth Ave.

Join College of General Studies Professor John Fawell as he shows Hitchcock’s classic Rear Window, followed by a lecture at 3 p.m. on the film techniques employed by the “Master of Suspense.”

Career Development: Positioning Students for the Future

1:30-3:30 p.m.
Center for Career Development, third floor, 19 Deerfield St.

Learn about the stages of career development, including choosing a major, finding an internship, and developing job search strategies at this open house. Students will share personal stories about their experiences. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the center and to ask questions.

School of Hospitality Administration Wine Tasting

2:30-4:30 p.m.
SHA Building, 808 Commonwealth Ave.

Here’s a chance to immerse yourself in the rivalry between Old World versus New World wines. Bill Nesto, master of wine and senior lecturer at Boston University, will lead a tasting that compares and contrasts the flavors of wines from across the world. This tasting will help attendees understand their wine flavor preferences, teaching them how to be a more conscious consumer.

Tickets: $60 each

Parents Panel: Parenting During the College Years

3-4 p.m.
GSU Conference Auditorium, second floor, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

For parents only. This presentation, conducted by Margaret Ross, director of Behavioral Medicine at Student Health Services, and Mitzi Kane, Student Health Services patient care coordinator, explores parents’ roles now that their children are living away at college. Questions are welcome.

Parents Weekend Dinner at Shelton Hall Dining Room

5 p.m.
Shelton Hall, 91 Bay State Road

This Italian-themed dinner features homemade pasta sauce, cappuccino, cannolis, and special surprises.

Tickets: $12.95 each; students with a meal plan just swipe in.

BU’s Stage Troupe Presents Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music

7:30 p.m.
Tsai Performance Center, CAS Building, 725 Commonwealth Ave.

Stage Troupe celebrates Parents Weekend 2011 with a production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece. A repeat performance takes place Sunday at 2 p.m.

Student tickets: $17, general admission tickets: $25.

The BU Gong Show

8-11 p.m.
GSU, Metcalf Ballroom, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

The BU Gong Show is a celebration of students’ talent with a game show twist. Check out the exciting blend of music, comedy, dancing, and other surprises from BU’s finest. Help decide who is worthy of your vote and who gets “gonged.” The event will also feature BU alumnus Myq Kaplan (GRS’09), who appeared on the NBC series Last Comic Standing.

Tickets: $10 each.

Sunday, October 23

BU Women’s Soccer vs. Hartford

1 p.m.
Nickerson Field

Support the America East–leading BU Terriers as they take on second-place Hartford on Senior Day.

Purchase tickets at the gate: $2 for students and staff, $5 for nonstudents.

Fringe Festival 15: Intimate Apparel

2 p.m.
Boston University Theatre, Lane-Comley Studio 210, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston

The College of Fine Arts 15th annual Fringe Festival presents Pulitzer prize winner Lynn Nottage’s drama Intimate Apparel, a poignant exploration of race and class in America. Purchase tickets online or by calling 617-933-8600.

Tickets: $7.

A Parents Weekend information booth will be open today, Friday, October 21, in the GSU Ziskind Lounge, second floor, 775 Commonwealth Ave., from noon to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the GSU Stone Lobby, second floor.

Looking for a place to grab lunch with your parents during the weekend? Check out our lunch series on food joints in the area here.

John Fichera can be reached at jfichera@bu.edu.