<p>I know there are wise parents out there who have attended Penn graduation in past years. I would like any advice on how to survive the logistics. Parking hints? (We will have to drive to the city.) Hints on how to keep my butt and legs from going numb on the bench seats? Can you get into restaurants after graduation on Monday? We have to go in Sunday evening for CAS ceremony and then Monday morning for the big one. Best place to try to sit in the stadium?</p>
<p>Thanks for any help.</p>
<p>For parking, I would first try the Drexel lot on 34th and Chestnut; I think you’ll have more luck there than the Penn lot on 38th and Walnut. If that doesn’t work out, I don’t think anything stops you from parking in the lot of Presbyterian Hospital on 39th and Market. You’ll just end up paying the visitor parking rate for the day, but the lot does not fill up even on graduation day bc no one thinks of it; parking there will allow/force you to walk the entire campus though – walk across from Market to Locust on 39 and then do the walk down Locust all the way to Franklin Field, so it could be a nice walk down memory lane. The other easy route is to park in center city – there are parking garages in the 20s on Market and Walnut – just park there and spend a few dollars cabbing it if you don’t want the headache of Penn traffic. </p>
<p>As for restaurants, make a reservation! There may be a sentimental reason to eat on campus, but I’d personally look at zagats or whatever and go downtown to eat as campus will be constantly hectic on Sunday and Monday. I can’t really speak to seating in FF since I was always on the field. Have a great time and congrats!</p>
<p>MOWC we skipped the Baccalaureate Service when my daughter graduated from Penn last year. The University graduation at Franklin Field was very nice but long and it was freezing out. Be prepared for the weather. I don’t even remember where we ate afterwards but I think it may have been far from campus in Northern Liberties.</p>
<p>We took cabs to both ceremonies (both at Franklin Field) and leave your hotel early. All roads leading to the campus will be crowded. Leave your car parked at the hotel.
We enjoyed the all-Penn graduation ceremony on the second day because the speaker was Bono and I just loved all the pageantry associated with the seating of students of all the different undergraduate and graduate schools and the parade of the faculties.</p>
<p>We had dinner with several of son’s friends and their parents at El Vez after the first graduation and had a nice picnic lunch with the same group the next day. Reservations are strongly recommended.</p>
<p>The lot at 30th St. Station (30th + Market) is closer to Franklin Field than either 38th + Walnut or 39th + Market.</p>
<p>The other thing to do, especially if you are staying in Center City, is take a SEPTA train that stops at the University City station (about a block from Franklin Field) - the R-1 (Airport), R-2 (Wilmington), or R-3 (Media-Elwyn). On average, there should be a train every 10 minutes or so, and it’s about a 6-7 minute ride.</p>
<p>Or, if it’s nice, just walk. Depending on where you are in Center City, it would be a 1.5-3 mile walk. Just don’t try to walk across the South Street bridge, because it’s not there at the moment.</p>
<p>As for restaurants – yes, make a reservation somewhere other than University City. Go to one of our great, hip BYOBs and BYOB(s). My current faves are Kanella (eastern part of Center City a/k/a the Gayborhood – sorry, that’s what everyone calls it), and Koo-Zee-Doo (Northern Liberties). Or go more upscale than that. Or not.</p>
<p>Thanks, all. This helps. We stay out in Collegeville (family), so will be driving in. Sunday night is the CAS ceremony. WildChild was very focused on where we would eat afterwards and got a reservation at Distrito. I’m sure it is inexpensive (not). I don’t mind walking across campus. His apt is at 39th and Walnut, so we either are closer to it or closer to Franklin Field. I will be prepared for the weather. Rice graduation was outdoors. There we had to be prepared for hot or hotter.</p>
<p>Distrito isn’t that awful, price-wise, and it’s good food and a ton of fun. I would recommend it in an instant to anyone who wanted to eat around Penn, but I assumed that by now you had no chance of getting a reservation. (Probably true, now.) Its chef/owner is Jose Garces, who is one of the kings of the Philly food scene (5 restaurants and counting, plus one in Chicago), and who mostly does tapas-style small-plates in various Hispanic styles. Distrito is his largest and least-expensive restaurant – right by the Penn campus, and priced to be accessible to undergraduates for a “treat” date.</p>
<p>Awesome! The kid done good! Fortunately for me, a lot of his choices are not open for lunch. We are having a family graduation dinner out in the 'burbs on Saturday evening for him and my niece who is graduating from Penn State Friday night. I really appreciate all the tips. I do know my way around, but the one time I drove into Penn for an “event” it was Penn Relays and I was on crutches so got nice handicapped parking in the CHOP garage.</p>
<p>Congrats MOWC. Sat. weather looks to be ok. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Here is my one tip. Pack one of those plastic dollar store ponchos for everyone that is going to the event. I am a true believer that if prepared, it will not rain. </p>
<p>I did pack my lovely plastic Nascar poncho and did have to pull it out for the afternoon individual college ceremony. But I was happy to have it.</p>
<p>And take a facecloth or handtowel from the hotel. If the seats are wet you can wipe them off. If they are dry, then sit on it. It can make a long ceremony more bearable.</p>
<p>No hotels. I’m from the area. Family lodging. Can steal towels as needed! I can’t sit for too long with the current running injury. Will improvise.</p>
<p>Saturday weather is irrelevant. Ceremonies are Sunday and Monday. I’m hoping for acceptable weather.</p>
<p>Hearty congratulations to your son and to you for all the support you gave him along the way. It gives encouragement to those of us still in the trenches.</p>
<p>Mom of WC, if you are on crutches, can you request special seating? Or is that reserved for wheelchairs? Or can you have someone save your seat and you can come in at the last minute?</p>
<p>At my daughter’s grad last year, my dad came and saw where we were sitting, and then joined us right before the ceremony. (He has health issues, chemo–etc and could not sit for a long period of time) </p>
<p>We picked a spot on the aisle, and he slid in right before the ceremony. I’m glad that at 75 he could read and respond to our texts and find us.</p>
<p>I’m not on crutches. I was on crutches in 2007 when I went to Penn Relays. I’m just old and sore with a hamstring strain this year!</p>
<p>Sorry, I misunderstood your injury. </p>
<p>Have a great time at grad!!! It is a great day for all!!</p>
<p>MofWC-Bring one of those folding stadium seats with the backing?</p>
<p>I think you can still park at CHOP this time, no? It isn’t my understanding that the parking is just for patients/hospital vistors. That area has really developed in the last 2-3 yrs with new buildings/parking lots, so that may be a parking idea.</p>
<p>Any idea what – if anything – is going on at Penn on Friday? I’ll be there and wanted to know if I could wander around and take a few pictures or if the areas in/around Houston Hall, Locust Walk will be shut down for anything? My recollection is that all the graduations are Sunday and Monday and that alumni events are on Fri/Sat, but I’d imagine public areas would be open because alums probably want to explore. Thoughts?</p>
<p>I think you are right- at least from the information we’ve gotten. I don’t think Friday should be a problem on campus. </p>
<p>The CHOP garage will be a zoo. I think the ones at the other end of campus are a better bet.</p>
<p>I forgot to say enjoy the ceremonies! They are very regal and impressive and will bring a tear to the eye! It has been a wild ride for the wild child these years at Penn and we are all glad that he has finished his degree and survived his tough early days at Penn! Go Quakers!</p>
<p>Thanks, Saint. I just about cry (with joy) everytime I even THINK about this graduation! The emotions are totally different from my daughter’s graduation from Rice, which was still special and wonderful. The last 9 years with WildChild have been quite a ride (not that the ones before that were a piece of cake). He has done really well at Penn and will graduate cum laude and with Honors in his major. Our graduation gift to him is COBRA until his new job benefits kick in.
He joins his Great Grandfather, Grandmother, Grandfather and Aunt as a Penn grad.</p>