Looking for something to do in the remaining days before the start of the new academic year? Check out these entertaining and educational options, from campus events to Emory discounts on Atlanta attractions.
1. Go to "boot camp" for Emory's new learning management system.
Over the course of the 2016-17 academic year, Emory will migrate from Blackboard to Canvas for the University's learning management system. Make sure you are prepared for the transition by attending Canvas Boot Camp, a one-hour overview of Canvas' basic features and functions. Sessions kicked off Aug. 1 and continue through Aug. 12; several have filled, so be sure to sign up in advance.
2. Take a walk beneath Emory's hospitals.
Get exercise during your lunch break while avoiding the heat. Meet Me @ The Tunnel, a free six-week summer walking group, concludes with a noon walk on Aug. 3, but the tunnels that connect Emory University Hospital, Emory Clinic, the Center for Rehabilitation Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston are always open for walkers. Tunnel murals offer health and fitness tips along with beautiful images of Georgia scenery.
3. Experience an innovative dance performance from an Emory alumna.
The Lucky Penny, a nonprofit arts group co-directed by Emory alumna Blake Beckham, presents "OneAnother," a new contemporary dance work choreographed by Beckham, Aug. 4-7 at Emory's Mary Gray Munroe Theater. A meditation on pairing, the show features five female dancers exploring "the deeply felt urge to seek a mirror in others." Tickets are $10 with Emory ID.
4. Visit the Carlos Museum's new African galleries.
Curated to offer valuable insight into African artistic expressions, the artwork in the Carlos Museum's African galleries reflects the size and diversity of the African continent. The newly redesigned galleries open to the public on Aug. 6. Admission is free for Emory faculty, staff and students.
5. View exhibits (and the Atlanta skyline!) from the Rose Library.
It's been almost a year since the renovated and renamed Stuart A. Rose Library opened on the top floor of Woodruff Library, offering a beautiful home for the University's manuscript, archive and rare book collections along with stunning views of the campus and city. The wide central corridor is lined with display cases featuring a selection of literary and historical treasures, including Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize.
6. Gain support with balancing work-life responsibilities.
The start of new school year can bring extra pressures to caregivers and families. The Emory WorkLife Resource Center offers free online workshops on a variety of topics; options for this month include "Financial Wellness: College Financial Planning" (Aug. 10); "Parenting Your Teen: Success in School" (Aug. 11); "Parenting Your Child with Special Needs: Regarding Education" (Aug. 16); and "Caregivers Network: Guilt-Free Vacation" (Aug. 17). And don't stress if you can't listen live: Talks are recorded and sent to everyone who registers for them.
7. Celebrate Tomato Fest and the return of Emory's weekly farmers market.
The popular Emory Farmers Market went monthly for the summer, but returns to its weekly schedule on Aug. 23 with Tomato Fest. The market will be held each Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Cox Hall Bridge, weather permitting. Many items cost less than $10.
8. Hear an Emory Medal winner reflect on "My Father and Atticus Finch."
Emory alumnus, Emory Medal winner and adjunct law professor Joseph Madison Beck wrote "My Father and Atticus Finch: A Lawyer's Fight for Justice in 1930s Alabama" about his dad, Foster Beck, who defended a black man accused of raping a white woman. Beck reflects on his father's role in State of Alabama vs. Charles White, Alias, which was in the public spotlight when Harper Lee, who would grow up to write the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird," was a child. Beck will discuss the book and sign copies on Thursday, Aug. 25, at 12:15 p.m. in the Hunter Atrium of Emory Law.
9. Enjoy discounted tickets to an Atlanta Braves game.
Emory employees can purchase inexpensive tickets to Atlanta Braves baseball games through Sparkfly, which offers a variety of discounts on shopping, events and more. Ticket prices vary based on the game category (ranging from "premier" to "super value") and seating locations. Six games in August offer upper box seats for $10; tickets in this section are only $9 for the Aug. 30 game against the Padres.
10. See a movie at Regal or AMC Theatres.
The ticket desk in the Dobbs University Center offers reduced-cost tickets to several local attractions, amusement parks and theaters. Tickets for Regal Cinemas and AMC Theatres (green pass) are just $10 at the DUC, so be sure to compare prices before you head out to catch a movie.