Family weekend takes parents to Pittsburgh attractions, exhibits

Written By Robert Berger

This past weekend, Point Park welcomed families for the annual family weekend, featuring a variety of events including a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo, a performance by members of the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), a trip to Phipps Conservatory and more.

Events kicked off Friday night as families were welcomed with a reception in the Lawrence Hall lobby. Culinart catered the event with a variety of hors d’oeuvres and beverages. A gallery of photographs taken by School of Communication students was set up for families to view.

Following the gallery, COPA students performed “An Evening of Rising Stars,” a two-act performance showcasing the talents of theater and dance students. The first act featured the sophomore musical theatre class performing pieces from Broadway musicals, as well as a medley of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

The show’s second act belonged to Point Park dance students, featuring four different dance routines.

“The performance was fabulous,” Suzanne Leader, parent of Point Park dance major Lauren Leader. “I’m a voice teacher, and I thought the musical theater part in the beginning was amazing. They were just amazing.”

Friday and Saturday night featured screening of student films. For an hour inside the GRW Theater, student-produced films were screened for friends and families to see what they have been working on in the classroom.

The second day of family weekend began with the cross country team competing in the Carnegie Mellon University Cross Country Invitational at Schenley Park. The team honored seniors after the match as family and friends joined them for food and refreshments. In the end, both the men’s and women’s teams finished fifth in their respective standings.

Throughout the day, Point Park offered a variety of events that encouraged families to explore Pittsburgh. Like past years, Point Park hosted a day at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

New to the docket this year was a trip to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Phipps is a Victorian Greenhouse in Oakland that has welcomed visitors to learn about and view a variety of plant life since 1893.

Point Park also added a visit to the National Aviary, located in the North Side of Pittsburgh, to the list of family weekend activities this year. The aviary gave families an up close and personal experience, including the chance to feed the birds.

“The aviary was awesome and a lot of fun,” freshman dance major Lauren Leader said. “We’ve never been there, so it was a really great experience.”

Wrapping up Saturday was Java and Jazz in Village Park. Pittsburgh jazz trio “Full Circle” performed as families relaxed in Village Park. Culinart provided a number of hot desserts including apple and berry cobbler, cookies and brownies. Hot chocolate, coffee and hot apple cider were also served.

“The mums and lights look beautiful here, [in Village Park] and we were just saying to each other how the university did a great job with family weekend; it was just a lot of fun,” Suzanne Leader said.