By Ross Boomer, Editor-in-Chief • October 16th, 2008

Midterms are done. Claremont Confessions is gone. And you’re finding yourself with way too much time on your hands…

We understand.

Read on as the Forum Fellows provide winning itineraries for every CMC’er.

Fall Break for Sports Enthusiasts - Gui Schils

Ahhhh finally…time for Fall Break! Instead of being tied up in the classroom, studying for tests, and worrying about problem sets, the break affords the chance to catch up on playoff baseball, watch some football, and get outdoors before fall really sets her grip. I’ve set out to create an outdoorsy, sportsy, miniature vacation, to hopefully light a (camp)fire under your academic arses.

Thursday and Friday: Leave the 909 for some wilderness. Head to any one of the number of Southern California campgrounds or State Parks within an hour of school. Last spring, I spent a night in Temecula at Lake Skinner, and woke up early for some trout fishing. There are tons of campsites, the general store sells several types of bait, and boats rent at modest rates. Stop by a Bass Pro Shops in Rancho Cucamonga for a rod and reel or anything else you may need. After two nights and plenty of time on the water, you will be set for a weekend of sports entertainment.

Saturday: Return back to campus to catch some of our sports teams in action. The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams take on rival Pomona-Pitzer at Pomona at 11 and 1:30pm, and Water Polo is hosting La Verne and Brown. The Stags Football squad is taking on SCIAC opponent Cal Lutheran at 1pm, and the Cross Country teams are lacing up for the SCIAC Multi-Dual Meet in La Mirada. If the ALCS and NLCS series are still going on, Boston will be battling in Tampa Bay, and the Dodgers – Phillies will be squaring off in game 7. Head to Heroes in the Village or Yard House at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga for plenty of screens, solid food, and good beer to watch the game with. After celebrating with our victorious teams Saturday night on campus, get ready to hit the road again.

Sunday: 21-years-old and up: Take off early and head to LAS VEGAS! Get in before the second round of NFL games to start betting your student loan on whether or not the Dolphins will cover the spread or if the Browns will unseat the Redskins. Once the games are over, take your winnings to the tables and start writing your own story of how you beat Vegas. If you think Vegas does not party on Sundays, remember that it is Vegas.

Sunday: 20 and under: Back to camping! It may not have the lights and panache of the Strip, but another night under the stars will probably be good for the soul. If you feel drawn towards Las Vegas, you could head to Red Rock Canyon State Park, which features desert cliffs and buttes. If you want water, head to Catalina Island or San Onofre Beach. A round trip ferry ticket to Catalina costs about $65 dollars, but the secluded beaches will provide unbeatable sunset views and some good trekking. San Onofre has some good surfing, and is easily accessible. Bring friends, bottles of spirits, and s’mores to have some good old-fashioned bonding.

Monday: Those in Vegas could always stick around for the Monday night game, when the Denver Broncos will go against the suddenly human New England Patriots. If one night was too much for your mind, body, or wallet, head to a campsite in between Vegas and Claremont, like the aforementioned Red Rock, to wind down.

Tuesday: Head back to Claremont to get re-acclimated to the 909. Round up some friends and head to the Buffalo Inn a minute east on Foothill. This rough, log-hewn lodge has a great vibe – live music, motorcycles parked outside, and a no-frills menu. Try a Buffalo burger, which is leaner and tastier than red meat.

Whatever you do, if you make the most of this short break, it will leave you refreshed – but if you don’t, you’ll feel like not an hour has passed since your last class. Have fun!

Fall Break for People Stuck With Their Parents - Ian McGinnity

Friday: Flight back home to Phoenix, Arizona. Then, drive a depressing hour drive back to my house outside of the Phoenix Metro. Plans for the post-flight day include eating quality burgers (no, Collins burgers are not quality burgers. If you haven’t noticed how awful they are by now, you probably had all of your taste buds burnt off during that gulp of scalding hot coco you had as a kid. And Mom even told you it was hot! Dumbass…) and watching CABLE television. That’s right, our family just got cable. Members of the 20th century since August 2008? Yeah, I joined that Facebook group.  Plans for the night include crying myself to sleep while watching The Notebook. I know the love between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams is so true, but when she leaves her fiancée its just soooo SAD!

Saturday: Chocolate chip pancake marathon with my older brother. First one to internally rupture, loses. Go into a food coma until about 5 o’clock in the evening. Watch the 20/20 report about how teen drinking is an unstoppable phenomenon that is killing the entrepreneurial spirit of this great country’s youth. Go into depression about America’s future and start drinking. Next take a bus to the nearest movie theater (for me, about an hour and a half away) and sloppily decry and lament over the culture of today’s youth. Spend half an hour trying to get key to fit in the front door lock. Trust me, enjoy swiping keycards to get into rooms while you can, because the old-fashioned way is difficult at times. Pet dog. Fall asleep.

Sunday: Change bed sheets. Make sloppy joes but forget to separate the ground beef patties. Eat delicious tidy joes. Spend rest of the day hiding from vicious wind scorpions, but when asked by friends what I am doing, text them that, “totes mackin’ on some tasty ho lol, U?” Next, say three hail-Marys for lying and two more for the using the word ‘ho’. Sunday night: emerge from underneath my bed and drive to town to remind myself that yes, civilization exists, and that no, I shouldn’t probably end my life by jumping into a cactus. Take a deep breath and drive back home.

Monday: Visit the Grand Canyon… on Google Earth. Update Facebook status to, “Can’t wait to be ballin’ back in C-mont, lawlz!” Eat more burgers. Play with my Golden Retriever from approximately 11am-9pm. Pick up flea collar at nearest veterinarian supply store, approximately an hour and twenty minutes from house. Visit my brother in Tempe and become used as a literal punching bag but keep in mind to hold back tears (you’re a MAN Mcginnity!). Take shower to clean off blood. Repeat.

Tuesday: Pick up the shambles of my life and return to Claremont. Swim.

Fall Break for True CMC’ers - Shelby Leighton

Everybody knows that fall break is primarily about drinking. So, since everyone is telling you what to do for fall break, I’m going to be different and tell you something even more important; where and what to drink. If you’re not 21 or don’t like to drink, I’m sure that: a. you already have plans for fall break and b. if you don’t, the other writers have provided you with excellent choices.

On Friday, if you like creepy/weird things and even if you don’t, you should go to an Absinthe tasting in  Hollywood, sponsored by the Valentino Wormwood Society. Not only is it an Absinthe tasting, it’s at a cemetery filled with dead celeb bodies. Only in Hollywood. Who doesn’t want to get drunk while standing on the graves of Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone? It starts at 9:00 and costs $20 (not including Absinthe). It is accompanied by live music by “vintage songstress” Janet Klein and “visual art.” Its sure to be the sketchiest night ever.

If you can’t bring your self to spend that much money to be drunk and creeped out in a cemetery, spend the evening around here enjoying some wine, jazz, and fondu at Hip Kitty in the village.

On Saturday afternoon, nurse your hangover (if you don’t have one you’re not celebrating fall break) by going to wine tasting from 12-5pm at Winestyles in the village. It doesn’t say on their website, but I think its 20 dollars for five glasses of wine.

If you feel like venturing a little further, spend a day at the beach in Malibu, enjoying food and drinks at Paradise Cove Beach Café. As Paul Stanley from Kiss puts it, “climb on the rocks at Paradise Cove and see what kind of life is lurking around in the shallows.” Ok.

Saturday night, celebrate Oktoberfest with German ex-pats at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. It runs from 6pm to midnight and admission is 10 dollars for entertainment by the Guggenbach Buam Band from Germany and lots and lots of German beer.

On Sunday, continue drinking by enjoying Sunday Champagne Brunch at Walter’s restaurant in the village (they take Claremont Cash!). It runs from 10:30am to 2:30pm and the food is amazing!

Sunday night, head back to an old favorite: Viva Madrid, where you can get pitchers of White, Red, or Peach Sangria and delicious tapas in a relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere.

Monday is time to stay around school and see all the people who were lame and gone all break. During the day, make margaritas or your favorite day beverage and lay out in the sun or play drinking whiffleball or kickball. At night, rage it! Some ideas: board game night (drinking Apples to Apples, Catchphrase, etc.), power hour, 90’s dance party, or a Beirut tournament. I trust you to come up with even better ideas on your own.

Tuesday, catch up on all that sleep/homework because you know what the best part of fall break is? It’s already Wednesday and that means bowling!

A Modest Proposal for Fall Break (in Claremont) - Katherine Wernet

Saturday – I would strongly suggest sleeping in this morning. It is important to be well rested – there’s a fun weekend ahead, and you don’t want to be the lethargic one who drags everybody else down. After a leisurely afternoon spent in Claremont, head to the beach to enjoy the sunset and have a campfire.

Sunday – Because this is Fall Break, after all, it would seem incomplete without an apple picking adventure! Enjoy produce right off the tree. This would also be a great time to pick up that pumpkin for Halloween. In the evening, rather than just retiring to campus, see a movie at The Laemmle. Here one never has to worry about fighting the crowds, and the theatre always has a great assortment of quirky pictures. Sneak in some 21 Choices rather than selling your soul for a bag of Sour Patch Kids at the concession stand.

Monday – Stroll into The Village to catch up on that work you’ve been neglecting all semester. Some Crust is the perfect place to treat oneself with a cookie (or nine) and to get some of that work done. At night head into L.A. to catch the great indie band Pinback playing at Echoplex. Listen to them and purchase a ticket for only $18 here.

Tuesday – Head to Boomer’s for a round of glow in the dark putt-putt and some go-carting. It’s fun and it’s pretty close. Make sure to have dinner off-campus and revel in the last few moments of freedom before classes resume Wednesday.

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