Listings: Penn Events

Spring Crafts Fair Locust Walk Thu, April 10 through Fri, April 11, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Bring Cash Spring time at Penn just isn't complete without the annual Spring Crafts Fair. The stands selling hand-made jewelry, little painted trinket boxes, and wax mushroom candles might even fool you into thinking you live in Martha Stewart, Connecticut for a couple of days. At least until the Penn kid who decided to have an early start on Fling festivities reaches for a hand-painted crystal bowl and throws up in it. National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland Irvine Auditorium 3401 Spruce Street Thu, April 10, 7:30 p.m. $30-$40 (215) 573-8537 I'm not naming any names but some hot famous guy I admire more for his hotness than for his musical talent once wore this cute (you know those trendy hick caps) hat. It said he was 100% Irish. False advertising. He's not Irish nor is he 100% Irish. Liar. He could have at least had "100% hotness" or maybe "don't kiss me I'll give you mono" or maybe "I probably have an STD but have sex with me anyway." Richard Rogers Project Zellerbach Theater 3680 Walnut Street Fri-Sat, April 11-12, 8 p.m. $31-36/discounts for penn students (215) 898-3900 www.pennpresents.org Oh, this is something sad. Mr. Rogers died this past year. I guess he was pretty old, I don't really know, but now he is dead. My mom used to say that watching too much Sesame Street turned you into a drug addict and that if you had the patience to sit through Mr. Rogers you would turn out to be a perfect, upstanding citizen. We both hated Mr. Rogers, though, in a secret way, and watched it like we eat spinach. To be healthy. Then, we would revel in Sesame Street. Soon enough, I moved into the hard stuff. Sitcoms. Probably when I was two. I guess I haven't been the same since. Ha, mom, look at me now. I'm flying. Shimon Peres Zellerbach Theatre 3680 Walnut St. Sun, April 13, 6 p.m. Free www.caravanfordemocracy.com So what if we get the ex-Prime Minister of Isreal and Nobel Prize winner to speak at Penn? I think we should have more celebrity students. I'm tired of hearing about Natalie Portman and Claire Danes from my peers at Harvard and Yale. I think Admissions Office Tour Guides can empathize with me: when asked by an over-zealous parent which celebrity attends Penn, they'll no longer have to say, "well, we don't really have any celebrities, but Bill Clinton has spoken here." The Tallis Scholars Irvine Auditorium 3401 Spruce St. Sun, April 13, 7:30 p.m. $25-33 www.pennpresents.org Hailed by Gramophone magazine as "the world's finest mixed-voice choir for Renaissance music", the Tallis Scholars might be slightly less annoying than those chanting monks that were famous for about five minutes and cunningly made their way into your dad's CD collection. This concert is part of a world tour that includes stops at cities such as chic Milan, Italy and grubby Omaha, Nebraska - that'll be an amusing culture shock for the bow-tie-wearing Tallis singers. If you enjoy attending mass and need a little extra Agnus Dei to spice up your Sunday, head to Irvine for the concert. Vivek Wagle: Europe on a Shoestring 3rd Edition Penn Bookstore 3601 Walnut St. Mon, April 14, 7 p.m. Free The title of this Lonely Planet travel guide threw me off at first. Do I want to hear Vivek Wagle speak if he's going to recommend endless nights in putrid hostels, or days spent crammed on dirty trains next to stoned Trustafarians, trying to 'find themselves' with daddy's credit card in hand? Luckily, the authors of this book believe that you can travel on a budget without sacrificing comfort and style. Thank god - I know my summer in Europe will be more wine-tasting, less urine-smelling. If words like 'rural' and 'backpack' frighten you, this event is a must.