Tailgate, Touch-down Carnival, and Lots More on Tap

The women’s soccer team hosts Monmouth at 6 p.m. tonight at Nickerson Field. Brea Hewitt (COM’13) (above) leads the Terriers so far this season with two goals and an assist. Photo by Steve McLaughlin

You’ve moved in, started unpacking, and begun to prepare for classes. But before the academic grind starts, you’ve got a three-day weekend to enjoy the campus and explore the city. And there’s lots to do. Whether you’re a sports fan or a film buff or just want to meet up with classmates or make new friends on campus, there’s plenty to choose from. Below are a few suggestions on how to spend your Labor Day weekend. Relax, enjoy, have fun.

Friday, August 31

Terrier Tailgate and Women’s Soccer Game
5 p.m.
Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St.

What better way to celebrate the start of a new school year than by heading over to the sixth annual Terrier Tailgate? Held at Nickerson Field, it is the kick-off of the 2012–2013 Boston University athletics season. Gates open at 5 p.m. for the tailgate, followed by a women’s soccer game at 6 p.m., with the Terriers hosting Monmouth University. Fans are encouraged to arrive early: the first 500 will receive a BU beach towel and anyone—student or otherwise—wearing scarlet and white will be admitted free. The tailgate will feature contests, giveaways, and free food courtesy of Domino’s Pizza and Raising Cane’s. The BU cheer and dance teams will offer free face painting, and during halftime, there will be a student dance-off contest and a T-shirt toss giveaway, as well as entertainment by the BU drumline and dance team.

Women’s soccer is 2-2-0 so far this season and looking to make its eighth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament under head coach Nancy Feldman. Last year’s team posted the best season in program history, with a 19-3-1 overall record, and 19 players from that team have returned.

Gates at Nickerson Field open at 5 p.m. for the Terrier Tailgate. The women’s soccer game against Monmouth is at 6 p.m. General admission is $5; free admission for anyone wearing scarlet and white. BU friends and family are asked to use Gate 1, the general public Gate 2.

Welcome Back Trivia and Ice Cream Social
10 p.m. to midnight
BU Central, George Sherman Union, 775 Commonwealth Ave.

Looking to satisfy your sweet tooth and put your knowledge of pop culture to a test? Head on over to the lower level of the GSU for a night of trivia and ice cream, sponsored by the Student Activities Office. Admission is free and open to BU students only.

American Psycho at Coolidge Corner Theatre
11:59 p.m.
290 Harvard St., Brookline

Oscar-winner Christian Bale stars as Wall Street yuppie and serial killer Patrick Bateman in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ psychological thriller/satire, which has become something of a cult classic. One look and you’ll know why. American Psycho will be screened at 11:59 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night. Tickets are $9. Check out more late night screenings in the Coolidge @fter Midnite series, which includes “horrifying, weird, camp, avant-garde, tripped out” selections.

To get to the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, by public transportation, take a Green Line C trolley to the Coolidge Corner stop (Harvard Street).

Saturday, September 1

Terrier Touch-down
4:30 p.m.
Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St.

Start the new school year with a bang by heading over to Nickerson Field for a carnival, billed as the first annual Terrier Touch-down. The event will feature live music, games (including a basketball shootout, laser tag, High Striker, and bungee extreme), free food (hmmm, fried dough!), and rides like the Aztec, which swings and spins like a pendulum. The best part—it’s all free. This event is open to BU students only. And once the carnival’s over, hang around for a movie under the stars (see below).

Women’s Field Hockey Game
5 p.m.
Jordan Field, 65 North Harvard St., Allston

Cheer on the Terriers as they host Kent State University at Harvard University’s Jordan Field. Last year, the BU team shared the 2011 regular season America East title with the University of New Hampshire. The Terriers were recently ranked 14th in a preseason poll by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Jordan Field is in the Harvard Athletic Complex, 65 North Harvard St., Allston. By public transportation, take any MBTA Green Line trolley to Park Street, switch to an outbound Red Line train to Harvard Square. Take a 10-minute walk down JFK Street and over the Harvard Bridge. Enter at Gate 6. The 5 p.m. game is free and open to the public.

Drive-In Movie
8 p.m.
Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St.

Grab some friends and a blanket for a Drive-In Movie, presented by BU’s Programming Council. First up is the action-packed 2012 superhero blockbuster The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey, Jr., as Ironman, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, and Scarlett Johanson as the Black Widow. Then at 10:30, catch the 1986 John Hughes comedy Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, starring Matthew Broderick.

Sunday, September 2

Hillel Open House
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Florence and Chafetz Hillel House, 213 Bay State Rd.

Stop by Hillel House, the center for Jewish life on campus, for free bagels and coffee. Learn about weekly services and the many programs offered. Tour the building, which includes a café, an art gallery, a University kosher dining hall, a Judaica library, three chapels, and study spaces. The event is open to all students and their families.

Marsh Chapel Potluck Lunch
Noon
735 Commonwealth Ave.

Marsh Chapel is an interdenominational Christian church and the center for much of the religious life on campus. All are welcome to attend Marsh’s potluck luncheon, which takes place immediately following the weekly 11 a.m. service. Come by to learn more about the chapel’s events and programs, including its renowned choir.

Matriculation Ceremony for Entering Undergraduates and Their Families
Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave.

The student procession to Agganis Arena starts at 1 p.m., beginning at Danielsen Hall, 512 Beacon St., and proceeds up Bay State Road to Marsh Plaza. Freshmen then continue up Commonwealth Avenue to Agganis Arena.

The Matriculation ceremony, led by President Robert A. Brown, begins at 2 p.m.

Splash!
4 to 7 p.m.
Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock St.

Interested in getting involved in an extracurricular activity or a club sport, but don’t know where to begin? Head to Nickerson Field, where representatives of many of the more than 500 student organizations on campus will be on hand to answer your questions and provide information. So if you’re interested in joining Greek life, singing a cappella, or taking up salsa dancing, rowing, or photography, you’ll want to stop by. And there’ll be plenty of free swag handed out. The event is open to BU students only. Learn more about student organizations here.

Pancakes and Punchlines
10 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
Myles Standish, Warren, and West Dining Halls

Want to feed your funny bone as well as your stomach? This event features all-you-can-eat pancakes and entertainment by local comedians Rob Ryan, Nor Davis, Mal Hall, and Adam Mamanada at Warren Towers dining hall, Fresh Food Co. in West Campus, and the former dining hall at Myles Standish Hall. It’s free (no need for a meal plan) and open to BU students only.

Monday, September 3

Dancing with Renoir at the Museum of Fine Arts
10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
465 Huntington Ave., Boston

If you’re feeling the urge to get off campus for a couple of hours, consider a quick trip to one of the city’s many superb museums. Today is the last day to catch a special exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, titled Dancing with Renoir. These three masterpieces by the French Impressionist painter were all created in the same year: the museum’s own Dance at Bougival and two iconic works on loan from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Dance in the City and Dance in the Country. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the three paintings side-by-side. While you’re there, check out the MFA’s fabulous Art of the Americas wing.

To get to the Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston, by public transportation, take the Green Line E trolley or the number 39 bus to the Museum of Fine Arts stop or the Orange Line train or bus routes 8, 47, or C2 to the Ruggles stop. Admission is free with a BU student ID, $20 for seniors and students 18 and older, $22 for adults, and free for children 6 and under; free to the public on Wednesday evenings.

Os Gemeos at the Institute of Contemporary Art
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
100 Northern Ave., Boston

If modern art is more your thing than French Impressionism, check out a wonderful exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art titled Os Gemeos, featuring the work of Brazilian twins Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo. This is the first solo U.S. exhibition of works by the Pandolfos, who are well known in the world of graffiti and urban art. Drawing from their dreams as well as their surroundings, the artists capture the vivid palette and chaotic life of their hometown of São Paulo in paintings, sculpture, and large-scale murals. Admission is free with your BU ID.

Os Gemeos is on display at the Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., Boston, through November 25, 2012. The museum is open Labor Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors, and $10 for college students with a valid ID; free with a BU student ID and for children 17 and under. By public transportation, take a Green Line trolley to Park Street, a Red Line MBTA train to South Station, and switch to a Silver Line Waterfront bus to Courthouse station.

Jaws at the Coolidge Corner Theatre
7 p.m.
290 Harvard St., Brookline

Labor Day may mark the unofficial end of summer, but you can catch one of the scariest movies ever set on a beach tonight with a screening of the carnage-filled 1975 blockbuster Jaws, by Steven Spielberg (Hon.’09). By movie’s end, you’ll be glad beach season is nearly over. Tickets are $9.

To get to the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, by public transportation, take a Green Line C trolley to the Coolidge Corner stop (Harvard Street).

Trivia Night at Common Ground
8 p.m.
83 Harvard Ave., Allston

One of BU’s most popular off-campus haunts, Allston’s Common Ground Bar and Grill, presents trivia night each Monday, hosted by Jeremy Walman-Krogh. So before you crack those textbooks on Tuesday, come test your knowledge of pop culture, politics, and sports while dining on great American cuisine.

To get to Common Ground Bar and Grill, 83 Harvard Ave., Allston, by public transportation, take either a #57 bus from Kenmore Square to the corner of Brighton Avenue and Harvard Avenue or take a Green Line B trolley to the Harvard Avenue stop.

Erin Thibeau can be reached at ethibeau@bu.edu; follow her on Twitter at @erinthibeau.