Fun, Food, and Friends: Senior Week 2017

Senior Week, sponsored by the Student Activities Office, runs through Thursday, May 18.

Update May 11, 2017 at 4 p.m.: The trip to Six Flags and the two trips to Martha’s Vineyard are sold out and have been removed from the list below.

We did it. We survived countless midterms, finals, papers, and projects, pushed through late nights at Mugar, lived through winter’s bluster, and exulted as the Patriots pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in sports history to claim a fifth NFL championship.

Now, it’s time to celebrate. From casinos to cruises to a clambake and an exclusive night at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the events planned by Student Activities for Senior Week lead the way to BU’s 144th Commencement on Sunday, May 21.

You can purchase tickets to events here, but buy them fast. Some events have limited availability, and some are already sold out.

Check the BU Senior Week Facebook page or the University’s official senior class website for the latest announcements about ticket availability, weather-related cancellations, or possible changes in venue.

A special $100 Senior Week Package includes admission to Royale Nightclub on May 15, the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino trip May 16, and the Lawn on D’s Clambake May 18 (find event details under the dates below), and save $40 over the cost of individual tickets for these events.

Saturday, May 13: New England Experiences

This year, Senior Week features several trips to fun destinations in and around Boston and nearby parts of New England. The trips below are still available.

Newport, Rhode Island, Adventures

Explore one of New England’s most historic summer enclaves, Newport, R.I., a playground of America’s Gilded Age, where Vanderbilts and other wealthy families spent warm-weather months in their opulent “cottages” during the 19th and early 20th century. Students can still choose one of two Newport Adventures (the Newport Vineyards Wine Tasting & Tours is sold out). For the first, Newport Adventures: Adirondack II Private Sail, you can explore the city on your own in the morning, then cruise around Newport Harbor on a private charter of the 80-foot schooner Adirondack II. For the second, Newport Adventures: Explore Newport, R.I., on Your Own, you can spend the whole day investigating the picturesque city’s numerous restaurants, museums, and beaches at your own pace.

Newport Adventures: Adirondack II Private Sail: $60, includes transportation to and from Newport and a ticket to board the Adirondack II at 4:30 p.m. Newport Adventure: Explore Newport On Your Own: $30, covering transportation only. Buses depart from the GSU Plaza, 775 Commonwealth Ave., at 9 a.m. and leave Newport at 8 p.m. Both are open to BU seniors only.

Sunday, May 14: Boston Experiences

On Sunday, seniors can explore Boston from one end of the city to the other. Below are local events that still have spaces available.

Boston Duck Tours

If you’ve never explored Boston by DUKW (Duck)—the World War II–style amphibious landing vehicle—here’s your chance. The narrated sightseeing tour kicks off at the Prudential Center and takes you past some of the city’s most historic and popular sights: the gold-domed State House, Bunker Hill, Boston Common, Newbury Street, Quincy Market, and more. Then you get to see Boston from the water as your Duck splashes into the Charles River for a stunning view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines. Be ready to say Quack!

Boston Duck Tour departs from the Prudential Center, 53 Huntington Ave., at 1 p.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m. Students should arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. Tickets: $35 and open to BU seniors only. Water-resistant clothes suggested.

Blue Man Group at the Charles Playhouse

Blue Man Group, the international sensation that blends music, technology, and comedy performed by a troupe of blue-painted performers, has been a hit in Boston since it first opened here in 1995, making it one of the city’s biggest ever theatrical successes. So grab your friends and head over to the Charles Playhouse for a theater experience you won’t soon forget.

As part of Senior Week, Blue Man Group tickets are offered at a discounted price of $45 on Sunday. The performance is at the Charles Playhouse, 74 Warrenton St., at 2 p.m. Tickets are available to BU seniors only.

Boston Harbor Tours

Here’s another bucket list item that you can cross off before you don your cap and gown. Senior Week is offering two Boston Harbor tours. On the first, the Georges Island Boston Harbor Cruise, you can tour the island’s historic Fort Warren—a Civil War–era fort known for its graceful granite archways and reputed ghost, the Lady in Black. Up for something less sedate? The second tour, billed as a Codzilla Thrill Boat Ride, is a 40-minute heart-pounding ride around Boston Harbor, with the 70-foot Codzilla’s two turbo-charged diesel engines providing a monster of a ride at speeds up to 40 mph.

Georges Island Boston Harbor Cruise: $15, with a noon departure and a 3 p.m. return. The Codzilla Thrill Boat Ride: $25, with a 2 p.m. departure. Arrive at One Long Wharf 30 minutes before departure for both cruises. Both are open to BU seniors only; pick up your tickets at the Student Activities business office. Water-resistant clothes suggested. 

Up All Night at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Student Activities teams up with the BU Arts Initiative for an exclusive, intimate night at the world-famous Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, in the heart of the Fenway. Enjoy cocktails (21+ only), hors d’oeuvres, and mingling on the Italianate palazzo’s lawn, and view some of the 2,500 items in the museum’s collection, among them Titian’s The Rape of Europa, John Singer Sargent’s El Jaleo, and Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait, Aged 23. A night at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will make you feel special. A ticket includes your first drink.

Up All Night at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 25 Evans Way: $10; event is from 9 to 11 p.m. and open to BU seniors only. Attire should be classy.

Monday, May 15

Royale Nightclub

Dance the night away with friends, classmates, and maybe that person you’ve always wanted to talk to—but haven’t yet worked up the nerve—at one of Boston’s most popular clubs. Royale Nightclub is BU’s exclusively for the night, and with its elegant chandeliers, spiral staircases, and so much more, it’s a party you won’t want to miss. Wear your finest dancing duds.

Royale Nightclub, 279 Tremont St., Tickets: $10, open to BU seniors only. The party starts at 10 p.m. and free shuttle buses will run between the Royale and the GSU from midnight to 1:30 a.m. If you stay longer, be prepared to take a cab, Uber, or Lyft to get home safely. 

Tuesday, May 16

Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort Trip

If you’re feeling lucky and want to try your hand at winning some money, join the trip to Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort in Connecticut. You’ll enjoy a night of dancing, craps, and blackjack. Hit the slots, take your chances at a variety of table games, or break it down at the private party at the resort’s Avalon nightclub, reserved exclusively for BU for the night. Recharge at one of the resort’s numerous fine dining restaurants, such as Michael Jordan’s Steak House and Todd English’s Tuscany.

Mohegan Sun, One Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn., tickets: $50, includes round-trip transportation from campus, admission to an exclusive BU-only night at Avalon, a $15 food voucher, and a $10 betting voucher. You must ride the bus to get the vouchers, and you must be 21+ to enter the gaming floor and Avalon. Dress is trendy upscale. Buses depart from the GSU Plaza at 4 p.m. and return at 2 a.m. The event is open to BU seniors. 

Wednesday, May 17

Boston Harbor Cruise

All aboard! If you enjoy being out on the water with friends, grab a ticket now for this Harbor Cruise on the Provincetown II, offering panoramic views of the Boston skyline, sponsored by the Senior Class Gift committee. Seniors can enjoy free food, a top-40 DJ on all decks, a virtual photo booth, and a cash bar. The event is 21+ only.

The Boston Harbor Cruise tickets:$15; purchase on the BU Alumni Association page. The cruise is from 7:30 to 11 p.m., with boarding, at 200 Seaport Blvd., Boston, beginning at 6:45 p.m., departure at 7:30 p.m., and return at 11 p.m. Buses will take you back to the GSU. The bar is cash only, dress code is cute but nautical, and it’s open to BU seniors only.

Harpoon Brewery Takeover

Here’s a chance to visit the Seaport district and one of Boston’s most popular breweries. You can sample some of Harpoon’s famous beers, munch on the famous pretzels, and gather at a great place with classmates to celebrate and reminisce. This exclusive event is 21+ only.

The Harpoon Brewery Takeover tickets: $10, includes your first beer and a huge pretzel. The event is from 8 to 11 p.m. and is open to BU seniors only. Buses take seniors back to campus starting at 10:30 p.m. Harpoon is at 306 Northern Ave.

Thursday, May 18

Lawn on D’s BU Clambake

This is the last event of Senior Week. Find out how many lobsters you can eat at this classic New England clambake (yes, clams will be served as well, along with other traditional clambake fare). Swing on one of the Lawn’s iconic swings or play a game of bocce, Ping-Pong, corn hole, or Jenga. The event promises to be a fitting final celebration of your four-year BU journey.

Lawn on D’s BU Clambake, 20 D St., South Boston, tickets: $80. The event, open to BU seniors only, is from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with buses shuttling students from the GSU Plaza beginning at 10:45 a.m. Dress is casual. 

To stay up-to-date on graduation festivities, follow BU Senior Week on Facebook, at @saoBU on Twitter, and the University’s official senior class website. Continue to check the Eventbrite page for any last minute cancellations or additions.

Be sure to check back with BU Today next Thursday, May 18, for a complete roundup of Commencement weekend activities.

Manny Gomez can be reached at mannygo@bu.edu; follow him on Twitter at @mannyqueso.