Easter weekend at Notre Dame doesn't have to be a boring four days of video games and TV show marathons in your room. Get out of the dorm and experience what campus and the surrounding area have to offer.
Go to a Cubs game
This season promises to be yet another disappointment for the Chicago Cubs, but that doesn't mean the games won't be as fun as ever. The atmosphere at Wrigley Field is one of the best in baseball, and the fans are always ready to have a good time, win or lose. This weekend is opening weekend for the Cubs, and they'll host the Washington Nationals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. So if you get done with classes early on Thursday, head to the North Side, grab a spot in the left field bleachers, watch Washington phenom Stephen Strasburg make mincemeat of the Cubs' offense and, best of all, listen to the crowd berate their own players mercilessly all game long.
Navy Pier in Chicago
Even if you're not a baseball fan, there are still things for you to do in Chicago this weekend, which is supposed to be very sunny. Be sure to head down the Magnificent Mile to Navy Pier. The pier overlooks Lake Michigan and is Chicago's number-one tourist attraction. With its sightseeing cruises, amusement park rides - yes, it has a Ferris Wheel - and delicious restaurants, it is not a place to miss. Relax with friends and take in the sights of Chicago.
Easter Mass in the Basilica
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart on campus is an absolutely beautiful church, but for many Catholic students on campus who regularly attend their dorm's Mass, it is often an underappreciated aspect of the Notre Dame experience. Easter Mass is as good a time as any to experience the Basilica - the Mass will be joyous because of the holiday, and it will be crowded so it won't feel like an empty, creepy church. Also, there are no dorm Masses on Sunday, so if you want to go to Mass on Easter and are staying on campus, your options are limited.
Easter Sunday Brunch
Rumor has it, the best meal on campus all year round is the Easter Sunday buffet in South Dining Hall. As a good number of students go home for break, the brunch shouldn't be too crowded, so don't be too worried about waiting forever to get food. Don't be fooled by the title, though. This is the only meal served in the dining hall all day, so it's more of a "brunchinner" than just a brunch. So eat up.
The South Bend Museum of Art
Think local about high culture this week and head to the South Bend Museum of Art on St. Joseph Street. It has a permanent collection featuring historical Indiana artists and contemporary regional artists. The collection also has a few nationally recognized pieces, but mostly focuses on regional artists. Right now, the museum is featuring an exhibit titled "The Flowering Cross: Holy Week in an Andean Village."
