STAFF EDITORIAL: Summer in the city

Summer on campus can be dull. Most people are away, your favorite TV shows are in reruns, and almost everything on campus closes at 7 p.m. But summer brings excitement to the city.

In July, the city will gear up to host the Republican National Convention, which runs from July 31 to August 3 at the First Union Center. More than 40,000 people -- delegates, candidates, families and throngs of media -- are expected to descend on the city, bringing energy and chaos, along with a midsummer Mummers parade.

The convention will be complemented by PoliticalFest, a four-day exhibition at the Pennsylvania Convention Center with politics-based events for the public.

The convention will also bring activity to campus. Penn will provide dormitory and hotel space to house convention visitors -- ABC has booked the Inn at Pennÿ-- and the University will host events and speakers, bringing delegates, and VIPs and media to campus.

If politics don't hold your interest, there are myriad other events throughout the city throughout the summer.

"Welcome America," the city's massive Fourth of July celebration, begins next week with OpSail bringing dozens of elegant tall-mast ships to Penn's Landing, along with parades, fireworks, and light shows. The festivities continue with showings of films -- like Rocky II and the The Sixth Sense -- with Philadelphia connections, five days of sidewalk concerts and an "All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival," among other events, and culminates with an always-impressive fireworks display by the Art Museum.

There's also this week's Mellon Jazz festival, the Odunde African Festival in mid-July and more events than can be named.

And you can always take time to visit attractions in the city or suburbs that you wouldn't have time to see during the year.

So get out of your room, get on a bus or train and go see the sites. You'll be glad you did.

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