Sometimes the answer to life’s most pressing problems can be found in a food truck — especially when the food is free.

And sometimes you just need a moment to celebrate a little bit. Fall in New England is wonderful, but let’s face it, there is a lot going on in the world and, at this time of the semester, a lot going on at Suffolk. Students are in the midst of robust coursework, faculty and staff are busy at work and at home, and all of us are still balancing our desire to be together as a community with the important priority of working to keep ourselves and one another safe in the midst of this ongoing pandemic. We all need time to take a break, have some fun, and celebrate together.

Fortunately, we have a perfect opportunity coming up in just over a week. Suffolk Weekend is scheduled from Thursday Oct. 21 through Saturday Oct. 23 and it is chock of full of great events, including one of my annual favorites — The Suffolk Weekend Block Party and Fan Fest Celebration, which takes place completely outdoors.

The way I look at it, there is very little that a Roxy’s three-cheese grilled cheese sandwich and a Cookie Monstah Wicked Good ice cream sandwich can’t fix, at least for a little while.

The Suffolk Block Party and Fan Fest Celebration starts at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 23, at East Boston Memorial Park. Grab your friends, jump on the Blue Line or take the Suffolk Bus, and come play lawn games, take in the music, paint pumpkins, mug for photos in the photo booth, and enjoy a variety of options from local area food trucks.

Cheer on our outstanding Suffolk soccer teams as they take on Curry College. Women’s Soccer kicks off at 1 p.m.; Men’s Soccer starts at 4 p.m. Register for the Rammy’s Fun Run/Walk, ($10 entrance fee) starting at 11 a.m., at East Boston Memorial Park, with all proceeds benefiting the Suffolk CARES Pantry, which provides food and needed products to Suffolk students at no cost. (If you walk or run, you get a free Rammy 5K T-shirt.)

The Fan Fest Block Party is a great opportunity not only to show our Suffolk spirit and root on the Rams, but also just to be together. We have missed too many events that bring our community together in person over the past year and a half. The pandemic has made in-person community events difficult at times and impossible at others. We’ve done a great job gathering virtually, but this is one where we can be together outdoors and in person, and especially (hopefully) while the weather is still good.

Check out the many other wonderful Suffolk Weekend events here. There are forums and webinars, an Alumni Racial Healing Circle, Boston-themed Music Bingo, a theatre production, Women’s Volleyball, morning meditation and more.

And please join me at the Suffolk Block Party in East Boston. Bring your families. Spread the word. It’s always a blast, but this year, I think it will be particularly great. We deserve it.

marisasig

Marisa J. Kelly
President