UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From a ballet performance in Philadelphia to a special look at winemaking in the nation’s capital, Penn State’s alumni and faculty stars will headline six City Lights events from March through June. This season’s City Lights program also includes events in Atlanta and Pittsburgh, and a historical perspective on World War II in New York City.
All events require pre-registration, which is now open. Check the Alumni Association’s website for more information. City Lights is presented by the Penn State Alumni Association and sponsored by The Village at Penn State. "'Swan Lake': An Evening of Ballet"Academy of Music, Philadelphia5:30 to 10 p.m. March 14Experience the wonders of the Pennsylvania Ballet with founding Artistic Director Barbara Weisberger, Class of 1945, who will take you on a journey through the events that led to the founding of the company as well as what occurred during her 20-year tenure. Considered one of the premier ballet companies in the U.S., the Pennsylvania Ballet has been at the forefront of American dance since 1963. This event includes tickets to attend the Pennsylvania Ballet performance of "Swam Lake" after the program. Cost: $75 for Alumni Association members and $100 for non-members. “Penn Staters in News and Weather Careers”Omni Hotel at CNN Center, Atlanta6 to 9:30 p.m. April 2Experience a behind-the-scenes look into the world of news and weather broadcasting at the CNN Center in Atlanta, and journey through the global headquarters of CNN, the largest of its 48 bureaus worldwide. Enjoy a seated dinner and hear from a panel of Penn Staters from The Weather Channel and CNN, who will tell stories about their professional experiences, day-to-day work, and how they found their place in news and weather. Cost: $35 for Alumni Association members and $50 for non-members. “The Life and Art of Andy Warhol”The Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh630 to 9:30 p.m. April 23Explore the fascinating collection of Andy Warhol’s work at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh with Sarah Rich, who will uncover the artist’s major paintings. Learn how Warhol transformed definitions of aesthetic experience through his soup cans and images of Marilyn Monroe as well as his films and orchestrated parties. Housed in Warhol’s birthplace, the museum is one of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, where visitors can journey through seven floors of paintings, sculptures, photographs, pop paintings and more. Cost: $50 for Alumni Association members and $70 for non-members. “Historical Perspectives on the USS Intrepid”Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, New York CityIn partnership with Penn State Harrisburg9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 9Climb aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum with Charles Kupfer, who will travel back in time through the major events of World War II, lesser well-known aspects of the conflict and changes in the way we remember it. This is a family-friendly discussion that will also explore the material culture of the war, in particular our ongoing fascination with World War II military hardware, especially ships and planes. Launched in 1943, the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid fought in World War II and was decommissioned in 1974. Cost: $35 for Alumni Association members, $50 for non-members and $20 for children ages 7 to 18; free for children ages 6 and younger. “From Vine to Wine”The Mayflower Renaissance, Washington, D.C.In partnership with the College of Agricultural Sciences 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. May 21Join Penn State’s leading wine expert, Denise Gardner, Class of 2007, as she explains how the world of wine captivated her life while tasting your way through the history and enjoyable nature of wine. Learn the difference between Old World and New World wines and how to sense varying wine flavors. Plus, discover fun wine facts that will impress your friends during a future dinner party. Cost: $40 for Alumni Association members and $55 for non-members. “Foods of Philly”9th Street Italian Market, PhiladelphiaIn partnership with the College of Health and Human Development 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 13Join us for a delectable culinary tour of the 9th Street Italian Market in Philadelphia with Peter Bordi to explore the history of Italian cuisine and the marketplace. This market holds many stories about Italian immigrants and their past, present and future in the United States, including its start in the mid-to-late 1880s, when Antonio Palumbo, an Italian immigrant, opened a boarding house in the neighborhood for other Italians. Since then, the market has kept its original Italian roots but has diversified to reflect new waves of immigration. Cost: $25 for Alumni Association members and $35 for non-members.