Corona beer boxes on the sidewalk, champagne bottles on picnic tables and sizable Slurpees melting in the sun. It can mean only one thing in East Lansing.
It's finally spring.
Outside an all-girl, 13-bedroom house on Charles Street, psychology junior Lena Nicola's 21st birthday was celebrated with an outdoor toast of Asti Spumante. Nicola wasn't the only one enjoying the 75 degree weather. Her roommates celebrated the warm temperatures by jogging outside and reading on the front porch.
Temperatures throughout the week are expected to remain in the mid-50s to high-60s, allowing students to take advantage of the spring weather by studying, playing chess or shooting hoops outside, among other activities.
Lazy day
The warm day brought juniors Erin Reardon, Gina Blaauw and Whitney Kemerling to their front porch. But instead of soaking up the sun, the girls typed away on their laptops, drinking colossal-sized Slurpees.
The trio, while attempting homework, was distracted by the pleasant weather.
"Yeah, clearly doing homework," communication junior Heidi Swartzloff joked. "I see Facebook!"
Reardon, who is majoring in education, quickly rebutted.
"We're trying to do homework!" she said.
As the only guy in the house, communication junior Peter Pacheco proved chivalry isn't dead when he bought the Slurpees for his female housemates.
"He's our sugar daddy," Reardon said.
Battle of wits
Bright weather isn't just for the physically strong but the intellectually strong, as well. French sophomore David Ramp and criminal justice senior John Glandon flexed their intellects in a cutthroat game of chess outside Espresso Royale Cafe, 527 E. Grand River Ave.
After about 30 minutes, the guys were tied in the number of pieces, although Glandon gave Ramp a slight advantage.
Ramp said he leisurely biked to his three classes on Monday.
"It was pretty awesome biking to class with the wind blowing and the sun out," he said.
Sunny studies
The sun was out in full force Monday afternoon, and students came out of hibernation.
West Circle Drive was bubbling with students laying on blankets, soaking up the rays, while other students, such as music education junior Katy Sare, were taking the chance to catch up on their homework in a place other than their dorm rooms.
"It's fantastic," Sare said. "I like being able to get out here and relax. The homework settles in better out here in a nicer environment."
Blankets dotted the grassy area where Sare was laying with her book open. Students talked loudly with their friends and laughed at the jokes they told each other.
"Everyone seems to be in a better mood," she said.
Sare added the walk to class was more enjoyable because of the nicer weather.
"Winter is awful — I'd rather just stay inside and sleep," she said. "I'm not sure which days are more tempting to skip class — the bad ones where you stay inside and sleep, or the nice ones where you can lay out in the sun."
Sporty afternoon
A friendly two-on-two basketball game was being played on the cement court by Mayo Hall.
"Everyone on campus seems happier," said food industry management sophomore Drew Harper, as he took a break from the action.
While standing at half court, Harper spoke of all the other things he and his friends could do in the warm weather.
"Play Frisbee, go sun tanning, toss the football around," he said, before being interrupted by music education freshman Brad Eiser, who chimed in with his own ideas on what to do Monday afternoon: "Check out the ladies."
As the other guys laughed, mechanical engineering sophomore Ben Panepucci was enjoying the sunshine and blue skies a lot more than the snow covered basketball court he'd seen a few weeks earlier.
"It's way better than sitting inside playing video games, feeling depressed," Panepucci said of the current temperature.
Other ways to spend time outside:
Potter Park Zoo
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 1 to May 25
• Admission — Lansing adult residents: $5, Lansing senior residents (60 or older): $3, Children 3-15: $2, Children younger than 3: Free
• Parking is $5 per vehicle
East Lansing Northern Tier Trail
• 4.5-mile asphalt trail available for hiking, jogging, biking and in-line skating
• Accessible from five parking areas in the city
• For more information, call (517) 319-6809.
MSU sports
• Softball: 3 p.m. Wednesday vs. Bowling Green at Old College Field
• Men's tennis: 2:30 p.m. Wednesday vs. Notre Dame
• Women's tennis: 3 p.m. Friday vs. Ohio State
