For students, orientation is an exciting time to get to know a new environment and meet future classmates. But if you are the parent of a student, and are staying for the duration of the events, the event isn’t entirely geared towards you. Sure, there are sessions you can go to, but when they are done, you might find yourself sitting alone in your hotel room while your child attempts to make friends on their own. To help beat the boredom, we’ve compiled some places you can check out while your soon-to-be bearcat registers for classes.

First Fridays
Binghamton is home to a thriving and well-respected art scene. On the first Friday of every month, the Gorgeous Washington Street Association hosts a citywide art walk, full of paintings, photography and live music. For those in the area for the June 30 -July 1 orientation, this is a good way to end your Binghamton experience.
The M&T Bank-sponsored event features 29 locations in Binghamton’s Downtown, West Side and South Side. For example, the Orazio Salati Studio & Gallery is featuring photography by National Geographic award winner, Joel Nsadha. The Shop, a Washington Street restaurant will be hosting Griot Rumbero, a Roots/Latin-fusion group.
For more information, visit gorgeouswashington.com

Lost Dog Daily Specials
The Lost Dog Café is a favorite for locals and students. In addition to serving a delicious menu, the restaurant also features recurring daily specials. The week starts off with Wine Lovers Monday, when you get $10 off of a bottle of wine. Tuesdays feature a special tapas menu as well as a karaoke night from 8 to 10. On Wednesdays, the bartender hosts a drink tasting, of which the focus changes from week to week. Tequila Tuesdays brings an end to the week’s specials, with $5 craft margaritas.
For more information, call 607-771-6063

July Fest
Binghamton’s 54th annual July Fest is the area’s jazz, food and art festival of the summer. From July 8-10, the festival will take over Court Street and Washington Street in Downtown Binghamton. The event begins at 10 a.m., featuring local artists, musicians and vendors. Typical festival food such as hot dogs will also be for sale.
For more information, visit julyfestbinghamton.com

Tennis Challenger
If you’re a sports lover, this might be the event for you. The Levene Gouldin & Thompson Tennis Challenger is making a stop in Binghamton from July 16-24. The United States Tennis Association Pro Circuit Tour is playing 31 matches over the course of nine days. In addition to the matches, there will also be a fast serve contest, a pro-am competition, the Dick’s 10 and Under Clinic and the Wilson/United States Tennis Association youth tennis clinic. From July 16-20, the event will begin at 10 a.m. with the rest of the tournament will starting at 11 a.m.
For more information, visit binghamtonchallenger.com

Phelps Mansion and Roberson Museums
When you drive around the city of Binghamton, you’ll notice that it’s full of breathtaking architecture. To take a closer look, visit The Roberson Mansion and the Phelps Mansion Museum. Both homes contain beautiful woodwork and fixtures that take you back to a time when Binghamton was a bustling city of wealth. The Roberson Mansion is now the Roberson Museum and Science center.
In addition to the grandeur and beauty of the space, an addition to the mansion holds exhibits such “Journey from Our Prehistoric Past,” a new natural history exhibit, composed of items loaned by the New York State Museum in Albany and the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca. The Phelps Mansion houses period furniture, and the exhibition “Fashionable in the Southern Tier,” which features clothing from 1870-1893.
For more information, visit roberson.org and phelpsmansion.org