In the wake of hurricanes Henri and Ida, finding safe and fun rainy day activities has never been more vital. So next time the West tunnel begins to look more like a lazy river, bring some sunshine to your day with the following activities. 

Mendel Movie Night: Have you ever dreamed of watching your favorite throwback movies on the big screen – “Legally Blonde” or “Clueless,” anyone? With only a HDMI compatible device and a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, you and your friends will have all the necessities for the perfect private screening experience. Alternatively, if you wish to truly stay in and out of the rain, create a fort in your dorm room to truly create a cozy atmosphere. You could even take things to the next level with a portable projector and white bed sheet – creating the movie theatre experience on your dorm room ceiling. 

We’re Not Really Strangers: Are you a new student looking to get closer with your roommate or an upperclassman who wants to deepen your already iron strong marriage pact relationship? If you answered yes, then “We’re Not Really Strangers” is the card game for you. The game hit the shelves in 2018 and since then has been written up in Forbes and collaborated with luxury brand, Valentino. Deemed an “existential crisis causing party game” in an Amazon review, this game will probably make you laugh or cry  – but most likely cry. Even so, at the end of the night, you and your friends will be closer than ever, or maybe more than friends. 

Karaoke Night: With just a quick YouTube search, you are just a few clicks away from the karaoke night of your dreams. Get your besties together and put those Taylor Swift lyric videos to good use. If you are looking to really elevate your karaoke night, choose a theme for the evening, like Y2K, Mamma Mia or Disney and order a Bluetooth Karaoke microphone so your whole hall can hear your “America’s Got Talent” worthy performances. 

Charcuterie Board Competition or Dip Night: For those with a kitchen looking for a more sophisticated rainy evening in, all you have to do is get out your finest Target cutting boards and set a timer to race your friends in creating the most Pinterest worthy charcuterie board. To make the night even sweeter, try taking the dessert route when constructing your board. If you are not a fan of charcuterie overall, invite your friends to a dip potluck to indulge in dips ranging from guacamole to chocolate fondue. 

Organization Station: For those looking to use their time productively, orient and organize yourself. Clean out your inbox, finally do your laundry, color code your Google Drive folders and even, dare we say, catch up on some homework. All these things will help bring a sense of control and peace to your day so that later in the evening you can truly enjoy any of the fantastic activities listed above.

Journal: Nothing like the aesthetic of rain against a window to put you in the perfect journaling mood. College is supposed to be the time of your life, so write down those good memories as a keepsake. But also write about the crappy stuff: the mountain of reading, the frustrating math equation, the argument with your friend or how much you miss your family. It is important to be aware of what is making your blue skies grey, especially during this transition back from virtual learning. Journaling is a great way to reflect and allow yourself to simply be. 

While there might not be an Ida or Henri-level storm hitting Villanova in the near future, these ideas will surely keep you entertained when any sort of precipitation touches down.