Innovation: Student Walks Down Filbert Street to Avoid Small Talk

Andrea Blumenthal (W '20) hates small talk.

"Every time I walk down Locust, I run into everyone I know, and they have the audacity to start a conversation when I clearly have better places to be. I don't care how Katie from freshman year is doing. I don't want to get coffee with creepy Ben," she fumes. "There's no escape."

Blumenthal has tried walking down Spruce and Walnut, among other streets, but can't catch a break from the endless hordes of acquaintances.

"I can't walk on Spruce because of the Quad. Too many people live in the Radian on Walnut. Chestnut has the Penn Police department, so sometimes I run into my dealers. And don't even get me started on Market—everyone's in SHS right now," she sighs.

Her solution? Walking 0.4 extra miles from Locust to Filbert Street, just beyond Market.

"Walking on Filbert gives me a safe, wide berth from the people I try to avoid every day," she explains. "My commute from class to class takes 10 extra minutes every day, but it's worth the peace of mind."

Blumenthal was last seen red-faced, sprinting from Huntsman Hall to 38th and Filbert.

"Gotta get to DRL," she huffed.