Bryant Barr found his mountaintop in Bormio, Italy, in August.

Davidson College’s men’s basketball team traveled to Europe for a series of games and a bit of sightseeing this month. As we’ve reported, the team won four of six games. DavidsonNews.net asked senior Bryant Barr to reflect on the trip.

By BRYANT BARR

Almost all Davidson College students spend time abroad during their four years at school. But with basketball, we don’t have this opportunity. So in our summer trip to Italy and Slovenia, we tried to pack a semester’s worth of sightseeing and culture into two short weeks. Read the full story

Check out The Guide today for a preview of the 2009-10 Organ at Davidson series, which opens Sept. 15 with a performance by Atlanta organist Robert Parrish.

Also in The Guide, our Davidson Weekend Calendar, with information about a variety of live music on tap in and around town. Also, information about music, art, theater and lectures ahead over the next few weeks.

Also, a preview of September lectures, films and other public events at Davidson College.

From art opening to concert by Nickel’s Creek’s Chris Thile, a busy month

September brings a busy month of public events at Davidson College, from lectures and music to performances and films. They include Thursday’s gallery talk and opening for the “2009 Studio Art Professors Exhibition” and the exhibit “Cristina Toro: Alive on the Intricate Earth Under Trees.”

Coming up next week, the “Family Vaudeville Extravaganza” returns Saturday, Sept. 5, as part of the Hurricane Hugo Juggling Festival. Meanwhile, here’s a ticket to buy in advance: At month’s end, the Artist’s Series brings in The Punch Brothers with Chris Thile, an acclaimed mandolinist who made his name with Nickel Creek. For the full list, see our item in The Guide.

Davidson football head coach Tripp Merritt encourages his team as they begin their morning stretch on Friday, Aug. 21. (Tim Cowie photo) (Click on photo to go to a gallery below)

Davidson College’s football team has been getting up early – very early – in recent days as it prepares for the 2009 season. The Wildcats are looking to improve on last year’s disappointing record of 4 wins and 7 losses. “We are a hungry football team and eager to earn back some respect,” Coach Tripp Merritt says in a season preview on DavidsonWildcats.com, the college’s official website for athletics. The season begins Sept. 5 at Elon University. The Cats’ home opener is Sept. 12 against Lenoir-Rhyne.

Photographer  Tim Cowie was up early Friday and sent this gallery of early morning practice photos. (See below) Read the full story

Patrick Whitman, of Davidson's Class of 2011, charges away from the starting line in the 2007 Cake Race. (Bill Giduz photo)

One of the oldest continuing traditions of the new school year at Davidson College is the Freshman Cake Race, a 1.7-mile foot race. This year’s 70th running is Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m. at Richardson Stadium.

The tradition calls for people in the community to contribute cakes that are given away as prizes to race finishers. Runners pick a cake after they cross the line. Last year, 140 cakes were contributed, enough for all but two runners. (Not all of the 491 freshmen participate.)

Find out how you can contribute a cake below. Read the full story

Davidson freshmen arrived Wednesday. Bet they're glad not to be wearing one of these: a freshman beanie. More on the college archives website. (Click photo)

Davidson College came out as the No. 2 ranked “up and coming” liberal arts college in the nation and the No. 8 liberal arts college overall in U.S. News & World Report magazines “Best Colleges 2010.” The rankings are online today.

Davidson fell one notch in the “up and coming ranking,” after leading the category last year. US News gave the top spot to Hendrix College in Conway, Ark.  Davidson tied with Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga. for No. 2 in the category. Read the full story

Davidson College English professor Maria Fackler spotted this humorous accident of signage on campus Tuesday. The signs were in preparation for the arrival of the Class of 2013 today. At a meeting Wednesday morning, Dean of Students Tom Shandley joked that a third sign might be in order, saying "just kidding." Freshmen will be moving in beginning at 6 p.m. (Maria Fackler photo)

More about the start of the new school year at Davidson in our Monday article, “Class of 2013 leads Davidson students back to campus.”

The team posed in St. Mark's Square, Venice. (Photo from Bryant Barr, via Twitpic)

As summer winds to a close, the Davidson College men’s basketball team is in Europe on a tour that is part work – six games against local opponents – and part play – sightseeing (and eating well, if Bryant Barr’s Tweets are any indication).

As of Tuesday, the Wildcats had played five games in six days in Italy and Slovenia, and were 3-2. Their final game is Friday. Read the full story