We received calls from the Emory Steam Plant, Dekalb County Fire and Rescue, Emory Hospital, neighbors, you name it.

But was the 13-minute firework show last night worth it?

You betcha.

That's right alumni, to kick off Homecoming Week and commemorate Emory's 175th birthday, the Student Programming Council (SPC) brought a fireworks show to campus.

Students gathered on McDonough Field last night with friends and blankets for some barbecue, birthday cake, and pretty lights.

Even though the fireworks took off from the top of the Michael Street Parking Deck, they were plenty visible from the field, exploding right above and between Few and Evans Halls.

I don't mean to be sappy, but I got goosebumps watching those sparks go off. Maybe it's because I'm on SPC, but it was hard not to be impressed by the show.

Every time we thought, "this is the finale," the fireworks kept going and when the finale did finally come, there was no mistaking those grand bombs bursting in the air.

Fast forward 16 hours later and you would've found this cake on Asbury Circle today at Wonderful Wednesday.

Here's a breakdown of the blue-and-gold masterpiece: the top tier, red velvet; the middle, chocolate; and the bottom, of course, was vanilla.

There wasn't a crumb in sight after cake-cutting time came around.

(But I believe Swoop is being saved for SPC posterity...although he probably won't last another 175.)

We also had cupcake decorating nearby and an ice cream truck (see background of photo!) parked in the middle of the circle handing out old-school ice cream to students.

Dr. Gary Hauk even came out to inaugurate a new Wonderful Wednesday tradition called Tej Talks, where faculty and professors are allotted one minute to give a short lesson. Dr. Hauk went with the 175th theme and recited an Emory rhyme he penned.

We might've maxed out the "wonderful" in Wednesday for a while...but I don't think that's possible.

Next up this week is Jo Koy standing up tonight for some comedy at Glenn Memorial. And let's not leave out tomorrow night's Homecoming carnival, sure to be bigger and better than last year's.

--Lindsey Bomnin 12C, EAA communications intern