Go Bulldogs!

Luke goes out on a date. And, Lorelai and Chris run into some unexpected people at Yale's Parent's Weekend


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Original Air date: November 7, 2006

We are her parents
Lorelai and Christopher leave for Paris in two weeks, but that leaves the upcoming weekend open to do "Parent's Weekend" at Yale. It's really Christopher who's gung-ho about it, but he convinces Lorelai to go with him. She thinks it's a sham weekend where Yale will pull out all the stops to make the university seem better than it is normally, just for the parents. Thus far, she has managed to avoid Parent's Weekend for Rory's first three years of school.

At Yale, Chris is so excited about all of the museum tours and guest lecturers, but he does feel a little odd among the other dads who are talking about all the things they've done for their kids over the years. Lorelai, meanwhile is more interested in criticizing the food and the people. There is one Gilmore who is excited for Parent's Weekend: Emily Gilmore. She and Richard make an annual visit to Rory on Parent's Weekend. Lorelai had no idea and this puts her in combat mode. When she hears that Emily and Richard are taking Rory to an exclusive French restaurant for dinner, she tells Rory that she are Christopher are taking her out to lunch.

The lunch is weird
Rory is very busy at the paper, because they are putting out a special edition for the parents, nonetheless, she can manage to go out to lunch and dinner. Chris makes an expensive gesture and invites all of Rory's "friends" from the paper to join them at the same exclusive French restaurant, aka Chez Fancy Pants, ahead of Richard and Emily's dinner that night. The only problem is that Rory doesn't really hang out with the people from the paper. Chris doesn't seem to notice, however. He chats it up with the Daily News staff and even invites them all to a ski weekend in Vermont. Lorelai can tell that Rory's a little uncomfortable.

Before the cognacs and "to die for" creme brulees arrive, Rory gets a message about a protest happening on campus that they should make into the new lead story for the paper. She has to coerce the reporters to spring into action. Most are full, some want their creme brulee and one girl, Joanne, is admittedly "tipsy" from wine with lunch. With this kind of support staff, it's going to be a long night for Rory - she'll have to skip dinner with Richard and Emily. Hearing this, Lorelai says they "won Parent's Weekend" because they got to have a meal with Rory.

Later that night, Chris and Lorelai bring the Daily News staff some coffee and doughnuts to give them energy for the all-nighter. Ever the atypical dad, Chris apologizes to Rory for getting her staff drunk at lunch. She says she's not mad, but she does offer up with an evil smile, that since she's stuck at the paper, Lorelai and Chris are taking her place at dinner with Richard and Emily.

Adult swimming lessons
Luke's still taking care of April while Anna's away and he's in full dad mode, complete with the "did you forget this?" list. What do you think about their relationship? When he goes to pick up April at swim practice, her coach, Susan Bennett insists that Luke learn how to swim. Just his luck, she can fit him into her current class! Susan obviously hits on Luke during the swimming lessons and he leaves with her phone number.

After witnessing Kirk almost break up with Lulu for no good reason, Luke first gives Kirk a stern talking to and then decides to give Coach Bennett a call.

He gets Lane to "hang out" with April while he goes out on his date. April notices that Lane is a bit saddened to see Luke go out with somebody other than Lorelai, but Lane needn't worry about this one... Susan picks out a vegan restaurant for them to have dinner, asks Luke to sit on the same side of the booth with her and then starts firing strange questions at him and talking about ex-boyfriends. Susan is a bit intense, bordering on crazy. Luke realizes that he's not going to eat at vegan restaurants or go out with Susan again.

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