Fall fitness
It’s not too late to melt away the pounds—and keep them off—before the holiday season with PennFit events from the Department of Recreation.
Learn about the “Benefits of Massage Therapy Related to Stress” on Nov. 28; measure your body composition on Dec. 1; and find out how to keep off the winter pounds on Dec. 5 and 7. All events take place at the Pottruck Center, 3701 Walnut St. from noon to 1 p.m. Pre-registration is required for the Dec. 1 workshop at 215-898-6100 or www.upenn.edu/recreation/programs/pennfit.htm. For more information, go to: www.upenn.edu/recreation.

Never too early
Begin holiday shopping before the month is out at the Penn Museum. From Thursday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 3, the Museum shops are offering a 10 percent discount on all items. If you’re a member, take 20 percent off.

The Museum shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 1 until 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Pyramid Shop features good stuff for children, teachers and students and is open from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 215-898-4040 or go to: www.museum.upenn.edu.

The G8 and Africa
Penn’s Graduate Student Center presents a two-day conference, “The G8’s Response to Africa: Is it Making a Difference?” on Thursday, Nov. 30 and Friday, Dec. 1. Lawyer and political economist Kwesi Botchwey, who is also visiting professor of international development economics at Tufts and executive chairman of Africa Development Policy Ownership Initiative, gives the keynote address on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. in Room 17, Logan Hall, 249 S. 36th St. The following day, regional faculty and graduate students will present on economic development issues, historical contexts and case studies, beginning at 9 a.m. in Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St. For more information and to register, go to: www.gsc.upenn.edu/programs/ip.php#g8.