Upcoming Events in Austin

Thanks to our Austin Penn Alumni colleagues, here is news about a March Happy Hour and other events in the capital city.  Austin Welcomes San Antonians, just as we do Austinites!

I.  First Happy Hour for 2013 on:

Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Ginger Man at 301 Lavaca St, 6pm CST.

This event is a joint Happy Hour with the Cornell Club of Austin and a great opportunity to connect with our Ivy peers.

Please save the date!  

II. Austin World Music Festival: Exclusive 10% ticket discount

I am very excited to announce a special Alumni discount for WOBEONFEST 2013: The Austin World Music Festival , to be held on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7 in downtown Austin. WobeonFEST is a new two-day, outdoor, family-friendly World Music festival featuring world-class World Music, food, drink and a World Bazaar featuring merchandise and art.  The main music stage is on the expansive North Lawn of the Mexican American Cultural Center in Downtown Austin.  The festival features tons of good music, food and drink, and a World Bazaar. 

The festival was created by Jakes Srinivasan (WG’94) to bring top-tier international music to an increasingly-diverse Austin community with a wide range of musical tastes, in a family-friendly, affordable way.  The festival also serves to raise funds for the community – United Way  for Greater Austin is partnering to help organize the fest and will receive a portion of the proceeds.  Current face-value tickets are priced at $29.50 (1-day), $49.50 (2-Day), and kids under 12 enter free.  Also available are $249 (2-day VIP) weekend passes for an enhanced festival experience. 

Jakes has set up a special 10% ticket discount for Penn and Wharton alumni to be redeemed during the SXSW time frame.  The discount can be automatically redeemed by clicking this link, or by using the discount code PennRocksAustin on the festival ticketing page.  This discount is only valid until midnight on Sunday March 17, 2013, so if you are interested please don’t delay.  Prices will also go up closer to the festival.

The festival is headlined by Afropop superstar Angelique Kidjo (from Benin) on Saturday, and Reggae star Collie Buddz (from Bermuda) on Sunday.  Ten other top-tier touring and local bands are also featured, including Afrobeat sensation Fatoumata Diawara (Mali), Bomba Estereo (Colombia), Red Baraat (India/NYC) and others.   See the WobeonFEST website or the WobeonFEST facebook page for details and schedule.  See recent press releases here and here.

Penn Alumni Gather at El Sazon, Welcome New Alumna

The Penn Alumni Club of San Antonio met at El Sazon Cafe for February's gathering on Friday the 22nd.  We were delighted to welcome 1st Lt Julianne Legierse, USAF, a 2011 graduate of Penn Nursing.  Julianne is serving San Antonio's military community at San Antonio Military Medical Center.  L to R:  Toni Murgo, Bruce Gatti, John Ray, Hank Hammer, Julianne Legierse, Elaine Ayala.  Photo by Bob Weidman.

Ivy Plus Happy Hour at Aloft Hotel

Blanco Rd at Loop 410

Thursday, March 14, 5:30-8 P.M.

March's Ivy Plus event is sponsored by the Harvard Alumni Club.  Aloft Hotel,  a contemporary hotel concept, promises Happy Hour prices and a band, "Colao."  The bartender will attempt to create Ivy-themed drinks and will welcome suggestions.  For starters, to make you smile and whet your thirst, here are some ideas from our own April and Albert Dickson:

Penn-themed libations

a Locust Walk  (similar to a Grasshopper)

the Whartonite  (Goldschlager and Redbull)

Schuylkill Water (really dirty martini with lots of olives floating)

the Button (Chambord and Absinthe)

the Philomathean  (single-malt Scotch served over chilled marble from the Rosetta Stone)

the Gargoyle  (saltwater and olive oil)

Send me your own ideas, won't you?

And if you choose to make it an evening, there are several good dining options right in the neighborhood:  Dough Pizzeria, Picnickins, Ilsong Garden, Lion and Rose, Sawasdee Thai just to name a few.  

Hope to see you Aloft!

Bob Weidman

Penn, Cornell, Columbia Team Up for Basura Bash 2013

An Ivy Plus crew tackled a stretch of the Leon Creek Greenway on February 23 in San Antonio's Basura Bash 2013.  Rhonda Boyles, Toni Murgo and Bob Weidman carried the trash bags for Penn.

Upcoming Penn Luncheons, February-October 2013

Here are our upcoming Penn Alumni Luncheons, as planned by Elaine Ayala,
eayala@express-news.net.  

 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 22, El Sazon Mexican Cafe, 9822 Potranco, on the Northwest side. (210) 256-1500.
11:30 a.m., Friday, March 22, Tommy Moore's Cafe, 915 S Hackberry, (210) 531-9800, on the city's East Side.
11:30 a.m., Friday, April 19, Mariscos Bucaneros, 16505 Blanco Road near Bitters, (210) 408-9297, on the city's far North Side.
11:30 a.m., Friday, May 31, Simi's India Cuisine, 4535 Fredericksburg Road, (210) 737-3166, on the city's Northwest side inside Loop 410.
11:30 a.m. Friday, June 28, Lisa's Mexican Restaurant, 815 Bandera Road, (210) 433-2531, on the city's West Side.
11: 30 p.m. Friday, July 26, Sapore's Pizza, 2715 Hillcrest Road, near Babcock, (210) 733-5503, on the NW side inside Loop 410.
11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, Boiler House Texas Grill and Wine Garden at The Pearl, (210) 354-4644.
11:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, The Cove, 606 W Cypress, (210) 227-2683, in the Five Points area, just outside downtown.
11: 30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, Bernard's Creole Kitchen, 8535 Mission Road, in the Stinson Airport, on the city's South Side.

Posted by Bob Weidman, February 7.

Ben's Birthday Bash at Youz Guyz, Thursday January 17, 2013

Good camaraderie:  Those attending, in no particular order, were John Ray, Brian Swain, Beth Eby, Toni Murgo, Jo-Anne Kaplan and husband Mike Gershman, Elaine Ayala, Bruce Gatti, Monica Flynn, Dave Young, Ed Keeley, Rhonda Boyles, and Bob Weidman.

See you next month at El Sazon, 9822 Potranco Road, Friday February 22, (210) 256-1500

 

JANUARY LUNCHEON REMINDER

BEN'S BIRTHDAY BASH

Thursday, January 17, 11:30 A.M.

Youz Guyz Philly Cheesesteaks, 316 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City

R.S.V.P.:  Elaine Ayala, eayala@express-news.net

Photos from last year's celebration.  Hope to see you there!

QUAKER SPORTS ALERT

Basketball Today, January 12

Penn Vs. Princeton

5 PM Central

NBC Sports Network

Tentative Luncheon Schedule, January-June 2013

Happy New Year! 

Here are the luncheon dates for the first half of 2013, Starting with Ben's Birthday Bash, Thursday, January 17:


Thursday, Jan. 17, 11:30 at Youz Guyz Philadelphia Cheesesteak, 316 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City
Friday, Feb. 22
Friday, March 22 (March 29 is Good Friday)
Friday, April 19 (April 26 lands during Fiesta's day parade)
Friday, May 31
Friday, June 28


Generally, this year we are aiming for the last Friday of each month, but as you can see, there will be exceptions.  Our luncheon coordinator is Elaine Ayala, eayala@express-news.net. We'll be posting the venues for February through June soon--look for the info here and by e-mail to those on the Listserv. 

I hope to see you January 17th!

Bob Weidman
President, Penn Alumni Club of San Antonio