Harvard & Berkeley Host a Special Edition Arts Brunch!
The Harvard Club of Austin and Cal Alumni Club of Austin are at it again, and hosting a very special Sunday brunch on 4/14 at 1pm with amazing speakers who are making waves in Austin!
We will spotlight three phenomenal women, Annie Burridge, Jennifer Basten and Sarah Story, who are true powerhouses in the Austin arts community.
Annie Burridge is the General Director & CEO at Austin Opera and Co-Chair at OPERA America. She was both the Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement at Opera Philadelphia where she received her MA in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Pennsylvania in addition to her studies in the Women’s Executive Leadership program at the prestigious Wharton School.
Jennifer Basten is the Chief Advancement Officer at Austin Opera, and was the former Director of Individual Giving at Opera Philadelphia where she received her MS in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarah Story is the Founder and CEO of Sarah Story Consulting, which works with nonprofits across Austin. She was the former Executive Director at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and Museum and the Director of Development at the Blanton Museum of Art. She was also the Executive Director at the Mississippi Arts Commission and Deputy Director at the Ogden Museum of Art where she received her MA in Arts Administration from the University of New Orleans.
Join us for a thoughtful and meaningful conversation about their vision for the next generation of art enthusiasts, and what they are doing right now to empower and transform the arts community in Austin.
Tickets are $20 pp, with drinks, light bites, and amazing company included. The South Austin address will be disclosed post-ticket purchase. This event is open to Ivy+ members.
We are very excited to host this event and can’t wait to see you there!
Our cocktail menu released!
Harvard & Berkeley Present Our First Galentine's Brunch!
"Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses... swapped back and forth and over again." – Michelle Obama
Stephanie Pace Smith, Blessing Oyeniyi, Jess Baker, Chloe Kwon, Penny Chung, Katie Silva, Diana Gomez, and Margaret Barry are so excited to continue the festivities from last year's Harvard/Berkeley holiday event, and to host our very special Galentine’s Brunch on Sun 2/11 at 1-4pm!!
The brunch will feature a pianist playing our favorite women empowerment anthems on a Seiler baby grand, our bartender will be serving delicious brunch cocktails, there will be hot tub time (bring your swimsuits!), and we’ll have light bites. The address will be provided after you purchase your ticket.
Harvard and Berkeley Clubs are now offering FREE ONSITE BABYSITTING as an option! Four phenomenal Montessori-trained experienced teachers will be available to sit for newborn, toddler and school age children. If you want to attend the event and are interested in these services, please email us at steph.pace@gmail.com or text us at 512.417.9556. We would need to know how many kids you need in care and their ages. We are very excited to offer this option for moms in our community!
We can’t wait to see you and for everyone to get together for an amazing time!!!
Harvard & Berkeley Invite the Ivy+ to A Holiday Happy Hour
Your Harvard and Berkeley Alumni Clubs are so excited to invite the Ivy+ to a holiday-themed happy hour on Sat 12/2 from 6-9pm!! You’ll get to sing karaoke, play at a full length bocce court, relax in hammocks with friends, make holiday s’mores at the fire pit, and relax in a 102-degree 8-person Bullfrog hot tub (don’t forget your swimsuits and towels!!). Event admission is only $25 to cover both alcoholic and non-alcoholic holiday cocktails and our bartender, with light appetizers, and as always, all your +1s are welcome!! Holiday attire is encouraged. The South Austin home address will be disclosed after you RSVP. This location is 10 min to South Congress, 12 min to downtown, and 5 min to The Yard, so you can enjoy post-event festivities at any of Austin’s popular nightlife attractions. We hope to see you soon!!
Joint Big Game Watch Party 2023!!!
UPDATE!!!
Happy hour 4-5:30pm
Game time 5:30-8:30pm
See you next Sat!!
Come experience The Big Game with both Cal and Stanford alumni!! Our happy hour is 4-5:30pm, and the game is 5:30-8:30pm. You’ll be able to watch The Big Game throughout the home and patio on THREE massive TV’s with Sonos speakers. During the pre-game happy hour, you can play at the full length bocce court, relax in the private hammock area with friends, and sit in the 8-person Bullfrog hot tub (don’t forget your swimsuits and towels). There's tons of parking in the neighborhood. This event is BYOB, but we will have refreshments. This location is in South Austin 78745 (address will be disclosed after you RSVP) - 10 min to South Congress, 12 min to downtown, 5 min to The Yard- so you can easily Uber to and from this location, and you can also enjoy festivities post-event at any of Austin’s popular nightlife attractions. See you at this Big Game event!!
Summer Welcome Party for Cal Freshmen Class of 2027!!!
We’re throwing a celebration party for the next generation of Cal students!! This event will have attendees from all over the state of Texas and will allow alumni and freshmen and their families to connect with one another before the semester begins. See you in July and Go Bears!!!
Austin Ivy Plus Jazz & Wine Sunset Cruise
Summer will come to an end, but with a celebration like this, it is guaranteed to go out in style!
In late September, enjoy a beautiful and relaxing evening on three luxury yacht charters with your fellow Austin Ivy+ alumni- the Casino Royale, Goldeneye and Knot Again with Lake Travis Yacht Rentals. Experience a fine wine tasting on board with hot Austin startup BOXT and its company founder / CEO Sarah Puil (wine selections will be paired with artisan cheeses). And bask in a gorgeous Lake Travis sunset with live jazz by Louis Pettinelli Jazz Trio, a 3 piece set with an incredible elevated and classic vibe. They will be providing sax, bass and guitar. All three yacht charters will tie up on the lake. This means that all our guests can walk onto each of the different boats to mingle throughout the event. (Please wear flats. Heels are highly discouraged.)
We are also offering a VIP ticket with Tare Austin. Tare is a luxury omakase team that has been offering unique in-home dining experiences since 2020. Michael Carranza was the Head Sushi Chef at Uchi, and later joined Musashino, the pinnacle of Austin’s sushi, where he trained under sushi master Takehiko Fuse. He recently founded Osome ATX with John Gocong from Hai and Nobu, and the first open-faced-sushi concept Texas Sushiko in South Austin. The Tare omakase menu will be a 10-course chef’s tasting that includes sake pairings at an additional $100 per ticket.
Note: Michael Carranza and Danielle Martinez are friends of the yacht party hosts and typically would not do this for any other event! This pricing is much less than what you would pay for an in-home omakase dinner, which is $300+ pp for a 17 course menu. And it’s the equivalent price of what you would spend at Uchi, where the full omakase option is 10 courses at $100 pp, which- to be clear- does NOT include sake pairings or tip. And this Tare dinner does! And VIP guests will also be able to participate in the unlimited wine and cheese pairings while mingling on all three yachts. Let us know if you’re interested in purchasing the VIP ticket, email us at cal.alumni.atx@gmail.com. There are only 10 spots for this very special dining experience.
Embrace cooler weather with scintillating conversations, jazz, wine and an unbelievable Texas sunset. Buy your $75 cruise ticket today and please feel free to bring your +1s!
Summer Welcome Party for Cal Freshmen Class of 2026!!!
Please join your fellow alums as we welcome the next generation of Cal students!! This party will allow alumni, incoming students, and parents to connect with one another before the semester begins. See you in July and Go Bears!!!
Harvard-Yale-Cal-Stanford Football Watch Party!
Co-sponsored by Austin All Ivy+ and the Harvard, Yale, Cal, and Stanford Clubs of Austin, this doubleheader watch party is one not to miss. Attend one game or both. Alums and guests of all Ivy+ schools are welcome to all festivities. Come cheer on your team or just meet new friends.
The Park at South Lamar is a relaxed and fun venue. There will be outdoor and indoor watch areas with lots of TVs. Door prizes, games, and camaraderie all day! Please represent responsibly and remember good sportsmanship towards your rival schools.
PRIMARY WATCH AREA IS OUTDOORS, overflow area is indoors.
Harvard-Yale starts at 11:00 am Central Time. Cal-Stanford start time is 6 PM Central Time. Registration is required to attend either or both.
There is no cost for the event itself -- food & drink is on your own on individual tabs.
Proof of vaccine is REQUIRED, along with a signed waiver acknowledging the risks of in-person events during the pandemic.
Outdoor ‘Costumes & Cocktails’ Halloween Bash
Something is brewing in the Austin Ivy Plus! Join your fellow alums for an Outdoor ‘Costumes & Cocktails’ Halloween Bash, hosted by the Cal Alumni Club of Austin and Penn/Wharton Club of Austin on Fri Oct 15th 7-10pm. There will be a DJ, bartender and professional photographer.
The costume theme is ‘class reunion’- wear your favorite trendiest and/or most memorable outfit from your college years. Striking examples of decade costumes are: 2000s- pink Lacoste polos with popped collars, Juicy tracksuits with Uggs, trucker hats, halter tops, all denim everything, studded belts, butterfly clips, rhinestones; 90s- plaid flannel shirts, baby tees, scrunchies and fanny packs, overalls, boat shoes, chokers; 80s- big hair, spandex, leg warmers, high waisted jeans, neon colors, cut-offs, side ponytails- you catch our drift:)
We’re giving out glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets to get you excited about meeting some new people- find out more about this at check-in.
Important: Attendees MUST show their vaccination cards or a negative covid test result within 72 hours of attending the event, in addition to signing a document saying that you recognize the ramifications of attending an in-person event.
Questions about the event? Reach out to Stephanie or Emma!
Stephanie- steph.pace@gmail.com
Emma- emma.vas@gmail.com
Helping UT Austin Tackle Climate Change
Dave serves as program director for Planet Texas 2050, an exciting "grand challenge" interdisciplinary research initiative which brings together faculty and researchers from across UT. He'll discuss Planet Texas's aims to tackle the interrelated challenges of climate change and population growth, while breaking down traditional academic silos and conducting research and inquiry that is as relevant and useful as possible to communities in Texas and beyond.
As program director, Dave's role is akin to a chief of staff, and he will discuss the challenges and opportunities he sees in tackling climate change from this vantage point after having spent fifteen years working for smaller nonprofits engaged in climate and sustainability work. Dave (Dartmouth ’96, Harvard Kennedy School ’05) moved to Austin in 2016 after 15 years in Boston, in search of warmer weather, breakfast tacos, and proximity to Mexico. He began his career teaching abroad in Colombia before shifting into nonprofit work focused on sustainable international development and climate change. After many years working on international issues, he now directs Planet Texas 2050, an interdisciplinary “grand research challenge” at UT.
RSVP to Zoom and YouTube links here.
PT2050 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet_TX
PT2050 Blog (Medium): https://medium.com/planettexas2050
Entering and Exiting Small Business Ownership
Have you ever thought of starting a small business or do you currently own one and want to get out? Join Brook Schaaf, co-founder of two successful (and several other unsuccessful) small businesses as he shares his personal experiences of beginning, buying, and selling. Brook Schaaf, UC Berkeley class of 2000, is the current owner and operator of FMTC.co. A native of Los Angeles, he has lived in the Austin area for the past nine years, during which time he has been an active member of Entrepreneurs' Organization.
Austin's Response to the Climate Crisis and Racial Inequity
The COVID-19 emergency has once again highlighted the inequities faced by communities of color and low-income groups. As policymakers and communities identify measures targeted at economic relief and recovery, it is critical to jointly address the long-standing crises of environmental racism and climate change which are also threatening community health, safety, and quality of life.
As part of Austin's response to the climate crisis, the City of Austin has engaged in a months-long process with community leaders, environmental justice groups, community-based organizations, and other local stakeholders involved in decision-making around climate and environmental policy to develop the Austin Climate Equity Plan. This session will focus on the process and outcomes of the plan, which established racial equity as the foundation for climate goals and strategies and prioritizes actions the City of Austin and local partners should take to advance racial justice in light of the climate crisis.
Rodrigo Leal (Harvard '16) is a sustainability professional working to improve the way cities and other large organizations address climate change, inclusive planning, and social equity. In his free time, Rodrigo serves as a member of the Steering Committee for the Austin Community Climate Plan and is an avid runner and hiker.
From the Classroom to the Courtroom to the Bench
Women make up 51 percent of the population, but only a third of elected positions. What does the path to serving as an elected judge look like? How do judges in our civil district courts serve the public? What is a judge’s day like and how is it different during the pandemic?
Judge Jan Soifer, who has served as the presiding judge of the 345th District Court since 2017, will share her path to being elected a civil district judge and how others can prepare to run for office. Jan graduated from the University of Texas School of Law with a J.D. in 1982, after receiving a B.A. in 1979 from Yale University.
As a full-time trial lawyer in Austin for over 34 years before becoming a judge, her experience has included handling the recent successful case by a same-gender couple against the Hood County Clerk for refusing to issue a marriage license to them after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down laws against same-sex marriage; the case by Whole Woman’s Health and other Texas abortion providers against the State of Texas which successfully challenged the restrictive provisions of HB2 that had closed more than half of the abortion clinics in Texas (in a victory in the U.S. Supreme Court); a whistleblower case that resulted in a settlement of almost $100 million dollars for fraudulent behavior by a large hospital chain; and the successful class action lawsuit against the Pedernales Electric Cooperative based on fraud and breaches of fiduciary duties by its management.