August 8, 2011 · 11:30 am

Celeb-Spotting: Quaker Edition!

Author: Leigh Ann P.

Although I have never actually encountered a living, breathing celebrity, I have probably spent years of my life studying them, reading about how they’re just like me! in US Weekly, and filling my tiny, mushy brain with pointless facts that no normal person would ever, ever need.  The only scenario in which this information is useful is when Jeopardy! is on, and I will definitely know the question to the answer, “The Miss Missouri sister of this Gossip Girl actor is married to the Dallas Cowboy Tony Romo.”  (Question: Who is Chace Crawford?).

If I wanted to really challenge you, I could have made that answer: “The Miss Missouri sister of this Gossip Girl actor is married to the former boyfriend of the sister of the estranged wife of the bassist for a band named after a comic book character within the cartoon The Simpsons.”  This is a reference to the connection between Chace Crawford, Candice Crawford, Tony Romo, Jessica Simpson, Ashlee Simpson, Pete Wentz, and Fallout Boy, as well as an indicator that I have supremely missed my calling as some sort of psycho celebrity expert.  Do those exist in professional settings?

This is why I get so excited at the prospect of any further connection to celebrities in the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon that is my life.  Since I started working here at Penn, I am merely two degrees away from the lovely 30 Rock actress Elizabeth Banks, C’96, and I cannot tell you how excited that makes me.  The one degree between us recently revealed to me that “Liz” Banks is “wicked ticklish.”  WHAT.  How does he know???  New York Magazine has a great feature on her that reveals that she met her husband on their first day of freshman year at Penn.  Cute!  I mean, shoot.  I just forgot the last bit of AP Calculus I had in my head now that I know that fact.

I spent some time on everyone’s favorite – and probably often inaccurate, but always entertaining – online encyclopedia to discover more Penn Alumni celebs.  Let’s look at a few highlights and learn a little bit about their time as students at Penn, shall we?

Candice Bergen

Candice was a member of the now-dormant Penn chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority (never dormant in this blogger’s heart, sister!).  And before she was Queen of CBS prime time, at Penn Candice was elected Miss University and Homecoming Queen!

Tory Burch

Tory was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and majored in art history at Penn.  She is a gifted and successful designer and for a current generation of young fashionistas, her initial logo is as recognizable as Coco Chanel’s.

Andrea Mitchell

While at Penn, Andrea majored in English and was the director of WXPN.  I know when she’s reporting on a story for The Today Show, I can count on her to deliver serious and hard-hitting news about issues that affect us all.  And then a story will follow featuring Matt Lauer interviewing a 4-year-old who had her lemonade business privileges revoked by the Des Moines police department, which is a story I welcome with equally open arms.

Maury Povich

What notable Penn alum list would be complete without Maury?  I.  Love.  Maury.  There are plenty of reasons to love Maury, including but not limited to the fact that he recently donated a very generous $1 million to the Kelly Writers House.  You ARE the donor!  I guess I couldn’t find any information about his time as a student, but if you’re that curious, you can try this helpful website.

Melissa Rivers

Apparently Melissa was a founding member of the Tabard Society, an off-campus secret society for women.  I wonder if Wikipedia can tell us any more secrets about this secret society!

In related news, did you ever notice how clicking around on Wikipedia will always – eventually – lead you to Henry VIII‘s page?  Or am I the only one to whom this happens?  Let us know about the crazy places you’ve ended up on Wiki in the comments section!

I might be famous one day. Were you nice to me?

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Filed under Leigh Ann P., Memories of Penn, Notable Alumni

August 5, 2011 · 9:02 am

Bastille Day, Philadelphia-Style

Author: Nicole C. Maloy, W’95

July 14 is known as Bastille Day in honor of the French Revolution-launching “storming” of Paris’ Bastille prison in 1789. On Saturday, July 16, 2011 I got to witness Philadelphia’s version of the holiday. It’s safe to say that it deviates just slightly from the original; ours has waterguns, Darth Vader, and TastyKake.

Marie Antoinette with her royal guard… and Darth Vader with his imperial stormtroopers. OK, sure, why not?

Closer view. Marie Antoinette is the one who looks like a giant cotton swab.

When I first moved to Philadelphia, I wondered why I couldn’t find any snacks by Hostess. Twinkies are surely not an essential part of any diet, but it was strange that, here, they didn’t even seem to exist. I asked someone about it and learned that Philly’s preferred blend of sugar and preservatives comes under the local TastyKake brand.

It is fitting, then, that Marie Antoinette would trade in her usual “Let them eat cake!” for “Let them eat TastyKake!” and have her royal guard hurl hundreds of (thankfully, wrapped) cupcakes downward at the turbulent crowd.

“Let them eat TastyKake!” But first let them *catch* TastyKake.

Whenever the announcer said “Reign of terror,” the revolutionaries onstage (portrayed by the Old Fort Mifflin Historical Society) aimed Super Soakers at the crowd and fired upon us. It was very Rocky Horror, especially considering the costumes. Attendees had been encouraged to dress either as angry revolutionaries or aristocracy, and a costume contest took place onstage for those daring souls who actually dressed up (I was not one of them, sorry). This was not long after a very lively can-can number had gotten the crowd clapping along to the familiar music. At tables throughout the street festival, children made crafts with Fairmount Art Center, DiBruno Brothers gave out samples of French cheese, Fare offered tips on French wine, and people of all ages got their faces painted and picked up little French flags to prepare for the revolt.

It is fitting that a local re-enactment of the storming of the Bastille would take place at Philadelphia’s own Eastern State Penitentiary, which is now a museum (that includes the former cell of Al “Scarface” Capone). It hosts an annual haunted house that is consistently ranked among the best in the nation so, if you’re into that sort of thing, it might be worth a visit this Halloween. But, if you prefer your costumed craziness to take place outdoors, in July, during the light of day, then watch for next year’s Bastille Day Celebration in Philly. This unique, local spectacle is definitely worth seeing at least once.

If you’re going to be guillotined, you might as well enjoy one last bottle of champagne. I have to say, I like her style.

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August 3, 2011 · 2:44 pm

Summer in DC

Author: Matt Gould, W’14

While most interns in D.C. are finishing up their summer intern programs, I am an oddity, in that I just started a condensed (4 week) program at the U.S. Dairy Export Council last week. Although I would be absolutely thrilled to write about dairy exports and domestic milk price volatility (seriously, if you ever want to talk about dairy markets let me know), I thought that it would be fun to share some pictures that I’ve taken as I have explored Washington.

There also is a common theme: a connection to Penn.

Looking past Pennsylvania towards the Washington Monument (WWII Memorial)

This picture of an elephant seal (Smithsonian- Natural History) was too cute to pass up and plus, our very own Dr. Shermin de Silva has been conducting research on elephant social networks (not quite an elephant seal, but close enough).

The jobsite for many Penn interns, both in the summer and throughout the semester, thanks to the Semester in Washington Program.

No tour around Washington is complete without a photo of the White House.

Someday, I hope we’ll have a Penn alum’s who can be tagged in this picture.

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August 2, 2011 · 1:59 pm

ACLC: Bringing Eight Decades of Penn Alumni Together

Author: Stephanie Y., C08

Everyone knows that Penn loves acronyms, and some of them can be quite long and confusing. In 2007, I joined the ACLC, the Alumni Class Leadership Council. Our acronym may be difficult to say, but our goals are straightforward. The ACLC is the governing board for the Penn alumni classes. We are a group of volunteer alumni leaders dedicated to strengthening ties between alumni and the University by acknowledging and reinforcing the importance of class affiliation. We mentor class presidents and reunion committees on planning their reunions, we help Alumni Relations plan Homecoming and Alumni Weekend, and we give out two awards annually to exceptional classes: the Class Award of Merit and the David N. Tyre Class Communications Award.

The ACLC has been a major part of my alumni experience, and my feelings about this incredible group were reinforced during our first annual ACLC retreat last Thursday. Our retreat began at 12 PM in Sweeten Alumni House with lunch and our guest speaker Dr. Santo D. Marabella. Dr. Marabella, also a Penn alumnus, spoke about “best practices” for boards of non-profit organizations. He had some good insights and recommendations that our board has already discussed implementing. Next up were group discussions and breakout sessions to discuss upcoming events and initiatives. Even though the executive board spent endless hours refining the agenda for the retreat, each session ran longer than scheduled because everyone was excited and engaged in the discussions. It was 5 pm before we knew it, which meant post-retreat celebration!

We walked over to Midatlantic Restaurant, one of my favorite restaurants on campus. Located at 38th and Market, Midatlantic is rarely packed. Students don’t often wander over to that area of campus, but they should. The food is delicious, the décor is unique, and the menu is always changing with seasonal specials (my favorite dish is the fennel soup). From our group’s three-course pre-fixe dinner menu, I ordered the corn soup, Midatlantic meatloaf with a side of creamy lima bean polenta and seasonal roasted vegetables, and Tastykake Butterscotch Bread Pudding. It was all delicious, especially the dessert. You can’t go wrong with Tastykake! The post-retreat dinner gave us an opportunity to get to know each other better. Some people even talked about non-Penn topics over dinner (wait, do we have lives outside of Penn?)

It’s rare to be able to interact with eight decades of people, let alone eight decades of people who have something in common, but the ACLC has brought together a wonderful group of Penn alumni volunteers who do not see age as a barrier. We benefit from the voices of alumni from all classes, and we hope to inspire other Penn alumni to strengthen their class bond through engagement, leadership, and their love for Penn.

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August 1, 2011 · 5:17 pm

Secret Cinema at the ICA

Need something fun to do this week? A way to escape the heat? Come down to the Institute of Contemporary Art this Wednesday to take part in one of the final events for this year’s Secret Cinema. Details below.

Wednesday, August 3
8:00 PM- 11:00 PM
Admission: FREE
Sister Ray Slam with Secret Cinema

The Secret Cinema will help make the media more multi as all celebrate the close of ICA’s summer season with screenings of rare Andy Warhol short films and “Screen Tests,” accompanied by four live bands reinterpreting the Velvet Underground’s epic “Sister Ray.” Many of the films selected were originally part of Warhol’s “Exploding Plastic Inevitable” shows with the Velvet Underground. In conjunction with the exhibition That’s How We Escaped: Reflections on Warhol, come channel The Factory with music by U.S. Girls, Dry Feet, Megajam Booze Band, and The Sweet Sister Ray Band (featuring Dan Murphy of Megawords). Plus artisanal treats by Little Baby’s Ice Cream!

 

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July 29, 2011 · 1:35 pm

Paradise Found

Author: Colin Hennessy

How does the song go? “Pave paradise and put up a parking lot?” Well, not at Penn. We took 24 acres of concrete and asphalt and transformed it into a vast urban park. New sporting fields and walking paths combine to create a lush oasis on the eastern boarder of campus, an oasis this Penn employee cannot wait to visit – regularly.
I had the opportunity to take a tour of the still-under-construction park today and was thrilled with what I saw and learned. In addition to the vast amounts of new green grass and over 500 expertly-selected trees (thanks to our friends at the Morris Arboretum), the park has been constructed with sustainability and green land use in mind. Subterranean rain water collection cisterns will feed irrigation for the freshly planted trees and grasses, while accessible paths and access bridges allow easy admission to all members of the Penn community.

When I last wrote about Penn Park in April, the ground was still cold and the progress seemed sluggish. However, following my tour today I am very excited about the massive park that is literally coming out of the ground just a few strides from my office.

I invite you to come back to campus when Penn Park is complete in September, and take part in this beautiful redevelopment project that was built, in large part, because of generous alumni support. You can play tennis, bike around the park, or simply sit and daydream in the grass while enjoying a view of the beautiful Center City skyline. I promise you that Penn Park not disappoint.

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Filed under Campus Life, Colin H., Penn in the Summer, Penn Park

July 28, 2011 · 9:30 am

Summer in DC

Author: Dan Bernick, SAS’14

Is it really almost August?  It seems like only a few weeks ago I arrived in DC and began interning at the White House Council for Community Solutions.  I’ve discovered that the old adage is really true. Time does fly when you’re having fun…And this seems especially so these past few months.

This summer has been perfect.  I met new people, made amazing connections, ate breakfast with my Senator, and even went bowling at the White House (I scored a 93 – harder than it looks!).  Better than all of that, I had a fantastic internship.

Having a great boss makes all the difference, especially when she is intently focused on mentoring and exemplifies strong leadership.  The team I work on was small and everyone (including the interns) has been given opportunities to contribute substantively.  My team has been a fun group, and we managed to both work hard and find time to laugh.

I’m determined to make the most of the few weeks left before I return to Philadelphia and start my sophomore year at Penn. I am doing everything I can to make the most of this experience.  Including making sure I take plenty of photos…

Did I Mention that I Met Al Franken This Summer?

Despite his lifelong career as a comedian, I discovered that Al Franken takes his job very seriously. Still, when it came time for photos, he cracked a few jokes about symmetry (you will notice we are perfectly in the middle).

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Filed under Academics, Daniel B., Student Perspective

July 27, 2011 · 5:17 pm

Making History…Living History

Author: Lisa Vaccarelli, C’02

It’s easy to take for granted the amount of history that surrounds you at a place like Penn – especially when you spend so much of your time on campus that it begins to feel like your second home.  For example, my office building – the Sweeten Alumni House – originally housed the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity.  It was in the mid 1960’s after a fire – allegedly set off at a holiday party when a fraternity brother fell asleep with his cigarette too close to a crepe paper snowman – took the life of at least one young party-goer that the building eventually fell into the hands of the alumni association.  And yes, there are plenty of rumors about the ghost of said party-goer haunting the 2nd floor ladies room.  However, on a daily basis, one gets caught up in emails and phone calls and meetings and quickly forgets all of this.

Ironically, it was a recent trip off-campus that reminded me about Penn’s historical context.  Last week, as a previous blogger mentioned, the entire Alumni Relations staff headed down to 310 S. Quincy Street for a day long staff retreat at the Mask and Wig Clubhouse.  Most Penn alumni and friends are very familiar with the all male comedic theater troupe, the University’s oldest student group founded in 1888.

Mask and Wig Grill room circa 2010

Not as many, I would suspect, have had the chance to visit the group’s clubhouse, acquired in 1894 as a gathering place and rehearsal hall.  As per the Mask and Wig website:

Prominent Philadelphia architect Wilson Eyre was commissioned to convert the building, which had previously served as a church, a dissecting room, and a stable. He hired the young Maxfield Parrish, who would later become one of the greatest illustrators of the twentieth century, to decorate the interior.

Indeed, it is hard not to appreciate this history when you walk into the Mask and Wig Clubhouse.  The Grille Room – a wood-paneled bar/lounge on the first floor – is decorated with caricatures of members; a tradition that continues today, with the second century of members’ caricatures continued upstairs at the entrance to the theater.  Next to each member’s caricature is a peg for their personal mug, which they alone can take down and use when present.  Despite recent renovations to provide facilities for handicap accessibility, including an elevator, as well as air conditioning, the Clubhouse retains its authentic, historic atmosphere.

Mask and Wig Grille Room circa 1910

Next time you come to campus, I encourage you to take a moment to stop and take a moment to take in the history that surrounds you.  Maybe even read one of the plaques on those statues you’ve whisked past dozens of times before on your way to class or a reunion party.

Woodland Walk (aka Locust Walk) circa 1915

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July 26, 2011 · 6:11 pm

A Little Healthy Competition

Author: Elise Betz

 Regardless if you’re an alumnus, a staff person, or a student here, Penn people love competition! We will play anything with anyone for the glory of victory.  We descend from a long lineage of competitive spirits; individuals who strive to succeed regardless of the obstacles. For example, check out the weather conditions for this football game in 1898.

Penn vs. Cornell, circa 1898

The Alumni Relations Staff is no exception – we especially love competition.  At our recent staff retreat held at the Mask & Whig Club in Center City  Philadelphia, we played our own variations of games based on The Newly Wed Game, The Gong Show, and Family Feud.

Staff retreat poster, featuring our most-beloved campus mascot after the Quaker: Squirrels

We also competed in a relay race (consisting of a hula-hoop competition, a corn hole toss, a word magnet de-scramble,  and a race against the clock with a Slinky).  And, yes, there were prizes for everyone who played fairly…

Me and Nicole after we demonstrated our mad juggling skills. We are for hire!

We tons of fun while “competing” and we bond and it’s healthy, but the fact remains that  most of us play to WIN. At the end of the day, however, we remain a united team, even if some of us (I won’t mention any names) are better at relay races than others…

The Alumni Relations staff in our team t-shirts.

So, in this same competitive spirit, I invite you to take part in our first ever contest on Frankly Penn:

I will personally send a prize to the very first person who can correctly tell me the final score  (and who won!) of the football game photographed on that snowy day in 1898.  Just email me with your answer, and show your Penn pride and knowledge.  Hurry, you’ve got lots of competition!

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July 25, 2011 · 7:48 pm

Still in Love with Penn

Author: Nicole Oddo, C’05

Like most of you, I love my time at Penn.  Yes, “love,” not “loved.” While I graduated in 2005, Penn is still a part of my every day experience.  I hope to share a bit from an enamored alumna’s perspective from the beginning.

I remember getting involved in the summer of 2005 with the Penn and Wharton Club of Arizona.  I simply wrote an email that said:

July 19, 2005 ~10 AM

“I look forward to meeting alumni in Phoenix and would be interesting in helping out.”

In turn, I received a friendly response from the webmaster.  Here’s his follow up email:

July 19, 2005 ~8:30 PM

“As it turns out, the timing of your e-mail was quite fortuitous — as you are a recent graduate, you probably fall into the category of  young Alumni, and it came up in the meeting that we are in need of a Young Alumni Coordinator… Based on the enthusiasm of your e-mail, we’d love to have you assume this post.”

Fast forward to today, and I find myself going into my second year as the President of the Penn Alumni Club of Philadelphia.  And I love it.  Sure, like everyone else, my professional life is demanding and there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.  However, the rewards for being involved are seemingly endless.

I have been to private art exhibits, had dinners with professors, attended baseball games, met some of the most interesting people at events ranging from galas to cocktail parties, had behind the scenes access to restaurants like Lacroix, and celebrated Ben Franklin’s birthday in style.  I’ve planned First September events in three cities and am truly looking forward to our Philadelphia 2011 party at Yards.

I can’t believe it’s been six years since I graduated and started my lifelong role as an alumna.  It’s easy to get involved – wherever you are. Check out the regional clubs here or feel free to email me (especially if you are in the Philadelphia area).

Don’t wait to begin your alumni experience!

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