WDCSA NEWSLETTER
June 2017
DC Book Club Discussion
Sunday, June 11 5-7:45 pm
Bethesda, Md
The book group will discuss Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville. All are welcome to join the discussion and participate in the potluck dinner.
Tocqueville analyzed the improved living standards and social conditions of individuals, as well as their relationship to the market and state in Western societies. Democracy in America was published after de Tocqueville travelled in the United States during 1831−32, and is today considered an early work of sociology and political science. Tocqueville reflected not only on the U.S. and on democracy, but his comparative approach sheds light on the Europe of his times, on the nature of aristocracy, and on the democratic revolution that was coming to all parts of the civilized world. De Tocqueville’s prescience and long-term vision is astonishing. He was right about the merits of democracy, and he was right about its shortcomings. If he were to come to the present-day U.S., he would probably find much to celebrate (including prosperity, technological progress, widespread access to education, and health), and much to deplore about the mediocrity of democratic tastes (including music, literature, cinema, and art). This is an abridged edition, because the unabridged one, at more than 800 pages, is too long for our book club.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Presley, MA ’78, Ph.D. ’81 at Jenniferbpresley@gmail.com.
Boomers to Busters Rooftop Soiree
Friday, June 16 6-8 pm
1730 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC
Enjoy the latest sunset of the year on a private rooftop taking in one of the most exquisite views anywhere in Washington: an unobstructed southern panoramic view encompassing the Jefferson and Washington Memorials, White House and the Capitol.
Light dinner buffet of sandwiches and salads, and soft drinks included. There will be a cash bar for wine and beer.
Early bird registration is $30 until June 4th; then regular registration is $35 until June 11th; after that late registration, and walk-ins (if available), is $40. Last year we sold out. To register visit www.eventbrite.com/e/summer-solstice-rooftop-soiree-tickets-32995152389
For more information about BtoB: http://www.uchicagodc.org/boomerstobusters.
If you have questions, contact boomerstobusters@gmail.com.
Baltimore Book Club Discussion
Sunday, July 17 7:30 pm
Mother’s Federal Hill Grille
1113 S. Charles St.,
Baltimore, Md
The July selection is When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. This #1 New York Times bestseller has been on its list for over 51 weeks, named one of the best books of the year by The Washington Post, The New York Times, and NPR, won the 2016 Goodreads Choice Award for best Memoir and Autobiography, rated 4.7 out of 5 stars by over 6,000 Amazon readers, shortlisted for the 2017 Wellcome Book Prize, and a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. The September selection is A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles.
Questions/RSVP: Helene Myers, Ph.D., P’14, at cedarhouse@comcast.net or at (301)655-5871.
Citi Open Tennis
Saturday, July 29- Sunday, August 6
16th & Kennedy, NW Washington, DC
The 2017 Citi Open is an ATP World Tour 500 tournament, making it one of the top 20 men’s tournaments in the world. We have the same six platinum box seats to all sessions as in previous years (Aisle 36, Section 3). The seats are at the end of the court and very close to the court and provide access to the air conditioned Emirates Garden Club restaurant. We also have four upper level seats (Section 6, Row N, Seats 28-31) which are near the top of the stadium in the corner. The featured matches are generally held in the main court where seating is reserved with the remainder in the outside courts where seating is open. Tickets also include the women’s WTA International Level Event to be held at the same facility during this week.
Please email bill@billpegram.com indicating the number and type of tickets desired, the session, and parking passes desired. Bill will process requests in the order they are received and confirm availability by return email and provide instructions for payment.
Sat 7/29 (qualifying) 10am $10 box (2 left), $5 upper, 1 parking pass left
Sunday 7/30 10am $14 box (sold out), $6 upper, 1 parking pass left
Mon 7/31 2pm $32 box (sold out), $9 upper, 1 parking pass left
Tue 8/1 2pm $40 box (sold out), $12 upper, 1 parking pass left
Wed 8/2 2pm $45 box (sold out), $14 upper (2 left), parking passes sold out
Thurs 8/3 2pm $53 box (sold out), $17 upper, 1 parking pass left
Friday 8/4 1pm (quarterfinals) $47 box (sold out), $15 upper, 1 parking pass left
Friday 8/4 7pm (quarterfinals) $67 box (sold out), $18 upper (2 left) – 2 parking passes left
Sat 8/5 (semifinals) 12:00pm $64 box (2 left), $17 upper – 2 parking passes left
Sat 8/5 (semifinals) 7pm $82 box (sold out), $20 upper (sold out) – 2 parking passes left
Sun 8/6 (finals) 12:30pm $89 box (2 left), $20 upper (2 left), 1 parking pass left
Except as noted above, we have two parking passes available for each session at $16/pass.
9th Annual WDCSA Happy Hour Cruise
August 2017
Washington Harbour, Georgetown
Washington, DC (31st and K streets NW)
Join us for a sunset cruise past the monuments! We’ve rented a beautiful boat for the exclusive use of DC Stanford alumni. Mix and mingle with your fellow alums, enjoying happy hour food and a premium open bar.
The date is currently being determined, but be on the look out for a registration link posted on the wdcsa.org website, as well as social media.
Stanford at the Opera
Saturday, September 23 7-10 pm
Nationals Park,
1500 South Capitol Street SE
Washington DC
Join local Stanford alums as we enjoy a FREE live broadcast of Verdi’s masterpiece ‘Aida’ at Nationals Park! Gates open at 5pm, so arrive early for preshow entertainment and activities including a Costume Studio dress-up section for young and old. This is an opera for everyone. Bring a picnic and the whole family. There will be a special reserved Stanford section. Ask a group representative as you enter the park for the Stanford location.
Stay tuned for more information on an upcoming May 2018 performance of Leonard Bernstein’s ‘CANDIDE’ including a private back stage tour.
For more information, contact Betty Byrne at bettybyrne@verizon.net.
Stanford In the News
- On May 30th, Stanford University announced the establishment of the new Mary M. and Sash A. Spencer Center for Vision Research thanks to a generous gift pledged by Mary Spencer in honor of her late husband, Sash. The new center, at the renowned Byers Eye Institute, will support innovative vision research and interdisciplinary collaborations across the Stanford campus.
- On May17th, Stanford and Redwood City leaders celebrated the groundbreaking of the university’s $568 million campus off Highway 101, its first major expansion outside the main campus in more than 125 years. With 2,700 employees on 35 acres, the university will become the second largest employer in Redwood City. It replaces the former headquarters of Ampex and Excite@Home, both victims of bankruptcy. The new campus won’t be home to students and classrooms. Rather, the new buildings will hold administrative staffers, now scattered on and off campus.