The spring Wine Committee dinner on April 11th was very special this year. Narsai David, one of the Bay Area’s best known chefs and restaurateurs, worked with the Committee, Felix, and our chef Carl Cheney to produce a wonderful meal. Your editor is still dreaming about the fish soup course! And the wines! The event was sold out, even though we limited the number of guests each member could bring. We hope to provide you with more events of this caliber in the future.
Twenty Years of Service
In 1983, the year her daughter graduated from high school, Becky Grant began to work here at the Club. Twenty years later she is looking forward to many more years of service. When asked why she has stayed so long, her quick reply was, “The people!” She has seen many changes over the years, and appreciates the professional way that the management has been handling both Club and employee matters over the past few years. Asked to recall one very special event, she chose the very last Christmas party hosted by Milton Chernin some years ago. Becky keeps copies of photos of many of her old Club friends – some of whom are long departed. As she shows them, faculty and staff, the warmth and affection in her face is delightful. Enjoy many more years, Becky!
Annual Meeting
At the Club’s annual meeting on April 9th, President Bruce Bolt made his yearly report to the membership. The results of the election of directors was announced: Bruce Bolt, Jack Coons, and Dick White were re-elected, and Karl Pister was welcomed as a new member of the Board. Our manager, Felix Solomon, and controller, Syed Haque, were applauded for their careful management, which has resulted in the Club’s making a profit even in this time of financial stringency.
Art Show of the Month – May
Gloria Brown Brobeck, a member of the Club’s Golden Girlfriends group and a professional artist who has exhibited throughout the U.S., including a solo exhibition at the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, is our May artist. She studied at Mills College, the California college of Arts and Crafts, as well as in the Art Department on this campus. She says that the “magic” of producing art has never abated for her over the years – in fact, it has intensified. Her works represent a multi-media approach: paint, cray-pas, charcoal, pencil , the technique allows for jumps in the imagination, for unlikely coupling of images, for a range of mood and message.
Spring Wine Tasting on the Glade
Another spring tradition is coming up. On May 23rd enjoy our spring wine tasting on the Glade from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by dinner and dancing from 7 to 10 p.m. Mingle with your friends, as you go from table to table tasting some of the finest wines Cali- fornia has to offer. Then it’s into the Club for another fine feast, with music and plenty of space for dancing. This is an event that many members take advantage of to repay social obligations – and to intro- duce friends to the pleasures of the Club. Cost: $30 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Call 540-5678, extension 224, to make reservations.
Club History Discovery!
Archivist, Steve Finacom, has been watching for Club related matter as he combs the back files of the Berkeley Daily Gazette. Here’s an article from February 6, 1903: FACULTY CLUB HOUSE WILL BE OPENED FOR FIRST TIME TONIGHT The quaint, Spanish?looking hall in the oak grove in Co?ed canyon, on the college campus, which has been erected by the Faculty Club of the University of California, will be formally opened by the members at house?warming tonight. With this function the new organization of the Berkeley professors will be finally housed and settled in the quarters for which they have been planning and working for the last year. Bernard Maybeck, instructor in architecture at the University, is the designer of the building. Its motif is Spanish, the structure being that of a long rambling plaster hall two stories in height, with tiled roof and adorned with trellis and portico. The arrangement is such that additions may readily be made form the time to time, as the needs of the club may require without destroying the architectural unity of the plan. These additions will probably take the form of wings, added in such a manner as to inclose (sic) a court or patio to the south of the present building. The interior of the building has bedrooms on the upper floor, and general clubrooms on the lower story. The main feature of these latter is the big assembly room and dining hall, built with high Gothic ceiling, finished in rough rafters. This will be the principal meeting place. The other rooms afford accommodations for reading, smoking, card playing and billiards, and shower baths and lockers for those who wish to engage in athletic sports. The total cost of this structure was $7,700. The walls are to be decorated with the arms of some fifty universities, but only parts of these have arrived as yet. A large panel by Judson is to occupy the gable end of the hall, opposite the hospitable fireplace. The other rooms of importance are the reading-room, billiard room and the University guest chamber. The latter is used in entertaining lecturers and other guests of the University. These are finished in green burlap and also equipped with comfortable open fireplaces. The walls are decorated with prints of some old and very rare engravings, presented by Mrs. Hearst. Most of these pictures date back to the eighteenth century and lend a blending charm to the quaint, low-roofed rooms. The entire building within and without, was designed by Mr. Maybeck and executed by Messrs. Kidder & McCallough. (To be concluded next month...)
Breakfast Special!
Enjoy a quiet breakfast, Monday through Friday from 7 to 10 a.m. in the Kerr Dining Room. Unwind from your commute or walk to campus with a newspaper over our breakfast special: juice, eggs, coffee and toast: $2.99!
June Events at the Club
On June 13th Felix will once again don his chef’s cap and produce the annual dinner featuring foods from his native India. $30 all-inclusive. Reserve now at extension 224. On June 27th enjoy a dinner concert – more details in the next Newsletter.
| The Faculty Club Newsletter is published monthly by:
The Faculty Club University of California Berkeley. CA 94720-6050 Contributions and comments may be mailed to the Editor, Phyllis Brooks, at the Club, or by e-mail to pbrooks@vdn.com Board of Directors, 2003-2004:
Club Manager: Felix Solomon |
| Club numbers:
Telephone: 510-540-5678 Fax: 510-540-6204 Reservations:
E-mail: info@berkeleyfacultyclub.com Website: www.berkeleyfacultyclub.com Kerr Dining Room hours
Bar hours: M-F 11:30-1:30; Happy Hours 4-30-6 30; closes at 8:30 p.m. Buffet lunch: 11:30-1:30 M-F Guest accommodations available:
Membership: Call Felix, at ext. 9. |