Are you a fan of snazzy and jazzy, funky and spunky music? Do you love the east coast a cappella scene but live on the west coast and have a deep pang/longing for a capella? Do you like having fun? Did you answer yes to any or all of these questions? Well, we have just the event for you!
The Higher Keys is Brown's oldest and premiere all-gender a cappella group and is centered around singing jazz along with other genres like pop and blues. All are welcome, and suggested donations are $10 per person.
For more information, please contact Karen Smith Catlin '85 P'20 at kecatlin@yahoo.com
We offer a variety of events throughout the year, from lectures to happy hours and everything in-between.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Blue Oak Brewing
815 Cherry Ln,
San Carlos, CA 94070
On Wednesday September 3rd, Brown University joins as co-host for Peninsula Alumni Trivia at Blue Oak Brewing in San Carlos. Brown alums please join your host, Julian Baring to challenge Stanford and their hosts (Kenny, Jonny, Rajjy) as well as others for the title of Trivia Royalty on the Peninsula.
Arrive at 6:14 p.m. sharp (precision is part of the fun) for table scouting and chit-chat. Teams of 8 or fewer, built for knowledge diversity — music lovers, pop culture mavens, movie buffs, celebrity whisperers, geography savants — all welcome. After 6:30 p.m., we’ll try to slot you in, but no guarantees.
Food on-site (pop-up grill or food truck). Parking fills fast; expect a brisk 3–4 minute stroll. Trivia happens in the street-side room — yes, far from the bar, but close to glory. Wearing Brown, or White is highly encouraged or any Brown University attire and of course no cell phones, Google or AI - it’s cheating!
Trivia is free, but…please plan to buy a drink (beer, cider, or juice) — it’s part of the deal.
Check Blue Oak’s site the night before https://www.blueoakbrewing.com/events for any last-minute updates, or confirm with your host Julian Baring - baringjulian@gmail.com
Please RSVP below so that we have an idea of numbers.
Host: Julian Baring '97
Date: Saturday, Aug 30, 2025
Time: 11:45am-2:30pm
Location: Lick Observatory, 7281 Mount Hamilton Rd., Mount Hamilton, CA 95140
Host: Yudi Fu ‘13 & Megan Streicher '09
Join your fellow Brown alumni for a family-friendly picnic and daytime tour of Lick Observatory atop scenic Mount Hamilton!
We'll gather in the courtyard behind the Visitor Center for a picnic lunch. After we've fueled up, we'll explore this historic observatory with a combination of activities:
A Glimpse into History: Begin at the gift shop for an informal talk about James Lick and the observatory's rich past, followed by a close-up look at the Great Lick Refractor inside the 36-inch telescope dome.
Walk to the Shane Dome: Take a short, 0.5-mile walk to the Shane Dome to view the impressive 120-inch reflector from the visitors' gallery.
Valley Views from the Top: Take in the amazing panoramic views of the Santa Clara Valley from the parking lot at 4,209 feet!
Explore at Your Own Pace: Take advantage of the self-guided walking tour to discover the various buildings, outdoor points of interest, and exhibits located throughout the mountaintop.
You're welcome to stay as long as you like to continue exploring after our group activities.
Important Notes:
Getting There & Parking: The scenic Mt. Hamilton Road is long and winding but well-maintained. Please allow about an hour of driving time from downtown San Jose. Parking at the observatory is limited, carpooling is highly recommended. Cell phone reception is very poor on the mountain, so consider loading directions and any important information ahead of time. Free public WiFi is available at the Visitor Center.
Lunch & Refreshments: Please bring your own lunch. The Brown Club of Silicon Valley will provide some sweet treats for dessert. While vending machines are available for snacks and beverages on the mountain, selections and service may be limited.
Meeting Coordinates: The courtyard we’ll be meeting at for lunch is at 37°20'29.0"N 121°38'33.9"W. Look for the Brown banner!
Accessibility: The main building has wheelchair access from the back. Other parts of the visit involve walking on uneven terrain and stairs. If you have any accessibility concerns, please contact us or the observatory in advance.
Learn More: For additional details, please check the Lick Observatory website.
RSVP : https://daasv.org/event-6248692
You’re invited to a signature summer gathering – a curated afternoon designed for connection, conversation, and a touch of serendipity.
Co-hosted by the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California (HBSANC), Brown Club of Silicon Valley, and the Dartmouth Club of Silicon Valley, this mixer brings together an accomplished, intellectually curious, and like-minded group.
Set at a stunning private residence in Los Altos Hills, this exclusive event is limited to 30 men and 30 women to ensure a balanced, quality experience.
✨ Artisan hors d’oeuvres
✨ Refreshing white wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages
✨ Scenic views and engaging conversations
✨ Valet parking included for your convenience, yet Lyft/Uber is encouraged
Dress code: Summer chic
Venue: The event will be held at a beautiful private residence in the Los Altos Hills. A specific address will be shared a few days in advance to everyone who purchased tickets.
Tickets: Available at full price for all members of the Dartmouth community, discounted for DAASV members. Registrants may bring up to one guest (an option in the checkout flow). Tickets for this event are non-refundable.
Harvard Host
Shannon Lundgren (HBS ‘94) is the CEO of Shannon’s Circle. During her 14 years of elite matchmaking experience, Shannon has had the honor of matching intellectually curious and kind singles with the love of their life. As a corporate executive turned matchmaker, she brings savvy executive recruiting skills to her clients in California and the West Coast. Shannon is a recognized expert on modern love, featured in the WSJ, Fortune, Forbes, Harvard Magazine, Business Insider and Today. She is a board member of Harvard Business School Club of Northern California. Shannon has an MBA degree from Harvard Business School, and a B.A. degree in business from UC Berkeley.
Join your fellow Brown alumni for an easy 3.7 mi, 255 ft elevation hike at Mavericks Cliffs Trail and Pier. We will meet at the parking area at W Point Avenue in HMB at at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, August 3. Dogs are welcome on this trail!
Host: Veronica A. Bettencourt '98
Please note this event is contingent on weather conditions, including air quality, wildfire risk and heavy rain. Any necessary cancellation will be communicated ahead of time to those who RSVP for the event. Assume the hike is proceeding as scheduled unless you hear from the host otherwise.
Join Champ Turner, Brown ’24 (International and Public Affairs; Visual Arts), curator and winner of the California Map Society and David Rumsey Map Center’s student exhibition competition, for a tour of his exhibition:
Spheres of Influence: Projecting Power and Fear onto the Globe
Champ’s exhibition explores a distinctive type of map—the global view—which depicts the Earth’s curved surface as seen from space. Global views highlight the interconnectedness of all peoples and places on the planet, rising to prominence in response to the changing geopolitical landscape of the 20th century. These maps speak to the power of perspective in shaping our understanding of the world, employing persuasive visual techniques to interpret complex international conflicts. By tilting and rotating the globe, mapmakers control the viewpoint from which readers see the world, influencing how geopolitical relationships and power dynamics are perceived by the public.
If you haven’t visited before, you’ll be astonished to discover The Rumsey Map Center, a technological and historical treasure. Home to an estimated 250,000 physical maps and more than 200,000 digital maps from 1500 to the present, it’s a cross between a library and a laboratory, replete with leather-bound atlases, spinning globes, enormous high-definition touchscreens and several virtual reality stations. You’ll also find that much of the dynamic collection can be accessed and manipulated from home, albeit on far less impactful screens.
Date: Friday, June 27th
Time: Tour at 2pm. Please arrive no later than 1:45 to check in. Allow plenty of time to park and walk to the venue.
Location: Rumsey Map Center in Green Library
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
RSVP here by 6/24 - limited capacity
Following the tour, join Champ and other Brown alums at Coupa Café, immediately outside Green Library, to mingle and enjoy no-host refreshments.
Host: Carol M. Rhoads ‘70
SF OPERA NIGHT
JOINT IVY LEAGUE (AND SELECT OTHER UNIVERSITY) ALUMNI
SF Opera's Performance of Mozart's Idomeneo
Exclusive Pre-Performance Social/Educational Event for Members of Alumni Clubs and Their Guests
Date: Saturday, June 14th, 2025
Time: Pre-Performance Event: 6:30pm-7:20pm
Performance: 7:30pm-approx. 11:00pm (with two intermissions)
Location: War Memorial Opera House (301 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94102)
Pre-Performance Event: War Memorial Opera House North Dress Circle
USING THE CODE "IVYLEAGUE30", YOU CAN PURCHASE UP TO FOUR DISCOUNTED TICKETS HERE. TICKETS WILL GIVE ACCESS TO THE PRE-PERFORMANCE SOCIAL EVENT AND BRIEF TALK BY A SF OPERA STAFF MEMBER ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS THE LIVE PERFORMANCE
Please Note:
i) The reception space and speaker's fee are donated by the SF Opera.
ii) Ivy League (and select other university) alumni clubs are not financially contributing to the event.
iii) Drinks and food can be purchased at bars inside the War Memorial Opera House in close proximity to the North Dress Circle.
Join us for a fun night of startup networking!
The Brown Alumni Entrepreneurship Group and the Brown Clubs of Silicon Valley and San Francisco and the Princeton Club of Northern California are hosting a casual meetup in Belmont at the Lariat Tavern.
Open to all Princeton and Brown alumni who are founders, investors, or simply excited to connect with other entrepreneurial-minded alums.
🗓 Date: Thursday, June 12th
🕡 Time: 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Location: The Lariat Tavern - 1428 El Camino Real, Belmont, CA 94002
We'll have light snacks and a cash bar.
The venue is 3 blocks from the Belmont Caltrain station.
Whether you're building a company, looking to invest in the next big idea, or just passionate about supporting the startup ecosystem, this event is all about meaningful conversations and great connections within the Princeton and Brown entrepreneurial communities.
🚀 Are you a founder?
We have allotted time to feature a few 5–7 minute founder spotlights during the event! This is a great opportunity to share what you're building, get feedback, and connect with potential collaborators, investors, and fellow founders.
Host (for BCSV): David Sabel ‘86
We can't wait to see you there!
Join your fellow Brown alumni for a hike cohosted by Dartmouth alumni!
We will meet at the South Gate entrance at 950 Skyline Blvd. San Mateo and walk approximately 1.5 in and back. This trail is flat, partially shaded and runs along Crystal Springs Reservoir. It’s a family friendly hike though dogs aren’t allowed. We will have drinks and light snacks. Free parking.
Saturday May 10 at 2PM
Hosted by Megan Streicher
https://www.smcgov.org/parks/sawyer-camp-segment
* Please note this event is contingent on weather conditions, including air quality, wildfire risk and heavy rain. Any necessary cancellation will be communicated ahead of time to those who RSVP for the event.
Join your fellow Brown alumni for a hike of the 4.9 mile, 282 ft elevation change Bayview and Meadowlark Trail Loop at Coyote Hills Regional Park at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2025. We will meet at the Coyote Hills Visitor Center Parking Lot. Don't forget to bring ample water and comfortable hiking shoes.
*Please note this event is contingent on weather conditions, including air quality, wildfire risk and heavy rain. Any necessary cancellation will be communicated ahead of time to those who RSVP for the event. Some bay area parks where we hike charge nominal fees for parking/day use.
Host: Veronica A. Bettencourt
Let's go Bruno! Come on out and cheer on Brown in the Bay as the Men's Crew team puts 3 boats in the water in 9 head-to-head races this coming weekend - April 12th and 13th in Redwood City!