On Sunday, December 6, 2020 we celebrated our annual cookie exchange in the best way that we could: by reimagining it as Zoom gathering where we decorated our own gingerbread houses! Some folks decorated, some sipped hot beverages and chatted, and one intrepid Smithie Laura Selznik '68 was live-baking a gingerbread house from scratch -- including turrets -- as we watched in wonder.

On Sunday, November 22, Smith College Club of the Peninsula Student Care Packages Co-Coordinators Christine Hoffman '14 and Trang Le '20 recruited additional club members to help finalize the distribution of this semester's student care packages: a personalized bookmark and a "cookie-in-a-jar" that the students can use to make warm cookies at home and feel the love.

On Saturday, November 21, a few Smithie warriors gathered via Zoom to throw down in a highly competitive virtual scavenger hunt from our individual homes. It was clear from the beginning that these women came to win as they rearranged their laptops, desktops, and tablets to ensure the optimal placement for fast retrieval of whatever items the game master requested.

Nine of us, meeting on Wednesday the 18th, found plenty to talk about in Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. We found this suspenseful book difficult to read at times but appreciated what it shows us: four motherless siblings who are hurt but coping, resourceful, and tightly bound to one another; a different view of Hurricane Katrina, in rural Mississippi; a community in poverty that has not become degraded or defeated.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, ten of us discussed “The Moment of Lift” by Melinda Gates. As usual, there were mixed opinions. All admired Gates and her evident commitment and passion for beneficial change, particularly for women, and we came away with respect for the Gates Foundation…

On Friday, October 2nd we had a cocktail hour for Young Alums right after the Grace Hopper conference, and we discussed what it's like to be job hunting during these times. Afterwards, we connected on Linkedin, and started planning some peer portfolio reviews. Come to the next Young Alum happy hours to join the conversation!

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, ten of us enthusiastically discussed “Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan. We agreed that the author is a gifted storyteller with great descriptive powers who has created memorable characters and interesting relationships.

The Smith College Club of the Peninsula Annual Meeting 2020 was fun and engaging, and we got things done! 22 members were in attendance ranging from classes of 1961 through 2016. Here’s the synopsis…

A group of seven met [virtually] on Wednesday, August 19, to discuss Bryan Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy” and the movie based on it. We found the book upsetting, sad, engaging but not eloquent, impressive. Its structure, with the central story stretched out and interrupted, was frustrating but also created suspense…

Seven of us gathered [virtually] on Wednesday, July 15, to discuss Dava Sobel’s “Galileo’s Daughter,” which we agreed is mistitled. Although some of us found it dry and/or hard to get into, we all were glad we’d read it, learning more about Galileo, science and his contributions to it…

Another virtual meet-up full of joy and laughter. Is there anything better than a (virtual) room full of Smithies? (Answer: NOPE)

Our first virtual Happy Hour! In which we got very good at Zoom backgrounds and had way too much fun reenacting the Brady Bunch intro sequence.

On March 18th, the Book Club met to discuss “Bad Blood” by John Carreyrou.

Our first virtual meet-up in the time of COVID - so wonderful to see happy, friendly faces and everyone’s Smith swag!

We had a classy evening at Calave in Palo Alto on Feb 27th where the food and delicious wine pairings impressed. We sampled a lovely Italian Sangiovese and a Syrah from Oregon, and came up with some great ideas for new Palo Alto events.

On Wednesday the 19th, eight of us (supplemented by emailed comments from a regular who couldn't attend) met to discuss "The Marriage of Opposites" by Alice Hoffman.

On Feb. 19th, Smithies teamed up for Trivia Night as the "Wandering Menstruals" at Katie Bloom's in Campbell and killed it. Period.

We had such a fun happy hour at Stein's in Mountain View!

On January 15th, the Book club convened to discuss the Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo.