Masters John and Judy Dowling usually take sophomores on a day-long trip in early fall to their house in Woods Hole, but this year's jaunt was cancelled because of poor weather. Judy Dowling said no replacement event was planned until "we found out that during the year some of the sophomores felt like they really didn't know each other."

The Dowlings and House co-chairmen Richard Zayas and Margaret Pinkham hosted the gala, and Thomas Professor of English and American Literature Emeritus Daniel Aaron spoke at the dinner. About 130 people attended the dinner and 75 came to the dance afterwards.

Basement Art

Trying to improve the bland Eliot house basement, a Harvard undergraduate has introduced culture by starting an art gallery. With the help of Eliot house fine arts tutor Timothy Hutton, Roberta Starr '88 opened the exhibit last Thursday with a black-tie affair.

Unable to find other Eliot house residents interested in displaying their art, she decided to just show her own. Currently, sixteen of her drawings are being shown.

Student response to the gallery was positive. Barnes Ellis '87 said "No one else goes down there for any other reason. Anything else is a vast improvement." Marine Broe '87 said "I think it's wonderful. I think students who have that kind of talent should show it."

Swift Changeover

With a stunning entrance, a new comedy club opened last Tuesday night. What used to be "Jonathan Swift's" is now "Catch a Rising Star." And it has been catching large audiences--so far, it has sold out most of its shows.

Cynthia Coe, creative director of the club, calls it a "wonderful combination of the name `Catch' and the fact that there is a wonderful audience and great comedians." The club is a spin-off of its New York city namesake.

Local comedian Elaine Gold said "This is a great club. It's refreshing to see area talent Less profanity is used." An Eliot House resident who works as a floorperson there, said I love it. The Square is changing. Changing for the better." Or, at least for the funnier.