International House Berkeley

A Place To Meet and Mingle Since 1930 Share your I-House Café memories with us at ihalumni@berkeley.edu. 6 International House Times T he International House Café, as it is known today, is a small eatery offering espresso, wine, and beer. Originally an international bazaar, it became e Soda Fountain with an Art Deco style, and in later years, Ye Olde Coffee Shop. Although it has gone through several metamorphoses, it remains an important gathering place for residents and members of the community. It is also one of the many iconic spots throughout I-House famous for being one of the places where the more than one thousand married couples who met at I-House cultivated and declared their love for one another. e Café Patio was constructed in the 1970s to emphasize "meeting and mingling" between the residents and community members, and to illustrate what was happening inside I-House to the Berkeley community. An extensive Café renovation plan is being developed to maintain its charm while enhancing access and the exchange of ideas. e I-House Café has recently re-opened after a change of management. e menu features ai Curry mac and cheese, salads, and other delicious fare. Enjoy coffee, pastries, and refreshing drinks while taking in the view and the digital dis- plays of today's headlines from around the world. n "One summer in the mid-1980s, the Olympics were going on, and people were in and out of the Great Hall and the Café. When I got tired of studying, I would get a snack and play the Donkey Kong video game that was built-in to the table. It was a fascinating place with the most interesting vibe of any place I have ever been to." Christopher Falcone (IH 1980s) "A kind-faced gentleman walked up to me and some classmates in the Café, bowed his head, and asked if he could sit with us. He talked to each of us and asked what we were studying. He thanked us for spending time with him. As he left, everyone turned to us and asked if we knew 'that was the Dalai Lama!' Yes, we did." Erin Andrews (IH 1989-91) "In the Fall of 1990, I remember having a joint birthday party with some Cal friends in the front section of the Café (pictured right). We made such fond memories!" Anders Yang (IH 1990-91) "As an I-House alumnus from 1990-94, I loved being able to wander down from my room to get a drink or to hang out with friends who were fellow residents as well as outside friends at the Café. It was a great place to host discussions, especially on the patio, with its gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge." Raymond Yee (1990-94) "My favorite memory of the Café was after the Big Game in 2008 when Cal took back the axe! After we were done flood- ing the field, I-House residents from around the world met up in the Café to celebrate the big win, talk about football, and drink beer, of course. It was a highlight of my life at I-House." Sherri "Syd" Sotoodeh (IH 2008-09) Pictured right. I-House couple Rachel Spiegel (IH 2010-11) and Jens Kristian Holmen (IH 2010-11) enjoyed returning with their new baby, Henry, to visit the I-House Café, where they met, and the table where Jens proposed. They also came to see the brick that their family purchased in honor of their wedding in 2017. It Happened in the Café... Alumni Memories The I-House Café

• Cover