Campus & Community

A week in the life of Leverett House

3 min read

Students mingle, dine, and delight in Leverett’s social offerings

Established in 1930, Leverett House is the largest residential House at Harvard. Leverett’s social calendar was overflowing in mid-December with a series of events that included a Master’s open house, a student-faculty reception and dinner, and a talent show. Hosted by Masters Howard and Ann Georgi, the open house featured the famed Leverett monkey bread (cinnamon-flavored bread chunks baked to a warm golden-brown hue), the making of foil snowflakes, gingerbread decorating, and impromptu caroling around the piano.

The student-faculty dinner, held once each semester, is a chance for students to get one-on-one time with a teacher of their choice. It was a party atmosphere, with “Chief “ Georgi setting the light-hearted tone, as elbow-to-elbow guests engaged in excited conversation. Lurking under the tables, waiting for tasty morsels to fall, were the two canines-in-residence, a Welsh corgi named Bandit, and Rosie, a gentle Australian shepherd. They didn’t wait in vain.

The annual talent show wrapped up the busy week, featuring a number of moving performances. The acts consisted of several folksingers, a poet reading her work in two languages, a stand-up comic, and two piano players. To make the evening sweeter, a table of desserts offered enticements of apple and pumpkin pies, oatmeal raisin cookies, brownies, German chocolate cake, biscotti, orange chiffon cake, and, oh, yes, a healthy but not-so-tempting bowl of fruit.

— Photographs and text by Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer

House Master Howard House Master Georgi (right) joins student choristers for impromptu carols around the piano.
Leverett residents enjoy the popular monkey bread.
Georgi wears a bit of Leverett humor on his shirt.
Gary Carlson ’13 (left) and Paul Stavropoulos ’13 take a moment from their laptops for some personal time with Rosie, one of two Leverett House canines who live in the master’s residence.
image The Leverett House guest book shows the The Leverett House guest book shows the signatures of many historical figures over the years, including William Butler Yeats and T.S. Eliot.
Ph.D. candidate Charlotte Cavaille (left) and student Gary Gerbrandt (right) take time to mingle.
A Leverett bow tie displays House spirit.
Tanya Mair ’14 chats with Michael Puett, Walter C. Klein Professor of Chinese History, at the reception preceding the student-faculty dinner.
House Master Georgi, affectionately known as “Chief” to House residents, bangs the gong to signal that dinner is ready.
What a talent! Alexandra Mendez reads her poems in both Spanish and English.
Gary Gerbrandt performs a stand-up comedy routine based on his memory of being “motion-challenged” as a youth. To put it bluntly, he lacked finesse in doing everyday, normal activities.
Courtland Kelly ’13 sings and plays guitar