Hey Ashdown, I am organizing a Street photography + hot chocolate outing on Saturday, 18th Feb 2012. Rain (or blizard) date is Saturday 25th Feb 2011. This is a great opportunity to learn some tricks to shoot pictures of random people and enjoy this mild winter. This is the set of pictures I took in 2010 : http://www.flickr.com/photos/ggraphy/sets/72157624803990017/ We will leave from Ashdown lobby at 2pm and walk to Central Sq. We will take the T to Harvard Sq. We will take pictures there, and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate at LA Burdick (http://www.burdickchocolate.com/). We will take the red line to south station around 3.30pm, and begin our walking tour from there. We will cover Chinatown, Boston Commons, Newbury Street, and Harvard Bridge (http://g.co/maps/hngjy) The event will be followed by a photography contest for a $30 gift card! If you're interested, please sign up at https://signup.mit.edu:444/signup.php?id=616748379. Attendance is limited. T fare and Hot chocolate will be paid for. You can bring guests, but they'll have to pay themselves. Gartheeban. G Ashdown Photographer

Welcome back! Join us this Sunday for the first Ashdown Brunch in this semester! We will have yogurt, oatmeal, chocolate croissants, pancakes, sausages, eggs, home fries and all kinds of fruits! You will also have the chance to check out the different products of the MIT Grad Rat Ring. We will provide food in two batches, one batch at 12:00pm and another at 12:20pm, so it’s not necessary to come too early and wait in lines. It's also important to bring your own plates and utensils. You can help us cut down on the waste and have more food with your own plates.

On Friday, January 27th, please join Ashdown House Fellow Keeril Makan from the Department of Music and the Associate Housemasters for a dinner/discussion followed by a Boston Modern Orchestra Project performance entitled "STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: UNEXPECTED CONCERTOS." Importantly, this performance will feature an original work by Prof. Makan: "Dream Lightly: Electric Guitar Concerto." Here are the details: http://www.bmop.org/season-tickets/strange-bedfellows-unexpected-concertos We will meet with Prof. Makan at 5:00pm in the Associate Housemaster apartment (2047) for food and a discussion of the performance to follow. We will then walk or take a bus (depending on the weather) to Jordan Hall at the New England Conservatory for the 8:00pm performance. The cost is free (except for bus fair). Here is the link to sign up: http://signup.mit.edu/84745593 Please only sign up if you will actually attend. If you need to cancel, please remove your name from the attendance sheet at least 48 hours in advance of the event. We are looking forward to seeing many of you at this event and especially to Prof. Makan's piece.

Hi Ashdowners! Please join us this coming Wednesday for a FREE DINNER and DESSERT, and a special seminar focuses on healthy relationships and communications! We will have speakers from MIT medical violence prevention and response program, and we will discuss healthy vs. unhealthy relationships and how to communicate effectively. You will also hear about an opportunity for you become a "connector", who helps residents to find useful resources in stressful situations. NO SIGN UP IS REQUIRED! We are looking forward to seeing you! Please bring your own plates and utensils to help reduce waste.

The new Ashdown study room is now open! It is in room 1065B which has been remodeled for this purpose. The athena computers have been moved and we have ordered study carrels for this space. The purpose of this room is quiet, individual work - no talking, cell phones, or group work. The old athena cluster room (the second floor lounge) will soon be repurposed as a TV room. This is a change that is still taking place, so please be patient as not everything is perfect yet. AHEC hopes you enjoy this new space and that it is useful to you!

Enjoy a Christmas brunch with your friends before the exams this coming Sunday at Ashdown House! We will have our usual menu includes pancakes, sausages, yogurt, oatmeal, croissants, eggs, home fries and all kinds of fruits, plus holiday surprises! You will also have the chance to check out the different products of the MIT Grad Rat Ring.

Start your holidays by joining us in making s'mores and drinking hot chocolate or cider. Roast your marshmallows to your liking over a BBQ grill and make the perfect s'more. While you enjoy your delicious treat, you can make your very own Christmas Tree decoration. Once you finish your decoration, hang it up on our Ashdown Christmas Tree, or take it with you and bring Ashdown Christmas holiday spirit anywhere you go. Materials for s'mores and decoration building will be provided. (You are welcome to bring your own decorative material if you want to make your creation unique)

Pakistani food, entertainment, and documentary. Please stay tuned for further details. Please bring your own plates and utensils to help reduce waste.

Want to tone those abs? Not motivated enough? Come join us for a 45 minute pilates class! $5 per person. Please bring a towel or mat.

Want to tone those abs? Not motivated enough? Come join us for a 45 minute pilates class! $5 per person. Please bring a towel or mat.

Please join our new House Fellow, Keeril Makan from the Department of Music, and Associate Housemasters for lunch followed by a performance by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Details to follow via e-mail.

Hi Ashdown Residents, Ashdown Cultural committee are organizing a Chinese themed dinner on Nov. 19th. We will have a great Asian performance team doing traditional Chinese dance while enjoying the delicious Chinese food from Mulan. Come and have a good relaxation after the Mid-term. To provide you more good food in a limited budget, we would like everyone have four dollars paid at the entrance of Huisizer Room. Hope you all could enjoy the dinner and the performance. Please bring your own plates and utensils to help reduce waste. Ashdown Cultural Committee

Ashdown Social Committee is pleased to announce that there will be a movie outing to see newly released "J Edgar" on Nov. 19th. Want to watch an exciting FBI movie with your fellow Ashdown residents before Thanksgiving? Please sign up http://signup.mit.edu/1088710868

Join us this coming Sunday to enjoy great food and fruits with your friends! We will have yogurt, oatmeal, chocolate croissants, pancakes, sausages, eggs, home fries and all kinds of fruits! You will also have the chance to check out the different products for MIT Grad Rat Ring at the brunch!

Same as last time, we will provide food in two batches, one batch at 12:00pm and another at 12:30pm, so it’s not necessary to come too early and wait in lines.

It's also important to bring your own plates and utensils. You can help us cut down on the waste and have more food with your own plates.

As always we appreciate and need volunteers. From egg-crackers to fruit cutters to croissant bakers, we have a job for you! We need people of all skill levels, so come ye come all! (Not to mention you get to skip the line and eat first if you volunteer :) If you would like to help us with the brunch preparation, please contact us at ashdown-brunch@mit.edu.

Want to tone those abs? Not motivated enough? Come join us for a 45 minute pilates class! $5 per person. Please bring a towel or mat.