More...

All smiles and cocktails for the Molyneauxs

... Fall Break memories. After spending some time with the Crudeles in Nashville and hearing all about the Newseum from fellow senior Eric Restic, Peter Molyneaux joined his siblings and his eighty-six years young grandfather, Dan Molyneaux Sr., in Florida for a cruise. Yes, for the remainder of Fall Break, Peter, his grandfather, and siblings stopped at various port of calls in Caribbean and Mexico, enjoying the weather, the locals, and the all specialities and delicacies of both ship and port. On Peter joining his grandfather for a sun and fun filled time, Jenny Molyneaux, Peter's Mom, said, "I am sure Peter was sad to miss the hospitality of the Blossfelds and the Michigan game, but I imagine his basking in the Mexican sunshine while watching the rainy game in Michigan wasn't too bad." 

Oh, the things...

Sage of 203: Speak oh wise one...

...that the Gentlemen write on their whiteboards! Recently, there was a message for the residents of the Hall from “the Sage of Room 203. Not a peripatetic, this sage is here to stay and share his knowledge, nay, his wisdom, with all who are willing to stop, pause, and take in what is being served up. On the Sage of Room 203 sharing his wisdom filled musing, Frank Spesia, Steds AR, said, "Whatever it may be, it's one to grow on for sure. I just wish he had shared the current message sooner!"

A Fall Break...

Eric and Joe Restic enjoying D.C...

... flashback. Eric Restic, Steds senior and ND Men's LaCrosse player, with his parents Joe and Susan, went to Washington D.C. before he rendezvoused with his fellow Stedsmen in Nashville. What did Eric and his parents do while in our nation's capitol? Oh, things that one ought to do... the usual... seeing the sights and visiting the museums. BUT while doing the D.C. usual, the Restics encountered something unusual at the Newseum, a museum tracing the history of the First Amendment. While perusing the exhibits at the Newseum, Restics discovered that what Eric was breaking from had actually followed him all the way to D.C.!  There, at the Newseum, was an exhibit celebrating student journalism which featured the Notre Dame Observer, AND in a coincidence of coincidences, on front page of that celebrated Observer was an article about the Steds Float! On the discovery, Susan said,  "Look what we found at the Newseum in Washington D.C.! We're not surprised in the least...  it's Steds after all!

... Susan notices something familiar...

... and Joe confirms...

... it's Steds!

It's official...

Fr. Ralph with Colleen and Christian...

..they're married! With Fr. Ralph witnessing and with fellow Stedsmen present, Colleen Turner ’16 of St. Mary's and Christian Verhamme ’16 of Steds were married at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame on the day of Notre Dame Michigan game. Even though it was rainy, the couple made it a beautiful day by their beaming and radiance. Suffice it to say, there were smiles all around at the Mass and the reception. On Colleen becoming a part of the Steds family, Patrick Krauss '16, fellow Stedsman and Best Man, said, "We will forever be thankful for late night Taco Bell at LaFortune, both for bringing these two together six years ago AND for making an appearance at the wedding reception. A wonderful day all around., and we so excited to finally and officially, have Colleen as a part of the St. Ed's family!"

Best wishes and congratulations Colleen and Christian!

... and the Steds Family.

Let it...

A snowy Sorin and...

… snow! With Founder’s Week over, it can now snow all it wants. No longer will Stedsmen worry whether or not it will snow for their Day in the Park, for the dance in Oak Room dance, or on their cherish Shuttlecock Showdown. Again, let it snow… and believe me it is! Snowing all day Monday, it is predicted to snow all evening, throughout the night, and morning next, and when it’s done, it will leave anywhere from 7 inches to 1 foot of snow. Of course, the kids don’t care because they don’t have to shovel it, but they are busy. Yes, busy planning the first snow ball fight of the year which will most likely commence around 10pm this evening. On the first substantial snow fall, Luca Marini, Steds freshman and resident Brazilian, said, “Despite the weather being colder than I ever experienced, watching the snow fall gently around campus is a calming scene."

WATCH THE SNOW FALL: CLICK HERE.

WATCH EVEN MORE SNOW FALL: CLICK HERE.

... and a snowy Mary and Dome.

Let the shuttlecocks...

Shuttlecock Showdown: A day full of great badminton...

… fly! Without any doubt, the Gentlemen had great weather as they took to North Quad for the annual Shuttlecock Showdown. This cherished event was a showcase for the Gentlemen to demonstrate their skill and prowess with racquet and shuttlecock. The Showdown saw the rise and fall of many teams. Shuttlecock One, the team of Fr. Ralph and Steds grad student Charles Rioux, was sent packing by the Assistant Rector team of Frank Spesia and Pete McKeon. Yes, it was a day full of aces, missed aces, faults, and even some double faults, and yes... even bad call by the self appointed line judges. 

In the end, the defending championships, Sam Schaeffer and Christian Kirby, Steds seniors and RAs, faced off against an upstart junior duo of Josh Gambardella and Dan O'Brien, Steds juniors and Hall President and V.P. The two teams battled it out before a crowd of badminton diehards with each team taking a game a piece, forcing a third and final game. It was a spirited and close match right up until the end, but there could only be one winner. And the junior team bested the defending seniors 2 games to 1. Congratulations to our 2019 Shuttlecock Showdown champions... Josh Gambardella and Dan O'Brien!

On the day, Ryan Dahnke, Steds freshman and Shuttlecock Showdown participant, said, "The Shuttlecock Showdown is truly an event unlike any other. The courts compete with Wimbledon as the best venue for racket sports. The sportsmanship is top notch, and the competition is unrivaled. Hall President Josh Gambardella shocked us all with a close victory in the Finals in what was without a doubt the most competitive sports-related event on campus this weekend. MVP honors go to Father Ralph, whose racket-play was among the best all morning. Unnamed sources say they 'were scared to play him' and 'knew he was too good for them.'And whoever beat Greg and I were likely on PEDs. Taking into account the future (very) likely NCAA intervention, our squad won the whole showdown."

To see some championship game play: click HERE.

... and McKeon and Spesia enjoy the taste of victory.

The fun...

Clubbing it construction style

...continues with round two at South Dinning's Oak Room. Earlier this week, the Gentlemen gathered for dinner and the feting of Logan Arnold, but on Friday, they gathered for the Founder's Week Dance. Themed "construction,” many came as, well you guessed it, construction workers with helmets, high vis vests, tools and even tool boxes. Dance goers enjoyed great music that was composed by not only the request of the Gentlemen themselves but also the the musical stylings of Frank Spesia, Steds AR, known for the evening as DJ Decimal, because the fun repeats. Get it? In short, it was a magical evening with a lot of construction going on out on the dance food. On the night at the Oak Room, DJ Decimal said, “Union rules brought the evening to an end… rules are rules… but I want everyone to know that this DJ is available for dorm parties.”