New UW physics grad students have their orientation the week before Fall quarter begins. One day that week, CENPA typically hosts them for a lunchtime barbecue with burgers (beef and vegetarian) and sides. Over lunch, students, postdocs, staff and faculty mingle with the new students and talk about research, UW, student life, and Seattle. It's a great opportunity to make sure the new students know what CENPA is (and where it is, at least in general) and what we do.
Since this is to some degree a recruiting event, the faculty typically sponsor this barbecue for the students.
The barbecue is scheduled as part of the Physics Department orientation week. The date will be announced in advance over the cenpa-all mailing list and at Monday meeting. The event is usually held on the east lawn (the same side of the building as the tank farm for the tandem accelerator).