  A previously unremarkable star near the Canis Major OB1/R1 association
underwent an episode of multiple deep brightness minima. Light curves based on
archival Gaia, ZTF, NEOWISE data and additional observations from LCO and UKIRT
show that the star was not variable prior to 2019 Aug 18 (MJD 58700), and on
that date started showing brightness dips of up to 3 magnitudes in the Gaia G
and ZTF r bandpasses. After MJD 59500, ~800 days after the onset of these
dipping events, the star returned to its previous brightness, and no
significant dipping events have been recorded since. Compared to the stable
phase, NEOWISE infrared photometry in the W1 and W2 bands indicates a generally
redder color, and both decreases and increases in brightness at different times
during the dipping episode. The spectrum of Gaia21bcv taken after the end of
the dipping episode shows several neutral and ionized metal absorption lines,
including Li, indicating a spectral type of ~ K5. Variable emission from [OI]
was observed. The H alpha absorption in Gaia21bcv is too faint and irregular
for this spectral type, indicating that the line is partly filled in by
variable emission, a signature of weak episodic accretion. Gaia21bcv lies above
the zero-age main sequence, but is much fainter than typical R CrB stars. We
interpret the light curve of Gaia21bcv as being similar to the occultation
events in Epsilon Aurigae, i.e., occultation by a disk around a companion
object orbiting the primary star.
