Chattering Classes
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

THE BARD POLITIC
Do Shakespeare’s works have a political point of view? The Shakespeare Guild’s John Andrews and the National Arts Club’s Marc Levy are joined by a panel of experts in drama and politics for a discussion on the topic “Speaking of Shakespeare in Times of Discord.” Monday, September 27, 7:30 p.m., National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, between Irving Place and Gramercy Park West, 212-475-3424, $25.
PICASSO IN SPAIN
Christopher Green lectures on Picasso’s 1909 Spanish landscapes, contrasting the works with Braque’s French landscapes from the same period. Tuesday, September 28, 6:30 p.m., Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th Street, 212-423-3587, $10 general, $7 seniors, students, and members.
LAUDING LANDMARKS
The Center for New York City Law presents a breakfast with the chairman of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Robert Tierney, who discusses the commission’s recent work. Fri day, October 1, 8:15 a.m., New York Law School, 57 Worth St. at Church Street, 212-431-2115, free, registration required.
COLUMBIA AND THE CITY
As part of Columbia’s 250th anniversary celebration, the university hosts a symposium titled “The 21st-Century City and Its Values.” In three sessions – “Urbanism,” “Toleration,” and “Equality” – speakers including Martha Nussbaum and Partha Chatterjee talk about the emerging character of modern city life. Friday, October 1, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Columbia University, Miller Theater, 116th Street and Broadway, 877-250-8428, free, registration required. See c250.Columbia.edu for registration.
LIVE FROM NEW YORK
This weekend’s New Yorker Festival is such a concentrated burst of activity that culture vultures must choose between Martin Amis and Tobias Wolf f (both appearing on Friday evening, but at different locations), between hearing Mark Strand on Brodsky or Donna Brazile on campaign tactics (Saturday afternoon), and between the Flying Karamazov Brothers and Cat Power (Saturday evening). Many activities have sold out, but free book signings take place Saturday and Sunday at “festival headquarters” (Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. at Broadway). Festival: Friday, October 1 through Sunday, October 3, times, locations, and prices vary, 877-391-0545, see festival.newyorker.com.
WIT AND WHISKEY
Parkerfest, the annual celebration of all things Dorothy Parker, features several walking tours of Parker’s haunts. The weekend’s highlight is the Bathtub Gin Ball & Speakeasy Cruise, complete with live jazz. Friday, October 1, 7 p.m. boarding, 8 p.m. departure, Aviation Skyport Marina, East 23rd Street and FDR Drive, $35 in advance, $45 at event if still available. See www.dorothyparkernyc.com for tickets and information.
BOOK COUNTRY
Highlights of New York is Book Country this year include Arnold Scaasi in conversation with New York social diarist David Patrick Columbia (Saturday, 11 a.m.), a history discussion with Gail Collins and others (Saturday, 3 p.m.), and a panel on New York literature including Frank McCourt and Jimmy Breslin (Sunday, 3 p.m.). Festival: Saturday, October 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, October 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., times vary, various locations in and around New York University, free, tickets required for some events, see www.nyisbookcountry.com for full schedule.
CLINTON AND CRAIN’S
Senator Clinton discusses national and local issues at a breakfast forum sponsored by Crain’s Business. Monday, October 4, 8 a.m. breakfast, 8:30-9:30 a.m. program, Grand Hyatt, 42nd Street between Park and Lexington avenues, 212-210-0739, $45 if purchased before September 24, $50 if purchased after September 24.
EPHEMERAL ART
Artists Joan Jonas, Julian LaVerdiere, and Arlene Shechet discuss the role of art in an ephemeral world. The talk takes place at the new Rubin Museum of Art (opening October 2), which is dedicated to Himalayan art. Tuesday, October 5, 7 p.m., Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues, 212-620-5000, $15.
CELEBRATING POETRY
The Academy of American Poets presents a reading by members of the organization’s board of chancellors. Participants include Frank Bidart, Lucille Clifton, Galway Kinnell, Yusef Komunyakaa, Philip Levine, and Ellen Bryant Voigt. Pulitzer Prize-winner Gary Snyder reads from his first collection of new poems since 1983’s “Axe Handles” (North Point). Wednesday, October 6, 7 p.m., Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., between Park and Madison avenues, 212-355-6160, $12 general, $8 students and members.
TECHIE TUNES
Electronic musician Brian Eno discusses his work with filmmaker and fan Todd Haynes (“Far from Heaven”) as part of MoMA’s Music and Media series. Thursday, October 7, 7 p.m., CUNY Proshansky Auditorium, 365 Fifth Ave. at 34th Street, 212-817-8215, $15 general, $10 members, $8 students.
TURNING THE TABLES
Journalist Ponchitta Pierce interviews public television host Bill Moyers as part of the 92nd Street Y’s “Interviewing the Interviewer” series. Tuesday, October 12, 8 p.m., Hunter College, Kaye Playhouse, 695 Park Ave. at 68th Street, 212-415-5500, $25.
BAM OPENS
The Brooklyn Academy of Music dedicates its newly restored facade with a community party. Sunday, October 24, 4 p.m. party, 5 p.m. ribbon cutting, 30 Lafayette Ave., between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street, 718-636-4100, free.
REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PROUST
The Proust Project presents a discussion with “Latter-Day Disciples, Admirers, and Shameless Imitators,” including reading of the author’s works. Louis Begley, Andrew Solomon, Judith Thurman, and Colm Toibin are among the Proustian participants. Wednesday, November 3, 6:30 p.m., New York Public Library, Celeste Bartos Forum, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-930-0855, $10 general, $7 members.
BANNED BAND
Olympia Press regularly subverted restrictive literary bans during the 1950s.A panel discussing the imprint’s legacy includes author Iris Owens, who wrote several regularly banned erotic novels for Olympia’s “Traveller’s Companion” series, and Nile Southern, the son of author Terry Southern and the author of “The Candy Men: The Rollicking Life and Times of the Notorious Novel ‘Candy’ ” (Arcade). Tuesday, November 9, 6:30 p.m., New York Public Library, South Court Auditorium, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-930-0855, $10 general, $7 members.
WHITE NIGHT
Tom Wolfe reads from his new novel “I Am Charlotte Simmons” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), about a small-town girl’s freshman year on a college campus. Thursday, November 11, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Union Square, 33 E. 17th St. at Broadway, 212-253-0810, free.
MATH MOMENT
In conjunction with the library’s exhibit “The Newtonian Moment” (opening October 8), a professor in Renaissance studies, Lisa Jardine, discusses “How Newton Moved Mathematics to the Top of the Scientific Agenda.” Tuesday, November 30, 6:30 p.m., New York Public Library, South Court Auditorium, Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, 212-930-0855, $10 general, $7 members.
REMEMBER NOVEMBER
Senator Elizabeth Dole discusses the aftermath of the November election – no matter what the outcome. Tuesday, December 7, 8 p.m., 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street, 212-415-5500, $25.
TEN-DOLLAR TALK
Alexander Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow gives a lecture titled “Why Was Alexander Hamilton Never Elected President?” The talk is the last in the series “The Age of Alexander Hamilton” in conjunction with the New-York Historical Society’s exhibit about the founding father. Thursday, December 9, 7 p.m., New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th Street, 212-873-3400, $50 general, $25 seniors, teachers, students, and members.
NEW YORKER NOEL
Selected Shorts presents an afternoon reading of Christmas stories from the pages of The New Yorker. Roger Angell hosts the family-friendly program of stories read by Malachy Mc-Court, James Naughton, and Tony Roberts. Sunday, December 19, 3 p.m., Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street, 212-669-3333, $21 and $25 general, $19 and $23 seniors and students, $18 and $22 members.