New Season, New Talks!

London, New Zealand, Mexico...Tenessee, Louisiana, California...we're lucky to welcome visitors from across the U.S. and the world here at the Tenement Museum. But of course we have a special fondness for our fellow New Yorkers, and we love the mix of locals and tourists who attend our free evening Tenement Talks series.

Like the city we call home, Tenement Talks are full of surprises: topics range from politics to cuisine, architecture, history and beyond. Curious locals and tourists alike gather in our Visitor Center for after-work drinks and a spirited conversation with some of today's most interesting writers and thinkers. Next month, our Talks return from a summer hiatus with a terrific fall lineup.

To launch our new season on September 7, we'll feature author Anna Solomon discussing her new book The Little Bride, the tale of a young Jewish mail-order bride who travels from Odessa to start a new life in 19th century South Dakota. We'll also enjoy the music of Tenement Museum Educator and musician Clare Burson, whose 2010 album Silver and Ash received rave reviews.

On September 8, we're thrilled to welcome actor, comedian and Obie-award-winning playwright Wallace Shawn. Shawn's diverse film career has included My Dinner with Andre, Toy Story, The Princess Bride and an unforgettable cameo in Woody Allen's Manhattan. Shawn will discuss his life and work and read from a selection of his essays.



Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory in My Dinner with Andre

On September 14 we'll round out an amazing week with author Julie Salamon reading from her book Wendy and the Lost Boys: The Uncommon Life of Wendy Wasserstein. Pulitzer Prize-winner, Broadway titan and the first woman playwright to win a Tony Award, Wasserstein spoke to a generation of women during an era of vast change.

In the season ahead, we'll collaborate with independent non-profit newsroom Pro Publica for a series of talks on current events. We'll also talk with writer and humorist Calvin Trillin, biographer Vivian Gornick and feminist historian Jean H. Baker, among many others.

With an amazing array of guests and topics, this fall's Tenement Talks are some of our most exciting events yet! Whether you're a visitor or a New Yorker, we hope you'll join us for a drink and a chat.