The New Yorker Festival covers all aspects of pop culture, arts, and politics. This year is lined up with over fifty events. The festival attracts some of the most powerful voices from around the nation to discuss and reflect on the world’s current state of affairs. Read on to discover which talks and debates you wont’t want to miss!
New Yorker Festival 2017: October 6th to October 8th
Friday, October 6th at 7pm
Seth Meyers Talks With Ariel Levy
New York Society for Ethical Culture (2 West 64th Street)
The comedian and host of NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” will participate in a talk with Ariel Levy. Meyers catapulted into fame as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” He was best known for leading the weekly “Weekend Update” segments on the popular comedy show. Meyers also hosted the Emmy Awards in 2014 and has won several Writers Guild Awards. He’s also produced various documentaries for IFC and is currently developing a TV comedy for NBC called “A.P. Bio.” Award-winning journalist Ariel Levy is the author of “Female Chauvinistic Pigs”. She’s also written the New York Times best-seller “The Rules do Not Apply.” She also works for The New Yorker as a staff writer.
Saturday, October 7th at 1pm
Atul Gawande Talks
New York Society for Ethical Culture
Atul Gawande is best known for being the author behind the best-selling nonfiction book “Being Mortal”. The book deals with a matter most of us don’t give a lot of thought about: end-of-life decisions. In it, Gawande also offers insights into the complications arising from old age. He also explains how the medical industry needs to make some improvements in order to adapt to a rapidly aging population. Gawande also works as a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and as a professor at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He’s the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. Gawande’s also been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1998. His talk will also address the current state of health care and assisted living facilities.
Sunday, October 8th at 2pm
It Happened Here
Directors Guild Theater (110 West 57th Street)
The Directors Guild Theater hosts this political debate that will mainly focus on the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Four writers and political strategists with different perspectives will also talk about what led to Trump’s victory on election night. The debate will be moderated by Dorothy Wickenden. She’s the executive director of The New Yorker as well as a moderator on the podcast “The Political Scene”. Participating in the debate will be Jelani Cobb, a staff writer for The New Yorker and a professor at Columbia’s Journalism School. Another debater will be Mindy Finn, a political strategist who worked for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential campaign. Also participating is Arlie Russell Hochschild, who wrote the NY Times best-selling book “Strangers in their Own Land”. Finally, Rick Wilson, a columnist for The Daily Beast and a republican political consultant.
Saturday, October 7th at 10pm
Anthony Bourdain Talks with Patrick Radden Keefe
New York Society for Ethical Culture
Chef Anthony Bourdain will be presenting his most intimate self in a talk with Patrick Radden Keefe. Bourdain’s best known for hosting his own TV show on the Travel Channel called “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations”. He also stars in “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” on CNN. He’s also written various cookbooks and a best-selling memoir called “Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly”. He’ll also be talking about his life and career in depth with Patrick Keefe. Keefe is a staff writer for The New Yorker. He also received the National Magazine Award in 2014 for a moving story called “A Loaded Gun.”
Saturday, October 7th at 4pm
Al Franken Talks with David Redneck
New York Society for Ethical Culture
Al Franken is known for being the “Giant of the Senator”. He’s written a best-selling memoir of the same name in which he reflects on his life experiences in DC. In the book, Franken fondly remembers his rise as one of the top Democratic senators. He also looks back at his heated campaign run in 2008 in his home state of Minnesota. Franken is graduate of Harvard University and originally worked in the Twin Cities as a comedian. He’ll also engage in an insightful conversation with the editor of The New Yorker, David Redneck. Redneck received the Pulitzer Prize in the nonfiction category for his book “Lenin’s Tomb.” He’s also often attributed with being one of the leaders behind The New Yorker’s triumphs in the magazine industry.
