Thursday, February 27, 2020 Dinners

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1. Changing Minds About Climate Change [Closed, Sold Out] 

Join a lively conversation about the changing climate with Anthony Leiserowitz, Director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, who studies public opinion on issues of the environment. Host of Climate Connections, a daily national radio program and podcast, Leiserowitz will share his research about American and international public opinion on global warming and our willingness to make individual behavioral changes. 

Hosted by Shelley & Gordon Geballe, Branford

 

2. Lyrical Journey [Closed, Sold Out]

You’ll be inspired by the creator of the one-woman show, “From the Hood to the Ivy League,” Dr. Tiffany Renée Jackson. She will share her journey from New Haven’s Church Street South Housing Project to her flourishing career as a classical and jazz singer and her work to encourage young people to use their musical gifts to break the chains of systemic poverty. 

Hosted by Barbara Goren & David Rosen, New Haven

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3. Food Revolution [Closed, Sold Out] 

Dine with internationally renowned Chef Bun Lai who started a food revolution at New Haven’s Miya’s Sushi. Credited as the first chef in the world to use invasive species as sushi, Lai will introduce you to his unique menu and his philosophy which aims to protect ecological habitats by incorporating new types of plants and fish into his delicious meals. 

Hosted by Bun Lai & Miya’s Sushi, New Haven 

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4. Post 2020: Voting Rights and the Supreme Court [Closed, Sold Out] 

Break bread with Emily Bazelon, New York Times Magazine staff writer, Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law at Yale Law School, and co-host of the Slate Political Gabfest. A sought-after expert on the intersection of the courts and elections, Bazelon will discuss the impact of the upcoming election on voting rights and on the Supreme Court. 

Hosted by David & Lely Evans at Yale’s Berkeley College, New Haven 

 

5. Artists Lead Change  [Closed, Sold Out]

Join internationally known jewelry designer Wendy Black-Nasta, Founder/Director of Artists for World Peace (AFWP), a non-profit based out of Middletown that has now made a difference in 25 countries on five continents. From building a Tanzanian village’s first health center to creating the children in need, AFWP is building artistic bridges across continents. 

Hosted by Debbie Freedman & Ben Ledbetter, Hamden

 

6. Warning Signs [Closed, Sold Out]

Timothy Snyder, Yale’s Richard C. Levin Professor of History, will consider the question “How democratic can America be?” A recognized and frequently cited expert on current global events, Snyder’s most recent book is The Road to Unfreedom: Russia, Europe, America. Writing with bracing immediacy about our new political order, Snyder has been widely quoted about the ongoing political demonstrations in Hong Kong and about other issues worldwide. 

Hosted by Julie Wilson & Thomas Ruggieri, New Haven  

 

7. Parenting by the Numbers  [Closed, Sold Out]

As new parents (and grandparents) struggle with contradictory advice, Brown University Economics Professor Emily Oster comes to the rescue with evidence-based decision-making for pregnancy and early parenting. Oster, best-selling author of Cribsheet and Expecting Better, will share tips and pitfalls of parenting from birth to preschool. 

Hosted by Christine Kim & Douglas Kysar, New Haven

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8. Art and Power [Closed, Sold Out] 

You’ll enjoy a colorful conversation with local columnist and author Lary Bloom. He will share insights from his recent book, Sol LeWitt: A Life of Ideas, and engage in a discussion about how LeWitt, a Chester native and key figure in minimalism and conceptualism, leveraged his standing in contemporary art to support the rights of women and work against institutional bullies.

Hosted by Meghan & George Knight, New Haven 

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9. Tariffs and Trade Wars [Closed, Sold Out] 

Spend a fascinating evening with Yale International Economics Professor Peter K. Schott, an expert on the impact of globalization on countries, firms, and workers. His research sheds light on tariffs and trade wars, specifically between the U.S. and China, to help us understand the changing global economy.

Hosted by Priscilla & Robert Dannies, New Haven

 

10. Shared Music [Closed, Sold Out] 

Join an evening of song with tenor and Yale music scholar Paul Berry who will discuss the connections between what we now call classical music and the songs we hear today. Berry will perform several of Schubert’s greatest works to illustrate the shared experience for listeners and performers alike. 

Hosted by A. Douglas Stone & Mary Haselkamp, North Haven

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11. Amazon Adventure [Closed, Sold Out]

Learn about the battle for the Amazon from Scott Wallace, National Geographic photojournalist, adventurer, and University of Connecticut journalism professor. His most recent assignment sent him to Brazil to document the loss of environmental protections under Brazilian President Bolsonaro, evident in the wildfires and deforestation and the devastating impact these are having on vanishing indigenous populations.  

Hosted by Hosted by JoAnn & Tony Scillia, Branford 

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12. Yale Art Galleries: Behind the Scenes [Closed, Sold Out] 

Join a special private tour of the Modern and Contemporary galleries of the Yale Art Gallery led by Stephanie Wiles, the Gallery’s Director, and Keely Orgeman, the new Knox Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Together they will describe behind-the-scenes stories and changes to expect in the coming year in these galleries. 

Hosted by Union League Café and Alison Bonds & Larry Levine, New Haven 

 

13. A Man for All Seasons [Closed, Sold Out]

Welcome back former LEAP Counselor and current California State Assemblymember Rob Bonta, who will discuss the California Green New Deal, legislation he has proposed to accelerate efforts to combat climate change and ensure that equity animates a new clean energy economy. 

Hosted by Roz & Jerry Meyer, Guilford 

 

14. The Genius of Genes [Closed, Sold Out] 

What if your genes could determine the cure for a disease you face? Consider this question with Dr. Michael Murray, Professor of Genetics and Director for Clinical Operations at the Yale Center for Genomic Health. He leads the research that seeks to enroll 100,000 volunteers in the “Generations Project,” linking genomic data with electronic health data to keep people healthy and provide better care. 

Hosted by Paulette & Lawrence Fox, Woodbridge

 

15. Making It? Maybe Not  [Closed, Sold Out]

Take a fresh look at the promise of American meritocracy with Daniel Markovits, Yale Law School’s Guido Calabresi Professor of Law. His recent book, The Meritocracy Trap, is a rethinking of what has been considered a hedge against inequality. He argues that our meritocracy has not worked for the successful any more than it has helped those on the bottom of the ladder.  

Hosted by Debra & Ron Nudel, Woodbridge 

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16. The Architect, the Pianist, and the Telescope [Closed, Sold Out] 

Don’t miss a one-of-a-kind evening with Nathaniel Kahn, renowned for his Academy Award-nominated documentary films, My Architect which charts his journey to understand his largely-absent father, Louis Kahn, famous architect of Yale’s University Art Gallery and Center for British Art, and Two Hands about the celebrated pianist Leon Fleisher. His Telescope on the Discovery Channel was watched by a record-breaking 5 million viewers views over its first weekend. 

Hosted by Sue McDonald & Corey Stone, Hamden

 

17. Brewing Goodwill [Closed, Sold Out] 

Meet Abdul-Rehman Malik, an award-winning journalist, educator, and organizer now at Yale Divinity School. He has worked in ten countries for the UK based non-profit initiative “Radical Middle Way” seeking to connect young Muslims around the world with their spiritual and cultural identity. With his interest in cutting-edge artistic production, he made the BBC documentary, “The Muhammadan Bean: The Secret History of Islam and Coffee,” a work sure to unite coffee lovers across cultures.

Hosted by Zehra & Huned Patwa, Hamden

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18. Drug Deals  [Closed, Sold Out]

Join Dr. Anthony Ryan Hatch, author of the recent Silent Cells: The Secret Drugging of Captive America, in a discussion about the pervasive and complex ways in which psychotropic drugs are used in the U.S. prison industrial complex and other institutions including foster homes, military and immigrant detention centers, and nursing homes. As an Associate Professor of Science in Society at Wesleyan University, Hatch also studies how medicine and technology impact social inequalities in health.

Hosted by Alice & Jim Hadler, New Haven

 

19. The Bees’ Needs [Closed, Sold Out]

You’ll have a sweet evening with master beekeeper Bill Hesbach, owner of Wing Dance Apiary in Cheshire, who speaks and writes about beekeeping and what we must do to save bees from the dire environmental threats they face. Hesbach is an active member of the Connecticut Queen Breeders Cooperative as well as the Connecticut Backyard Beekeepers Organization.  

Hosted by Hart Caparulo, Orange

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20. Making History Matter [Closed, Sold Out] 

Spend an evening with award-winning screenwriter and Columbia professor, Trey Ellis, with film credits including Peabody Award-winning Tuskegee Airmen, Emmy-awarding winning HBO documentary King of the Wilderness, and teleplay Good Fences. Ellis also won the American Book Award for Right Here, Right Now. Published widely, his most influential essay is “The New Black Aesthetic.” Ellis will share experiences creating works about history. 

Hosted by by Kai Bynum, New Haven

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21. From Discoveries to Treatment [Closed, Sold Out] 

University scientists make many exciting new discoveries every year. Yet, translating those discoveries into treatments that help patients remains a challenge. Hear Craig Crews, Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacology at Yale, discuss the exciting connections between academic research and drug and treatment applications at his pioneering biotech venture, Arvinas, Inc., located in New Haven’s Science Park. 

Hosted by David Newton at September in Bangkok, New Haven  

 

22. British Art: An Insider’s View  [Closed, Sold Out]

Who better to discuss recent and upcoming exhibitions at the Yale Center for British Art than the new director, Courtney J. Martin? She has taught at Brown, Vanderbilt, and Berkeley, curated exhibits in the U.S., Britain, and Denmark, and written extensively, receiving both an Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant and the 2016 Historians of British Art Book Award. 

Hosted by Andrea & Jeremy Asnes at Mory’s, New Haven

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23. A Brief on Brexit [Closed, Sold Out] 

Learn from David Cameron, Director of the MacMillan Center’s Program in European Union Studies, what Brexit means for the European Union and Britain. Cameron as written about the impact of trade openness on government, Brexit and numerous topics related to the EU, including the crisis in Ukraine.  

Hosted by Cynthia & Matt Haiken, New Haven

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24. Photographing America [Closed, Sold Out] 

Photographer David Ottenstein will take you on his journey to capture the American West and Midwest over thirteen years documenting the vanishing landscape of the family farm and the rich history and culture that accompanied it. He’ll explain what moves him to take the remarkable photographs found in his recent book, IOWA: Echoes of a Vanishing Landscape. 

Hosted by Gisela & Richard Goldstein, Milford

 

25. Momentous Turnaround [Closed, Sold Out] 

Join William Outlaw III and author Charles Barber as they share the dramatic story of William Outlaw’s journey from growing up in New Haven public housing to gang leader and from incarceration to change-making New Haven community advocate. Citizen Outlaw presents a vital next chapter in the ongoing conversation about race and social justice in America. 

Hosted by Marcy Stovall & James Farnam, New Haven

 

26. History in the Making [Closed, Sold Out] 

Inspired by Obama’s inaugural address to “reaffirm our enduring spirit,” Yale historian Matthew Frye Jacobson speaks of his recent project to capture “sweeping historical forces at the street level.” Professor of History, American Studies and African-American Studies at Yale, Jacobson teaches courses on race, immigration and migration, and popular culture. He has written seven books and has won an award for a documentary film on baseball’s desegregation. 

Hosted by Nancy & Rick Antle, New Haven

 

27. Creating Cuisine [Closed, Sold Out]

Learn how to cook a delectable meal at a cooking class with Betty Ann Donegan, an instructor with over 40 years of experience. Donegan, a former chemistry teacher at Southern Connecticut State University, will cook the meal, cooking-show style, explaining and answering questions as she goes, and then you will enjoy the delicious dishes, paired with a very special bottle of wine. 

Hosted by Betty Ann Donegan, Branford

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28. Incubator  [Closed, Sold Out]

Be part of an artful evening with Nico Wheadon, executive director of NXTHVN who relocated to New Haven from the Studio Museum in Harlem, to learn about this multi-disciplinary arts incubator where artists and curators converge to make art, exchange ideas and extend their networks. Housed in a former manufacturing plant in the Dixwell community, NXTHVN’s mission is to attract and support talent within and beyond New Haven.

Hosted by Christina & Jason Price, New Haven

 

29. Hot off the Press [Closed, Sold Out]

Join a wildcard discussion on recent politics with Ross Douthat, New York Times Op-Ed columnist, co-host of the Times Op-Ed podcast “The Argument,” and National Review film critic. Flowing from his twice-weekly column for The New York Times, he is ready to talk about anything political that is currently in the air.

Hosted by Anne Higonnet & John Geanakoplos, Guilford

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Saturday Dinners, February 29, 2020, at 7:00 PM

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30. Wind Song [Closed, Sold Out] 

For over 15 years, woodwind quintet Elm City Winds has been delighting local audiences with light favorites as well as serious classical music. The quintet features artists from a range of other occupations who come together in the name of music and the social good. In addition to a lovely dinner, enjoy the sonorities of this classic ensemble. The program features music from song and dance written originally or later arranged for woodwind quintet. Enjoy the journey from Handel to Brahms to the Beatles!

Hosted by Francine Farkas Sears, Guilford

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31. Poetry After Prison [Closed, Sold Out]

Acclaimed poet, author, lawyer, and scholar, Reginald Dwayne Betts will read from and discuss his most recent book of poetry, Felon. Reflecting on his work in public defense, his years of advocacy, and his own experiences as a teenager in maximum security prisons, he will address a central issue of this generation: incarceration and its lasting impact on families and communities. 

Hosted by Miriam Gohara & Marcus McFerren, Woodbridge

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32. Interdisciplinary  [Closed, Sold Out]

Spend a fascinating evening with Bill Poorvu, an entrepreneur and educator who is considered a guru in the world of real estate and investing. Partnering with his wife Lia, he is also a philanthropist committed to supporting excellence in education through innovative, interdisciplinary teaching, reflected in the mission of Yale’s new Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning.  Bill will share his experiences as a value investor at Baupost, a real estate professor at HBS, and his and Lia’s impactful philanthropy.  

Hosted by Hosted by Ellen Shuman & Douglas Rae, New Haven

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33. His Bondage and His Freedom [Closed, Sold Out] 

Take a seat with David Blight, Yale Sterling Professor of History, African American Studies, and American Studies and winner of the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in history for Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom, who will explain how Douglass escaped slavery, became the greatest orator of his day, and challenged America to confront racism. Join in the discussion about how this American altered our history forever. 

Hosted by Cynthia Farrar & Paul Kennedy, New Haven