Conversations with Authors

In Conversation with David Denby, author of Eminent Jews

Thursday, March 12 • 7:00 p.m.

We are honored to welcome David Denby, longtime New Yorker critic and cultural commentator, for a conversation about his new book, Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer. Denby explores how four iconic Jewish figures helped shape postwar American culture – and what their stories reveal about Jewish identity, creativity, and belonging.

In partnership with Temple Emanu-El and The Jewish Book Council

Proud Partner

Irving and Anne Nevard Sherr Annual Arts & Culture Series - The Stories That Connect Us

Celebrating Sesame! with Cookbook Author Rachel Simons, Owner of Seed + Mill

Thursday, April 16 • 7:30 p.m.

Join entrepreneur Rachel Simons, founder of Seed & Mill in New York's Chelsea Market, and author of the new cookbook Sesame, as she shares her transformation from lawyer to successful entrepreneur in the artisanal food industry. In Sesame, Rachel celebrates the world of sesame from halva, tahini to sesame oil and shares the evolution, history and diversity of this classic ingredient. She will discuss all things tahini, demonstrate cooking techniques from her book and, of course, we will get to taste!. A fabulous evening of food, stories, and dinner ideas.

Price: $30, Member Price: $24

Baked by Melissa is back with her new cookbook!

Meet Melissa Ben-Ishay, Author of COME EAT: 100 Nourishing Recipes to Eat Every Day

Tuesday, April 28 • 7:30 p.m.

Melissa Ben-Ishay is back with her highly anticipated new book, COME EAT: 100 Nourishing Recipes to Eat Every Day – a vibrant, flavor-packed collection of delicious, nutritious meals that make it easy to nourish your family every day.

“Food – and the recipes in this book – are all about bringing the people you love most together around the table. It’s about creating time and building connections. [But] after a long day at work, I don’t want to spend hours making dinner, so I’ve mastered the recipes that come together quickly that everyone in my family loves,” writes Melissa.

Packed with stunning photography and colorful, mouthwatering recipes that focus on fresh produce and big flavors, COME EAT features a variety of Melissa’s favorite weekly go-to recipes, from lunch to dinner to dessert – and all the snacks, sides, tips and tricks in between.

With helpful tips and easy-to-follow instructions, Melissa shows you how to easily adapt meals for your family, from breaking down the components of the perfect salad to making soup with ingredients you have on hand. Whether you’re a novice cook eager to gain confidence in the kitchen or a seasoned pro looking to save time and effort, Come Eat makes creating and planning meals easy every day—one perfect bite at a time.

Melissa Ben-Ishay is the New York Times bestselling author of Come Hungry and CEO of Baked by Melissa, a New York-based dessert company known for its bite-size cupcakes. Since 2008, Baked by Melissa has celebrated more than one million birthdays across the country and is recognized nationally for its premium gifts for every occasion. In addition to the cupcake empire, Melissa has built an engaged social community in recent years inspired by her food philosophy: if you get your nourishment from mealtime, you can absolutely indulge in dessert every day.

Price: $35 (includes book), Member Price: $28 (includes book)

This event is part of the Irving and Anne Nevard Sherr Annual Arts & Culture Series - The Stories That Connect Us – a fun and welcoming series of cultural arts programs that bring community together through music, food, film and storytelling. Each event is a chance to share and celebrate the unique traditions and experiences that connect us all.