TUESDAY
Tues, Sept 10 10:30-11:45am
Welcome and Fall Preview CL&L kicks off its fall program, welcoming returning students and visitors. We’ll preview our sessions during this 8-week program, with several of our great teachers telling us about their upcoming courses. Happily, a number of our teachers are returning, with all new materials, and new speakers will join us during the semester. Fall speakers coming up that you’ve probably heard of are the legendary Al Roker of NBC News, in conversation Magee Hickey, and Jamie Bernstein, talking about her father Leonard’s musical score for On the Waterfront. Courses range from 1 to 8 sessions, on topics both timely and timeless: current events/issues, culture and the arts, historical perspectives and better living.
Tues, Sept. 17 10:30-11:45am Inside TV News: Reporting on the 2024 Olympics from Paris, with Jane Hanson in Conversation with Magee Hickey
An outstanding and exciting Summer Olympics recently ended, with some triumphs and disappointments for Team USA. Jane, an award-winning American television presenter, was there to cover the event. She’ll tell us what it was like on the ground in the “City of Lights.” she formerly co-hostedNew York LiveandJane Hanson's New Yorkon NBC-TV in the city and was co-anchor ofToday in New York. Winner of nineEmmy Awards, former president of the NY chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; currently a Forbes Magazine contributor. PIX11’s Magee Hickey has been a reporter for every NYC TV station over her long career.
Tues, Sept 24, Oct 1, 8, 1510:30-11:45am
Makers of History XXIII:The British Pitts, Titans of Philosophy, Henry Ford, and Adam Smith, with Manfred Weidhorn (4 sessions)
This course revisits historic figures, showing that almost all are complex characters, with good and evil traits intertwined in varying proportions. Session #1: The British Pitts: A rare father-and-son leadership team, both named William Pitt, are among the greatest leaders Britain ever had. They led Britain for nearly a quarter century of war against the French. Session #2: The Titans of Philosophy: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. These Greek philosophers in effect established Western civilization. Session #3: Henry Ford: One of the greatest American business tycoons, he came up with many innovations, as well as some very bad ideas. Session #4: Adam Smith: In effect, he was the founder of economics and of modern American Conservativism – if one ignores a host of curious passages. Manny looks at the broader context of what these famous figures meant in their time and ours, recounting their history and impact with analysis and humor. Professor emeritus of English, Yeshiva Univ, he has published a dozen books and 100+ essays on historical figures, cultural history, and the relationship between religion and science.
Tues, Oct 22, Oct 29 10:30-11:45am
The Climate Crisis: Past and Present, with AR Hogan
Session #1: How Did We Get Here? Early cautions were sounded by international scientists back in the 19thcentury yet went unheeded. Among them were physicist/mathematician Joseph Fourier, amateur scientist Eunice Newton Foote, physicist Joseph Tyndall and physical chemist Svante Arrhenius. Dire reports came from Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson’s environmental task force in 1965, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from 1988 onward, annual Conference of Parties climate meetings since 1992, and even internal studies by fossil fuel corporations. Riveting testimony was given to US Senate panels by NASA’s Dr. James E. Hansen in 1988, space scientist Dr. Carl E. Sagan in 1985 and others. There were ice cores, tree rings, computer modeling, satellite sentinels, planetary probes, and observations made by cosmonauts and astronauts aboard Earth-orbiting space stations. Session #2: What Is Being Done So Far – and What More Should We Be Doing?In 2018 in Stockholm, 15-year-old schoolgirl-activist and ethical vegan, Greta Thunberg, began climate striking (peacefully protesting), initially alone, soon joined by millions of protesters worldwide. They worked under nonprofit group umbrellas, including Fridays for Future and 1000 Grandmothers, demanding overdue serious climate actions. They advocated key ways of addressing the intertwined environmental, social, economic, and media problems. But few current political leaders or journalists grasp our bleak “climate emergency,” even with myriad climate-fueled super-storms, droughts, floods, wildfires and migrations. At most, they broach milquetoast ideas. AR explains what happened or didn’t happen, and why. He believes our climate crisis must be treated as an existential crisis. He isa longtime science journalist, media historian, ethical vegan and environmental reporter/activist.
Tues, Sept. 10, 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 1:00-2:15pm
Poetry for Pleasure in the Fall, Barry Wallenstein (8 sessions)
These lectures with discussion will involve close readings of poems – classic, modern, and contemporary. Our aim is to listen to the sound poems make. What makes a successful language performance? We will discuss these works’ emotional truth, unity of expression, and attention-holding, pleasure-providing use of language. Barry Wallenstein is the author of 12 collections of poetry, most recently It’s About Time, as well as Time on the Move and Tony’s Blues (bilingual French and English). Link for Barry’s Poetry Booklet for Fall 2024: CLICK HERE
Tues,Sept. 10, 17, Oct. 22, 29 2:45-4pm
What Do You Think? Discussion, with Bill Goldman (4 sessions)
This course is a group discussion of current events, focusing on significant economic, social, and political issues in the news. A few key articles from major newspapers and journals will be sent to students in advance to read so we can come to talk about our views on the subjects. We want to hear what you think! Bill Goldman has led current events discussion courses at SUNY New Paltz and Bard Lifelong Learning Institute; retired foreign service officer, US Agency for International Development.
Tues, Oct 1 2:45-4pm
Jewish New York’s History, with Paul Kaplan
Take a stroll down the vibrant road of Jewish New York. We'll discuss the history of Jews in New Amsterdam (subsequently New York) from 1654 to the present. We'll look at Jews during the American Revolution, the Civil War, the huge immigration of the late 19th century ending in 1924, and in recent decades. We’ll discuss key Manhattan neighborhoods' rich history of Jews among other immigrants, focusing on the Lower East Side. We'll study historic synagogues and attempts to preserve them, key museums, and, of course, eateries. Colorful eateries include those still present, like Russ & Daughters, Katz's Deli, and Yonah Shimmel, as well as a few no longer open but still culturally significant. Students will hear some humorous anecdotes based on oral histories, see a variety of historic photos, and hear snippets about key Jewish personages. This session is meant for all students, regardless of their cultural or religious background, who are interested in the rich history and cultural diversity of New York City.Based on Paul's best-selling book, Jewish New York: A History and Guide to Neighborhoods, Synagogues, and Eateries (Pelican Publishing). He writes under three series: Cultural Guides, Social History & Biographies, and Business Technology Marketing.
Tues, Oct. 8 2:45-4pm Clearer Thinking at Every Age, with Tom Rich
Cognitive skills seem to be lacking these days. It’s well documented that there is a mental health crisis in many countries around the world, and the US is no exception to this trend. One thing that has suffered as a result of this is our ability to think clearly. But, while cognition is closely linked to our mental health, it is also a set of habits that can be developed and strengthened. This presentation will focus on three foundational cognitive skills that everyone can benefit from strengthening: Critical thinking, decision-making and problem solving. Tom will define these skills, break them down into their components, and focus on ways to develop habits that will help you improve them at any age. He is a qualitative researcher, a profession that demands excellent critical thinking skills.
Tues, Oct 15 2:45-4pm Bring Your Vision to Life: Transform Your Ideas into a Book, with Michele Zwillinger
Are you interested in writing a book but don’t know where or how to start? Join us for an engaging talk tailored to experienced adults, where we explore the exciting journey of becoming an author. Michele will guide you through the essential steps to writing a book, from finding your motivation to understanding different literary styles of books. We’ll delve into identifying your audience, planning, and organizing your ideas and time, and tackling the writing process confidently. You’ll learn the importance of revising, and editing, and how to get professional help. Whether you’re considering traditional or self-publishing, this talk will provide you with knowledge and inspiration, and offer resources to make informed decisions. Michele won’t be covering tips for marketing and promoting your book, but the resource guide provided after the session will offer information regarding those essential tasks. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just getting started, this talk will equip you with the guidance you need to bring your book to life, so bring your questions and get inspired! Michele is a professional qualitative researcher, research consultant, strategist, writer, speaker, and book coach.
WEDNESDAY
Wed, Sept 11 10:30-11:45am
On the Waterfront 70th Anniversary: Leonard Bernstein’s Award-Winning Score, with Jamie Bernstein
The award-winning movie, On the Waterfront, just marked its 70th anniversary. Earlier this year there were the centennial birthdays of two of the film's outstanding stars, Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint. Jamie will talk about how the film has stood the test of time, continuing to resonate with audiences and critics alike. She observes how this landmark movie, directed by Elia Kazan, continues to inspire, provoke, and yes,entertain. The politics are complicated; the star power is dazzling, and Bernstein's score is every bit as thrilling and heart-melting as his score for West Side Story. Jamie will play a few clips during her talk. She stresses that she hopes attendees will watch the movie before her session. It is available on Amazon. Jamie is the author of the 2018 memoir, Famous Father Girl, and is a narrator, broadcaster, and filmmaker.
Wed, Sept 18, 25 10:30-11:45am
The Story of Ancient Greece, with Joshua Hoffman (2 sessions)
This two-session course focuses on the dramatic history of wars that have fascinated generations around the world. Joshua gives us illustrated talks about eras that changed the world. Session #1: The Persian War. In ancient times, four great empires ruled over the near east: Infamous Babylon, Ancient Egypt, Giant Media, and Wealthy Lydia. Then the Persian empire conquered all of them. And then, the largest empire the world had ever known set its gaze on Greece. Staring defiantly back, despite being outnumbered twenty-five to one, was a small alliance led by Sparta and Athens. This session focuses on the story of the subsequent war, the ultimate David vs. Goliath battle. Session #2: The Peloponnesian War. After the Persian War, Athens and Sparta were at the peak of their power. Athens, the world’s first democracy, wealthy beyond imagination, was the undisputed ruler of the sea. Sparta, the greatest warrior state, was the undisputed master of land combat. This is the story of how the two great Hegemons, who defeated the Persians and secured prosperity for all Greeks, threw it all away in three near-continuous decades of war. Joshua has degrees in history and education.
Wed, Oct. 2 10:30-11:45am From Tags to Riches: The Unlikely History of Graffiti, with J. Robert Harris
When one hears the word “graffiti,” it usually elicits the following question: Is it art or is it vandalism? But graffiti has more substance than this simple dichotomy. Indeed, graffiti has a fascinating history. From covert spray paint tagging on New York City walls and subways to multimillion dollar curated museum exhibits, graffiti has had a spectacular evolution. This highly visual presentation will give you an in-depth, objective look at what has become an artistic and cultural phenomenon. Graffiti was an important component of the hip-hop movement. It has its own vocabulary and ethics and it’s been used to make political statements as well as to sell products. What you see and hear will show you graffiti in a way that may change how you feel about it. J. Robert (“J.R.”) is a native New Yorker who has been photographing graffiti in cities around the world for 40+ years. His collection of 5,000+ images is one of the largest, if not the largest, of its kind in the world.
Wed, Oct 9 10:30-11:45am
Turning the Spotlight on the Process and Design of Theatrical Lighting, with Victoria Bain
Lighting plays an important yet little-understood role in theater productions. Victoria, a lighting designer, has worked for over a decade on Broadway, off- Broadway, and aroundthe country as a principal lighting designer and in other lighting designer roles. She will share what these roles entail in different types of productions – musicals and plays, depending on where they are presented. And she’ll explain the theatrical process from how a lighting designer gets hired through a production’s opening night. Video clips will be shown.
Wed, Oct 16, 23, 3010:30-11:45
Writing Creatively with Bonnie Max (3 sessions)
This course offers an opportunity to explore your life using prompts that are open ended. We share our work by reading aloud and listening to each other. There is no judgment or criticism. All are welcome to come – no previous writing experience is needed. Bonnie taught at the Center for Writing at John Bowne High School in Queens for twenty years, has been teaching adults since 2010. Currently she also teaches writing in Ghana and at the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh.
Wed, Sept 11, 18 1:00-2:15pm, Thurs, Sept 26 2:45-4pm
CL&L Focus Group Discussions: Staying (or Getting) Active, with Judy Langer (3 sessions)
As we age, being active becomes more of a challenge. In this 3-session course, we’ll discuss different aspects of what this means and how we do or can handle them. Session #1: Mentally active. Session #2: Physically active. Session #3: Socially active. What helps us with each of these challenges? What are the obstacles we face? How do or can we handle those obstacles? Are there any resources you recommend? Tips you want to share with other attendees. Come to our focus groups (as many as you wish) and we’ll talk together. Judy is CL&L Executive Director, a retired qualitative researcher who conducted focus groups for over 40 years and wrote a book about the subject, The Mirrored Window.
Wed, Sept. 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 1:00-2:15pm
Enigmatic Stories, Pilar V. Rotella (6 sessions)
The five short stories selected for this course ask the reader to go beyond the literal meaning of narrative and search for hidden, more challenging levels of interpretation. From the shocking lottery to the mysterious aleph, each text poses interesting questions about different aspects of human nature and human behavior individually and collectively, framed within a larger spiritual/philosophical dimension. Pilar is Professor Emerita at Saint Xavier Univ of Chicago. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses at several universities and colleges, has authored numerous scholarly articles. MA, English and PhD Comparative Literature, Univ of Chicago. (All five stories available online.) Texts (in the order of reading):
Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery”
https://bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com/sites.middlebury.edu/dist/d/2396/files/2019/09/jackson_lottery.pdf
Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas”
https://shsdavisapes.pbworks.com/f/Omelas.pdf
Julio Cortázar, “The Night Face Up”
https://www.medina502.com/classes/ml260_2017/readings/Cortazar_The_Night_Face_Up.pdf
Franz Kafka, “A Hunger Artist”
Jorge Luis Borges, “The Aleph”
https://web.mit.edu/allanmc/www/borgesaleph.pdf
Wed, Sept. 11, 18, Tues, Sept 24 2:45-4pm
What’s Your Name? How About a Song? Karen Valen (3 sessions)
Many Broadway musicals have a lead character’s name in the title, and that name often has a song. Hello, Dolly; hello, Gigi;and hello, Mame. Often other characters in shows have a song that isn’t part of the show’s title: Maria in West Side Story, Marian the Librarian in The Music Man, and so many others. So many, in fact, that it will take three sessions to give those characters their due and to sing their praises and their names. Session 1: Heroes and Villains, Session 2: Leading Ladies, Session 3: Leading Men and Others. Karen has been attending theater regularly since 1954 when Mary Martin flew past her in Peter Pan, and she ushers both on and off-Broadway.
Wed, Sept 25, Oct 9 2:45-4pm
Superb Suspense: Classic Movie Discussions, with Bobbie Stein (2 sessions)
This 2-session course focuses on suspense thrillers, each one focuses on a sensational film from Hollywood’s most dazzling classics. Bobbie discusses each movie, shows its trailer and selected video clips, and the backstory of the production, director and stars. Session #1: Three Days of the Condor (1975). On a seemingly ordinary day, Joe Turner (Robert Redford), a quiet CIA codebreaker, walks into his workplace and finds that all of his coworkers have been murdered. Horrified, Joe flees the scene and tries to tell his supervisors about the tragedy. Unfortunately, he soon learns that CIA higher-ups were involved in the murders. With no one to trust, and a merciless hit man close on his tail, Joe must somehow survive long enough to figure out why his own agency wants him dead. Also starring Faye Dunaway, Max Von Sydow, and Cliff Robertson. Directed by Sidney Pollack.Session #2: Seven Days in May(1964) is about a military-politicalcabal's planned takeover of the US government, all in reaction to a weakened president's negotiation of a disarmament treaty with theSoviet Union. The film, starringBurt Lancasteras the widely popular general planning the coup d’etat, also starsKirk Douglas,Fredric March andAva Gardner. Directed byJohn Frankenheimerfrom ascreenplaybyRod Serling, based on thenovel of the same name. Bobbie asks that you watch the movies before class. The movies are available on Amazon Prime. Bobbie was a writer and editor at People and US Magazines, and a researcher and producer at ABC, NBC, and CBS News. She’s a lifelong lover of movies.
Wed, Oct 2 2:45-4pm
In Search of Edgar Allen Poe: His Life and Works, with Andrew D. Kaplan
This course explores the fascinating yet poignant life of the poet, short story writer, and critic Edgar Allan Poe. We will examine how Poe's upbringing influenced his later years, why he turned to short story writing, his marriage to Virginia, and what his contribution was in shaping the modern short story. Andrew investigates Poe's invention of the detective story and his role in establishing the science fiction genre. Several of Poe's most renowned poems will be presented and analyzed, including "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee," as well as his acclaimed horror tales, “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Masque of the Red Death.” Poe's enduring influence on later writers will also be explored. Andrew will show some film clips from his recently released documentary on Poe. Heis a documentary filmmaker, adjunct professor of communication, andfull-time writer/editor for the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the US Dept of Justice.
Wed, Oct 16 2:45-4pm
What is Yoga and What Can It Do for You? with Erica Mather
The word "yoga" is so common in our vernacular, and we have so many readily formed ideas and opinions about it that we rarely stop to wonder if we actually, truly know what yoga is. Often, these preconceived notions prevent us from being curious, or even compel us to think, I'm too stiff or I'm too old or It's too late, orThat seems weird/not for me,and therefore we stop our curiosity before we even have a chance to start an investigation. This course will explore a brief history of yoga's arrival in the UnitedStates, the kinds of yoga available, with an emphasis or adaptiveand therapeutic approach, and help you to identify what might be right for you, what are the benefits, and how long you might practice before seeing results. Erica's own relationship with yoga commenced with the adult onset of migraine headaches; consequently, she's always viewed yoga through a therapeutic lens. Come dressed in comfortable, stretchy clothing, as light movement performed in a chair will likely be incorporated. You will leave with a refreshed and newfound understanding of what yoga is, and what it could be for you.Erica is a 1,000-hour certified yoga therapist working in private practice; author of Your Body, Your Best Friend: End the Confidence-Crushing Pursuit of Unrealistic Beauty Standards & Embrace Your True Power(New Harbinger, 2020).
Wed, Oct 23 2:45-4pm
An Armchair Tour of The Old Bronx, with Marty Schneit Raised in the Bronx, where he lived most of his life, Marty presents a nostalgic look back at the famous borough and how it impacted his life growing up. He depicts what was happening there during the years of his youth in the 40s and 50s.This illustrated talk will bring you back to a simpler time. Among the topics he’ll cover are the film Marty, stickball, Dion and the Belmonts, the Grand Concourse, Paradise Theater, Orchard Beach, transistor radios, Alexander’s Department Store. And feeding the Bronxites: egg creams, Charlotte Russe, The Seltzer Man, Krums and Jahn’s ice cream parlor. Marty is an amateur historian and film fan who has taught at CL&L before and speaks at a number of NY institutions.
Wed, Oct 30 2:45-4pm Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) and the Nature of Reality with Alan Steinfeld
This class is about the nature of perception and our cultural conditioning, which makes us see only a small portion of what exists. Alan believes that we are now in the midst of a huge shift in worldviews. In this class, we will look at how the evolution of consciousness requires an updating of the possible. Most people don’t see the limits of their thoughts, just like a fish doesn’t see the water. But when we step back to see how beliefs are not facts, only handed down assumptions. we free ourselves from the existing paradigm. The anomalous presence of UFOs (now called UAPs “Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena”) challenges our basic assumptions about the nature of reality. Referencing the work of the Professor of History Thomas Kuhn will help us formulate new realities. He said, “A paradigm shift begins with an anomaly: when our beliefs are fundamentally at odds with what seems to be happening.” Only when open- minded thinkers are unafraid to explore an anomaly, new explanations can come into view to explain the unexpected facts. A paradigm shift is complete when the “anomalous” becomes the expected and a part of a larger worldview of the possible.
THURSDAY
Thurs, Sept. 12, 19, 26. Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 10:30-11:45am
Law in the Headlines: Exploring Current Legal Controversies, with Leora Harpaz (8 sessions)
Leora will review the important cases the Supreme Court agreed to decide this Term and their outcomes. These will include the two Donald Trump cases raising the issues of ballot access and presidential immunity, also gun rights, abortion, restrictions on the power of federal administrative agencies, and a series of First Amendment free speech cases. An interesting feature of the Term is that while some of the Court’s decisions reached the merits of the case, in numbers of high profile cases the Court either disposed of the case without reaching the merits, or wrote a limited opinion that remanded the case to the lower court to resolve many of the key issues in the first instance. Leora will address the fact that there was an unusual number of separate opinions written by individual Justices, even in cases where the Court reached a unanimous result. She will also discuss cases the Court has already agreed to review in the 2024-2025 Term. Students will have an opportunity to make suggestions for topics that they would like to have discussed in upcoming classes.
Thurs, Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31 1:00-2:15pm
Politics 2024, with Larry Geneen (7 sessions)
The 2024 presidential election is in full swing in what will be an intense and undoubtedly bitter fight. VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota battle former president Donald Trump and JD Vance in what is expected to be a close contest. With President Joe Bidensuddenly dropping out of the race and Harris stepping up, the race has dramatically changed. Will Vance help or hurt the Republican ticket? The swing states will again play major roles. Races for Congress in both the Senate and House will play critical roles, either supporting or opposing the top of the ticket. Will third-party candidates affect the outcome and, if so, which party will they help? Will Biden play a significant role in campaigning and what will his final months in office be like? Larry will discuss the key issues of the race, insights from polling, and other developments. He’ll also focus on New York State and City politics. He always encourages interactive discussions and welcomes student suggestions of topics to cover; write tojudy@langerqual.com. Larry is a risk management consultant, former COO of the American Management Assoc., EVP of Johnson and Higgins.
Thurs, Oct 3 1:00-2:15pm
Politics 2024, with Judy Langer
Judy will review some of the latest developments in the race for the election, a little over a month from our session. Then, it’s “open-mike” day, when you can tell us what’s on your mind about these very important votes. We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Judy is CL&L Executive Director.
Thurs, Sept 12 2:45-4pm
What an EMT Does, and Why, with Mackenzie Shevlin
We’ve all heard the term “EMT” and probably know it stands for Emergency Medical Technician. We’ve all experienced the lights and sirens of an ambulance, pulled over or walked out of the way to let them speed ahead at all times of night and day. But what do we really know about the people driving the vans? How do they assist people in emergencies in a wide variety of neighborhoods and buildings? Mackenzie has been working as an EMT since 2018 in New Jersey, where she lives. She worked throughout the dangerous COVID-19 pandemic and continues her work as an EMT today. She’ll explain what these courageous people do, what kinds of people sign up and why they do it. And she’ll explore her personal choice to join this group of heroic first-responders.What would you like to know about her work?
Thurs, Sept 19 2:45-4pm
Grammar Wars: The English We Fight About, and Can We Find Punctuation Peace? with Ellen Jovin
Ellen, founder of the nationally acclaimed Grammar Table, will lead a rollicking online session through some of the thornier grammar issues of our time. What topics get people’s grammar goat? How can we reconcile our declension differences? Will we ever come to a comma consensus? Ellen recently took her traveling pop-up grammar advice stand to the streets of all 50 US states, so she has seen it all, grammatically speaking. During our session she will show a trailer from a new documentary,Rebel with a Clause, that her filmmaker husband, Brandt Johnson, made of their unprecedented grammar road trip. Ellen’s book about the Grammar Table, also calledRebel with a Clause, was a national bestseller in 2022.
Thurs, Oct 3 2:45-4pm
Inside TV News: The Legendary Al Roker in Conversation with Magee Hickey
Al Roker is NBC weather presenter on the Today Show, as well as occasional co-host of 3rd Hour Today. He recently returned from covering the Olympics in Paris. We’ll also hear about his life and career in this special session. Born and educated in NYC, his weather-reporting started while an still an undergraduate atSUNY Oswego, where he also DJed at the campus radio station (busy guy!). After weathercasting in DC and Cleveland, he was promoted to the network's flagship outlet,WNBC-TVin his hometown. He soon became the station's regular weeknight weathercaster, a substitute for some other station forecasters, and forMatt Laueron theToday Show, then host ofCNBC’s The Al Roker Show. When David Lettermanasked him to join in an elevator race in an episode of the late night talk show, Roker received a lot of attention, becomingWeekend Today’s substitute forecaster. Since 1996 he has been Today’s top forecaster and anchor. His interviews with visitors outside Rockefeller Plaza have become a staple; he continues the show’s daily tradition of birthday wishes to centenarians. His charity work includes "Rokerthon" fundraisers; in one, he visited colleges and set a Guinness World Record at each one, featuring the longest conga line on ice and largest human letter. (Sounds like fun!) Co-host of NBC's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage. Co-author of a series of mysteries featuring Billy Blessing, a celebrity chef turned amateur detective, The Midnight Show MurdersandThe Morning Show Murders, also Been There, Done That: Family Wisdom for Modern Times, written with his wifeDeborah Roberts. Al has dealt with serious health challenges in the last few years, crediting his wife andNewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC for saving his life. PIX11’s Magee Hickey joins him in conversation about his amazing life and career. She has been a reporter for every NYC TV station over her long career.
Thurs, Oct. 10 2:45-4:00pm
They Oughta Be in Pictures! And They Were: Hollywood Movies on the Stories of US Presidents, with Richard Klein
For years, Hollywood has been putting out biopics of famous people and on numerous occasions the subjects of these films have been the most famous of all – US Presidents. Richard has picked out ones he found most interesting to discuss. Many of the stories begin long before the men are well known. From Andrew Jackson, through Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy and a few others, we see how Hollywood has treated the stories of these men and their families. Richard will show clips from several movies covering the stories of these eventual national leaders.He is an amateur historian who has spoken at CL&L about presidents and their families.
Thurs, Oct 17 2:45-4pm
A Look Back at Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan – Politician, Scholar, Statesman and Patriot, with His Staffer, Ross A. Frommer, in Conversation with Inara de Leon
A major history maker, NY Democrat Moynihan was described as the “nation's best thinker among politicians since Lincoln and its best politician among thinkers since Jefferson” by political analyst Michael Barone. Serving in the US Senate for four terms and a counselor to four different Presidents prior to that – two Republicans and two Democrats – Moynihan deplored the destruction of the old Penn Station and co-authored The Melting Pot, about ethnicity in NYC, among other accomplishments. The Moynihan Train Hall, across from the old Penn Station, now honors the senator. Ross, former Regional and State Director for Senator Moynihan, will talk about what it was like working for him, and discuss his contributions to public policy in NY State and in the country as a whole. He’ll also look at how Moynihan might view the 2024 election, the current political landscape, and what elected leaders could learn from him as they face the policy challenges of today and the future. Ross is VP for Government Affairs at Columbia Univ Irving Medical Center. Inara was a long-time producer of politics for WNBC in NY.
Thurs, Oct 24 2:45-4pm
2024, A Unique Election. Arnon Mishkin, Fox News Decision Desk Consultant, in Conversation with Inara de Leon
Arnon Mishkin, who has headed up the Fox Decision News Desk for well over a decade, will offer his knowledge and perspective on this head-spinning political year. The presidential race promises to be a nail-biter, and so is the battle for control of the House and the U.S. Senate. Inara was a long- time producer of politics for WNBC in NY. Among the topics they'll discuss: where does the race stand in swing states, crucial to electoral victory, like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and Georgia? What are the most recent polls showing about control of the Senate and the House? Which issues – abortion, threat to democracy, immigration, crime, the economy – are the most potent at this point? And with which resonate with different demographic groups (by age, ethnicity, etc.)? Is there still time for some late-breaking development to upend the race as likely happened in 2016, when 11 days before the election the FBI revealed that Hillary Clinton’s emails had been compromised? Do Trump’s ongoing legal travails still threaten his candidacy? What questions do you have about the election polls and polls in general?
Thurs, Oct 31 2:45-4pm
Exploring Quirky Small American Towns, with Karen Gershowitz
A self-described “travel addict,” Karen has gone to all the continents and has written two books about travel. In this session she returns to CL&L to focus on the US, introducing us to unusual towns in the Midwest and West that have a lot to offer but are not well known. For example, did you know there is a small midwestern town that has more world class architecture than many major cities? Other towns are just plain quirky. Imagine, for instance, seeing a museum that features 100+ foot long fish sculptures that you can climb into and hang out of its mouth. Or how about a western town that transports you to Denmark? Karen will use photos from her travels and tell us about what makes each place unique. Among our visits will be Eau Claire and Hayward, Wisconsin; Acoma and Ship Rock, New Mexico; Jerome, Tubac, and Arcosanti, Arizona; Columbus and Carmel, Indiana; Loveland, Colorado; Frankenmuth, Michigan; Cannon Beach and Astoria, Oregon; and Solvang, California (the Danish one). Do you have a favorite town you can introduce us to? Karen is author of the travel memoir Travel Mania: Stories of Wanderlust andWanderlust: Extraordinary People, Quirky Places and Curious Cuisine.
