The Middle Ages were a time of exciting intercultural encounters between locals and foreigners, travelers and pilgrims, and Muslims, Jews, and Christians.  In this lecture, we will look at some of the chronicles, guidebooks, law codes, and pilgrimage texts that illuminate the spectrum of interacting communities.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

From splendid gold-plated liturgical vessels to women bleaching their hair with crushed bees, ideas of medieval beauty run the gamut between familiar and foreign.  Join us as we discuss medieval aesthetics, notions of divine beauty, and the techniques medieval people used to achieve what their society deemed most lovely.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

What do the “Night Before Christmas,” Oreos, and cowboys in New York City have in common? Learn that and much more in this virtual tour through the history of Chelsea, including a look at the former National Biscuit Company building (now Chelsea Market), the funky Hotel Chelsea, and the General Theological Seminary (the world’s oldest Episcopal seminary). Join Ginny Poleman as she shares the stories of this revitalized area of restaurants, high-end shops, art galleries and mid-19th century brownstones.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

How many times have you walked with speed and purpose through Grand Central Terminal without stopping to look at this world-class landmark? Learn about the hidden secrets and the secrets behind the obvious of Grand Central Terminal with Ginny Poleman.

Passionately described by the greats of Russian literature as deeply rooted in the land and people of Russia, the “Russian Soul” is reflected throughout different periods and styles of Russian art. A comparative experience and exploration at the crossroads of art, religion, history, and politics; from Medieval icons to postmodern art installations, centuries of appropriation and innovation; sometimes inspired and at other times impeded by political and social transformations of immense magnitude; this lecture will explore one of the most original, powerful and influential manifestations of the human spirit in art.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.

There is nothing like sitting in a small dark club with your favorite cocktail and seeing a cabaret artist tell you an intimate story through music that makes you discover something new about a song you’ve known for years. Cabaret performances are often known for bringing alive the Great American Songbook from the 1920s through the 1950s for contemporary audiences. But modern-day cabaret does much more than preserve the past—it also promotes and fosters the new generation of American composers and creates a uniquely vibrant musical and theatrical experience for its audiences. Join Dr. Regina Zona, an award-winning cabaret artist herself, for some history of the artform and to hear classic performances of some of the world’s best cabaret artists from yesterday and today.

Please be sure to register by the day before the class at the latest. You will receive an invitation email with a link to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a tutorial on how to join a Zoom meeting.