History   

A focused look at two nationally followed cases—the Idaho Student Murders and the death of Officer John O’Keefe/the Karen Read case—to show how modern forensic science works in real investigations. Participants explore disciplines used in both investigations, including DNA, digital evidence, toxicology, trace evidence, and scene reconstruction, to learn how scientific findings shape investigative conclusions—and why those conclusions are sometimes contested.

Senator and social scientist, New Dealer and neoconservative, and the only man to serve in high posts for four consecutive presidents - Daniel Patrick Moynihan had a storied and yet controversial public career. In this lecture, Jess Velona, who helped run Moynihan's Senate office in New York City and later briefly lived with Moynihan in his Washington home, will mix personal memories with an account of Moynihan's significant impact on American politics. Jess will show how the same man who stirred outrage in the 1960's for the Moynihan Report labeling the black family "a tangle of pathology" later persuaded Richard Nixon to propose a guaranteed minimum income for all Americans; how his defiant stand in support of Israel and democratic values at the U.N. helped propel him to the U.S. Senate; and how in the 1980s he returned to his New Deal roots and became a fierce critic of the excesses of the Reagan era. Through it all, he kept thinking and publishing, leading another Senator to tell Jess, "Senator Moynihan has written more books than most Senators have read."

Come explore the old and the new at South Street Seaport, featuring the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city, and the Pier 17 entertainment center. Ginny will guide you through the evolution of the neighborhood with stops at the 18th- and 19th-century buildings, sharing stories and vintage photographs of a bustling commercial district, ending with spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Originally invented as a card game, the tarot deck has long since transformed into an allegorical, otherworldly way of reading and interpreting circumstances and souls. Join us as we learn some games, explore central arcana figures like the Fool and the High Priestess, and adore the beauty of the earliest surviving hand-painted cards from the courts of Renaissance Italy!

Discover the life, music, and lasting legacy of the true architect of rock and roll. We will explore how Chuck Berry fused country, blues, and rhythm and blues music to create the definitive sound of a generation. Through vintage performance clips and audio recordings, we will trace his journey from a St. Louis cosmetology student to a global superstar. Learn the stories behind timeless anthems like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Maybellene," analyze his iconic "duckwalk" showmanship, and examine how his innovative guitar riffs shaped the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and everyone who followed.

Although the American celebration of Christmas blends traditions rooted in ancient times and Euro-Asian lands, it wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1870. The American holiday season as we now know it evolved during the 19th and early 20th century, largely due to works of authors, artists and songwriters – the majority of whom had distinct ties to Westchester County. This program traces the evolution of the traditions while introducing the Westchester holiday “image makers” and their impact on the holiday observances. A sampler of celebrations at Westchester’s historic sites will also be highlighted.

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the festive atmosphere of European Christmas markets? Save the airfare! Instead, we invite you to join Nancy as she shares her first-hand knowledge of delightful pre-Christmas traditions in German-speaking countries. Come taste a sampling of traditional Christmas market foods and learn about the artisanal wooden and glass decorations sold at the markets. Practice the German names for these specialties and a few basic German phrases to have in your back pocket if you go to a Christmas market.

No knowledge of German is necessary for this class.

We’ve looked at the lavish containers that held the relic bones of medieval saints, but this lecture will explore the ideas behind these holy objects. From reformer John Calvin’s quip that the Virgin Mary lactated more than a cow since since so much of her “authentic” holy breast milk survived, to the dream appearance of one saint asking to be stolen from her current shrine, to the repurposing of executed criminals’ remains to bring renown to a local church, medieval relics captivate and challenge our conception of the holy in the Middle Ages. Join us as we admire the stunning gilded and gem-encrusted containers that enclose relics, and learn the equally fascinating stories behind manifested miracles, occasionally dubious origins, and mysterious heists.