Thank you to all who were able to join us for our special anniversary performance on the 85th anniversary of the first day of SAS classes on November 9, 2023, and our 85th Anniversary Afternoon of Learning last Sunday. We were treated to an incredible annotated piano concert, an amazing keynote speaker, superb breakout sessions led by our fantastic instructors, and a feel-good celebration with a champagne reception and hall of fame induction. The festivities reminded us that in-person and online lifelong learning is a community building experience regardless of place and space.

Read on to reminisce or find out what you missed!

Above, Cristiana Pegoraro delivered another shining recital, entertaining SAS students with a preview of the concert she performed at Carnegie Hall later that same week. The evening included narration and delightful piano renditions of the overture to and aria from Rossini's Barber of Seville, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Piazzolla's Liber Tango, a young composer's piece that won a competition Pegoraro judged, and five of her original compositions that musically illustrate the love stories of Romeo and Juliet, Paris and Helen of Troy, Ulysses and Penelope, and Eros and Psyche.

Maintaining an SAS celebratory tradition, the evening concluded with cake for all attendees!

Last Sunday, we had the pleasure of welcoming back acclaimed biographer Jonathan Eig for a riveting discussion of his career, inspirations, and anecdotes about his research into Lou Gherig and Martin Luther King, Jr., among others in conversation with SAS instructor Lori Rotskoff.

Pictured from left to right are SAS Executive Director Jill Serling, Jonathan Eig, and Lori Rotskoff.

Our simultaneous breakout sessions left students with a very difficult decision. Students thoroughly enjoyed the sessions they chose, with the only downside being not being able to attend all three at once.

Below at left, Francis Morrone regaled students with the riveting and thoroughly researched history, complete with scandal and engaging anecdotes, of New York's art scene at the time of SAS's birth in 1938, illustrated with vintage photographs. Below at right, Nicholas Birns discussed American protest music in literary and cultural contexts from the 1930s to 1950s, covering works by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Billie Holiday, and others.

Below, the well-attended third breakout session featured Tey Meadow leading a fascinating and informative discussion, enhanced by active audience participation, about gender identity, transgender children, medical approaches, social activist movements, and legislative reactions across the political sphere. Meadow's proud mother Jamie Meadow, aka SAS's popular canasta teacher, broke the ice with the first question from the crowd! At the conclusion of the session, students were clamoring for more, eager to see classes with Tey Meadow in future SAS course catalogs.

At the end of the day, all reconvened for cake (naturally) along with the debut of SAS's own figurative hall of fame to honor those whose efforts have contributed to SAS’s success and longevity. The inaugural inductees were Alfred Hunt and Harriet Langsam Sobol (pictured below). These two long standing teachers have been engaging students and developing a devoted following for years at SAS, with Hunt leading history and current events courses and Sobol organizing writing and book discussion classes.

Executive Director Jill Serling noted in her introduction that Sobol has been affiliated with SAS for more than half its existence. Sobol is renowned for enriching discussions of books that challenge readers to see things from different perspectives. Sobol's late husband Tom also got a shout out for always providing a home to SAS within Scarsdale school buildings during his many years in the district.

Introducing the second hall of famer, Serling commented that Hunt has been teaching more than 90 SAS students weekly for ten consecutive years. Jumping into the fun, Hunt added that SAS has more on its menu than a Greek diner and that SAS courses are the "best buy since the Louisiana Purchase."

Chair of the SAS Board of Trustees Deb Morel lit the candles on the cake and Jonathan Cobert, who provides the live entertainment in the popular Movement to Music classes, included "Happy Birthday" in his repertoire during the cocktail hour.

Pictured below: Our dream board and members of our dream team who helped make this event possible.

Courses scheduled to begin in January 2024 and beyond are open for registration!

Pardon our appearance as we are still applying the finishing touches and edits to the class descriptions and displays. We are adding more classes to the winter term every hour. Our interactive flipbook will be available later in the month for those who prefer the experience of a booklet layout.

Looking for an original gift idea for the holidays? Purchase an eGift card on our secure website in whatever sum you choose. Create a special message and we take care of the delivery. An eGift card is a great present for friends and family across the globe and can be used for in-person and online classes alike.

Week of December 10, 2023

Architecture

• Must-See Buildings in the U.S.: Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles Central Library, and More in Downtown Los Angeles, California (12030)



Art Appreciation

• Dada and Surrealism: Surrealism and WWII (12065)



Arts & Crafts

• Holiday Card Crafting (12014)

History and Culture

• Enheduanna and Women in Ancient Mesopotamia (12101)

Literature, Film, and Television

• Lessons in Chemistry from Page to Screen (12075)
• BookTalk with Harriet Sobol: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (2023) by James McBride (12047)
• HBO's Gilded Age, Fact and Fiction (12170)

Walking Tours

• Walking Tour: Ruth Asawa Through Line and Henry Taylor: B Side at the Whitney Museum (12074)
• Walking Tour: Sparkling Upper East Side Art Galleries (Wednesday morning: 12314; Thursday morning: 12317)

Week of December 17, 2023

Art Appreciation

• Dada and Surrealism: Surrealism Beyond Borders (12066)



Literature, Film, and Television

• Book Chat with Anna Katsavos: The Measure (2022) by Nikki Erlick (11976)