Upcoming Programs & Classes
My participants are eager to deepen their knowledge and expand their perspective on a range of topics.
Author Mimi Zieman, MD and Lori (front row, left) with the guests at the recent book talk for Tap Dancing on Everest held at J. Anderson’s Books in Larchmont
Whether I’m browsing in a bookstore, visiting a museum, or scrolling on the internet, I’m always searching for new books, films, exhibitions, podcasts, and other works to inspire ideas for classes and live conversations with authors and experts. My programs are interactive and designed to encourage critical thinking and lively discussion about significant themes in literature, history, social issues, film, and the arts.
Please scroll down below to see a complete list of my upcoming classes & programs, both online & in-person. I participate in several Continuing Education programs, including the Scarsdale Adult School, the 92NY Roundtable, & the Center for Continuing Education in Larchmont / Mamaroneck. I also teach private classes and facilitate programs for non-profits, clubs, and other groups online, in NYC, Westchester County and beyond.
2026 Calendar year
CLASSES and PROGRAMS
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Private Class, NYC / Upper East Side: Book selection TBA
Tuesday, May 5 1:30 to 3:00 pm (ET)
Book discussion, Gish Jen, Bad Bad Girl
Sold out
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Online Book Discussion: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth
Monday, June 1 4:00 to 5:30 pm (ET)
Location: ONLINE / Zoom
Fee: $ 35 payable to Scarsdale Adult School
Discuss the new true-crime narrative by acclaimed writer Patrick Radden Keefe, which centers on the tragic death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler, who fell from a London luxury apartment tower into the Thames in the fall of 2019. As grieving parents Rachelle and Matthew Brettler struggle to understand what happened to Zac, they learned that he adopted a fake identity, posing as the heir of a wealthy Russian oligarch. Driven by suspense, London Falling exposes the seedy truths behind the glamorous facades of London, a city where fantasies of wealth are underwritten by extortion, fraud, and sometimes violence. The book also paints an empathetic portrait of family bonds and parental love.
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Private Museum Tour, Paul Klee at the Jewish Museum
Tuesday, June 2 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Jewish Museum, Upper East Side NYC
Private guided tour of the exhibition Paul Klee: Other Possible Worlds
This is the first American museum show to focus on the artist’s late work, produced during his last, unsettling decade of his life until his death in 1940.
* This tour is awaiting final confirmation. Contact me for more information
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Century Country Club, Private Book Discussion
Thursday, June 4 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Book selection: London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe
Discuss the new true-crime narrative by acclaimed writer Patrick Radden Keefe, which centers on the tragic death of 19-year-old Zac Brettler, who fell from a London luxury apartment tower into the Thames in the fall of 2019. As grieving parents Rachelle and Matthew Brettler struggle to understand what happened to Zac, they learned that he adopted a fake identity, posing as the heir of a wealthy Russian oligarch. Driven by suspense, London Falling exposes the seedy truths behind the glamorous facades of London, a city where fantasies of wealth are underwritten by extortion, fraud, and sometimes violence. The book also paints an empathetic portrait of family bonds and parental love.
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Fairview Country Club, Private Book Discussion
Wednesday, June 10 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Book selection: To be announced
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Author Event: A Conversation with Mark Oppenheimer on Judy Blume: A Life
Friday, June 12 11 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Shaarei Tikvah Congregation, Scarsdale NY
Fee: $ 35 payable to Scarsdale Adult School
Author Mark Oppenheimer will discuss his new biography of cherished author Judy Blume. For over 55 years (including novels, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret; Forever) Blume revolutionized the literary landscape for young people, offering candid, realistic stories devoid of preachy moralism. Millions of readers have immersed themselves in the lives of characters grappling with ordinary vulnerabilities & growing pains: sibling rivalry, menstrual periods, parental divorce, the stirrings of sexual desire. But until now, the story of the real woman behind the iconic persona has not been told. Oppenheimer’s buoyant biography traces Blume’s life from her childhood in New Jersey, through marriages, children, divorce & remarriage, to her ambitions to become a unique successor to Dr. Seuss. Gain insights into the publishing process, Blume’s critical reception &her legacy as a champion of free speech. While Blume happily participated in Oppenheimer’s research process, she has since distanced herself from the final publication—adding complexity to her biographical narrative. For anyone who grew up loving these remarkable books (or whose children did so) this is sure to be an informative, enlightening & perhaps nostalgic conversation.
Audience Q&A included, with hardcover books available for optional purchase. Please note: participants do not have to read the book to attend and enjoy this program. -
Fairview Country Club, Private Book Discussion
Wednesday, July 8, time?
Book selection: To be announced
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Century Country Club, Private Book Discussion
Thursday, July 16 1:30 pm
Book selection: To be announced
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Fairview Country Club, Private Book Discussion
Thursday, August 13 4 pm
Book selection: To be announced
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More To Come...Save the Dates!
Past course offerings:
Growing Up: Reading Contemporary Memoirs of Childhood and Youth
Family Secrets in Contemporary Memoirs
Deep Connections: Narratives of Friendship in Memoirs and Non-Fiction
The Poet’s Memoir: Personal Prose by Acclaimed American Poets
Contemporary Narratives by Asian-American Writers
Portraits of the Artist: Creative Lives on the Page and Screen
We Are What We Read: Contemporary Memoirs on Literature and Learning
We Are What We Eat: Food and Culture in Contemporary Memoirs and Documentary Films
Family Mysteries in Personal Documentary Films
Women Behind the Lens: 20th Century American Photographers
Racism and Resistance in the U.S. from Civil Rights to Black Lives Matter
Screening Stories for Kids: Children’s Literature in Documentary Film