5/28 – HBO’s Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel speaks with entertainment lawyer Allen Grubman at 92nd Street Y about his career, his views on journalism, America and the world at large.

5/30 – As she publishes her new collection of poetry and a new book of meditations, Pulitzer prize writer Alice Walker joins 92nd Street Y for an inspiring discussion with Eve Ensler about her activism and her writing, her conflicting impulses to retreat into inner contemplation and to remain deeply engaged with the world.

6/4 – Singer John Mellencamp sits down with entertainment lawyer Allen Grubman at the 92nd Street Y to discuss his career, life, business and the world at large.

6/5 - Ralph Nader comes to Barnes & Noble Union Square to discuss his new book, Told You So: The Big Book of Weekly Columns.

6/11 – Pioneering female rapper Eve came of age in the male-dominated hip-hop world of the ’90s. Now she’s a Grammy Award-winning, multiplatinum recording star with a successful acting career. Discover how she crashed through rap’s glass ceiling with Anthony DeCurtis at 92nd Street Y.

6/11 - Bestselling author Carl Hiassen stops by Barnes & Noble Union Square to sign copies of his new book, Bad Monkey.

6/12 - Comedian & radio/podcast host Marc Maron stops by Barnes & Noble, Union Square, to sign copies of his new book, Attempting Normal. His new show, simply titled Maron, is now on IFC.

6/13 – Liao Yiwu is one of the most prominent and outspoken writers in China today. He spent four torturous years in prison for writing the incendiary poem “Massacre.” For many years since, the Chinese government has considered his writings subversive because they expose the dark side of the socialist system, and all of his books are currently banned in China. Liao fled the country in July 2011, to escape arrest preceding the publication of his memoir in Germany. He’ll be making a special speaking engagement at NYPL.

6/13 - Comedian/actor Gene Wilder makes a rare public appearance, stopping by the 92nd Street Y to discuss his career and sign copies of his new book, a novella, Something To Remember You By: A Perilous Romance.

6/13 - Authors and actors read from their favorite James Joyce masterpieces at Barnes & Noble – Tribeca. Participants include Pete Hamill, Adam Gopnik, Malachy McCourt, Larry Kirwan, Jeffrey Frank, Aedin Moloney, Don O’Keefe, and Carolyn T. Hughes.

6/18 – New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman (The Sandman, Stardust, Coraline) discusses his first adult novel in eight years, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Peter Sharpe Theatre.

6/24 - Tony winning lyricist Jack O’Brien has written for Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty and many other shows. He sits down with Nathan Lane – who he’s currently directing on Broadway in The Nance — at 92nd Street Y to discuss his new memoir, Jack Be Nimble.

6/25 - Michael Carosone and Joseph LoGiudice, editors of Our Naked Lives, join contributors Michael Luongo and Frank Spinelli to discuss “Being Gay and Italian” at Barnes & Noble – Upper West Side.

6/28-29 - Director/actor/photographer John Waters will be performing an intimate one-man show at City Winery. A special $170 dinner package includes a meet-and-greet three-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef Jeff Haskell, paired with three delicious wines made on premises in Manhattan’s only functioning winery. Show only, $45-$60.

7/22 – Join authors and longtime friends Martin Amis and Ian McEwan for a special evening in a rare joint appearance at 92nd Street Y.  McEwan’s latest novel is Sweet Tooth.

AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM - Founded in 1961, this museum is one of the leading institutions in the country dedicated to traditional and contemporary American folk art with a collection of more than five thousand works. Thoughtgallery users are offered the special rate of $50 on regular membership, a savings of $20. Email ekingman@folkartmuseum.org and put THOUGHT GALLERY in the subject line, or call 212.265.1061 and mention THOUGHT GALLERY to start your special rate membership right away. Click here to see all upcoming lectures and talks. Closed Mon.

Save $20 on regular membership to the American Folk Art Museum.

Save 25% at the Society of Illustrators online store or at their NYC Museum Shop.

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