With many of our popular weekly current events discussion groups already underway, the fall schedule also offers two timely classes for those seeking less of a scheduling commitment.

First to come is Justices Under Scrutiny and Supreme Court Preview (12136) with Martin Flaherty on Friday morning, September 29, 2023. In addition to conducting his annual preview of notable cases on the docket for the upcoming 2023-24 term, Professor Flaherty of Fordham Law School will also cover the increasing politicization and waning public confidence in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court, examining the current makeup, ethical and procedural issues, and the debates surrounding proposed reforms.

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Jess Velona, passionate historian as well as a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, marks his return to SAS with a two session evening class on Putin and the Invasion of Ukraine: Roots in Russian History (12248). Explore how Putin's autocracy and invasion of Ukraine have strong parallels in modern Russian history. Tsarist and Soviet Communist regimes, for all of their differences, exhibited a common penchant for imperial expansion, suppression of ethnic and national traditions, scorn for democracy and individual rights and, at times, military defeat. Following the Soviet collapse, Russia's embrace of pro-Western and democratic values proved fleeting. The result under Putin is a renewed autocracy fighting to restore Russia's imperial glory.

Registration remains open for both classes. Sign up now to be part of the conversation.

Week of September 24, 2023

Special Events

• Artist Visit: Ruth Patir in Conversation with Ronnit Vasserman (12260)* JUST ADDED

Architecture

• Must-See Buildings in the U.S.: Carson Pirie Scott, Auditorium Building, and More by Louis Sullivan in Downtown Chicago (12020)

Art Appreciation

• Dada and Surrealism: Dada in Germany from 1917 to 1922 (12057)
• Museum Preview: Learning to Paint in Premodern China at the Met (12235)
• Female Surrealists and Their Transatlantic Voyages (12227)

Arts & Crafts

• Deep Dive into Drawing (12033)
• Introduction to Drawing and Acrylic Painting (12079)
• Painting with Pastels (12239)
• Oil Painting for Beginners (morning session: 12041)
• Express Yourself Through Collage (12078)

Current Events and Politics

• Justices Under Scrutiny and Supreme Court Preview (12136)

Games

• Bridge Conventions: New Minor Forcing and Fourth Suit Forcing (12097)
• Canasta Strategies: Aces and Sevens (12241)



Health and Wellness

• Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher Training, Level I (in person: 12191; online: 12191)* NEW START DATE AND TIME
• Uplift Your Mood with Food (12137)
• Explore Meditation (12150)

Literature, Film, and Television

• Book Chat with Anna Katsavos: Demon Copperhead (2022) by Barbara Kingsolver (11974)
• Henry IV, Prince Hal, and Falstaff (12043)

Walking Tours

• Walking Tour: Art for the Millions: American Culture and Politics in the 1930s at the Met (12124)* note: rescheduled from previous week
• Walking Tour: Stonecrop Gardens (12171)
• Walking Tour: New in New York, the West 30s (12183)
• Walking Tour: Art Deco New York, 42nd Street East to West (12006)



Writing

• Mining Your Memories (12160)

Week of October 1, 2023

Architecture

• Must-See Buildings in the U.S.: Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska (12021)

Art Appreciation

• Wyeths, Wondrous Strange (12086)
• Dada and Surrealism: Dada in Paris from 1919 to 1924 and Éluard, Breton, Picabia, Ray (12058)
• Trees in Contemporary Art (12226)

Arts & Crafts

• Drawing: An Invaluable Skill and a Fascinating Medium (12016)* NEW START DATE
• Open Studio Painting (12017)* NEW START DATE
• Oil Painting for Beginners (evening session: 12042)* NEW START DATE



Games

• Poker 101 (12258)
• Canasta Strategies: Special Hands and Advanced Techniques (12242)

Health and Wellness

• Raising Teens to Make Healthier Food Choices (12138)
• Finding Balance as a Parent (11954)

Literature, Film, and Television

• Nonfiction Book Discussion: Isaac's Storm (1999) by Erik Larson (12245)
• Film Discussion: Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s Visions of Womanhood and Feminism (12225)
• Short Stories Live in Honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day (12080)

Music Appreciation

• Music of the Sixties (12237)

Performing Arts

• Learn to Play the Guitar (12116)
• Learn to Play the Ukulele for Beginners (12117)
• Learn to Play the Violin (12118)
• Learn to Play the Cello (12130)
• Ring Your Bell for Beginners (beginners: 12120; experienced/advanced players: 12119)

Walking Tours

• Walking Tour: Art in Transit, 2nd Avenue Subway Stations (12076)
• Walking Tour: Landmark Preservation Battles of Midtown Manhattan (12007)
• Walking Tour: Galleries of Chelsea (12194)
• Walking Tour: Learning to Paint in Premodern China at the Met (12236)
• Walking Tour: Bowery Changing (12224)