Exhibitions + Dinner @ NYPL and Le Botaniste
Details
Dear Dharma Drink friends,
New York Public Library (NYPL) has two wonderful exhibits currently in their main library – Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Let us go check out those exhibits, followed by dinner at a vegan establishment nearby.
Meetup details:
Date: March 29, 2025 (Saturday)
Exhibits Time: 3 pm – 5 pm
Dinner time: 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm
Exhibits Location: Fifth Avenue and 42nd street (NYPL - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building)
Dinner location: Le Botaniste (near Bryant Park – 11 West 42nd street)
Note: Meet us at the entrance to the NYPL Stephen A. Schwarzman building at 3 pm. We will go in as a group sharp at 3:20 pm. If you arrive late, please find us at the galleries.
The two exhibits we will see are (in that order):
A Century of The New Yorker: “The New York Public Library's new major exhibition A Century of The New Yorker draws on NYPL's collections, including the magazine's voluminous archives and the papers of many of its contributors, to bring to life the people, stories, and ideas that made The New Yorker.
Over the past 100 years, The New Yorker has created a world of its own. Guided by the founding vision of Harold Ross and Jane Grant, and built upon by generations of staff, the magazine has set the bar for effortless style, thought-provoking prose, journalistic rigor, and playful art—delivered with a dash of snootiness, and a wink.
In ways we see and don’t see, The New Yorker has informed our understanding of almost every aspect of society: war and violence, race and gender, the environmental movement, the distinctiveness of American fiction writing, and more. In its contributors and its content, the magazine has reflected both the lofty ideals and the profound inequalities that have defined the American experience in ways that continue to shape our social and political landscape today.”
From Panama to New York: The Musical Journey of Ruben Blades: “The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts joins Lincoln Center in celebrating the life and work of Panamanian singer, songwriter, actor, and political figure Rubén Blades with three case displays on our third floor. Blades is widely regarded as one of the most influential and important figures in Latin music, particularly in the salsa genre. While his contributions span multiple fields—including music, film, and politics—this display combines archival artifacts found in the Music and Recorded Sound Division at the Library with items on loan from the artist with a special emphasis on his musical output. This case displays invite visitors to discover the passion, creativity, and activism that define Blades’ extraordinary musical journey and explore the enduring impact of his cultural contributions worldwide.
Blades is known for revolutionizing salsa music in the 1970s and ‘80s. In that period, he worked with major salsa musicians and bands, particularly with Fania Records, the famous New York-based salsa label. He pioneered a poetic and socially conscious strain of salsa, and his ability to fuse Afro-Caribbean rhythms with meaningful storytelling made him one of the most respected figures in music.
Blades’ commitment to equality and justice extends beyond the message in his music. His thoughtful and socially aware lyrics address poverty, freedom, and political corruption, with his narrative style often painting vivid pictures of urban life and political struggles.”
Hope you will join us.
Websites:
https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/new-yorker-100
https://www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/panama-new-york-musical-journey-ruben-blades
https://lebotaniste.us/locations/