Patti Smith, Landmark Abortion Lawyer Join BK Library 'Night Of Ideas'

BROOKLYN, NY — An annual meeting of the minds will return to the Brooklyn Central Library this weekend — with new ways for New Yorkers to meet its celebrity guests.

The sixth annual "Night of Ideas" will kick off on Saturday, bringing everyday New Yorkers face-to-face with a line-up of more than 100 artists, writers, performers, historians and philosophers from around the world.

The event — which is framed as a chance to "stay up all night" and talk through the world's most pressing problems — will this year include iconic singer-song writer Patti Smith, award-winning journalist Leïla Slimani and Center for Reproductive Rights co-founder Kathryn Kolbert, who argued landmark case Planned Parenthood vs. Casey before the Supreme Court.

The theme for 2022 will be "Where Are We Going?," including conversations about war and the future of global democracy, racial justice and reproductive rights, pandemic recovery, economic turmoil and more, organizers said.

“Amid these complicated times, we are thrilled to present our annual Night of Ideas, inviting New Yorkers back into the safe and democratic space of the public library to discuss and debate the future of our nation and the world with some of the greatest thinkers of our time and one another,” Library President Linda E. Johnson said.

New this year, a small group of New Yorkers will get an extra chance to meld minds with the special guests during a bus ride to the event.

Around 60 members of the public will meet at the headquarters of Villa Albertine, the French institution that launched the Night of Ideas, and ride the bus to the Central Library seated next to 60 mystery speakers.

Pre-pandemic, the Night of Ideas saw more than 7,000 guests flood to the Central Library each year. The event is produced by Villa Albertine in 19 U.S. cities each year and hosted by more than 100 countries worldwide.

Here's more details about this year's Brooklyn event:

WHERE: Brooklyn Central Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza

WHEN: 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, May 21 (Doors open at the library at 7 p.m. Those taking the special bus ride will meet at the Villa Albertine headquarters in Manhattan at 5 p.m.)

WHO:

• Speakers include: Leïla Slimani, the award-winning French-Moroccan writer; Koa Beck, author of the groundbreaking book White Feminism; Craig Taylor, author of New Yorkers: A City and Its People in Our Time and winner of the 2021 Brooklyn Public Literary Prize; Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta; Ola Rondiak, Ukrainian multimedia artist; and renowned Mexican investigative journalist Lydia Cacho who has helped to expose child sex trafficking and abuse often risking her own safety. A complete list of speakers can be found online.
• Musicians include: the awarding Chromic Duo who blend classical music, electronics and toy pianos into their performances; and the Brooklyn-based jazz ensemble Ajoyo, playing selections from their new release War Chant, taking aim at oppression, xenophobia and greed. Musician Evan Francis (flute and saxophone), who has toured and recorded with Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, and Meshell Ndegeocello, will also perform. For a complete list of musical guests, visit the website.

HOW: Registration is required for the event and can be found at nightofideas.org/new-york. *All participants must present proof of vaccination. Masks are required to attend and must be worn at all times except when actively eating or drinking.*