ODDMENTS is a perfectly peculiar potpourri of obscure tales in the fields of art, history, adventure and science! These stories may not have fit previous salons but we consider them worthy of telling nonetheless! This night we celebrate a grab bag of rarities, share some toasts and wrap up 2023 while we look to the future! Join us for ODDMENTS NYC III, curated by Guest Curator and Fellow Olivia Owre-Bell.
Speakers and Talks:
The Madman and the Pentathlon
Fellow—Rain Weigartner
In 1912, an American cavalry officer ran, swam, rode, stabbed and shot his way to Olympic Gold in his own mind. The judges saw things differently.
One Voice, Dozens of Votes
Second Talk!—Andrea Fondulas
Discover the history Tammany Hall and their distorted version of democracy as they wield their influence on New York City.
Honoring the Herbalist Women of the Lenape People
Second talk!—Pam Segura
Come learn about the herbalist women of the land called Lenapehoking, known to the rest of us as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.
Jelly Donuts are Jewish!
Fellow—Jessie Wayburn
On the fifth day of Hanukkah, my true love gave to me... FIVE JELLY DONUTS. Have you ever thought about the origin of "sufganyot" or jelly donuts? Come learn about the dessert that celebrates the gift of light on the fifth day of Hanukkah.
The Raft Expeditions of Thor Heyerdahl
Fellow—Matt Codner
Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl's voyage on a balsa raft called Kon-Tiki brought him from Peru to Polynesia to show that Pacific Islanders could have descended from ancient Mesoamericans. Emboldened by this success, he crossed the Indian and Atlantic Oceans on rudimentary reed vessels to float unpopular theories about human migration.
From Perfection to Puppy Chow: The Painful History of New Jersey's Hopewell Castle
Fellow—Theresa Handwerk
Discover how Ralston-Purina's famous puppy food is all that remains of a 19th century eugenics-based utopian society developed at The Castle, a Victorian mansion in Hopewell, New Jersey.
