The Standard

Mark Twain once said, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.” We put up with a lot of things over here at The Standards, but one example of our most favorite things comes every year in the Spring…The PEN World Voice Festival.

The festival brings together writers from all over the world to celebrate the power of the written word. This year PEN will mark its 90th anniversary with events, panels, lectures and discussions beginning on April 30 and culminating on May 6th. As official hotel partner to the festival, we obviously have a lot planned for you, so let me fill you in…

In our next installment of Standard Talks, The New York Times’ Ethicist, Randy Cohen, takes Nadia Kahlman, Justin Torres and others on a journey through the writing game we all love, Exquisite Corpse. A question is asked and each participant adds and elaborates creating a story that’s the literary sum of its parts. This takes place on May 4 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20.

If you’re staying at The Standard, New York or The Standard, East Village during the festival, you’re in for a surprise when you get to your room. We’ve commissioned acclaimed author Jennifer Egan to curate an assortment of bedside reading material. This year’s titles include Emma by Jane Austen, The Image by Daniel Boorstin, Underworld by Don DeLillo, Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison and The Transit of Venus by Shirley Hazzard. You have to check in to find out which one you’ll get.

“Yellow Cake Road” 2004 by Steve Bell

For over 30 years, one man has been taking on the British government through his weekly political cartoons for The Guardian. This year, Steve Bell will be taking over the Library of The Standard, East Village with an exhibition of his work. If you want to hear him discuss his work and his sardonic views on this year’s American election, you’ll have to buy a ticket.

The east village and its constant metamorphosis has always played an integral role in the making of Manhattan. On Saturday night, May 5th, John Haskell and Anka Muhlstein will take over the latest symbol of neighborhood change, The Standard, East Village, to discuss the ever-evolving ideologies in their work as well as the literary landscape as a whole. Tickets are $15.

For a full schedule of events, click here. You can also keep up with everything that’s going on by checking back in to Standard Culture or by following me or PEN American Center on Twitter.

xoxo
Stan