New York Stories is a new series of talks and live interviews exploring the lives of the artists, influencers, and powerbrokers who have shaped the political and cultural landscape of New York City. Through personal stories, pivotal moments, and the history of institutions they built, challenged, or transformed, the series examines how these figures influenced New York’s past and continue to define its future.
The 1980s was a fraught decade, encompassing some of the most important and tumultuous years in New York City’s history. Join award-winning journalist Jonathan Mahler and WAMC producer Sarah LaDuke for a conversation on The Gods of New York, Mahler’s sweeping exploration of power, ambition, and the making of modern New York City. Together, they will discuss the larger-than-life figures who shaped the city’s political and cultural landscape, tracing how myth, money, and personality collide. Blending rigorous reporting with lively exchange, this discussion moves beyond history to ask what these “gods” still teach us about influence, inequality, and who really gets to shape a city’s future.
The Mount would like to thank Richard and Nedra Koplin for supporting the New York Stories series.
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:
- This one-hour talk takes place in The Mount’s Stable Auditorium, a 140-seat, climate-controlled, indoor venue adjacent to the parking lot.
- Seating for all programs at The Mount is first-come, first-served. If you have seating preferences, we recommend arriving fifteen minutes early.
- Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please contact us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
- A book signing will follow this talk. Books can be purchased at the event from The Mount Gift & Bookstore or in advance via Bookshop.org
- Questions? Email: programs@edithwharton.org; or phone: 413-551-5111 x2
Jonathan Mahler is a staff writer for The New York Times Magazine and the author of the bestselling Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, which was adapted as an ESPN miniseries, and The Challenge, a New York Times Notable Book. His journalism has received numerous awards and been featured in The Best American Sports Writing. He lives in Brooklyn.
Sarah LaDuke is a Senior Producer and host at NPR member station WAMC Northeast Public Radio, where she works primarily on “The Roundtable” and “The Book Show.” She has worked in radio since she graduated from college in 2006. In her work with WAMC, she often interviews regional and global artists in all fields, including music, theatre, film, television, and the visual arts. She is on the Board of WAM Theatre and lives in Albany, New York, with her husband, Paul, and their dog, Doritos.
