Ruth Bader Ginsburg Speaks With Jane Eisner, And More To Read, Watch And Do This Weekend

By Talya Zax February 1, 2018

Thursday is part of the weekend, right? This week, definitely: On Thursday night, Supreme Court Justice and pop culture icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg will speak with Forward editor-in-chief Jane Eisner at Washington D.C.’s Adas Israel Congregation. While the event itself is sold out, the Forward will be livestreaming it; learn how to watch it, here.

Read on for our picks for the best ways to spend your weekend in New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and Los Angeles.

1) Read

If you, like us, have RBG fever, pick up her 2016 book “My Own Words,” which assembles a selection of her writings and speeches. In new releases, journalist Ronen Bergman’s “Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations” has been making numerous headlines. On an opposite theme, Dara Horn’s recently released novel “Eternal Life” examines one woman’s, well, eternal life; read Julia Klein’s review of the book for the Forward here. It’s also worth taking time this weekend to read Franklin Foer’s profile of Paul Manafort for The Atlantic, which bears a headline pulled from Philip Roth: “The Plot Against America.”

2) Watch

Did we happen to mention that we are ever-so-slightly mad for RBG? Reviewing her most memorable documentary appearances, we were particularly struck by her inclusion in “The Sturgeon Queens,” an homage to Lower East Side fish emporium Russ and Daughters. Give it a watch; best, as you do, to keep a bagel on hand. On Friday night, if you’re interested in a slightly less family-friendly feminist conversation, HBO will air the first of four “2 Dope Queens” comedy specials, featuring an appearance from perennial favorite Jon Stewart.

3) New York City

Thursday night, head either to NYU’s Glucksman Ireland House for a lecture by Hasia Diner on the intertwined histories of the Jewish and Irish communities in the United States, or to the 92nd Street Y for an evening honoring Muriel Spark in the company of guests like Rivka Galchen and Joseph Kanon. Sunday night, head to Symphony Space for “Judy Blumesday,” an adults-only celebration of Judy Blume just a week before her 80th birthday; Samantha Bee, Meg Wolitzer and Molly Ringwald are among those booked to make an appearance. (If you have kids, Symphony Space also has a kids-friendly event honoring Blume on Sunday afternoon.)

4) Washington D.C.

Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s “Assassins” is one of the more interesting musicals in the American canon; catch it at Dominion Stage through February 10. Saturday afternoon, the Kennedy Center will present a lecture on the ballets of Alexei Ratmansky and Sunday afternoon, attend a cabaret presenting the works of composer Joseph Kern through the In Series.

5) Chicago

A big draw this weekend will be “Brodsky/Baryshnikov” at the Cherry Orchard Festival; a performance by Mikhail Baryshnikov as his friend Joseph Brodsky is not to be missed. Comedian Myq Kaplan delivers a stand-up set at Zanie’s on Friday night, and the Drury Lane Theatre’s ongoing production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is sure to rouse.

6) Los Angeles

It’s a weekend of Leonard Bernstein-themed festivities in Los Angeles; on Saturday night, catch either the LA Opera’s production of Bernstein’s “Candide” or KEIGWIN + COMPANY’s evening of Bernstein-inspired dance at the Valley Performing Arts Center. You’ll have multiple opportunities, as well, to hear Bernstein’s “Mass” at the LA Phil, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. And Sunday morning, head to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles for the lecture “Italian Jews — From Emancipation to Fascism.”

Talya Zax is the Forward’s opinion editor. Contact her at zax@forward.com or on Twitter, @TalyaZax.

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