A 2009 Madeira Party
Fifty-one happy Innmates left the Franklin Inn Club on a warm June evening in 2009, some still humming “Have Some Madeira, M’dear.” After cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, they had heard a brief but comprehensive discourse on the history of Madeira and the details of the four Noble grapes (as well as the role of tinta de negra mole) from Wine Steward Nathan Sivin, and from recently returned Charles Austermuhl, a delightful description of the beautiful island itself, along with details of on which part of the island each type of grape is grown. All varieties are grown in individual small plots all over the island and sold as individual lots to the winemakers. There is nothing like the vineyards of Burgundy, much less the even larger vineyards of the great Bordeaux. Charles urged all of us to drink more Madeira, lest the small acreage devoted to these grapes be sold for condos. George Fisher then recounted how the BOAL family (of the grape of the same name), received what is essentially Center County, PA as payment for a debt (somebody must have ordered a lot of Madeira). A descendant became the American Ambassador to Bolivia, where the family merged with that of the Spanish Ambassador to Bolivia, on the female side of which was a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus. Now, in Boalsburg, PA there is a Christopher Columbus Museum containing the navigator’s sea chest, telescope, and the like. Following drinks and hors d’oeuvres, the reading of S. Weir Mitchell’s “A Madeira Party” began, and continued through dinner, passing the book around the table. The President had explained that our 2009 Madeira party would not be a replica of Mitchell’s 1895 book, primarily because the recipe for a staple was rejected by the chef, the food committee, and her husband, all of whom received a round of applause after she read the recipe for “Calves Head Terrapin,” which begins “boil a calves head in water for two hours, slowly.” Debby was somewhat disappointed because she had found the original recipe of Mrs. Bixby, Dr. Weir Mitchell’s cook, and thought the group might have wanted to taste food Weir Mitchell himself enjoyed (recipe available upon request). The dinner itself was a great success: as an added fillip, there were four courses instead of the usual three, and the beef tenderloin — which replaced the calves head terrapin — was served with a Madeira Sauce and very much appreciated. The Wine Steward had chosen a Portuguese white wine to accompany the first two courses; the Sercial Madeira was brought out with the meat, and when that was gone, we moved on to the Rainwater Madeira. The Malmseys were served with dessert, which included fruits kept in Madeira wine for weeks and a Madeira Sabayon, both served with a lemon pound cake. Many spontaneous and varied toasts, to the obvious delight of all, were offered throughout the meal, concluding with a paraphrase of Dr. Mitchell himself: “I like to think when toper time” Has drained the last of me and you” “Some here will think “They both were good” “The wine we drank, the friends we knew.” After which, all joined in a rousing rendition of “Have Some Madeira, M’Dear” and happily wended their way home. Note: Many Innmates helped mobilize this event: the Food Committee; Chef David Heydt; Steward Shefqet Osmanollaj, who directed the service; Lou Bluver, who contributed a fine Sercial; the Stuarts, who brought Malmsey; the Wine Steward who bought the Rainwater and directed the order and serving of the wines; Charles Joiner, who brought in copies of “Have Some Madeira, M’Dear;” Charles Austermuhl and George Fisher and all the Innmates who gave freely of advice and made the party their own by joining in the Reading. The singing is another matter; we need to practice. Website http://www.philadelphia-reflections.com offers George Fisher’s take on the event.
2010 and 2011 events
Thursday, September 16th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm.: Peter Stone recently published the paperback Casino Jack and the United States of Money. A documentary film based on this book and his previous book Heist has been released. Jack Abramoff is the focus of the book released in 2006 as well as the current documentary that Mr. Stone will discuss over lunch.
Thursday, September 23rd — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Roy Goodman, President of Friends of Franklin and Assistant Librarian and Curator of Printed Materials of the American Philosophical Society, will bring his extensive collection of Franklin Memorabilia to discuss over lunch.
Friday, September 24th — Club Dinner, 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 presentation, 7 pm dinner: The Franklin Inn Club THEN: The Nostalgia Team —William Carey, Daniel Hoffman, Charlotte Phelps, Arthur Solmssen — will discuss memories, tales of the “Inn,” a recently discovered speech from the fiftieth anniversary and show photographs as well as a cartoon drawn for this event by member Arnold Roth.
Tuesday, September 28th —Evening Roundtable, 6 pm buffet dinner: George Anastasia, Veteran journalist from the Philadelphia Inquirer, will talk about the crimes and the criminals he’s written about in the paper and in his books. As he often says, “You can’t make this stuff up any better than it is.” Kingpins, Hustles and Homicides – From Nicky Scarfo and Angelo Bruno to Kaboni Savage and Ace Capone – with Tom Capano and Rabbi Fred Neulander thrown into the mix as well.
Thursday, September 30th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Varissa L. McMickens, Director Arts Rising; A Collaborative Arts for Youth Initiative of the Philadelphia Education Fund, Fleisher Art Memorial, and Public Citizens for Children and Youth.
Thursday, October 7th, 2010— Exceptional Film Night, 6 pm followed by films — LE GRAND VOYAGE a film by Ismael Ferroukhi, WINNER Venice Film Festival Official Selection- Toronto Film Festival Official Selection- Seattle Intl. Film Festival. A few weeks before his college entrance exams, Rada, a young man who lives in the south of France finds himself obligated to drive his father to Mecca for the Haj. The wide cultural and generational gap between the two is worsened by their lack of communication. Rada finds it hard to accommodate his father who demands respect for himself and his pilgrimage. From France, through Italy, Serbia, Turkey, Syria, Jordan to Saudi Arabia, the two embark on a road trip that will change their lives.
Thursday, October 14th — Lou Bluver Film Matinee, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: “The Forgotten Films of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle”. Unseen for over 70 years you’ll revel in the laughter of one of America’s favorite comic actors, until a sex scandal brought his career to an unexpected close in 1921. Don’t miss this one time opportunity to watch several of Fatty Arbuckle’s short films RESTORED.
Friday, October 15th — Club Dinner. 5:30 Cocktails, 6:15 presentation, 7:30 pm Dinner: Plan to have a conversation with Innmate Charles Hancock, adjunct faculty member at Philadelphia University School of Architecture. He will lead the discussion on design at the Member Dinner.
Sunday, October 17th — On Sunday afternoon, October 17th at 2pm The Carpenters’ Company has extended a rare invitation to members of the Franklin Inn Club to visit their library on the second floor and stand where Franklin had his first library and housed his scientific instruments prior to moving them to the American Philosophical Society. Then view the Description de l’Egypte — one of the few such folio editions in existence. Some 160 civilian scholars and scientists accompanied Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt during 1798 – 1801. Also in this expedition were 2000 [sic] artists and technicians, including 400 engravers, who would later compile the full work for publication.
Thursday, October 21st — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Therése Rawson, Curtis Institute of Music faculty will speak on The American Conservatory at Fontainebleau–the legacy of Nadia Boulanger and the Casadesus family.
Thursday, October 28th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Dan Rottenberg: Six lessons I’ve learned about the Old West.” Dan, a member, will bring copies of the paperback edition of Death of a Gunfighter presenting the Old West from a different perspective this time.
Monday, November 1st, 2010 — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator, Gresham Riley
Thursday, November 4th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Allen Hornblum, The Invisible Harry. The book is dedicated to a member of the Franklin Inn Club — come to discover the name. This biography of Harry Gold, Philadelphia biochemist and cold war spy, asks “How did such a gentle, apolitical person get caught up in the ‘crime of the century’?” — come learn both answers
Thursday, November 4th — Exceptional Film night, 6 pm buffet dinner followed by films
Monday, November 8th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator Dennis Faucher
Thursday, November 11th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Christopher Heaney, a 2003 Yale graduate, will discuss his recent book Cradle of Gold: The Story of Hiram Bingham, a Real-Life Indiana Jones, and the Search for Machu Picchu. On July 24, 1911, Yale historian Hiram Bingham followed a young Peruvian boy into the ruins of a misty Inca citadel — Machu Picchu. Now a Doctoral Fellow in Latin American History at the University of Texas at Austin, Chris Heaney will share anecdotes from Bingham’s colorful career, explain how Machu Picchu’s story fits into today’s contentious museum politics, tell stories of his own research in Peru.
Monday, November 15th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator David Freeman
Thursday, November 18th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Richard R. Goldberg, Esq.: New Towns and Planned Communities: a Comparison between today and the 1960′s and 1970′s and The Shopping Mall: From Cherry Hill to King of Prussia to The Big Box Center.
Friday, November 19th — Club Dinner: 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 presentation, 7 pm dinner. Two of our Innmates will lead a discussion on “What’s Happening in China Today?” Avi Eden travels frequently to China and will bring news of current developments in its financial world. Nathan Sivin, the leading historian outside Asia of Chinese science and medicine and an Honorary Professor in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, will take part in the open discussion. A special guest, John Zhang, Ades Professor of Marketing in Penn’s Wharton School, who also teaches in China will add his dimension of experience to the discussion.
Monday, November 22nd — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator Palmer Hartl
Monday, November 29th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator George Fisher
Thursday, December 2nd, 2010— Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Mayor Letitia G. “Tish” Colombi, of historic Haddonfield will give us a sense of the joys and headaches of being mayor of a rather famous historic town nearby in New Jersey. Several of our members are residents of this beautiful town.
Friday, December 3rd — 5:30-7:30 pm: Members’ Cocktail Party at the Inn for members and prospective members.
Thursday, December 9th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Amanda Hesser will present her new THE ESSENTIAL NEW YORK TIMES COOKBOOK Classic Recipes for a New Century. Hesser—a Times food columnist and the author of the acclaimed Cooking for Mr. Latte —organized the book into eighteen chapters, including drinks, hors d’oeuvres, soups, vegetables, pasta, fish and shellfish, poultry and game, beef, breads, and desserts. Doug Schaller has arranged to have copies for sale; to have the correct number available, please call or send an email to express your interest in purchasing a copy.
Monday, December 13th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator Palmer Hartl
Friday, December 17th — Franklin Inn Club Holiday Luncheon. This festive luncheon will include Fish House Punch, readings, led by members, and songs led by the President and members. Tom Reing will speak on the The Philadelphia Irish Theatre Festival in Dec. 2010 through May 2011 and readings from The Dubliner.
Monday, December 20th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator, Gresham Riley
2011
Monday, January 3rd, 2011 — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. moderator, Gresham Riley
Tuesday, January 4th — Board Meeting, 6 PM & Finance Committee meeting at 5 pm, to discuss the Club’s 2011 budget. All Innmates are cordially invited to the Board meeting.
Thursday, January 6th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. We welcome returning author Thom Nickels, who will discuss his recently published book Spore. Copies will be available for purchase.
Monday, January 10th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Art dealer and connoisseur Doug Schaller will review the weekend’s opinions in our favorite dailies
Thursday, January 13th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Two Innmates — Drs. George Fisher and Robert Reinecke — will take us along the Mediterranean in northern Africa, with photos and discussion from their recent trip to these fascinating countries.
Monday, January 17th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Attorney and litigator par excellence Denny Faucher will bring several issues for our consideration.
Thursday, January 20th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Innmate H. G. Callaway, Ph.D will discuss his recently published book Memories and Portraits: Exploration in American Thought
Friday, January 21st — Franklin Birthday CELEBRATION. Starting at 9 am. Each year, The Friends of Franklin join a dozen other organizations — including our Club — to celebrate his birthday with a morning program of lectures and discussions, a procession to Franklin’s grave, and luncheon at the Down Town Club. The theme this year is Pennsylvania Politics from Franklin to Rendell. Edward G. Rendell will receive the Benjamin Franklin Founder Award as Pennsylvania’s most recent governor. This year’s award recognizes the tremendous benefits he has brought to the Commonwealth and to Philadelphia, Franklin’s adopted city.
Friday, January 21st — Annual Club Meeting and J. William White Memorial Dinner, starting with cocktails at 5:45 pm. This event includes dinner toasts to our Founders and Dr Franklin. At this meeting, the Club elects officers and board members
Monday, January 24th — Quarterback Luncheon 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Dr. George Fisher will probably base his remarks on the weekend edition of the Wall Street Journal.
Tuesday, January 25th — Evening Roundtable at 6 pm. Innmate Ryda Rose and her GP 3 group will lead this Creative Paper for your Valentine program, which will feature the 2010 Peabody Award-inning film Between the Folds that chronicles the stories of ten theoretical scientists, mathematicians, and artists who are modern-day paper-folders. This film is much more than a loving look at the fascinating, brilliant characters who devote their lives to folding paper. It reveals itself as richer and more intricate than you could imagine… and by the end, you find yourself convinced that the mystery of folding could be one of the universe’s deep secrets.” – Chris Anderson, Curator, TED Conference. After the film, members of the Greater Philadelphia Paper Pholders (GP3) will teach you the basic syntax of this art’s language and illustrate how to fold paper into hearts – in anticipation of Valentine’s Day. As time permits we will also make a famous boxfold that will allow you to save your creations. This will be a wonderfully unusual experience for all.
Monday, January 31st — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Journalist Don Harrison will help us understand what the weekend papers are telling us.
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 — Board Meeting, 6 pm, dinner at 7:30. Innmates are cordially invited to attend Board meetings.
Thursday, February 3rd — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. James O. Kruhly: Philadelphia architect, visiting professor and member of the historic Carpenters’ Company will present The Changing Nature of Places of Worship. Churches, temples, mosques and religious shrines have always been the most meaningful examples of the architecture of a culture. Not only have they represented the aesthetic preferences of society, they have been a tangible record of the values of a society. As we trace the history of these building types, we see the development of our civilization.
Monday, February 7th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Management consultant and church leader Palmer Hartl will take us past Groundhog Day
February 7th — Monday Evening Panel Discussion: (doors open at 5:30 PM) Innmate Gresham Riley will moderate a panel to include Tom Reing, Matt Pfeifer and a third guest in a discussion of the Irish Film Festival being held here in Philadelphia through May.
Wednesday, February 9th — Exceptional Film Night, 6 pm buffet followed by films: Lou Bluver has selected a recent British film Exit through the Gift Shop. It wouldn’t be in character for street artist Banksy to reveal all, even in a film about his work — nor would it be legally prudent. This is the true story of how grafitti artists catapulted from illicit artwork to selling their works for tens of thousands of dollars each! But it’s much, much more….don’t miss this amazing film—-You’ve NEVER seen anything like it !! Rated *****
Thursday, February 10th — Roundtable Luncheon 12:30 – 1:30 pm. James Fentress is visiting in the U.S. this winter and will join us for Thursday Roundtable to discuss his recently published book — Eminent Gangsters: Immigrants and the Birth of Organized Crime in America.
Monday, February 14th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Communications leader (for our club) David Freeman will ex-communicate the weekend events.
Thursday, February 17th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Philadelphian, Bill Double, will regale us with fascinating details of the history of Washington Square over the centuries. One of the five squares creating open space designated by William Penn, its history draws from potter’s field to center of the publishing industry and on to these same buildings converted to condominiums. Here more from our local historian about one of our most used public spaces.
Friday, February 18th — Club Dinner: “A Feast of Sherries.” 5:30 pm. Planned by Gresham Riley and Palmer Hartl. Concha, retired professor of Spanish Language and Culture at St. Joseph’s University and a native Spaniard, will give a talk touching on the history of Spanish Sherries and their role(s) in Spanish history/culture.
Tuesday, February 22nd — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Veteran interpreter of Philadelphia politics, Gresham Riley will update us on local events.
Tuesday, February 22nd — Evening Roundtable: 6 PM: Mary French, retired former Head of the Art Department at Episcopal Academy currently paints in her studio at the Mill in Manayunk. Her talk, “Painting Water”, will explore places, all of which must have water as a prime element, then discovering in these places their intrinsic natures — from Fitz Hugh Lane to the Hudson River School of painters, to name a few. What is intriguing to her is how water works, its stillness or tensions, its power or peace. She will use her own paintings of the Wissahickon Valley, the Lehigh River, and the beach on Long Island to illustrate this concept.
Thursday, February 24th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Jennifer Childs, artistic director of 1812 Theatre Productions, will speak about her development, with Peter Pryor, of the 1812 Theater Company dedicated to making people laugh. She will use their next production, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor due to open April 7th, to illustrate how to make us laugh.
Monday, February 28th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Don Harrison, moderator.
Tuesday, March 1st, 2011— Board Meeting, 6 pm, dinner at 7:30: Innmates are cordially invited to attend Board meetings and suppers thereafter.
Thursday, March 3rd — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Travel with Innmate Jan Gordon to the forest canopy of Ecuador. In addition to the spectacular birds in the canopy, she will tell us of the Fundacion Jocotoco, part of the World Land Trust, and its eco-tourism lodges.
Monday, March 7th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Doug Schaller, moderator.
Thursday, March 10th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Joe Sestak, former Democratic Congressman and recent U. S. Senate candidate will lead a discussion on current affairs as they unfold.
Monday, March 14th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Denny Faucher, moderator.
Tuesday, March 15th — Exceptional Film Night, 6 pm buffet followed by films: Impresario/Innmate, Lou Bluver will present and screen Fox and His Friends, a 1974 West German film written and directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder himself. The plot follows the misadventures of a working-class homosexual who falls in love with the elegant son of an industrialist. His lover tries to mold him into a gilt-edged mirror of upper-class values and ultimately swindles the easily flattered lottery winner out of his fortune. The film is an incisive look at the relationship between money and emotions. Love is seen as a commodity that can be bought for money and lasts just as long as it is profitable.
Thursday, March 17th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Daniel Biddle and Murray Dubbin, snowed out in January, will join us to discuss a little known bit of Philadelphia history and culture in their book Tasting Freedom: Octavius Catto and the Battle for Equality in Civil War America.
Friday, March 18th — Club Dinner: 5:00 pm cocktails, 5:45 pm presentation, 6:30 dinner: Mikael Eliasen, Artistic Director of the Curtis Opera Theatre, Opera and Voice Coach at the Curtis Institute will speak on current methods used to prepare students for this discipline. The program begins at 6pm to give Mr. Eliason time to reach the Kimmel Center to prepare for the Curtis Opera performance of The Cunning Little Vixen, by Leos Janaceck (sold-out in late February). Unfortunately he will not be able to stay for dinner so come early to speak with him.
Monday, March 21st — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. George Fisher, moderator.
Thursday, March 24st — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Bernard Havard, President and producing artistic director of the Walnut Street Theatre will join us to speak on the Historic Walnut Theatre and American Theater.
Monday, March 28th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Palmer Hartl, moderator.
POSTPONED: (Date to be announced) Tuesday, March 29th — Evening Roundtable: 6 pm buffet supper. The Servile Mind: How Democracy Erodes the Moral Life. by Kenneth Monogue. The book will be the basis of a discussion on compassion in the 21st century led by Norma Van Dyke and Palmer Hartl.
Thursday, March 31st — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Walton Van Winkle presents an Emily Dickinson poem, “I like to see it lap the Miles”, together with Walt Whitman’s “To a Locomotive in Winter.” (details later in March.)
Monday, April 4th, 2011— Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Gresham Riley, Moderator
Tuesday, April 5th — Board Meeting 6 pm, dinner at 7:15 pm
Thursday, April 7th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Philadelphia’s World Affairs Council President, Claudia McBride will speak on current events and the Council.
Monday, April 11th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Communications leader (for our club) David Freeman will review weekend commentaries in the Times and the Inquirer.
Thursday, April 14th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Innmate Howard Callaway will present his recently published book a new edition of Alexander James Dallas’ An Exposition of the Causes and Character of the War which was originally published in 1814 — in justification of the foreign policy of the early republic and our declaration of war in 1812. A.J. Dallas, was a Philadelphian who arrived here with his wife in 1783–just after the end of hostilities of the Revolutionary War. He set up shop as a lawyer and was accepted to the PA bar in 1785. Come to lunch to hear more of this fascinating little known Philadelphian.
Friday, April 15th — Club Dinner: 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 speaker, 7:15 dinner: Innmate Charles Austermuhl will present the details of our fascinating collection on our walls and shelves.
Monday, April 18th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. New Quarterback Moderator, Doris Dabrowski will give us a fresh look at current events.
Thursday, April 21st — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Lunch will be served with an opportunity to discuss your current reading with other Innmates.
April 25th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Veteran Journalist, Don Harrison will summarize the weekend news.
Tuesday, April 26th — Evening Roundtable: 6 pm. Roy Kaiser, Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet, will join us to discuss this fascinating art form.
Thursday, April 28th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Last spring Richard Goldberg led a lively discussion of the planned community over the past forty or more years. He will join us again with his knowledge of the history of shopping malls and their influence on our daily lives. The changes are fascinating and stretch our understanding of their role in daily life.
Monday, May 2nd, 2011— Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 pm. Doug Schaller, Moderator.
Tuesday, May 3rd — Board Meeting at 6PM followed by buffet dinner at 7:15
Thursday, May 5th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Reuben Wade, Innmate will introduce his new play, “Paint the American Eagle,” a fiction that gives voice to American Notes the book in which Charles Dickens, with wit and intelligence, provided critique to a young republic. Reuben will give us the play schedule and discuss a topic of interest to him: the ethics of biography and the fictional portrayal of people who are not alive to defend themselves. Come hear about a special event for this one-act play.
Friday, May 6th — Prospective Member Cocktail Party: 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
Monday, May 9th — Quarterback Luncheon at 12:30 – 1:30 pm: Palmer Hartl, Moderator.
Monday, May 9th — Exceptional Film Night: 6 pm buffet followed by films. Impresario Lou Bluver will present and screen one of his classic films after our buffet supper. “FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT” Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The thrill spectacle of 1940! Nominated for six Academy Awards, including BEST PICTURE! Starring JOEL McCREA, George Sanders and Herbert Marshall. The wind blows one way, but the windmill turns another. To a group of Fifth Columnists it’s a signal. It also signals to an intrepid American reporter that he’s stumbled across the biggest story in pre-war Europe. On a grand scale, the film is a showcase for the Director’s best cinematic tricks. An 80 foot windmill, a 10-acre facsimile of Amsterdam Square used to stage a rain-soaked assassination scene, and an airship with a 120-foot wingspan for a still amazing sea crash are just some of the sets in this gripping spy yarn.
Thursday, May 12th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 -1:30 pm. Robert J. Duminiak, JD, LLM, President Benjamin Franklin American Inn of Court will join us for conversation about this group new to The Franklin Inn.
Monday, May 16th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 -1:30 pm. George Fisher, Moderator.
Thursday, May 19th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 -1:30 pm. Come travel with Innmate Thom Nickels to explore through the States to Lapland as he has written in his travel articles for local papers.
Friday, May 20th — Club Dinner: Cocktails at 5:30, presentation at 6:15 followed by dinner, 7:15pm. Peter Dodson, Professor of Anatomy and Paleontology, Univ. of Pennsylvania. “God and the Dinosaurs”.
Sunday, May 22nd — Special Event: 5pm: Innmate Reuben Wade has offered to bring his new play Paint the American Eagle to the Inn. This one act play about one hour in length is premiering at Plays and players Thursday through Saturday — a fiction that gives voice to American Notes the book in which Charles Dickens, with wit and intelligence, provided critique to a young republic. Sunday afternoon will give an additional opportunity to see the play and then discuss the content with the author and cast. $20 donation at the door to include beverages and snacks.
Monday, May 23rd — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Denny Faucher, Moderator.
Tuesday, May 24th — Evening Roundtable: Buffet Dinner at 6 pm. In 1994, Daniel Pipes, Ph.D. founded The Middle East Forum in Philadelphia, an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote American interests through publications, research, media outreach, and public education. Previously he was a visiting professor in University of Pennsylvania School of Public Policy. Dr. Pipes will join Innmates for a conversation about the Middle East, where he is an acknowledged expert.
Thursday, May 26th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. World traveler/commentator George Fisher will lead a conversation about current life in India, based on his recent trip.
Thursday, May 26th — Broad Street Review event at FIC: 5 – 7 pm. Innmate Dan Rottenberg is the founder/editor of The Broad Street Review, which is holding a panel discussion Theater People vs Theater Critics: The Ultimate Debate! at our Club. Speakers includes some of Philadelphia’s favorite theater producers and critics: Bernard Havard of the Walnut Street Theatre, Charles McMahon of Lantern Theatre and Seth Rozin of InterAct facing off against Broad Street Review critics Robert Zaller, Gresham Riley, Jim Rutter, with BSR’s editor Dan Rottenberg as moderator. Admission: $8 in advance; $10 at the door. Light refreshments will be served.
Monday, May 30th — Memorial Day: Franklin Inn CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011— Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Joseph Glantz, native Philadelphian, will tour our City through his recently published books Philadelphia Originals and Philadelphia Before You Were Born.
Monday, June 6th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. David Freeman, Moderator.
Tuesday, June 7th — Board Meeting: 5:30 – 7:00 pm. Innmates are cordially invited to attend Board meetings and supper thereafter (around 7:15 pm)
Thursday, June 9th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Professor Michel Barsoum, Drexel University, a noted speaker will discuss his fascinating research on A Partial Solution to the Mystery of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
Monday, June 13th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Gresham Riley, Moderator.
Tuesday, June 14th — Exceptional Film Night: 6 pm Buffet Dinner, followed by Films. Joan Crawford, Jack Palance and Gloria Graham in “SUDDEN FEAR” nominated for FOUR ACADEMY AWARDS in 1952 including BEST ACTRESS and BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. This is the unbeatable combination of a lushly produced Joan Crawford melodrama and a drop-dead suspense thriller! See it in gorgeous Black and White with an excellent score. Directed by David Miller.
Thursday, June 16th — Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Bloomsday. Walton Van Winkle is teaming with Emily Parker at the Rosenbach Museum for a most interesting program in celebration of –June 16, 1904, the date James Joyce met his wife, Nora. Innmates, over lunch at the Inn, will discuss the novel Ulysses. After this basic guide we will head to the Rosenbach Museum for their annual reading of portions of the novel. There are plans for transportation for some while others walk these few blocks. Walton will give us more details, closer to the event, including the portions of the novel planned for the reading.
Friday, June 17th — Club Dinner: 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 Speakers, 7:00 Dinner. Gather for cocktails and dinner before we begin preparations for closing for the summer at the end of June. If you have a short, less than five minutes, presentation — reading, poem, performance, etc., plan to bring it with you to share with all Innmates with time to reflect and enjoy conversation.
Monday, June 20th — Quarterback Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Doris Dabrowski, Moderator.
Thursday, June 23rd —Roundtable Luncheon: 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Bruce Bawer & amp; Hege Storhaug from Oslo, Norway, will join us as they tour the States giving talks in connection with the publication of his English translation of her Norwegian bestseller, “But the Greatest of These Is Freedom: The Consequences of Immigration in Europe.” Innmate Thom Nickels suggested this rare opportunity to hear of this recently published book.
Monday, June 27th — Last Quarterback Luncheon (until after Labor Day): 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Don Harrison, Moderator.
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September, 2011
Tuesday, September 6th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Gresham Riley, moderator
Thursday, September 8th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Charles McMahan will start our Thursday Roundtable luncheon with a new look at one our favorite author — Shakespeare
Monday, September 12th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: David Freeman, moderator
Thursday, September 15th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Innmate Alvin Holme — Art and Empathy. Discussion of an illuminating experience I had last fall in a beautiful garden where I was given a new and very powerful insight into the nature of Art. I have been involved in the world of art in a variety of ways continuously for my entire life, and I have given it a great deal of thought along the way. I have read a lot about it and have had countless, endless, (fruitless) conversations about what is and isn’t Art and why. But there in Brookgreen Gardens near MyrtleBeach, South Carolina, where I was attending a board meeting of the National Sculpture Society, I had a brief solitary encounter with what I take to be the essential art experience. It’s a little story I’m eager to share, and I look forward to the discussion.
*note: Reference will be made to Wilhelm Worringer and his 1908 essay on “Abstraktion und Einfuhlung”.
Friday, September 16th — Club Dinner: 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 speaker, 7 pm dinner: An Evening in Kosovo. Join Shefqet, our dedicated Steward, his family, musicians from Kosovo to receive a message from the Ambassador, a fine dinner and entertainment. He and his family are preparing for and arranging this enjoyable evening.
Saturday, September 17th — at 2pm and, again, at 5pm: Innmate Reuben Wade is planning two performances, as part of this year’s Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Miriam White, who was Kate Dickens in last Spring’s production of Paint the American Eagle at the Franklin Inn Club, will prepare the performance in her role as professional theater artist. Expect a lively and lovely event on this Saturday afternoon. Miriam has recently returned from very successful work and study at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. She has returned to Philadelphia to rejuvenate her theater Company. Members are invited; there will be a modest charge at the door for this performance.
Monday, September 19th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: George Fisher, moderator
Thursday, September 22nd — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: speaker Howard Callaway who will review a new book divided between history and constitutional law, on American Federalism.
Thursday, September 22nd — Exceptional Film Night, 6 pm: buffet dinner, followed by: “WELCOME” This recent French film was nominated for 10 CESAR AWARDS (The French Academy Awards) and was a Winner at the Berlin Intl. Film Festival and the Heartland Film Festival (Grand Prize). It introduces us to a 17-year old immigrant boy from Iraq who walks 4000 km across Europe to Calais, France in order to try to cross the Channel to England and join his girlfriend. He is befriended by a Frenchman, who breaks the law to help him learn to swim the Channel. A very unique take on a current topic in the news in Europe today. A delicious buffet dinner begins the evening that includes several especially selected short films.
Monday, September 26th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Palmer Hart, moderator
Tuesday, September 27th — Board Meeting at 5:30pm followed by dinner at 7. All members are invited.
Thursday, September 29th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Innmate Thom Nickels will join us for a fresh look at one of our local communities — Manayunk
October, 2011
Monday, October 3rd — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Doug Schaller, moderator
Tuesday, October 4th — Evening Roundtable, 6 pm buffet dinner and discussion: The Servile Mind: How Democracy Erodes the Moral Life by Kenneth Monogue. The book will be the basis for a discussion on compassion in the 21st century led by Norma Van Dyke and Palmer Hartl.
Thursday, October 6th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Innmate Dan Hoffman has invited Brock Brower, prolific political journalist and author of noir novel The Late Great Creature, to speak on Edgar Allen Poe, Our First Magazinist, just one day before the 162nd anniversary of Poe’s death.
Monday, October 10th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Doris Dabrowski, moderator
Thursday, October 13th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Howard Lewis, Great Train Robbery — reflections on the railroad reorganizations of the 1970s and 1980s. The discussion will include the reorganization of the railroad industry in the 1970s from the standpoint of the Reading, demonstrating that Government intervention works best when it works least. I hope to contrast what happened to the railroads with what happened to the automobile industry and not be pro-union.
Monday, October 17th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Gresham Riley, moderator
Monday, October 17th — Theater-in-Residence workshop: 6 pm (please note: no dinner served!) The CATO Project A reading of an original PAC adaptation of the Joseph Addison play “Cato” with John Lopes, one of the foremost interpreters of George Washington as Cato. The reading will be followed by a discussion of the central issues of the play—the conflict of the individual vs. the good of the state—and on the play’s influence on the founding fathers of the United States of America. This play is the inspiration for a new PAC play currently in development, excerpts of which will be shared with the FIC in January 2012.
Thursday, October 20th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Innmates Charlotte Phelps and Doris Dabrowski will lead a serious and important discussion of the effectiveness of the Dodd- Frank bill in deterring malfeasance in investment banking.
Friday, October 21st — Club Dinner: 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:15 speaker, 7 pm dinner: Josh Hitchens, a young, up-and-coming actor in town…will give a special performance of his new play Stoker’s Dracula. The play premiered at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion in June. After spending a good deal of time reviewing Stoker’s notes on the original Dracula manuscript that resides at the Rosenbach, he has written this monologue based on this research. Going back to what he believes is Stoker’s original intent of a “live performance” …a really spooky story to be told in a dark room! Stoker was a guest at the Franklin Inn Club during his visit to Philadelphia. Perhaps we can muster up his ghost!!!
Monday October 24th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: A. Deborah Goldstein, moderator
Tuesday October 25th — Board Meeting at 5:30 pm, followed by dinner at 7. All members are invited.
Wednesday, October 26th — Buffet Dinner at 5:30pm and Play at 7pm at The Lantern Theater, 10th and Ludlow Sts. The play “New Jerusalem” explores the interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza at Talmud Torah Congregation: Amsterdam, July 27, 1656. Based on true events in the life of one of the greatest philosophers in history. This recent Broadway hit challenges traditional political and religious thinking with conviction, passion and wit.
Thursday October 27th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: Theodore (Dorie) Friend “Anarchy and Modernity” — an explanation, something like this: “… a brief look around at the anarchies of our time: from the cyber-anarchy of Julian Assange/Wikileaks to the large regions of the world where no central government prevails.”
Monday October 31st — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30-1:30 pm: David Freeman, moderator
November, 2011
Tuesday, Nov 1st — Evening Roundtable, 6 PM Buffet Dinner, movie, discussion and workshop: Return visit from a group of scientists, mathematicians, computer technologists, artists, Kindergarten teachers, and just ordinary people. The Greater Philadelphia Paper Pholders, who have found a common ground in the folding of sheets of paper into different 2-d and 3-d forms that are now recognized as being worthy to be displayed in museum exhibits and internationally honored by many groups of professionals and ordinary people in countries all over the world. Among the GP3 are internationally published artists who will present some of their various work forms in their exhibit and teach us some models. During the evening we will focus on the language of this unique art form, the symbols used for the different folds. Many of the currently known models emerge from the algorithms that enable us to choose angles and folds and are the same that have produced the cardiac stent, our cars’ airbags and solar wind sails. Enjoy an evening with this fascinating art form that has been with us since the very early centuries of man.
Thursday, Nov. 3rd — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Mary French, “A Painter’s Response to the Great Outdoors,” discusses her recent paintings that include PA landscapes and additions to her painting water series. Let’s give her this opportunity to put her thoughts to organizing her work — her favorite occupation. CANCELED!! (but we heard from an artist from The Plastic Club, instead)
Monday, Nov 7th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: George Fisher, moderator
Thursday, Nov 10th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Sebastienne Mundheim, a Philadelphia-based interdisciplinary performance artist, educated at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, will speak about her artistry and performance work whose inspirations include literary icons James Joyce, Benjamin Franklin, Dylan Thomas, Marianne Moore, and Nikos Kazantsakis and visual artists Henri Rousseau, Diego Rivera, Giorgio Di Chirico. Her performances have toured nationally and internationally and are regularly featured in the Philadelphia Fringe/Live Arts Festival. Please come hear Sebastienne Mundheim speak about the literary and artistic works which stimulate, motivate, compel and inspire her, and learn of the network of rising and inspiring artists she collaborates with and helps develop and nurture as part of a creative artistic literary team. Discover how research and academic inquiry find solutions in performance and installation.
Monday, Nov 14th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Palmer Hartl, moderator
Tuesday, Nov 15th — Exceptional Film night, 6 PM: Buffet at 6pm followed by films CANCELLED!
Thursday, Nov 17th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Daniel Forrest Hoffman, Philadelphia based visual artist talks about his career as an artist thus far. Hoffman is drawn to material and processes from ceramics, paper, wood, or animation and more. He has won numerous awards, most recently an artist residency with the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia this summer.
Friday, Nov 18th — Club Dinner: cocktails at 5:30, speaker at 6:15, dinner at 7 PM: The Fort that Saved America: Exec. Dir. Elizabeth Beatty of Fort Mifflin will discuss Why Fort Mifflin is Important to Every American. In 1777, during one of the coldest autumns on record, 300 poorly clothed and ill fed colonial troops drew the line at Fort Mifflin and struggled to contain the mighty British Navy in the lower Delaware River for as long as possible. The young men of Fort Mifflin held on for seven long weeks – “to the last extremity”. Over 240 of these valiant defenders gave their lives for the cause of Freedom during what historians call the greatest bombardment of the American Revolution. But it was not in vain. Because of their effort the cause of the American Revolution was won and the course of human history changed forever.
Monday, Nov 21st — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Doug Schaller
Tuesday, November 22nd — FIC Board Meeting: 5:30 meeting, 7 PM dinner
Thursday, Nov. 24th — Thanksgiving day: CLUB CLOSED
Monday, Nov. 28th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Doris Dabrowski
December, 2011
Thursday, December 1st — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Monica Zimmerman, Assist. Dir. Museum Education for the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts will present Philadelphia Artist Henry Ossawa Tanner: Modern Spirit.
Monday, December 5th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Gresham Riley, moderator
Tuesday, December 6th — Evening Roundtable, 6 PM Supper and Program: In 1961, the Canadian Government began the restoration of a Fortress Louisbourg, a $25 million project that would be come the largest historical reconstruction in North America. David Barquist and Doug Schaller will walk the audience through the fort, key homes, street views and artifacts of this fascinating Nova Scotia site.
Thursday, December 8th— Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM:
Joby Warrick, National Security correspondent for The Washington Post, joins us to present his new book “Triple Agent.” Come here more about this topic so vital to our country.
Monday, December 12th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Debbie Goldstein, moderator
Monday, December 12th — Theater-in-Residence workshop: 6 pm (please note: no dinner served!) #2, starting at 6 PM: reserve seats at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/205053
The Philadelphia Artists Collective is dedicated to preserving a visceral and immediate relationship to the language of classical plays. But … what does that mean? And how do we do it?
Classical playwrights employ the art of rhetoric; their characters use language in complex and colorful ways to inspire argument and change. A healthy understanding of this approach to language helps clarify the action, story, and heart of any classical work for artists and audiences alike.
This PAC workshop will be an “inside look” at how actors turn classical text into immediately accessible ideas rooted in human behavior. It will be a hands-on experience, providing practical tools for analyzing and speaking classical (and contemporary) text.
Thursday, December 15th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lunch will be served, no speaker.
Friday, December 16th — Christmas Luncheon, 11:30 AM holiday songs, traditional fish house punch 12:30 Luncheon. Throughout the festivities there will be short theater presentations by Gigi Naglak and Magen Williams to increase the holiday spirit.
Monday, December 19th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: David Freeman, moderator
Thursday, December 22nd — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Robert Smythe, founder of the Mum Puppettheater, will talk about narrative theory and how it starts to explain the basic human desire for someone to “tell me a story.” In the face of new discoveries of language and tool use in the animal world, it may turn out that telling stories is the trait that sets humans apart from all other forms of life. But storytelling is more than just relaying a series of events; more important than describing what happened is how the storyteller conceals and reveals facts in order to manipulate space and time.
December 24 through December 31: The Franklin Inn Club will be closed
January, 2012
Sunday, January 1st, 2012 — New Year’s Day Brunch, 11 AM – 1 :30 PM. Plan to come in out of the cold and join fellow Innmates!
Buffet to include: Mummer’s Vegetarian Bean Soup, Homemade Biscuits, Egg Custard, Cured Meats including Gravlax, Cream Cheese Spread and Herb Butters, Fruit Platter, Coffee Cake, Wine and Festive Beverages
If you plan to attend please add your name to the reservation sheet; call Shefqet at 215- 732-0334 use this website to register.
Monday, January 2nd, 2012 — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: George Fisher, moderator
Thursday, January 5th — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Lee Arnold Library Director for the Historical Society of PA for years will discuss; What’s Real about Reality TV?
Ever wonder how a reality TV show gets made? Did you ever think about situations that appear just when they are most needed? How come that doesn’t happen in your reality? It’s because it is TV. He will talk about recent forays HSP has taken with Reality TV including a German version of Who Do You Think You Are? and the American and British versions of The History Detectives. Lee will also speak about two non-reality (but real none-the-less) shows that were filmed at HSP: an episode of NOVA and A Taste of History.
Monday, January 9th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Doug Schaller, moderator
Thursday, January 12 — Roundtable Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: A conversation with Ben Lloyd founder of The White Pines Performing Arts Center at the Elkins Estate.
Monday, January 16th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Palmer Hartl, moderator
Thursday, January 19 — Luncheon Roundtable, 12:30-1:30 PM: join with Donna Thomas and Peter Cressman in a discussion of your latest book of interest and learn of interesting books or resources to add to your reading list.
Friday, January 20th — Annual Meeting, Election of Officers and J. William White Memorial Dinner with Toasts to Benjamin Franklin, S. Weir Mitchell and J. William White, cocktails at 5 PM, annual meeting from 5:30 to 6:45, dinner at 7 PM. ALL MEMBERS, PLEASE ATTEND and lift a toast and hearty Huzza to Ben and to our founding fathers!
Monday, January 23rd — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Debbie Goldstein, moderator
Thursday, January 26 — Luncheon Roundtable, 12:30-1:30 PM: Mary French, retired former Head of the Art Department at Episcopal Academy currently painting in her studio at the Mill in Manayunk, will discuss “A Painter’s Response to the Great Outdoors,” including Pennsylvania landscapes and additions to her painting water series. Let’s give her this opportunity to put her thoughts to organizing her work — her favorite occupation. Unfortunately we had to postpone this most interesting presentation in the fall. Mary will return to discuss her work in detail.
Monday, January 30th — Quarterback Luncheon, 12:30 – 1:30 PM: Gresham Riley, moderator.
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MONDAY QUARTERBACK LUNCHEON OVERVIEW and ROTATION SCHEDULE FOR May – June 2011
The Club provides a comfortable venue for conversations, one of which is the Monday Quarterback Roundtable. On Mondays eight members (“Innmates”) currently rotate assignments as “quarterbacks” who second-guess the pundits in the previous day’s “Week in Review” section of the New York Times and the “Currents” section of the Philadelphia Inquirer. One Monday in each rotation the subject matter for discussion comes from the weekend edition of The Wall Street Journal. After brief introductory remarks about a small number of editorials or op-ed pieces of special interest to that day’s “quarterback,” those in attendance engage in spirited conversation over lunch. These Roundtables begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. and conclude between 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m.
The rotation schedule for the months of May and June, 2011 is as follows:
May 2 – Doug Schaller
May 9 – Palmer Hartl
May 16 – George Fisher
May 23 – Dennis Faucher
June 6 – David Freeman
June 13 - Gresham Riley
June 20 – Doris Dabrowski
June 27 – Don Harrison
