Lectures. Talks. Ideas.
As we head into our second season, I want to thank my partners at the MNjcc for their ongoing support and all the cultural groups around the city that have been spreading the word about our programs. Please scroll below for some cool upcoming events from the MNjcc and our friends at the Arts & Letters Club, the Columbus Centre, The Heliconian Club and the Fox Cinema.
Here’s to a spring of new ideas and intellectual discoveries!
Will Di Novi
Host and Organizer
The Speakers Annex
The Speakers Annex is proud to be presented in partnership with
OUR 3 SPRING COURSES!
Fridays, 10-11:30 AM
Mar. 28-May 9, 2025
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| Anthems: Six Songs That Shaped the World We Live In
Acclaimed musician and music scholar Dr. Andrew Scott examines the genesis, and pop-cultural impact, of six iconic songs, taking us on a thrilling musical journey from Beethoven to the Beatles, from Bob Marley to Joni Mitchell to Leonard Cohen and beyond!
Click HERE for the full course schedule and topics. Click HERE for a video from Dr. Andrew Scott previewing the series. |
Tuesdays, 10-11:30 AM
Mar. 25-May 6, 2025
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| The Soul of the City:
Beloved Cultural Landmarks in Great World Cities
An all-star roster of Speakers Annex favourites leads this fun survey of the great cultural landmarks in the world’s most interesting cities. From a look at the thrilling history of Notre Dame Cathedral with writer Lisa Pasold to literary scholar Ira Wells on the New York Public Library to Save the Deli author David Sax’s tribute to Toronto’s Harbord Bakery, join this celebration of the cultural gems that make a city great.
Click HERE for the full course schedule and topics. Click HERE for a video from our first two speakers in the series, previewing their lectures. |
Wednesdays, 10:30 AM-12 PM
Mar. 26-May 7, 2025
MNjcc Members: $99
Non-Members: $119
| The Photographs That Defined the Modern Age
Inspired by a recent New York Times survey of the most influential photos in history, U of T Art Historian Jordan Bear assesses the creation and cultural legacy of the most indelible images of the past century, including stunning photos by Robert Frank, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus and more!
Click HERE for the full course schedule and topics. Click HERE for a video from Dr. Jordan Bear, previewing the series. |
AN EXCITING AUTHOR EVENT!
This year, I’m organizing some fun author events around the city. The first is below, presented with U of T’s Rotman School. Read on for more details—and a Speakers Annex discount!
| The Good Life: Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness
What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life? In their “captivating” (The Wall Street Journal) book, the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, show that the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize.
Join Marc Schulz, the book’s co-author and co-director of the Harvard study, for a mind-expanding conversation on the secrets of happiness. Learn more by clicking the button below, which will automatically apply a $5 discount on tickets for The Speakers Annex community. |
**Please Note: This author event is not affiliated with the Miles Nadal JCC, with whom we are proud to present the Speakers Annex Lecture Series. Please direct questions to [email protected] rather than to the MNjcc.
Some Cool Events From Our Partners
| An Afternoon of Visual Art and Tea at the MNjcc
Discover the creativity, imagination, and feminine power of artist Ya’ara Eshet! Her works are inspired by her secular kibbutz upbringing near the Sea of Galilee, and a rich Judaic history including folklore, mysticism, Kabbalah, Israeli poetry, and Yiddish verses. The Miles Nadal JCC Annual Beverley Fingerhut Memorial Lecture is generously sponsored by the Fingerhut/Metcalfe Family. Join us in-person (including afternoon tea!), on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recording. Thursday April 3, 1:00-3:30pm. Questions? Email [email protected].
Register HERE. |
| Visit and Enjoy the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto
The Arts & Letters Club is a social club for people active or interested in literature and the arts. Located in its historic Toronto building at 14 Elm Street, the Club hosts literary talks, stage productions, musical performances, painting sessions and more. The Club’s lounge and bar is open to visitors every Friday from 4 pm to 7 pm and for the next three months, the Club is offering the Speakers Annex community an opportunity to sample its fun events. If you are interested in learning more, please email Martin Jones at [email protected]. For more information on the Club, please visit www.artsandlettersclub.ca. |
 March 11-June 17, 2025
Columbus Centre
901 Lawrence Ave. W. | Master Pasta Making at the Columbus Centre
Just in time for our “Soul of the City” series, featuring a lecture on an iconic cafe in Naples, our friends at Villa Charities are launching this culinary series led by Chef Luciano Schipano. Each session guides you through the traditional pasta-making techniques of Italy’s diverse regions. Learn to craft fresh pasta by hand, explore classic sauces, and enjoy a tasting of the dish you’ve created. Plus, take home a printed recipe to recreate the experience at home. Runs March 11 to June 17, 2025. Purchase the 8-session package and save $60! Tickets for individual classes are also available.
Register HERE. |
| Celebrate Women in the Arts with The Heliconian Club
The Toronto Heliconian Club, the oldest women's arts organization in Canada, invites you to attend its upcoming events at the historic Heliconian Hall in Yorkville: "...And the World Smiles With You", a concert on March 22 at 2 pm; Monday Life Drawing Group, March 31 from 10 am to 3 pm; The Art of Celebration, a solo exhibition of the art of Barbara Muir, opening reception on April 5 from 2 to 5 pm; and Walking With Oma: A Memoir by Angie Littlefield, book launch on April 15 at 6 pm. Click the links above to learn more and register for these wonderful arts programs! |
| Exhibition on Screen: Dawn of Impressionism: Paris, 1874
Many of you used to love these programs at the Hot Docs Cinema and our pals at the Fox Theatre in The Beaches have secured a hot new title in the series. Screening March 22 & 23, Dawn of Impressionism: Paris, 1874 takes you inside the groundbreaking first Impressionist exhibition, where Monet, Renoir, Degas, and their contemporaries defied convention to create a movement that still captivates today. Featuring exclusive access to the Musée d’Orsay’s stunning new exhibition, this cinematic journey is a must-see for art lovers and history buffs alike.
Click HERE to book your advanced tickets on the Fox website and witness the birth of impressionism on the big screen! |
HELPFUL LINKS AND MORE!
For registration assistance, please contact the MNjcc customer support team at 416-924-6211 x0 or email [email protected]. You can also refer to this detailed, step-by-step registration guide.
Email me about our spring subscription offer, or anything else on your mind, at [email protected]. I love to hear from you!
Consult this FAQ Help Sheet for answers to common questions about our events.
And finally: a reminder that Speakers Annex attendees get a special deal on MNjcc memberships, which aren’t required to attend these programs but get you nice discounts. Contact the membership team at 416-924-6211 x6510 or [email protected], tell them “The Speakers Annex at the J sent me” and become a MNjcc member with no enrolment fee, for a savings of $85!
Thank you again. We can’t wait to see you next week!
