Light, Bright, and Sparkling: JASNA New York Metro Birthday Meeting

Join your fellow Janeites at Marymount Manhattan on the afternoon of Saturday, December 6th, 2025 for a once-in-a-lifetime semiquincentennial celebration.

Marymount is located at 221 East 71st Street, between Second and Third Avenues on the Upper East Side. This time we'll be using both the Regina Peruggi Room on the second floor and The Commons on the third floor. The building is equipped with elevators and both spaces are fully ADA-accessible.

Do you have Austen-related books or tchotchkes that you're no longer using? Please feel free to bring them! As per our December tradition, there will be a giveaway table, where guests can take or leave things as they wish.

Like a majority of our regional meetings, this one is open to JASNA members and non-members alike. If you are not yet a JASNA member, however, we encourage you to join! Learn more on our "about" page here.

And as always, please feel free to email us at jasnany@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions. We look forward to gathering with you soon!

Meeting Agenda

1:00 PM - REGISTRATION & RECEPTION | Regina Peruggi Room

Join us in the Regina Peruggi room for afternoon tea, sandwiches, puzzles, games, and good conversation.

1:15 PM and 1:35 PM - FILM SCREENINGS (optional) | The Commons

Pop up to The Commons for a screening of Manydown — a new short film inspired by Austen's life, created by JASNA-NYM's own Prerna Ramachandra and Sarah Rose Kearns.

2:00 PM - PRESENTATIONS | The Commons

Hear world-renowned Austen scholars Dr. Janine Barchas and Dr. Devoney Looser share their research and personal reflections on the novelist's life and legacy. Their talks will be followed by an extended joint Q&A with lots of opportunity for audience participation. And copies of their most recent books — Dr. Barchas's The Novel Life of Jane Austen and Dr. Looser's Wild For Austen — will be available for purchase via Books On Call.

3:45 PM - CAKE & CHAMPAGNE | Regina Peruggi Room

We'll conclude the structured portion of the day with a toast to Jane Austen and a slice of birthday cake in her honor. Guests are welcome to stay and mingle till 4:30ish. And don't forget to check out the giveaway table before you go!