1 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
Labor and the Automation of ‘Intelligence’
MICHAEL HARDT, professor of literature, Duke University. The point of departure of the lecture is to analyze how the current wave of digital automation, including the tools of generative AI and large language models, subordinates labor in the same manner as previous waves of capitalist automation. In some respects, however, today’s machines present different relations to human society. Returning to some of the basic relations between human and machine opens some avenues for understanding how we can resist and fight back against the pressures of automation. Hardt is co-author with Antonio Negri of several books, including Empire. His most recent book is The Subversive Seventies. Workshop with Hardt on “Marx On Machines,” Fri., Oct 2 at 11 am. Program in Comparative Literature and Thought.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

1 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
Plant–Human–Land Relations
The exhibition Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots showcases new and recent works in sculpture, drawing, printmaking and video that address humanity’s relationship with nature. This panel discussion will bring together artistic and scientific perspectives to explore interconnected relations between plants, people and places. The conversation will touch upon key themes informing the exhibition, including perennial agriculture, prairie ecosystems, plant nomenclature and environmental activism. Panelists include Lydia Cheshewalla, Osage ephemeral artist from Oklahoma; Allison Miller, professor in the Department of Biology at Saint Louis University; and Carmen Ulloa, curator and research scientist at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The conversation will be moderated by Meredith Malone, the Nancy and Kenneth Kranzberg Curator and senior curator at the Kemper Art Museum. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Center for the Environment. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby

1 OCTOBER  |  7:30 PM
Revisiting the American Indian Citizenship Act of 1924
PHILIP J. DELORIA (Dakota descent) is the Leverett Saltonstall Professor of History at Harvard University, where his research and teaching focus on the social, cultural and political histories of the relations among American Indian peoples and the United States. Deloria opens our Practice of Citizenship series talking on his past and current work and reflecting on questions of Native “citizenship.” Free and open to all; tickets required. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.
Washington University, Knight Hall, Emerson Auditorium

2 OCTOBER  |  10 AM
Liberalism and Demonology
GRACE LAVERY, professor of English, critical theory and gender and women’s studies, University of California, Berkeley. The consolidation of a rights-based discourse on gender transition over the last three decades has coincided with the heyday, and then the last days, of neoliberalism. What relation could the two bear to each other? In her new book, Personal Demons: Possession Narratives of Late Liberalism, Lavery argues that the liberal trans rights framework undermined the liberal gay rights framework, by exposing its dependence on a form of mind/body dualism officially forbidden, but ubiquitous, in the power/knowledge matrix of neoliberal globalization. That exposure permits and necessitates attention to the spectacular dualisms that we are required to hold secretly in the present moment — her book considers notions of trans racialism, pedophilia, Scientology, the “incorrigibly violent criminal” and the psychoanalytic drive. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

3 OCTOBER  |  11:30 AM
Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots (ASL)
Join us for an interactive American Sign Language (ASL) tour of the exhibition Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots, which brings together new and recent works by the Los Angeles–based Colombian artist that address the inter-related issues of water and land stewardship, just energy transition and reciprocal relationships between humans and the natural world. Incorporating sculpture, drawing, printmaking and video, Caycedo draws on environmental justice frameworks, traditional knowledge systems and ecofeminism to examine the social and ecological consequences of extractive development while imagining more sustainable futures. Works from several of Caycedo’s ongoing series are featured alongside new commissions informed by the artist’s research into Midwestern prairie grasses and perennial agriculture systems. The tour will be conducted in ASL with interpreters available. Free and open to the public. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby

7 OCTOBER  |  3 PM
Virtual Book Club: 1984
Join WashU Libraries Virtual Book Club in celebrating Banned Books Week. This year, we will read 1984 by George Orwell. Winston Smith toes the Party line, rewriting history to satisfy the demands of the Ministry of Truth. With each lie he writes, Winston grows to hate the Party that seeks power for its own sake and persecutes those who dare to commit thoughtcrimes. But as he starts to think for himself, Winston can’t escape the fact that Big Brother is always watching. George Orwell’s 1984 has been banned or challenged primarily due to its intense political themes, explicit sexual content and perceived “pro-communist” or “anti-government” messaging. Book club will begin with a presentation on banned books, followed by a discussion of 1984. University Libraries.
Washington University, Zoom

7 OCTOBER  |  4:30 PM
Black Designers in Chicago, Chris Dingwall (Book Launch)
CHRIS DINGWALL is an assistant professor in the Sam Fox School of Art. His work examines the history of racial capitalism in the U.S. through the lens of design history and material culture for scholarly and public audiences. Join us for a reading and reception to celebrate the launch of Black Designers in Chicago: Culture and Community in the Twentieth Century by Chris Dingwall, a richly illustrated book focused on Black designers, how they shaped the history of modern design and how their designs in turn influenced modern Black life. Through a series of essays by experts in African American history and design, the book places African Americans at the center of modern design history, while highlighting the role of design in the cultural history of Black Chicago. Free and open to all; registration required. University Libraries, Office of Public Scholarship.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142

7 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Live Like a Citizen: 8 Ways to Change Your Mindset and Our Country
ERIC LIU, co-founder and CEO of Citizen University. What does it truly mean to show up as a citizen? In our ongoing Practice of Citizenship series, Liu shares that real democracy depends on active, informed and skilled participation. Citizenship isn’t about legal paperwork or documentation status; it’s about a simple formula: power + character = citizenship. It requires understanding how to make change happen while building the daily habits of a community-focused contributor. Individual civic actions might seem minor, but our collective, repeated efforts are exactly what build long-term resilience against national and global crises. Liu served as a White House speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and as the president’s deputy domestic policy adviser. He was later appointed by President Barack Obama to the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. 
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum

8 OCTOBER  |  1:30 PM
Samantha Sheppard, The Basketball Film: A Cultural and Transmedia History (Author Talk)
We’ll talk all things hoops and highlights, films and fast breaks, with a chapter excerpt from Samantha. Sheppard’s book provided in advance as well as (hopefully) a link to screen a film considered therein. It will be a slam dunk! Sheppard is professor of cinema and media studies and chair in the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University. Sports and Society Reading Group, Program in American Culture Studies.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Room 233

8 OCTOBER  |  4 PM
Devon Carbado on Labor
DEVON CARBADO, the Elihu Root Professor of Law, NYU Law School. The Sawyer Seminar Series continues with Devon Carbado, who examines the intersectional nature of oppression and the relationship between the attack on academic freedom, Black studies and other critical studies, and the creation and maintenance of social inequalities and oppression in society. Department of African and African American Studies, Center for the Humanities. Free and open to all; registration required.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Umrath Lounge

8 OCTOBER  |  4 PM
‘Was She Seeking Cinema?’ Tisa Bryant’s Phantom Cinemas
SAMANTHA N. SHEPPARD is professor of cinema and media studies and chair in the Department of Performing and Media Arts at Cornell University. Gaylyn Studlar Lecture, Program in Film and Media Studies.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room 301

8 OCTOBER  |  8 PM
WashU Cinema Presents: Memories of Murder
In 1986 South Korea, two inept local detectives and a sharp detective from Seoul team up to catch the country's first serial killer, but their growing obsession and flawed methods lead them into a spiral of frustration and failure. WU Cinema screenings generally include an intro to the film, with some history about the film or key elements to guide viewing. Free for WashU students; $7, general public; $5, seniors, WashU alumni and students from other schools; $4, WashU staff and faculty. WU Cinema.
Washington University, Brown Hall, Room 100

9-18 OCTOBER
Francophone Film Festival on Global Health
The 2026 Francophone Film Festival on Global Health features screenings and discussions of seven French-language films. Uniting every film is a throughline that explores the theme of global health through a decolonial lens. Through stories of migration, displacement, conflict, motherhood, mental health and social connections, the festival invites audiences to reflect on the ways health is shaped by culture, place and community across Francophone countries. Bringing cinema into conversation with questions of global health and social justice, the series invites audiences to rethink what care means in an interconnected world. Free and open to all; films are subtitled in English. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, French Connexions. 
5 pm, Oct. 9: Souleymane’s Story
3 pm, Oct. 10: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
12 pm, Oct. 11: Promised Sky
5 pm, Oct. 14, Seigle Hall, Room L006: Homelessly in Love
5 pm, Oct. 16: Young Mothers
3 pm, Oct. 17: Sisterhood
12 pm, Oct. 18: Lovers on the Bridge
Washington University, Brown Hall, Room 100 (unless otherwise noted)

10 OCTOBER  |  11:30 AM
Buenos Aires Modern, 1935–1950
Join us for an interactive tour of the exhibition Buenos Aires Modern, 1935–1950, which explores Argentina’s capital as a creative laboratory where artists forged inventive visual languages in response to the city’s diverse population, rapid modernization and complex political landscape. Fueled by the arrival of thousands of European artists, exiles and refugees fleeing oppression on multiple fronts during the 1930 and ’40s, Buenos Aires became a hub for artistic experimentation and collaboration. Anchored in the art of Grete Stern, Horacio Coppola and their social circle, the exhibition — the first in the United States to examine this dynamic community — reveals how migration and cultural exchange gave rise to new forms of modernism. Free and open to the public. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby
 

12 OCTOBER  |  11:30 AM
M. Christine Boyer: Coral Courts Lecture
M. Christine Boyer is an urban historian whose interests include the history of the city, city planning, preservation planning, and computer science. Before joining Princeton University, she was professor and chair of the city and regional planning program at Pratt Institute and has taught at The Cooper Union, Columbia University, and Harvard University. At Princeton, she is the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Architecture and Urbanism. Sam Fox School.
Washington University, Weil Hall, Kuehner Court

13 OCTOBER  |  12 PM
Summer Public Humanities Symposium
This symposium will offer a series of short presentations from doctoral students in the humanities who participated in the Center for the Humanities’ Summer Public Humanities Fellowship, a program in public humanities research and practice for MA/PhD students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences in Arts & Sciences. Coffee and light refreshments will be served. Center for the Humanities.
Washington University, Olin Library, Ginkgo Reading Room

13 OCTOBER  |  4 PM
St. Louis Reads Dante
After last year’s success, St. Louis Reads Dante invites readers of all backgrounds — curious newcomers and seasoned Dante enthusiasts alike — to join a monthly journey through Dante’s Divine Comedy, one canto at a time. Each session brings together undergraduates, scholars and community members for a guided reading and discussion led by scholars from many different disciplines and research areas. Whether you’re discovering Dante’s epic poem for the first time or returning to it with fresh questions, this is a chance to engage deeply with a work that continues to inspire, provoke and challenge across time. Mark Pegg, professor of history, will introduce Canto X of Dante’s Inferno, followed by readings of the canto in both Italian and English and a Q&A session. University Libraries, Department of Romance Languages and Literature.
Washington University, Olin Library, Ginkgo Reading Room

13 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Matthea Harvey Craft Talk
MATTHEA HARVEY is the author of five poetry books — If the Tabloids Are True What Are You?, Of Lamb, Modern Life (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), Sad Little Breathing Machine and Pity the Bathtub Its Forced Embrace of the Human Form. She has also published two children’s books, Cecil the Pet Glacier, illustrated by Giselle Potter, and The Little General and the Giant Snowflake, illustrated by Elizabeth Zechel. She teaches poetry at Sarah Lawrence and lives in Brooklyn. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

14 OCTOBER  |  1 PM
‘Crisis,’ Uncertainty and Immigration Restriction in the 1990s
CARLY GOODMAN, assistant professor in history, Rutgers University-Camden. Goodman is a historian, editor and author of Dreamland: America’s Immigration Lottery in an Age of Restriction and senior editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Made by History. Department of History.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Goldberg Lounge

14 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Christian Nationalism and Democratic Citizenship
HEATH CARTER, associate professor of American Christianity, Princeton Theological Seminary. Carter will be joined by faculty members from the WashU John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics: J. Kameron Carter, the Archer Alexander Distinguished Professor; Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, professor of religion and politics; and moderator, Marie Griffith, the John C. Danforth Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. This timely conversation brings together leading voices in religion, history and politics to examine the rise of Christian nationalism and its profound impact on modern democratic citizenship. The panel will analyze how religious ideologies shape political belonging and the ongoing need for a pluralistic society. Free and open to all; tickets required. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics.
Washington University, Knight Hall, Emerson Auditorium

15 OCTOBER  |  4 PM
Finding Freedom Through Learning
After spending more than 30 years in federal prison, Michelle West knows the power of learning even within the confines of incarceration. West will share how she navigated decades in prison with the belief that while her body was incarcerated, her mind could remain free. Through reading, education and continued learning, she found opportunities for growth and purpose while advocates on the outside fought for her freedom. Now, West brings those experience to her work advocating for criminal justice reform. Join her for a conversation about education, perseverance, freedom and the ongoing movement for change. Maggie Garb Memorial Lecture, School of Continuing and Professional Studies. 
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum

15 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
Should Academic Freedom Protect Racist or Sexist Research?
In 2016, the WashU Faculty Senate Council adopted a Statement on Freedom of Expression that argued that “the university should respect the expression of ideas, even those that are offensive or unpopular, by all members of the university community.” Should a college or university ever fire or otherwise sanction a member of their faculty on the basis of the content of the views that they defend in their research? Join us for discussion with Daniel Layman (Philosophy) and Lesley Walker (Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology). Weidenbaum Center on the Economy, Government and Public Policy, Department of Philosophy. 
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Room 234

15 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
The New Old Middle East
F. GREGORY GAUSE III, visiting scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., professor emeritus of international affairs, Texas A&M University. Wars usually leave the regions in which they occur substantially changed. That is not the case with the American-Israeli war against Iran and the regional conflict around Gaza that preceded it. While the war has unintentionally strengthened the Iranian regime, it has not substantially changed the geopolitics of the Middle East. The conflict axes that dominated the region before the war — US-Iran, Israel-Iran, Israel-Palestine — remain the drivers of regional politics. The domestically weak Arab states that are the arenas of the region’s contests for influence — Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen — remain dominated by non-state actors allied to Iran. The hopes in Washington and Jerusalem for a changed Middle East that accompanied the beginning of their attack on Iran in February 2026 have not been realized. Department of History.
Washington University, Umrath Hall, Umrath Lounge

15 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Matthea Harvey Reading
MATTHEA HARVEY is the author of five poetry books — If the Tabloids are True What Are You?, Of Lamb, Modern Life (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), Sad Little Breathing Machine and Pity the Bathtub Its Forced Embrace of the Human Form. She has also published two children’s books, Cecil the Pet Glacier, illustrated by Giselle Potter, and The Little General and the Giant Snowflake, illustrated by Elizabeth Zechel. She teaches poetry at Sarah Lawrence and lives in Brooklyn. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

16 OCTOBER  |  11 AM
Unstable Evidence: Art, Data and the Culture of Health
Unstable Evidence: Art, Data and the Culture of Health is an interdisciplinary symposium that brings together the arts, medical humanities, and sciences to examine the visual, cultural, and scientific dimensions of health. The symposium features keynote speaker Priscilla Wald (Duke University) and is organized around two interconnected themes. The first, “Disease, Migration and Metaphor,” examines how illness has shaped narratives of movement, borders and belonging across historical and contemporary contexts. It also considers how outbreak narratives influence understandings of contagion, ecosystem health and the social responses that shape their representation. The second theme, “The Unstable Archive,” examines the coded body and the changing use and interpretation of archives over time. Panelists will explore how information and visualization systems, data, modeling and computational logics structure our understanding of complex health phenomena, and how these systems render phenomena visible, measurable and actionable within research, governance and public health infrastructures. Medical Humanities.
Washington University, Holmes Lounge & Busch Hall 100

17 OCTOBER  |  11:30 AM
Reciprocal Care: Plants, Water, People
SAUNDI MCCLAIN-KLOECKENER, Afro-Indigenous riverkeeper and water walker and teacher at St. Charles Community College. In this guided tour, McClain-Kloeckener will discuss concepts and artworks in the exhibition Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Center for the Environment.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby

18 OCTOBER  |  2 PM
Museum Highlights (in Korean)
Join us for an interactive tour of select artworks on view at the Kemper Art Museum. With particular strengths in modern and contemporary art, the museum holds one of the finest university art collections in the United States and offers an active exhibition program presenting leading contemporary artists along with historical art in timely, thought-provoking exhibitions. Led by student educators, this tour will invite visitors to explore highlights from the museum’s permanent collection and current exhibitions through close looking, conversation and creative response activities. This tour will be facilitated in Korean. The museum’s educators are prepared to modify learning experiences to meet all levels of language proficiency. Free and open to the public. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum.
켐퍼 미술관(Kemper Art Museum)에서 전시 중인 주요 작품을 함께 감상할 수 있는 인터랙티브 투어에 초대합니다. 현대미술과 동시대 미술에 강점을 지닌 켐퍼 미술관은 미국 내 대학 미술관 가운데 손꼽히는 수준의 컬렉션을 소장하고 있으며, 현대미술의 대표 작가들과 더불어 역사적인 작품들을 다채롭게 전시하고 있습니다.
공개 투어 프로그램은 세인트루이스 워싱턴 대학교 (Washington University in St. Louis)의 학생 에듀케이터가 진행하며, 함께 관찰하고대화를 나누고 질문하는 과정을 통해 전시 작품을 주체적으로 이해하고 자신만의 해석을 발견하는 경험을 제공합니다.
이번 투어는 한국어로 진행됩니다. 한국어 실력에 관계없이 누구나 참여할 수 있으며, 미술관 에듀케이터가 참가자들의 다양한 한국어 수준을 고려하여 모두가 편안하게 작품을 감상할 수 있도록 도와드립니다.
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby

19 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
Leadership for a More Perfect Union: Lessons from America at 250
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Homefront in World War II. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Goodwin offers a powerful reflection on our nation’s extraordinary journey — from the founding ideals of 1776 to the challenges and triumphs that have defined each generation. Drawing on her study of visionary leaders, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson, Goodwin explores how leadership, civic courage and a shared sense of purpose have guided America through moments of division and transformation. Free and open to all; registration required. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. 
Washington University, Graham Chapel

21 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
Hispanic Film Festival: Sou Amor
Sou Amor follows Robson, a young man who, after a traumatic experience in his hometown, seeks refuge with his affectionate grandmother in Belo Horizonte. Within her care, he searches for acceptance and the freedom to embrace his true identity. Yet, in a society marked by prejudice and homophobia, Robson confronts profound struggles to belong while navigating the turbulent terrain of self-discovery. Through lyrical cinematography and a sensitive exploration of inner conflict, co-directors illuminate themes of resilience, sexuality and the transformative power of love. The screening will be followed by a discussion. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Program in Latin American Studies.
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room L006

22-25 OCTOBER
Mean Girls
Welcome to North Shore High, where popularity is a battlefield and fitting in comes at a cost. Based on Tina Fey’s hit film, Mean Girls follows Cady Heron, who, after spending most of her life being homeschooled in the African savanna, is thrust into the wild world of American high school. To her surprise, Cady is quickly drawn into the orbit of the school’s most powerful and terrifying clique: The Plastics. But when a harmless plan to undermine queen bee Regina George spirals out of control, Cady finds herself becoming the very thing she set out to destroy. Mean Girls is a sharp musical comedy about fitting in, standing out and the occasional realization that the villain in your story isn’t always someone else. $18.75-$23.75; free for WashU students. Performing Arts Department.
Washington University, Edison Theatre

22 OCTOBER  |  9 AM
The Power of Partnership: A Community Engagement Convening
Real change happens when communities and universities stop working in parallel and start building together. The Power of Partnership brings community-based organizations, community members and academic partners into one room for a day of honest exchange and shared learning to begin collective problem-solving. Centering the voices and expertise of community-based organizations, this convening moves beyond one-off, transactional projects toward something more durable: partnerships rooted in mutual trust, shared frameworks and the infrastructure needed to sustain equitable, community-engaged scholarship over time. Expect candid conversation, practical tools, and connections that outlast the day itself. Come ready to learn from one another, challenge old models of engagement and help build the shared foundation for partnerships that truly work — for communities and scholars alike. St. Louis Integrated Health Network and the WashU Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement.
Delmar Divine, 5501 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

22 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Amy Leach Reading
AMY LEACH grew up in Texas and earned her MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Her work has appeared in The Best American Essays, The Best American Science and Nature Writing and numerous other publications, including Granta, A Public Space, Orion, Tin House and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She is a recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Award and a Pushcart Prize. She is the author of Things That Are, The Everybody Ensemble and The Salt of the Universe, a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

24 OCTOBER  |  11:30 AM
Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots (in Spanish)
Join us for an interactive tour of the exhibition Carolina Caycedo: Growing Deep Roots, which brings together new and recent works by the Los Angeles–based Colombian artist that address the inter-related issues of water and land stewardship, just energy transition and reciprocal relationships between humans and the natural world. Incorporating sculpture, drawing, printmaking and video, Caycedo draws on environmental justice frameworks, traditional knowledge systems and ecofeminism to examine the social and ecological consequences of extractive development while imagining more sustainable futures. Works from several of Caycedo’s ongoing series are featured alongside new commissions informed by the artist’s research into Midwestern prairie grasses and perennial agriculture systems. This tour will be led in Spanish. Free and open to the public. Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum. 
Washington University, Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Lobby

25 OCTOBER  |  2 PM
The Dead of Chaeronea: Unearthing a Lost Battlefield
MARIA LISTON, professor emerita, University of Waterloo. In 338 BCE, the ancient Greek world changed forever when Battle of Chaeronea pitted the forces of Philip II of Macedon and his young son Alexander the Great against a powerful alliance of Greek city-states. This lecture will uncover the human cost of the battle by examining the skeletal remains of two elite forces: the legendary Sacred Band of Thebes and the Macedonian cavalry. Through their injuries, we gain a vivid, almost forensic glimpse into how these warriors fought, suffered and died on one of history’s most decisive battlefields. Saint Louis Art Museum, Department of Classics, Department of Art History and Archaeology.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, One Fine Arts Dr., Forest Park, St. Louis, 63110

25 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
The Jewish Body and The Valley Girl, 1982-Now
Join Erin Faigin, the Friedman Postdoctoral Fellow in Jewish Studies at WashU and author of As If: A Jewish History of the Valley Girl and the Valley That Made Her,  as she reframes the Valley Girl stereotype as a product of Jewish ethnoburbs in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley and offers a new angle on suburbanization, upward mobility, and Jewish difference in the postwar age. Department of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies.
Washington University, Danforth University Center, Goldberg Formal Lounge

27 OCTOBER  |  10 AM
Women Impressionists and the Land (in French)
SIMON KELLY, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Saint Louis Art Museum, will present Women Impressionists and the Land, the major exhibition he has curated for the museum. The exhibition — the first devoted specifically to landscape and nature imagery in the work of women Impressionists — examines how artists including Berthe Morisot, Mary Cassatt, Marie Bracquemond and Blanche Hoschedé-Monet represented forests, gardens, parks, agricultural landscapes, seascapes and other outdoor environments. Kelly’s presentation will consider how these artists used landscape as a space of artistic experimentation, professional independence and engagement with the changing natural world. This talk will be conducted in French. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, French Connexions, Saint Louis Art Museum. 
Washington University, Wrighton Hall, Room 300

27 OCTOBER  |  1 PM
Modern Literature Collection Open House and Type-In
Join WashU Libraries for an open house of our Modern Literature Collection, accompanied by a type-in. First, visit the Special Collections Mendle Classroom, where you can explore highlights from the Modern Literature Collection with a curated selection of poetry, fiction and nonfiction drafts that will be out for perusal. After reviewing the drafts, walk to adjacent Room 142 to transport yourself back to the pre-computer era when many of these authors produced their most iconic works. Clickety Clack Typewriters, of Rolla, Missouri, will showcase some of their vintage typewriters. Retype a page from the Modern Literature Collection or simply take advantage of the screen-free environment (and erase-free environment) and let your own creativity flow in an analog setting. Free and open to all; registration requested. University Libraries.
Washington University, Olin Library, Room 142 and Special Collections Classroom

27 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
Is Cuba Next?
KRISTER KNAPP, teaching professor in the Department of History. The Trump administration is using a hybrid influence and intervention campaign against the Cuban government.  Maximum Pressure 2.0 seeks to reform Cuba’s political system, liberalize its economy, force it to buy US oil, rid the island of Russian and Chinese intelligence operatives, and to gain access to Cuba’s natural resources including extensive minerals used in computer technology and industrial manufacturing. A cooperative Cuba for a stronger US economy and a competitive edge with China is the goal.  An analysis of this policy in the historical context of US-Cuba relations will help illuminate whether Cuba is next in the Trump administration’s quest to impose a new Monroe Doctrine on the Western Hemisphere. This lecture is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be provided. Crisis & Conflict in Historical Perspective Lecture Series, Department of History.
Washington University, Busch Hall, Room 100

28 OCTOBER  |  5:30 PM
Hispanic Film Festival: Yana-Wara
Yana-Wara is a stark, black-and-white drama that weaves together communal justice, gender violence and Andean spirituality in the windswept highlands of southern Peru. At 80 years old, Don Evaristo faces the communal justice system, accused of murdering his 13-year-old granddaughter, Yana-Wara, while the entire community gathers to decide his fate. As the testimonies unfold, the hearing frames the film, and the villagers gradually reconstruct the girl’s story, shifting between the present-day proceedings and the harsh, luminous landscapes where she once herded llamas and carried out daily chores after her mother’s death. The screening will be followed by a discussion. Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Program in Latin American Studies. 
Washington University, Seigle Hall, Room L006

28 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Civil Resistance and the New Global Order
ERICA CHENOWETH, the Frank Stanton Professor of the First Amendment at Harvard Kennedy School and director of the Nonviolent Action Lab. In this insightful public lecture, Chenoweth will explore the profound evolution of global activism, sharing how civil resistance shaped the 20th century and how the geopolitical currents of the 21st century have shaped civil resistance in turn. A leading expert on political violence and its alternatives, Chenoweth’s research focuses on how people effectively resist authoritarianism and push for systemic change. Free and open to all; tickets required. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics. 
Washington University, Hillman Hall, Clark-Fox Forum

29 OCTOBER  |  12 PM
Mitchell Crusto, Game Changers: Name, Image, and Likeness Law Creates College Millionaires (Author Talk)
MITCHELL CRUSTO, the Henry F. Bonura, Jr., Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola University College of Law, will discuss his book, Game Changers, a comprehensive guide to name, image and likeness (NIL) deals in college sports; what they mean; how they work and how college athletes have fought for their rights for many decades. Its detailed history of NIL deals and celebration of the most successful college superstars is invaluable for anyone working in the field as well as fans, current and former players, and their families. Crusto will be in conversation with Adrienne Davis, the William M. Van Cleve Professor of Law, WashU Law. WashU Law, Department of African and African American Studies, Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Program for American Culture Studies, Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Equity, Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society. 
Washington University, Anheuser-Busch Hall, Bryan Cave Moot Courtroom

29 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Amy Leach Craft Talk
AMY LEACH grew up in Texas and earned her MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa. Her work has appeared in The Best American Essays, The Best American Science and Nature Writing and numerous other publications, including Granta, A Public Space, Orion, Tin House and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She is a recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Rona Jaffe Foundation Award and a Pushcart Prize. She is the author of Things That Are, The Everybody Ensemble and The Salt of the Universe, a finalist for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the Essay. Department of English.
Washington University, Duncker Hall, Hurst Lounge

29 OCTOBER  |  8 PM
WashU Cinema Presents: Videodrome
The head of a trashy cable-TV station becomes obsessed with a mysterious, violent broadcast called Videodrome, sliding dangerously into a hallucinatory world where television alters reality and human flesh. WU Cinema screenings generally include an intro to the film, with some history about the film or key elements to guide viewing. Free for WashU students; $7, general public; $5, seniors, WashU alumni and students from other schools; $4, WashU staff and faculty. WU Cinema.
Washington University, Brown Hall, Room 100

30 OCTOBER  |  2 PM
Synergy or Survival?: On Mergers and Clusters in the Performing Arts
Interpolations 2026 keynote address by Harvey Young, vice president for the arts ad interim and dean emeritus of the College of Fine Arts at Boston University. He is professor of English and theatre arts with affiliate appointments in American studies and African American & Black diaspora studies. He is a 2026 Guggenheim Fellow, and the author/editor of ten books, including Theatre & Race and Theater and Human Flourishing. Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures.
Washington University, Mallinckrodt Center, A.E. Hotchner Studio Theatre

1 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Dan Warner, Wither (Author Talk)
The algorithm has a will of its own. We were obsessed with technology. Now, technology is obsessed with us. Before he went off the grid, Mick had a plan: get a high-powered job, find a girlfriend and leave his past behind. Then he met Regression, a black-box technology that builds a person’s perfect digital twin. The greatest invention since fire. And Mick gets to test it out in a remote Ozark town. A year later, Mick is clawing his way out of the woods, haunted by the act of violence that sent him hiding. But when he gets back to Bloom, Missouri, he finds a ghost town with cars still in the driveways and cans in the cupboards, like everyone just walked away. Mick will leave, too, as soon as he finds his girlfriend, Alison, finds redemption and finds Regression before it finds him first. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

1 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Ke Huy Quan, Never Say Die (Author Talk)
KE HUY QUAN’s Hollywood adventure began when he was 12 years old, five years after his family escaped Communist Northern Vietnam. After attending an open call audition, Ke landed roles in two of the most beloved movies of the ’80s: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies. But just a few years later, the roles had dried up, and it seemed like Hollywood no longer had a place for him. When he was 49 years old, he finally stepped back in front of the camera to star in a strange little indie film called Everything Everywhere All at Once. To call Ke’s Oscar-winning performance a triumphant return would be an understatement. Never Say Die is the story of Ke’s extraordinary life and a powerful testament to never giving up on your dreams. Open to all; tickets required. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

2-31 OCTOBER 
Drop-in Collection Tour—Artful Scents
Join this guided tour and engage your sense of smell through visual representations of fragrances, scents, and even stench. By reflecting on “invisible” aspects of the artworks, such as smell, visitors will experience the importance of imagination when approaching art. Tours begin at the welcome desk in Sculpture Hall and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Saint Louis Art Museum.
1 pm, Fri., Oct. 2
1 pm, Sat., Oct. 3
1 pm, Fri., Oct. 9
4 pm, Fri., Oct. 9 – Audio Description Tour
1 pm, Sat., Oct. 10
1 pm, Fri., Oct. 16
1 pm, Sat., Oct. 17
1 pm, Fri., Oct. 23
1 pm, Sat., Oct. 24
1 pm, Fri., Oct. 30
1 pm, Sat., Oct. 31
Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, 63110

2 OCTOBER  |  7:30 PM
Sky Hopinka: The Languages of Sky
SKY HOPINKA (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians) was born and raised in Ferndale, Washington, and spent a number of years in California, Oregon and Wisconsin. In Portland he studied and taught chinuk wawa, a language indigenous to the Lower Columbia River Basin. His video, photo and text work centers around personal positions of Indigenous homeland and landscape, designs of language as containers of culture expressed through personal, documentary and nonfiction forms of media. His work has played at various festivals including Sundance, Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. He was a Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University fellow, Sundance Art of Nonfiction Fellow, Art Matters Fellow, Guggenheim Fellow, Forge Project Fellow and MacArther Fellow. He received the Alpert Award for Film/Video and the Infinity Award in Art from the International Center of Photography. Refreshments and book signing to follow. After the reception, the Webster University Film Series is hosting a 7:30 pm screening of Powwow People with Sky Hopinka in Winifred Moore Auditorium. David Clewell Visiting Writers Series, Webster University.
Webster University, University Center, Sunnen Lounge, 175 Edgar Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63119

3-31 OCTOBER
See STL Walking Tours
See STL’s fun and creative tours mix engaging storytelling and a deep well of historical knowledge with an infectious enthusiasm for the exciting changes the city is currently undergoing. Tours are two hours in length and are wheelchair accessible. Tour starting/ending points are included in your booking info. $17–$22. Missouri Historical Society.
Various locations

3 OCTOBER  |  12 PM
Memorial Plaza and the 1923 Bond Issue
There’s more to Soldiers Memorial than meets the eye. Join us for a free, 45-minute outdoor tour exploring the stories carved into the memorial’s architecture and the dramatic transformation of downtown St. Louis following the $87 million bond issue of 1923. Discover how one civic investment reshaped the city’s landscape while honoring the service and sacrifice of generations of veterans. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, 63103

3 OCTOBER  |  2:30 PM
Freeing Words from Caged Minds: From Works of Marcellus Williams, Kevin Johnson and Patty Prewitt
In commemoration of International Wrongful Conviction Day, join us for an event featuring the writing and poetry of people imprisoned or executed by the state. The event will be organized with Missouri Justice Coalition and will feature a book reading and panel discussion of works by former death row inmates: Marcellus Williams, Kevin Johnson and Patty Prewitt. Close friends and family of Williams and Johnson will read on their behalf. Following the readings, there will be a panel discussion on the writing in the context of Wrongful Conviction Day. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library — Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

4 OCTOBER  |  1:30 PM
Soldiers Memorial Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Join us for a powerful Hispanic Heritage Celebration honoring the voices, service and continued impact of Hispanic women veterans. This special program brings the community together for meaningful networking, thoughtful conversation and an inspiring panel discussion that shines a spotlight on remarkable stories of leadership, resilience and service to our nation. This discussion will be moderated by Gabriela S. Ramírez-Arellano, producer of the Auténtico podcast. Missouri Historical Society.
Soldiers Memorial, 1315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, 63103

5 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Joel Bittle, Gateway Beer: St. Louis Craft Brewing in the Shadow of Anheuser-Busch (Author Talk)
Once synonymous with Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis slowly embraced craft beer and became a powerhouse within the industry. Joel Bittle’s history charts the growth of the Gateway City’s craft brewing scene from its first convention-defying microbreweries in the 1990s through COVID-era difficulties and beyond. Interviews with the founders and brewers of the city’s craft beer businesses reveal how enthusiasm and expertise coalesced into a thriving community. Bittle will be in conversation with Thomas Schlafly and Kevin Lemp, the founders of Schlafly and 4 Hands Breweries. Left Bank Books.
Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103

5 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Robert Kolker, The Vanishing Family: Love, Fate, and the Quest to End Dementia (Author Talk)
In the idyllic town of Pleasant Hills, Pennsylvania, there lived a family with nine siblings. This family, we learn, has a genetic mutation that causes dementia, but with an especially cruel twist. As early as their 40s, their former personalities seem to vanish. Alongside their story, Robert Kolker weaves in the dramatic scientific fight against dementia; after decades of blind alleys, this family’s rare form of FTD (frontotemporal dementia) might lead to a breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of all dementia—including the scourge of Alzheimer’s disease. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

6 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Marion Fredman, A Time to Hide: Based on a True Story of Survival During the Holocaust (Author Talk)
Told through images and passed-down memories, Marion Seidemann Fredman’s tense family memoir A Time to Hide is about her German Jewish parents’ flight from Nazi persecution. Fredman’s parents, Julius and Grete, met in a synagogue on Rosh Hashanah in 1937. But then Germans began to boycott Julius’ clothing stores because he was Jewish, and one of his shops was seized. The couple’s home was also ransacked while they were in Holland visiting Julius’ brother. Faced with these circumstances, they decided to go into hiding abroad; Dutch sisters, Tinie and Truss, hid the family in their attic for three years. Their daughter was conceived during this time, and a doctor praised Grete’s bravery in facing an unexpected pregnancy: “Bringing a new Jewish life into the world is the greatest act of resistance against what the Nazis are doing.” Declaring that “acts of love and courage keep paying forward for generations,” A Time to Hide covers an escape from death during the Holocaust. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

7-25 OCTOBER
2 Pianos 4 Hands
Four hands. One hundred seventy-six keys. Boundless brilliance. Get ready for one wildly funny explosion of talent that journeys through the world of music lessons, childhood dreams and the relentless pursuit of greatness. 2 Pianos 4 Hands follows “piano nerds” Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt as they navigate pushy parents, eccentric teachers, brutal competitions and the eternal question: How far can talent — and sheer determination — really take you? Featuring the music of Bach, Beethoven, Billy Joel, Jerry Lee Lewis and more, this dazzling display of musicianship is a tour-de-force performance of live music that not only hits all the right notes, it tickles the ivories and your funny bone too. Talkbacks following the performances on Sat., Oct. 17; Sun., Oct. 17; and Sat., Oct. 24. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, 130 Edgar Rd., Webster Groves, 63119

7 OCTOBER  |  10 AM
Remembering October 7th
Join the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum and the Jewish Federation of St. Louis for a meaningful day of remembrance, reflection, and community as we come together to commemorate October 7. The commemoration will include the reading of the names of October 7 victims and will conclude with the St. Louis premiere public screening of the documentary The Bridge (registration required). St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum.
St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, 36 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146

8 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
Nuestra Comunidad, Nuestras Historias (Our Community, Our Stories)
Step into the heart of Hispanic Heritage Month with an evening of powerful storytelling that honors the experience, traditions, and voices that continue to shape St. Louis. Hosted by storytelling facilitator Adam Flores, local St. Louisans Eric Acevedo, Catherine Baez, Stephanie Calero and Luis Torres will share their personal stories in a way that promises to stir emotions, spark laughter and invite moments of reflection and connection. Discover how the Missouri Historical Society’s Migration and Memory Initiative is working to preserve the stories of people who have come from around the globe and made St. Louis their home, ensuring these lived experiences become part of our region’s history. Before and after the storytelling program, explore cultural resource tables, enjoy performances by Folkloric Group Colombia and Alma de Mexico and purchase food and drinks from Hispanic vendors. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

8 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Katie Lee, Unemployable (Author Talk)
A roadmap for everyone who was told they didn’t have a chance, Unemployable is the inspiring story of Katie Lee — a single mom, formerly homeless, a Clayton high school-dropout and drug addict who went from living in a halfway house to building a national Italian foods and restaurant company. Left Bank Books.
Clayton High School, 1 Mark Twain Cir., Clayton, 63105

9-30 OCTOBER
Let’s Talk in the Galleries
Walk through Quilts and Coverlets, American Needlework in White and speak to Saint Louis Art Museum educators about the artworks. Educators will be stationed in the exhibition galleries from 11 am–1 pm to engage in conversation with visitors. Whether you’re curious about the artworks, embroidery art or the exhibition themes, our friendly educators are here to chat with you and enhance your visit. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Fri., Oct. 9
Fri., Oct. 16
Fri., Oct. 30
Saint Louis Art Museum, Carolyn C. and William A. McDonnell Gallery 100, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, 63110

10 OCTOBER  |  9:30 AM
Susan, Stella, and Santa Anna: A Centennial Commemoration of Two Women’s Reflections on the Santa Fe Trail and the Mexican War
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Down the Old Santa Fe Trail: The Journal of Susan Shelby Magoffin. Frances Levine will examine the journal’s significance in Santa Fe Trail scholarship, as well as editor and MHS Librarian Stella Drumm’s formidable role in shaping Magoffin’s legacy. Chris Gordon will also address the 180th anniversary of the Mexican-American War and Missouri’s significant role in the conflict. Missouri Historical Society.
Library and Research Center, 225 S. Skinker Blvd., St. Louis, 63105

10 OCTOBER  |  11 AM
Osage Art: Articulations of Wahzhazhe Ways
The Donald Danforth Jr. Lecture on Native American Art will be given by Marla Redcorn-Miller, director of the Osage Nation Museum. Redcorn-Miller will examine several works of Osage art. She will focus on the life of the object as part of a cycle that includes its creation, use, and continued significance and connection to the Wahzhazhe Nikishe (Osage people). Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, 63110

11 OCTOBER  |  1 PM
Drop-in Tour with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis—2 Pianos 4 Hands
Join a guided tour of SLAM’s collection inspired by 2 Pianos 4 Hands, which examines themes of music, coming of age, memory, ambition, artistic discipline, and the pursuit of excellence. This tour is offered in partnership with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis, 63110

12 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Lior Raz
LIOR RAZ is the co-creator, screenwriter and star of the internationally acclaimed Israeli Netflix series Fauda, as well as numerous other shows and films. Drawing on his firsthand experience in an elite Israeli military unit, Raz brings gripping authenticity and emotional complexity to stories of Israel, conflict, courage and shared humanity. $39. Jewish Book Festival, St. Louis Jewish Community Center.
The J – Staenberg Family Complex, Edison Gymnasium – Fitness & Wellness Building, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146

13 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Sonny Buttar, The Daughters of Rosebud (Author Talk)
The Daughters of Rosebud is a powerful exploration of sisterhood, family loyalty and the courage it takes to heal. Teacher Salma Chaudhry lives a quiet life, avoiding all attachments. Growing up in small-town Rosebud, Salma and her older sister, Asma, were inseparable, but amid their mother’s decline and their parents’ rigid expectations, Asma makes a choice that tears the family apart. The fallout changes everything — and forces Salma to choose between her sister and her parents. Salma has spent years trying to forget. But as she recollects her past and considers reconciliation with her father, a young student opens a surprising connection to Asma’s past. In finally facing her history, Salma finds the bravery to love and hope again. Left Bank Books.
High Low Literary Arts Cafe, Listening Room, 3301 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 63103

13 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Ayad Akhtar, The Radiance (Author Talk)
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and acclaimed novelist Ayad Akhtar shares his most daring work yet. When a hit-and-run shatters more than his body, a writer is caught between revelation and madness as an uncanny pull toward a brilliant colleague ensnares him in scandal. What begins as a provocative portrait of academic and cultural warfare deepens into erotic entanglement, the exposure of a family secret and the mystery surrounding the narrator’s accident — both the violence and its aftermath. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

14 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Elizabeth Kostova, Mystery Play (Author Talk)
After Jay Turner’s beloved mother passes away, a deliveryman leaves behind a package containing an antique volume — and two bloody footprints. As a young scholar, his mother had been given the medieval book, one of a set commissioned by Vlad Țepeș, otherwise known as Dracula, just before his death in 1477. She’d always warned Jay of the dangers associated with it and had donated it to a museum before she died … yet here it is, back in his possession. In this epic and riveting tale, Elizabeth Kostova takes us deep into the Gilded Age in pursuit of an ancient evil. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

15 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
Joseph J. Mangano, Bombs and Baby Teeth: How St. Louisans Fought Nuclear Power (Author Talk)
More than 320,000 baby teeth collected by St. Louis families helped change the course of history. Join us for a conversation to celebrate the release of author Joseph J. Mangano’s book Bombs and Baby Teeth, the newest title from MHS Press. Discover the remarkable story of the 1958–1973 Baby Tooth Survey, when Washington University scientists partnered with local families to measure radioactive fallout in children. The findings of the study produced and helped build support for the treaty banning above-ground nuclear testing. Explore the power of citizen science, the lasting legacy of this groundbreaking project, and why its lessons remain as communities continue to grapple with nuclear safety today. Mangano is an epidemiologist who directs the Radiation and Public Health Project, which studies the health risk from exposure to nuclear weapons test fallout and nuclear reactor emissions. He is coauthor or sole author of 43 articles in medical journals and three books, including Mad Science: The Nuclear Power Experiment. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

15 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Caleb Dardick, The Adventures of Superfreak: My Childhood on the Hippie Trail (Author Talk)
The Adventure of Superfreak is a family drama revealing the complexities of attachment and abandonment amid a period of tumultuous cultural change. In 1970, Caleb Dardick’s family hit the Hippie Trail from Amsterdam to India in search of nirvana and/or hash — whatever came first. Caleb’s disabled parents, Sam (a paraplegic professor who uses a wheelchair) and Carol (a frustrated feminist with an undiagnosed bipolar disorder) dropped out of mainstream society to travel overland in a VW bus with three little kids. As their wild 20,000-mile ride took the family through Europe, the Canary Islands, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to India, Caleb transformed into “Superfreak” to cope with the challenges. He donned his Superman costume and summoned all his hippie-in-training bravery to survive a chaotic family life of abundant psychedelics and free love, cross-border drug smuggling and jail breaks, sages and charlatans. St. Louis Public Library.
St. Louis Public Library — Schlafly Library, 225 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

15 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Marcia Chatelain, How Bright the Path Grows: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the March on Washington (Author Talk)
Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Marcia Chatelain shares the little-known story of the pioneering Black women artists and activists at the 1963 March on Washington. There is no shortage of footage immortalizing the men who spoke in front of the 250,000 people gathered beneath the Lincoln Memorial to call for an end to segregation. Chatelain weaves a gleaming group portrait of the women. Among this cohort were several household names: vaudeville icon Josephine Baker; civil rights activist Rosa Parks; gospel legend Mahalia Jackson; and Daisy Bates, champion of the Little Rock Nine. But many were relative unknowns. How Bright the Path Grows renders the lives of 13 Black women visionaries — some famous, others soon to be. Chatelain will be in conversation with Sowande’ Mustakeem, associate professor of history and African and African American studies, Washington University. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

15 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
D.L. Hughley, Charlie’s Boy: A Memoir (Author Talk)
He was always Charlie’s boy — even before he found his name, his voice, his fame. In this deeply personal memoir, acclaimed comedian and cultural critic D.L. Hughley documents his rise from the streets of South Central Los Angeles to the national spotlight — and the man who quietly stood behind him through it all. It was Charlie Hughley — a soft-spoken bag handler at the Los Angeles Airport — who raised D.L. and taught him how to survive through tough love and sacrifice. Though he was not D.L.’s biological father, Charlie gave his boy the only thing he truly needed: a sense of being seen. This is not just a coming-of-age story. It’s the story of how one man found his voice and learned to get on stage and turn pain into punch lines. $65, includes one book copy. St. Louis County Library.
The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

16 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Opening Lecture — Women Impressionists and the Land
Discover the natural world anew with Simon Kelly, curator of modern and contemporary art, celebrating the opening of Women Impressionists and the Land. Kelly will discuss works by Mary Cassatt, Berthe Morisot and others, revealing how nature became a site of artistic innovation, identity and quiet resistance. These luminous works invite viewers to reconsider how women shaped Impressionism — and how their visions of nature still resonate today. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

16 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Bonnie Garmus, Peck & Peck (Author Talk)
Batter Gray is worried about his future. Even when he was a child, his classmates seemed to have settled on a goal: doctor, lawyer, broker, engineer. Now Batter is in his early 20s and he wants something different, something that alienates some readers and bores most. Poetry. When Batter is hired by the most prestigious, secretive and dysfunctional poetry journal in the world — the renowned Peck & Peck of New York City — he learns that poetry not only represents the power of humanity, but may hold the key to its survival. $38-$48, includes one book copy. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

17 OCTOBER  |  10 AM
Great Big STL Architecture Tour: Death
Climb aboard for a journey into the spaces designed and built for remembrance, ritual, and rest. This tour explores how cemeteries, mausoleums, and memorials reveal that even in death, design speaks volumes. The Great Big STL Architecture tour series is a fresh approach to bus tours at the Missouri Historical Society. They expand our popular See STL Tours program, offering an immersive and engaging dive into our rich architectural history. Each 5-hour tour takes an experiential and unscripted approach, with narration led by MHS’ public historian Amanda Clark as well as interactive visits with community members and experts. A one-hour break in the middle of each tour allows folks to explore unique lunch options on their own. $50-$60. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

18 OCTOBER  |  11 AM
Tour Público en Español — Colección del Museo
Con esta serie de tours a lo largo del año, SLAM invita a todos los hispanohablantes de la región a conectarse con el Museo en su idioma. Ya sea revisitando nuestra colección o descubriendo futuras exhibiciones, los tours en español son un espacio guiado para compartir memorias, conocer miembros de nuestra comunidad e interactuar con obras de arte de una forma más íntima. La entrada al museo y la participación en este tour de una hora son gratuitas. The tour will be delivered in Spanish, and it will require a fair understanding of the language. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

19 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Neal Stephenson, D: Heavy Water (Author Talk)
Europe, 1934. British journalist Owen Crisp-Upjohn is dispatched to Moscow, where his assignments quickly escalate from cultural reporting to international espionage. Owen finds himself pulled into the orbit of a maverick aristocrat and a curiously compelling woman with a shadowy past. Their mission soon becomes clear: secure the earth’s only supply of deuterium (“heavy water”) before it falls into Nazi hands. Rich with historical insight, complex characters and a relentless sense of urgency, D: Heavy Water is a suspenseful and wildly entertaining tale of courage and consequence. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

20 OCTOBER  |  6:30 PM
Beyond the Diamond: An Evening with Mike Claiborne and Bob Kendrick
Spend an evening with acclaimed St. Louis journalist and broadcaster Mike Claiborne and Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, as they explore how Black baseball changed the game and helped change America. Drawing on the rich histories of St. Louis and Kansas City, this dynamic live conversation moved beyond nostalgia to examine how Negro League teams built thriving Black institutions amid segregation — and how figures like Jackie Robinson helped transform the nation. More than a conversation about baseball, this program invites audiences to see baseball not just as a game, but also as a powerful lens on justice, resilience and legacy. $15-$20. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

20 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Anand Giridharadas, Man in the Mirror (Author Talk)
In 2023, New York was already a city under strain, racked by panic about crime, mistrust of police and a broken system of care for homeless and mentally ill people. Then the lives of two men — Jordan Neely, a homeless man known in better days for his Michael Jackson impersonations, and Daniel Penny, an ex-Marine — collided tragically. In Man in the Mirror, journalist Anand Giridharadas tells the riveting story of this deadly encounter and its aftermath, revealing through painstaking, on-the-ground reporting the depth of the rage, violence and division that have defined 2020s America. Giridharadas will be in conversation with Ryan Krull of St. Louis Magazine. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

21 OCTOBER  |  11 AM
Nature Speaks Through Art
Enjoy an inspiring morning at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where you’ll connect with nature, hear insights from Saint Louis Art Museum curatorial assistant Abigail Yoder on Women Impressionists and the Land, explore alongside garden staff and watch plein air artists at work. Registration is required. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 63110

21 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Blood and Politics — Examining the History of White Nationalism in the United States
Leonard Zeskind (1949-2025) was a union organizer and community activist prior to founding the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights in 1983. Originally published to great acclaim in 2009, Blood and Politics is an unprecedented, sweeping history of white nationalism’s rise in America from a MacArthur Award-winning expert in the field. Over decades of archival and in-person research, Zeskind explored the startling underworld of white supremacist organizations in the United States, from think tanks and publications to armed militia groups. In remembrance of Zeskind, the book will be presented by Carol Smith, Zeskind’s wife, who closely observed and supported his work, and Devin Burghart, a colleague at the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

22 OCTOBER  |  5 PM
The St. Louis City-County Split: 150 Years Later
Dive into the history and legacy of St. Louis’s city-county divide with Luis Antonio Perez, host of St. Louis Public Radio’s Meet Me podcast. Perez will sit down with public historian Andrew Wanko to discuss the origins of the 1876 “Great Divorce.” That conversation will be followed by dialogues with city and county leaders, who will share their perspectives on the current relationship between the city and county, the potential benefits and ramifications of the city reentering St. Louis County, and regional cooperation. Along the way, you’ll also hear from St. Louisans whose everday lives are affected by the city-county divide. Missouri Historical Society.
Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 63112

24 OCTOBER  |  11 AM
The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution
The war that we now call the American Revolution was not only fought in the colonies by soldiers with muskets and bayonets. On both sides of the Atlantic, artists played an integral role in forging revolutionary ideals. Join Zara Anishanslin, associate professor of history and art history and director of the Museum Studies and Public Engagement Program at the University of Delaware, to discover the inspiring stories and intertwined lives of three of these largely forgotten patriot artists: Robert Edge Pine, Prince Demah, and Patience Wright. They defied the British monarchy, armed with paint, canvas, wax, and espionage while risking their lives and reputations to support the cause of liberty. Saint Louis Art Museum.
Saint Louis Art Museum, Farrell Auditorium, 1 Fine Arts Dr., St. Louis, 63110

26 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
An Evening of Poetry with T. S. Leonard and Mary Maxfield
A time traveler crashes into a gay bar, and from that electric collision unfolds Another Anthem of Fabulous Survival, T.S. Leonard’s dazzling debut poetry collection. Moving through glitter, ash, memory and music, these poems follow a queer time traveler across decades and geographies, from turn of the 21st-century Missouri to 1970s San Francisco to imagined origins of music itself. Along the way, they come of age, try drag, lose friends and fall in love, tracing a life shaped by history’s ruptures and its celebrations. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

26 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Meg Mason, Sophie, Standing There (Author Talk)
Sophie has a dream job at a local book festival, a husband she adores and a lifelong best friend — but she’s been living alone, estranged from her loved ones and about to be fired. Now it feels like the only thing she has left is reading. She begins to dream of meeting her favorite author but knows they never will. But what if she did? In this much anticipated novel, Meg Mason offers a story about the power of connection and an ode to the inexplicable nature of the human heart. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

26 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
David Shlachter, Hinenu: Israel at Ten Million (Author Talk)
DAVID SHLACHTER is a Tel Aviv- and California-based portrait photographer whose work reveals the human stories behind contemporary Israel. His new book, Hinenu: Israel at Ten Million, combines striking photography with oral history, portraying 100 Israelis — Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and secular, and people of all ages — at the moment Israel’s population reached 10 million. Experience Israel beyond headlines, arguments and abstractions through the faces and stories of the people who call it home. $11. Jewish Book Festival, St. Louis Jewish Community Center.
The J – Staenberg Family Complex, Edison Gymnasium – Fitness & Wellness Building, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis, 63146

27 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Deesha Philyaw, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman (Author Talk)
The wife of a popular and powerful megachurch pastor upends her charmed “rags-to-Rolex” life when her secret past comes roaring into the spotlight in The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman. From the moment Scharisse Freeman ditched her humble roots and married a megachurch pastor 15 years her senior, she’s been labeled too brash and too “of the world” by church folks who grudgingly accepted her into their fold, and too holy by her estranged childhood bestie, Petra. On the eve of her 40th birthday, Schar gets the final bit of validation she’s always dreamt of: a coveted invitation to participate in the First Lady USA pageant. As the pageant nears, a sensational scandal breaks with Schar at its center, and her carefully curated life implodes. Schar faces down shame and terrible secrets from her childhood and is reminded that in the eyes of the church, optics can matter more than the truth. Deesha Philyaw, PEN/Faulkner Award winner, Kimbilio Fiction Fellow and author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, will be in conversation with David Haynes, St. Louis author and board chair of Kimbilio for Black Fiction. Open to all; tickets required. Left Bank Books. 
.ZACK Performing Arts Theater, 3224 Locust St., St. Louis, 63103

27 OCTOBER  |  6:30 PM
Fortified St. Louis: The Defensive Architecture of a Strategic American City and Environs, 1175-1865
ANDREW B. WEIL, RearView Heritage Consulting. SAH STL/SLPL Steedman Library Lecture Series. Society of Architectural Historians.
St. Louis Public Library – Central Library, Auditorium, 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, 63103

27 OCTOBER  |  7:30 PM
Poetry at the Point: Jill Mceldowney & Ariana Yeatts-Lonske
This reading will be held in-person and also streamed live to the linked event page and to Saint Louis Poetry Center’s Facebook page. Jill Mceldowney is the author of the full-length collections ALYDAR and Otherlight, winner of a North American Book Award. She is a founder and editor of Madhouse Press. She is a recipient of a grant from the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico. Her previously published work can be found in publications such as The Academy of American Poets, Prairie Schooner, Tupelo Quarterly, Frontier and Muzzle. Ariana Yeatts-Lonske ’s writing has won an Academy of American Poets Prize, and she was recently short-listed by Only Poems for their Poet of the Year Award. Her poems appear or are forthcoming in Best New Poets, Frontier Poetry and december. Saint Louis Poetry Center.
Focal Point, 2720 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 63143

28 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Heather Morris, The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse (Author Talk)
The bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz returns with a masterful new novel that captures the astonishing bravery of ordinary people in extraordinary times. In 1942, the Nazis come for a Jewish family living in occupied Paris. In the chaos of their arrest, 11-year-old Josephine runs to the only person she can trust: her piano teacher, Andrée Levallois, a secret French Resistance operative. But soon the authorities close in, and both Andrée and Josie are caught in a desperate race to stay alive. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library – Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 63131

29 OCTOBER  |  6 PM
Geeta Maker, Medicine for All People (Author Talk)
GEETA MAKER-CLARK, an integrative family physician, debuts with a compassionate call for a healthcare system that combines ancient wisdom with modern science. Medicine today, she argues, is too reactionary, focused on chasing symptoms while ignoring deeper forces, like food systems and socioeconomic status. She walks readers through how food, nature, community, dance, gratitude and other practices can serve as “medicines that connect us to our past and our future and fuel our resistance against a painful world.” Maker-Clark will be in conversation with Sandro Galea, Dean of the Bursky School of Public Health at WashU. Left Bank Books.
Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, 63108

29 OCTOBER  |  7 PM
Jonathan Edward Durham, Winterset Hollow (Author Talk)
Author and social media star Jonathan Edward Durham shares the perfectly twisted word-of-mouth horror phenomenon that set the internet on fire. Everyone has wanted their favorite book to be real, if only for a moment. Winterset Hollow follows a group of friends to the place that inspired their favorite book — a timeless tale about a tribe of animals preparing for their yearly end-of-summer festival. But after a series of shocking discoveries, they find that much of what the world believes to be fiction is actually fact, and that the truth behind their beloved story is darker and more dangerous than they ever imagined. St. Louis County Library.
St. Louis County Library — Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 631