Best of New York 2012 • Fun

• Safe Space

  Housing Works Bookstore Café, 126 Crosby St., nr. Houston St.; 212-334-3324

  Classical-music concerts and literary readings can feel as though they come with “experts only” warnings. But Housing Works’ new mash-up series has found a way to demystify both worlds: make them talk to each other. Each installment begins with an urbane artistic juxtaposition—a recital by a classical musician and a reading by an author—and then segues into a casual conversation about methods and inspirations. The exchange of performance and ideas relaxes the atmosphere, enlivens the crowd, and knocks both art forms off their pedestals—in a good way.

From the 2012 Best of New York issue of New York Magazine