A James Beard Award-winning food magazine commissioned new stories about New York eating and handed them to Leslie Jamison, Doreen St. Felix, Eric Kim and Mychal Denzel Smith to read aloud on a lawn over the Hudson. Each night is a different bill, each runs about an hour, and an open writing group follows. If you want the weekend's most unexpected free hour, take this one.
What to expect
The Glade is a small outdoor amphitheatre on Little Island, so you sit on tiered grass with the river behind the readers. Each evening pairs four writers reading original stories with a moderated conversation, then an open writing group that anyone can join. Friday, Saturday and Sunday each have a different roster.
Good to know
- Take the A, C, E or L to 14th Street–Eighth Avenue and walk west to Pier 55.
- Little Island sometimes requires free timed entry passes at peak hours, so check before you set out.
- The Glade is outdoors and unshaded seating is on grass steps; bring a layer for the river breeze.
- Each session runs about an hour, so it slots easily around dinner.
- The line-up of readers changes each evening, so it is worth going more than once.
- Stay for the open writing group if you want to actually take part rather than just listen.
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Common questions
Do the readers change each night?
Yes. Each evening has a different roster, including Melissa Lozada-Oliva and Fran Tirado one night, Mychal Denzel Smith and Eric Kim another, and Leslie Jamison and Doreen St. Felix on the third.
What is Cake Zine?
It is a James Beard Award-winning literary food magazine. For this series it commissioned original stories about New York's changing food scene and staged them as readings.
Do I need to book?
The readings themselves are free. Little Island can require free timed entry passes to the island at busy times, so check the island's website on the day.
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