Live Events

Former Bedford resident and sailboat captain Jon Flaks leads this combo of smooth, soft rock you would hear on a yacht. CSN, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, The Eagles, and plenty of one-hit wonder songs about the wind and sea. Free admission, no reservation required.  Show begins at 6:30pm.

Oscar Andrew (Andy) Hammerstein III presents “Carefully Taught,” a talk exploring the political and progressive themes in his grandfather Oscar Hammerstein II’s songbook. Known for traditional Broadway musicals such as The Sound of Music, Oscar Hammerstein II was an outspoken activist who opposed fascism and racism, displaying moral courage through his work and life. This event, featuring selections of his music, includes performances by Rita Neidich and Henry Thrasher, with Cary Brown as Musical Director.

James Kaplan, author of the definitive Frank Sinatra biography, presents 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool, exploring how the iconic Kind of Blue album came together and the lives of the three artists behind it. A must-read for jazz fans! Introduction by Janet Maslin.

Trivia Night returns to the Bedford Playhouse Cafe, hosted by Rachel from Rock Paper Scissors Custom Events. Play solo or as a team and test your knowledge on a wide range of topics, including movies, music, history, geography and more. Food and drink available for sale from the bar.

Clara Bingham is a journalist and author whose work has focused on social justice and women’s issues. Her latest book, The Movement: How Women’s Liberation Transformed America 1963-1973, is a history of the early years of second wave feminism. As a Washington, D.C. correspondent for Newsweek from 1989 to 1993, Bingham covered the George H. W. Bush White House leading up to and during the 1992 presidential election. Her freelance writing has appeared in publications including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Glamour, and more. Moderated by Nancy Steiner.

Party Boys is the amazing true story of how a family from a small farm town in Canada built an entertainment empire in New York City where more than 40 million people danced, laughed, and had the time of their lives. Founder, along with his brothers, of NYC’s Webster Hall, Lon Ballinger discusses his experiences in the nightclub industry, the importance of integrity and responsibility in business and the challenges he’s faced. Copies of the book will be available for sale and signing.

Chloe Melas (Luck of the Draw) and Margot Clark-Junkins (Following the Front) will share the remarkable WWII experiences of their grandfathers, followed by a Q&A. Melas’s grandfather, Frank Murphy, served in the 8th Air Force’s “Bloody 100th” Bomb Group and was held as a POW at Stalag Luft III. His memoir, republished by Melas in 2023, became a New York Times bestseller. Clark-Junkins published her grandfather Sidney Olson’s 1945 war dispatches, which capture Churchill in London, Hemingway and Capa in Paris, the fall of Cologne and Nuremberg, and Dachau’s liberation. Books will be available for sale and signing.