Bryant Park’s Reading Room Hosts Reel Talks: Conversation on Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut

Join us at Bryant Park's Reading Room on Monday, August 17, from 12:30–1:30 PM for a special Reel Talks conversation featuring award-winning crime novelist Megan Abbott in conversation with film connoisseur and author Scott Adlerberg. On select weekdays from 12:30–1:30 PM, Reel Talks invites audiences behind the scenes of cinema, examining iconic films, filmmakers, and the creative vision that has shaped movie history. This free event brings together two accomplished voices in crime fiction for a lively discussion exploring Abbott’s celebrated body of work, her transition from novels to screenwriting, and her experience adapting her stories for television. From her New York Times bestseller The Turnout to her latest novel El Dorado Drive, Abbott offers insight into the art of suspense, storytelling, and bringing complex characters and dark narratives to the screen.

The Reading Room at Bryant Park is a free, open-air literary oasis in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. Open daily from 11 AM to 7 PM through October, it offers a thoughtfully curated selection of books, newspapers, and magazines for visitors to enjoy on the lawn beneath its signature yellow umbrellas or shaded trees. Now through September, the Reading Room offers a lineup of weekly literary programming, including author talks, poetry readings, film discussions, book clubs, and children’s StoryTime.