I've been missing something. Sure, I see plenty of people and have individual conversations, but I want more (don't I always?). They have a word for it in Spanish (don't they always?): tertulia. A
tertulia is an informal gathering of friends or "friendly intellectuals" who all have something to say and want to argue and discuss what they think. It can concern culture, politics, an idea, a song. Usually in Spain they occur in a café, but that gets a little more complicated in NYC.
So, I've decided to hold a regular tertulia in our home in Harlem. It will be informal but with some guidance. The idea is that a person will propose an essay, a topic, a gallery show, dance or theater performance, music, etc. and then we gather later to talk about it. Think American book club but more informal and more fun. Sure we'll have drinks and some food. Maybe at some point we'll decide to do it out in public at a coffeeshop or some other space. But for now, it's meant to be an organized, informal gathering of people who I think would be great to hear their opinions.
I'd like to say it may happen weekly but know that's a little too ambitious at the moment. So I hope to have the first in two weeks. I'll post a link or PDF of an essay that I think will get the conversation going. People can read beforehand and show up if they are available. If you have friends you'd like to invite, sure, bring them along. If we're overcrowded, we'll deal. This should be fun, let's get the conversation started.
