It’s the dog days of summer, so there’s nothing like a good book to beat the heat! August’s book is “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. We go back in time to WWII, with two sisters in France in different stages of life and different perspectives of the war. One is married, and her husband is going off to fight. The other is falling in love and is more of a rebel, and wants to join the resistance. How will their stories intertwine? A must for fans of “All The Light We Cannot See.”

We meet in the upstairs lounge of the Midtown Scholar at 2:00 PM, reservations encouraged, but not required (we like to know who’s coming so we know when to get started). Please contact Joe Foner at joefoner1@gmail.com to RSVP or for questions. See you there, and happy reading!

In celebration of Independence Day, we’re going thematic for July, with “Founding Brothers” by Joseph Ellis, acclaimed author of books on Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. It’s about the intertwined lives of the founders of our country and how that affected the decisions they made at critical junctions during the formation of the country. Want to know why the capital is in Washington, DC? Why they didn’t fully address the institution of slavery? It’s all in here!

HYP movie night is back for a limited engagement, and we’re watching “The Lobster,” a Cannes favorite, Jury Prize winner for director, and Palm d’Or nominee. The film stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, and is set in a dystopian near future where single people are forced by law to find a partner within 45 days…or be turned into an animal of their choosing and released into the woods. Definitely looks to be an entertaining thinkpiece. We’ll be meeting in the lobby about 7 – be sure to look for screen times starting June 2 on the midtown cinema website: www.midtowncinema.com. If the movie ends up being scheduled earlier than 7:15, look for updates on the facebook event page. Please contact Joe Foner at joefoner1@gmail.com for questions, as well as RSVPs.

June’s book is Dead Wake: The Crossing of the Lusitania,” written by Erik Larson, acclaimed author of “The Devil in the White City.” It ‘s an enthralling and dramatic non-fiction account of the tracking of the world’s fastest luxury liner by German U-Boats in 1915. Below is a goodreads link to the book. We meet in the upstairs lounge of the Midtown Scholar at 2:00 PM, reservations encouraged, but not required (we like to know who’s coming so we know when to get started). Please contact Joe Foner at joefoner1@gmail.com to RSVP or for questions. Hope to see you there, and happy reading!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22551730-dead-wake?from_new_nav=true&ac=1&from_search=true

Join HYP Arts & International along with City Living for a prix fixe menu at Passage to India followed by the opening weekend show of Big Fish by Theatre Harrisburg at the Whitaker Center.

Passage to India has been voted the top Indian restaurant in the region and is included on PennLive’s list of Top Ten Restaurants in the Harrisburg Region. Prix fixe menu will include vegetarian options.

Big Fish is based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, BIG FISH centers on Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest… and then some! Edward’s incredible, larger-than-life stories thrill everyone around him – most of all, his devoted wife Sandra. But their son Will, about to have a child of his own, is determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Overflowing with heart, humor and spectacular stagecraft, BIG FISH is an extraordinary new Broadway musical that reminds us why we love going to the theatre – for an experience that’s richer, funnier and BIGGER than life itself.

Price includes food at Passage to India and a balcony level ticket to Big Fish. Please bring cash for any beverage purchases at Passage to India.