Announcing Our Next JASNA-NYM Regional Event
We are kicking of 2026 with something rather different: a staged reading of the new play called The Austens, written by our own co-coordinator Sarah Rose Kearns, and produced in collaboration with The Holy Theatre.
This performance, directed by Andrus Nichols, stars the acclaimed playwright-performer Kate Hamill in the role of Jane.
She is joined by actors Evan Horwitz, Mahira Kakkar, Carman Lacivita, Colleen Litchfield, Samantha Steinmetz, and Rita Wolf, with Ebony Vines reading stage directions.
Saturday, January 3, 2026 from 2:15 PM to 6:00 PM
In Person Gathering at Symphony Space
2537 Broadway at the corner of 95th Street, New York City
Bar Thalia and the Leonard Nimoy Thalia
All tickets include admission to a preshow reception, starting at 2:15 p.m. The Austens begins at 4 o’clock and lasts about two hours.
Like a majority of our regional meetings, this one is open to JASNA members and non-members alike. If you are not yet a JASNA member, however, we encourage you to join! Learn more on our “about” page here.
And as always, please feel free to email us at jasnany@yahoo.com with any questions or suggestions. We look forward to gathering with you soon!
Jane About Town
December 2025
Open through February 14, 2026
“PAPER JANE” EXHIBITION AT THE GROLIER CLUB
In honor of Austen’s 250th, co-curators (and friends-of-the-region!) Dr. Janine Barchas, Sandra Clark, and Mary Crawford have created “Paper Jane” — an exhibition tracing her visual legacy, decade-by-decade, through a “kaleidoscopic mix of 110 objects, including rare first editions, manuscripts, popular reprintings, movie posters, illustrations, theater playbills, and other paper ephemera” drawn from their private collections of historic Austeniana.
The show, which is happening at the Grolier Club (the oldest club for bibliophiles in the US) is totally free and open to the public through Valentine’s Day. Local news channel New York 1 recently did a segment with the curators, which you can find here. Or click here to sign up for a free tour led by Grolier Club staff.
The Grolier is located at 47 East 60th Street in New York City.
(Non-JASNA event, open to everyone.)
January 2026
Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM EST
GRAMERCY JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB: “LADIES IN WAITING”
JASNA’s own Elise Pallay organizes this monthly book club through Meetup.com. Each month’s selection is either an Austen novel or contemporary spin-off. Members meet to chat over a meal at Gramercy Kitchen, a classic New York diner on Third Avenue and 17th Street. Newbies welcome! Just make sure to RSVP early, as the spots tend to fill. Click here for more.
(Non-JASNA event, open to everyone.)
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 7:00 PM EST
JASNA-NYM ONLINE MONTHLY DISCUSSION GROUP
On the third Thursday of every month, members gather via Zoom for a discussion of some aspect of Jane Austen’s work or her life and times Topics and questions to ponder are sent out in advance. Please email us here if you’d like to be added to our Discussion Group mailing list!
(JASNA-NYM event, open to all JASNA members.)
February 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 2:00 PM EST
FREE VIRTUAL TALK ON CASSANDRA AUSTEN’S ART
“Paper Jane” co-curator (and JASNA-NYM birthday meeting speaker) Dr. Janine Barchas will share her research on Jane Austen’s beloved sister, an artist in her own right. Click here for more.
(Non-JASNA event, open to everyone.)
Do you have an Austen event coming up? Drop us a line and let us know! In these listings, we tend to prioritize in-person gatherings in and near New York City, as well as online events that involve our local JASNA members. (Click here to become a member of JASNA New York Metro.)
Except in the case of official JASNA meetings, no listing on this page should be construed as an endorsement or sponsorship by JASNA.
“It is such a happiness when good people get together — and they always do.”
EMMA
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