What is the antidote to a rushed world driven by shortened attention spans and constant consumption? In Albany, at least, it might be Curious Table, a new concept from Phat Chiem, publisher of The 518 newsletter, and Kyle Elysse Posson, founder of marketing agency Lost and Profound and co-founder of Undrunk Club.
The idea struck Chiem when he began to see a pattern in The 518’s readership: “Every time we post about an interesting talk by an expert, it gets loads of clicks—especially if it’s being held in a bar or restaurant,” he says.
This data, combined with inspiration from lecture series Lectures on Tap, motivated him to create Curious Table, an event series that will involve curated food, drinks, and talks by experts from various disciplines.
“In the age of 15-second videos on social media, people are hungry for real knowledge,” Chiem says. “We want to capture that curiosity and create an intimate setting for learning and connection.”
To do that, Chiem has partnered with Posson, who has a background in marketing and event planning. Together, they’ll hand-pick venues to serve as the backdrop for each thought-provoking evening, ranging from local farms and bars to Chiem’s own 1874 Albany row house. Many gatherings will be intimate, with just eight to 12 guests plus one expert per event. Larger events will take place in bars with room for 40-60 people. People can sign up on Curious Table’s website to be among the first invited.
The core of the series—the speakers—will vary each time, but Chiem and Posson plan to select those “who can completely nerd out on a subject, but still be able to share their insights in a way that keeps a general audience enthralled,” Chiem says. He imagines inviting scientists, historians, researchers, craftsmen, or ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell.
“It might be an expert on fungi and psychedelics,” Chiem says. “It could be a historian who can tell us about the use of hot air balloons and submarines during the Civil War. It could be a fantasy novelist attempting to write the next Harry Potter.” No matter the speaker or topic, though, Curious Table will promote open conversation rather than a lecture. “We expect people to ask questions and discuss, and walk away a little bit smarter,” he says.
Posson puts it another way. “It’ll be like being part of a podcast in real life,” she says, “where you can ask the host to dive further on a particular element they’re talking about.”
If the sound of this excites you, you’re exactly the kind of person Curious Table is designed for. “It’s for post-college people who miss the learning part of school,” Chiem says. “People who are eager to get away from social media, if only for a few hours. People whose idea of pure joy is diving headfirst into a world they didn’t know existed.”
Beyond building individuals’ knowledge, the talks will be designed to foster connections between strangers, especially during a time of divisiveness and a loneliness epidemic. The ultimate goal? Expand people’s minds and make the 518 an even better, and more connected, place.
“If the Capital Region lacks anything, it lacks a collective sense of awe and appreciation for what we have here,” Chiem says. “We want to bring a little more wonder to this place we call home.”
The first Curious Table events are anticipated to launch in September and will take place at least once a month after that. Keep an eye on curioustable.com for the latest updates.
