Kelly Writers House | Penn Today

Al Filreis and Nate Silver in discussion on stage.

Nate Silver on statistics: Playing it safe versus embracing risk

At the Stephen A. Levin Family Dean’s Forum, statistician Nate Silver spoke with Al Filreis, Kelly Family Professor of English, about his new book and risk-taking, with tangents into hobbies, poker, and baseball.

2 min. read

Group pose of Draw Down the Lightning grants winners.

Collaborating toward a better future for all

The 12 winning teams of the inaugural Draw Down the Lightning grants were celebrated by Penn leadership at a reception, bringing to life the vision of In Principle and Practice.

4 min. read

Patti Smith and Al Filreis at microphones.

Patti Smith as a Kelly Writers House Fellow

Singer, songwriter, poet, author, and musician Patti Smith was in residence at the Kelly Writers House for two days, telling stories about the people in her life throughout the decades, reading passages from her books, and performing her songs.

Seven people around a table with cake during the Edible Books event.

Edible Books at the Kelly Writers House

The annual Edible Books contest at the Kelly Writers House features food creations inspired by books, often involving puns based on the titles. In this 14th year, 30-some entries were admired and (mostly) eaten.

Deborah Olatunji sits on a bench in springtime outside the Kelly Writers House

Deborah Olatunji embraces vulnerability

Through art, poetry, and the written word, fourth-year student Deborah Olatunji embraces vulnerability.

Jennifer Egan and Dennis Culhane sit at a long green table in front of the windows at Kelly Writers House

Investigating homelessness

In a Kelly Writers House event, writer Jennifer Egan and social scientist Dennis Culhane discuss journalism and the homelessness crisis.

Nuri Yi, a Lotus member and second-year grad student in the Department of Biology in the School of Arts & Sciences, leads a discussion of Baldwin’s work at Kelly Writers House.

Reading James Baldwin for a 21st century world

To commemorate Baldwin’s approaching centennial, the Lotus Collective is hosting weekly readings and discussions of his work at Kelly Writers House.

Nolen, Lorene Cary, and Finister speaking with each other at Kelly Writers House.

‘Ladysitting’ on stage

The new play “Ladysitting” at the Arden Theatre Co. is by Penn English faculty and alumna Lorene Cary, based on her memoir about caring for her grandmother in the last of her 101 years.

five people sitting at a table with microphones and books in front of a wall of windows

‘PoemTalk’ podcast at 200 episodes

The 200th episode of the pioneering poetry podcast “PoemTalk” was recorded at the Kelly Writers House last week, 16 years after the first. Founder Al Filreis (left) of the School of Arts & Sciences is the creator and host of the discussion-based monthly podcast that features a “close, but not too close” reading of a poem.

The Banned Books chair at Kelly Writers House.

What’s That? Banned books chair

The inaugural story in a new Penn Today series “What’s that?” features the banned books chair, decoupaged with words and pictures, one of the 50 beloved and mismatched chairs in the Kelly Writers House arts café.

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