Sophie Auster, Marilyn Laverty, Paul Auster, and Karen Auster at Issue Project Room fundraising reception

Interior of Issue Project Room at 110 Livingston Street in Brooklyn, which New York Magazine dubbed "Little Carnegie"

Mary Pat Thornton and Cormac McEnery hosted a wonderful evening of music and literature at their Pierrepont Street home in support of the Issue Project Room, an exquisite performance center at 110 Livingston Street (Brooklyn) that is becoming a hub for creative culture for all of New York. In keeping with Issue Project’s philosophy of presenting groundbreaking work in all the arts for audiences of all ages, the evening featured a reading of unpublished letters by literary icon Paul Auster as well as a musical set by his gorgeous and charming daughter Sophie.

I’m really grateful to my colleague Karen Auster, the dynamic founder of the Auster Agency, for introducing me to the Issue Project Room, which is not only a breathtaking jewel of a space but also a nurturing community that fosters artistic collaboration and experimentation. What a treat it was to meet Paul Auster and receive a signed copy of his novel Sunset Park, which I read on Christmas vacation and found to be irresistible, moving, and quite devastating. Hearing Paul’s daughter Sophie perform was a revelation — she’s got a rich and expressive voice and I look forward to hearing her new EP, “Red Weather”, when it’s released this year. If you want to follow Sophie, you can find her @SophieHAuster.