A pride of literary lions gathered Monday to celebrate acclaimed author Dr. Amanda Foreman’s new literary cabaret series, “Seriously Entertaining.”
Uma Thurman hosted one bookish game called “The Tip of My Tongue,” which saw the star dramatically reading openings from three literary works for which the crowd had to guess their titles and authors. By night’s end, only one guest of 380 nailed all three correctly: Salman Rushdie .
“Of course I won,” the confident novelist was overheard coolly crowing while mingling afterward.
His companion Topaz Page-Green won another of the night’s contests as did Foreman.
Also appearing at the gala, which raised more than $250,000 for the House of SpeakEasy Foundation, were New Yorker writers Andy Borowitz, Adam Gopnik and Susan Orlean. Guests included Diana Taylor, UK ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, “60 Minutes” anchor Steve Kroft, NPR’s Kurt Andersenand Dick Cavett. The City Winery-based series continues on Feb. 24 with appearances by Steve Coogan, Susan Minot and others.
Spies said Thurman found some further entertainment offstage by openly canoodling during dinner with her banker beau Arpad Busson.