Author and architect Phillip James Dodd takes a close look at some of the finest examples of architecture in New York City – exploring four of the buildings featured in his book An American Renaissance: Beaux-Arts Architecture in New York City. While showing public exteriors, the lecture will also focus on the lavish interiors that are associated with the opulence of the Gilded Age—often providing a glimpse inside buildings not otherwise viewable to the public. Dodd recounts the fascinating stories of some of New York’s most famous and significant architectural landmarks, as well as those that commissioned and built them.

Copies of the book will be able for purchase at the event courtesy of Diane’s Books of Greenwich.

Phillip James Dodd is a native of Manchester, England. He attended the prestigious Prince of Wales’ Institute of Architecture in London, before moving to America in 1996, where he gained a Masters in Architecture from the University of Notre Dame. After training with some of the most recognized residential architectural firms in the United States, Phillip started his own design firm Phillip James Dodd: Bespoke Residential Design in nearby Greenwich. His designs can be found in Manhattan, Greenwich, Palm Beach, and as far away as Bangalore, India. He is a a Fellow Emeritus at the Institute of Classical Architecture (ICAA), a elected Fellow of the INTBAU College of Traditional Practitioners (an international body for practitioners in traditional architecture under the auspices of HRH Prince of Wales), and a commissioner on The Town of Greenwich Historic District Commission. Phillip is the recipient of the 2022 Elizabeth L. & John H. Schuyler Architectural Award, and has been named one of the Top 50 Coastal Architects in the Country.

Video Presentation 

Mark Nunan, who has spoken to the DMA previously on Robert Moses, Fiorello La Guardia and Martin Van Buren, will discuss Daniel Patrick Moynihan as a practical theorist about the challenges of governing in the second half of the 20^th Century,  and as a practicing governmental professional from the mid 1950’s up until the completion of his fourth term in the U.S. Senate in January 2001.

It is one thing for academics, prophets, and philosophers to clamor for ideal government or decry evil ones (Kings; Plato; Marx), and quite another for idealistic, pragmatic, ideological, adversarial, unrealistic, unruly, opportunistic, or corrupt politicians to legislate. Bismarck rightly compared this to sausage making, advising us not to look at the process if we want to enjoy the result.  Daniel Moynihan, in the Lion’s Den, might demur – after all, he wrote about it.

“Pat” Moynihan was a rarity: true scholar, passionate  politician, gifted writer. His trenchant wit and knack for capturing complex ideas in memorable aphorisms set him apart. This talent, combined with close study of actual data (which his Ph.D. in sociology  taught him to prize) helped him to pinpoint many anomalies of domestic and global politics, and compellingly convey the complex issues and dangers these raised.

His analyses and the solutions he proposed appeared to some “ahead of their time” and to others just too much. As a result, he was often “cancelled” by adversaries because of what he concluded the data revealed. But he persevered.

His life story is Dickensian at its nadir, which came early and fierce. And Dickensian in what followed, as he was blessed to find the resilience to recover from devastation, clamor for righteousness and succeed.

Mark will explore Moynihan’s impact by analyzing the principal themes of his thoughts on government and society, his practical bureaucratic and legislative battles and achievements, and key moments of his life and career. These range from teenage naval officer, to young aid to New York Governor Averell Harriman, to counselor to U.S. Presidents, to Harvard professor, to leading U.S. diplomat, to one of the most respected members of the U.S. Senate.

Not bad for a shoe-shine boy.

Mark Nunan holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and is a member of the DMA since 2018.

Video Presentation 

Terrie Wood will provide general reflections on her years of service in the Connecticut legislature, the early voting and other election proposals currently pending before the legislature, and her 2023 – 2024 engagement as a fellow of the Yankee Institute, an organization whose mission is to empower the people of Connecticut to forge a brighter future for themselves and their families by equipping them with the information they need to be knowledgeable, involved citizens, and by advancing policies that promote smart, limited government; fairness for taxpayers; and opportunity for all.

Terrie was a seven-term Connecticut state representative (2009-2023) representing Norwalk and Darien and was a 2022 Republican candidate for Secretary of the State: a common-sense leader with decades-long experience crafting good policy and sound governance for the public and private sectors.

An excellent listener, Terrie believes in the power of deep curiosity, that listening to the voices of the people is critical and there is far more that unites us than divides us. Trusting in a bottom-up government, she is known for bringing good people together to solve complex issues.

Ohio born but a Connecticut lifer, she is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of one. Terrie was an art history major and is passionate about photography, the ocean and breaking bread with simple, good food.

Video Presentation 

THE SHADOW OF THE WIND

From the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series , Vol. 1

BY CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN & TRANSLATED BY LUCIA GRAVES ‧ RELEASE DATE: APRIL 12, 2004

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On Monday, May 2, commencing at 10 am, Jim Phillips will host a virtual meeting of the Investment Discussion Group when members will discuss the macroeconomic outlook, investment in uranium and new energy sources for the next decade and the best stocks to buy now.

With the large sell-off in  the markets, there is much to discuss. The S&P is now off 13% from recent highs, the DOW is off 10% and the NASDAQ composite is off 23%. Some tech names are off 50%-70%! The retail investor is running for the hills with the most bearish views in over a year with recession mentioned in the news daily.

The Greed/Fear index is closing in on extreme fear and the .VIX is approaching 35 … usually a time to consider buying high quality stocks. Jim urges that you bring to the meeting your best stock ideas to consider.

On Monday, April 4, 2022, Jim Phillips will host a virtual meeting of the Investment Discussion Group commencing at 10:00 am to discuss, among other things, the current macroeconomic environment, investments in the semiconductor space and conviction buys under current market conditions.

Your host: Jim Phillips

Investment Discussion Group Meeting, Monday, January 3, 2022, 10:00 a.m.

On Monday, January 3, 2022, commencing at 10 am, Jim Phillips will host a virtual meeting of the Investment Discussion Group. After a review of the macro-outlook, the group plans to cover the latest developments with respect to streaming/entertainment companies, with input from Dennis Leibowitz, and the increased interest in alternative investment managers, with remarks by Jim Phillips. As usual, members should feel free to present companies they view as “conviction buys” or long-term holds following a correction.

The Presidency of Martin Van Buren  is the subject of a talk by DMA member Mark Nunan. Van Buren, our eighth president from 1837 to 1841, is not well known, but arguably he transformed US politics, uniting factions into workable two-party system.  Amazingly, having along with Andrew Jackson been instrumental in founding the Democratic Party, late in life he was influential in the launching of the Republican Party. As a boy growing up modestly at the close of the Revolutionary era, Van Buren knew personally Alexander Hamilton and other prominent leaders of the new country. America and its institutions were still young and as Van Buren reached political prominence he was a keen analyst of the factional, cultural and regional interests of his time. He became critical of  Federalist dominance, including Hamilton’s success in establishing the Bank of the United States. It cost him dearly when as president he was blamed for the “Panic of 1837” and he was not re-elected. Van Buren continued to press for financial and labor reforms through three presidential runs at a time of changing politics in the country and the run-up to the Civil War.  His career contains lessons about how to mitigate the potential for factional feuds and political violence through the unifying power of a strong and successful party system.

Mark Nunan, who has previously spoken to the DMA about the lives of Robert Moses and Fiorello LaGuardia, was born in Cork, Ireland. At an early age his family moved to Alabama. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1976 and continued his education at Stanford University where he was awarded a master’s degree in 1979 and a Ph.D. in 1983. During that same period, he was a Fellow at L’ENS normale superieure at the University of Paris-Sorbonne as part of his Ph.D. program. In 1984, he joined COS, Inc., a firm that assists companies and governments in researching and implementing new business opportunities, retiring as a senior vice president in 2018. He splits his time between Darien and Slovenia where he has family connections.

Video Presentation