An unusual talk for me at the Boylston Public Library. Instead of talking about one topic from my books, I will be talking about multiple topics and my writing process. Please be aware that I am happy to speak to your book club via Zoom, particularly about my new novel, Cat Dreaming and A Boston Harbor Islands Adventure , a tale of four intrepid women who spent more than two weeks on Great Brewster Island in the and left an intriguing journal of their exploits.
Both books are excellent choices for discussions. Email sschorow at gmail dot com for more information. If you are interested in having me speak to your organization, school or community group about Boston's Combat Zone, Boston's drinking history, the Boston Harbor Islands, Boston fire history, the infamous Brink's robbery or a related topic, please email me at sschorow at comcast. The Tragedy of the Cocoanut Grove Fire This nightclub fire killed nearly people and burned through the heart of Boston.
Stephanie recounts the events that led to the fire, its investigation and its enduring mysteries. New information continues to come forward and Stephanie brings the latest to life. She also leaves time for people to share their stories of the Grove, making for a moving, interactive event. So how did this great New England city become home to one of the largest and most notorious adult entertainment districts in the nation?
In this talk based on two years of research, veteran reporter Stephanie Schorow teases out the issues that created this controversial neighborhood, giving voice to the players who sought to tame or profit from the sleaze snaking its way through Boston. At turns comic and tragic, Schorow introduces us to the politicians, exotic dancers, and wise guys, and residents brought together by the adult entertainment districtβa five-acre neighborhood the city engineered to contain the very porno plague it wanted to eliminate.
For these people and thousands of others, the Combat Zone is more than a memoryβit was a life-altering adventure. Drinking Boston: A historical pub crawl through the taverns, speakeasies and nightclubs of Boston. From the drama of the "Blue Blazer" to the mystery of the "Ward 8," Stephanie serves up a cocktail of pop culture, history and anecdotes.
