SOLD OUT
Curious table
When Cities Steal the Stars: Dinner and a Dark Sky ReckoningNovember 2, 2025 | 6-9pm | A 518 x Hilltown Commons Event
Join us for a remarkable dinner conversation with Dr. Mindy Townsend— the Dudley astronomer at Siena University, science communicator, and fierce defender of darkness. She’ll guide us through a startling truth: Most of us live in a sky so washed out by electric glare that we’ve lost sight of the Milky Way—our cosmic heritage, erased by our own making.
By the end of the evening, you might never look at a streetlamp in the same way.
What You’ll Learn
How light pollution is silencing the stars—and what that means for both professional and amateur astronomers.
The ripple effects of losing true night, from ecology and human health to cultural memory.
How communities are fighting back, reclaiming darkness one carefully designed streetlight at a time.
It’s more than a dinner—it’s a wake-up call. Dr. Townsend won’t just highlight the problem; she’ll challenge us to rethink how we live and light the night. The stars used to belong to all of us, and together we’ll explore how we might give them back.
After dinner, step outside to observe the Moon, Saturn, and star systems through a telescope. The night will close with conversation and connection around a fire, under a sky that reminds us why darkness matters.
SEASONAL MENU
First Course:
Caramelized winter squash tart with aged goat cheese, thyme, and brown butter
Chicken liver mousse with pickled shallots and grilled brioche
Endive leaves with roasted beets, candied hazelnuts, and blood orange
Main Course (choice of)
Seared steelhead trout with citrus salsa verde, charred leeks, and crispy fingerlings
Roasted cauliflower steak with smoked romesco, braised beluga lentils, and herb emulsion (v)
Dessert
Flourless dark chocolate cake with vanilla chantilly and berry coulis
Drinks (2 drinks included)
Selection of Natural Wines
Selection of Local Beers
Specialty Cocktail
Non-alcoholic Options
meet our speaker
dr. mindy townsend
Mindy Townsend, Ph.D.
Dudley Astronomer, Siena College
Mindy Townsend is the Dudley Astronomer at Siena College, a role made possible through the college’s partnership with Dudley Observatory, a long-standing nonprofit dedicated to science education. As an outreach astronomer, she focuses on public astronomy, leading star parties, workshops for K–12 students, and lectures for the community. Her research centers on galaxy formation and evolution, with a dissertation on the growth of massive galaxies under the supervision of Dr. Gregory Rudnick at the University of Kansas.
Price: $95
There is very limited seating for this event—reserve now. Bring your appetite and your curious mind. We can’t wait to meet you!