Morris Arts Announces 18th Annual ‘Great Conversations’ Gala at NEW Location on April 29th

A snap from Morris Arts' Great Conversations event in 2025. This could be you!

Morris Arts—that local organization that fosters community through art and vice versa since 1973—is hosting its next Great Conversations gala on April 29th from 6:00pm to 9:30pm at a BRAND NEW location: the Park Avenue Club in beautiful Florham Park, New Jersey!

What’s this Conversations Event All About?

If you’re a fan of LOKL Cafe—which, let's be honest, who isn't?—you’ll love this: the whole idea of Great Conversations is to unplug, make meaningful face-to-face connections, and immerse yourself in the gone-but-not-forgotten art of conversation.

Speaking of LOKL, the twenty-strong list of presenters at Conversations this year includes none other than Yianni Arvanites and Panagiotis 'Panos' Stogioglou, the founders of LOKL Cafe!

Come meet LOKL Legends Yianni and Panos themselves!

From the Morris Arts press release: “During the main dinner portion of the evening, attendees sit with one of twenty captivating conversationalists, including artists, Broadway actors, top business executives, health and wellness leaders, culinary entrepreneurs, scientists, and many more. Each conversationalist leads a discussion with their table about their field of expertise and encourages the guests seated with them to ask questions and share their own experiences.”

So How Does This Work?

Well, that depends who you want to talk to. A critically acclaimed horror author? An AI recruiting expert? Billy Joel’s drummer? The owners of the coolest cafe in Morris County?

Upon purchasing tickets, you'll select the five conversationalists you'd most like to have dinner with. Upon arrival, you’ll find out which one you WILL be having dinner with!  

(A full list of conversationalists and their bios are available at www.morrisarts.org, where tickets are available for purchase.)

But that’s not all. During the cocktail hour prior to dinner, you can mingle freely with other conversationalists, colleagues, and attendees. And each year the event attracts business executives, artists, nonprofit leaders, educators, and more. Imagine the networking! The elbow-rubbing! The selfie opportunities (formerly known as “Kodak moments”)!

And you’d also be supporting a great cause. Says Morris Arts’ Executive Director Patsy Clew, “Not only does Great Conversations raise money for arts programs that connect and engage Morris County residents, but the event itself also brings people together. It perfectly complements our mission of building community through the arts.”

I Want In! What Do I Have to Do?

All you need to do is visit https://www.morrisarts.org/support/great-conversations/ and purchase your tickets. We'll see you there!

And get ready for a new bimonthly LOKL News column by none other than Morris Arts itself, covering arts, culture, events, human interest stories, and MORE!

Words: Mark Ludas

All Photos: Morris Arts