3 Topics Over Dinner is a dinner discussion group that meets on weekends. Before each event, links to articles and/or videos on three topics—usually unrelated to one another—are posted on the event listing. Attendees are expected to read the articles (and any additional sources they wish) or watch the videos before the discussion. The concept is similar to a book club, but with much less reading. The required preparation should take no more than about two hours.

Each month we meet at a restaurant featuring a different national cuisine. We choose restaurants that can provide separate checks for a large group, so everyone can pay with their own credit card without having to split the bill. We also look for restaurants that are quiet, pleasant, and reasonably priced. Every event listing includes a link to the restaurant's menu, with prices.

All restaurants are located in Manhattan, on 77th Street or farther south.

Attendance is limited to about eight people so that everyone can hear one another and participate in a single conversation.

The group has met roughly once a month since 2008. It began on Meetup, later moved to Eventbrite.

A $5.00 deposit is required to RSVP. The deposit is refunded in cash ten minutes after the event begins. No-shows and late arrivals forfeit their deposit.

"When people actually meet and get to know each other ... what Lincoln called those ‘better angels’ come out. People start recognizing themselves in each other, and they start trusting each other. That's not just the basis for democracy—that's the basis for our long-term salvation." — Barack Obama

Political Beliefs Are Not About Truth

Ever notice that yard signs and bumper stickers posting political opinions rarely state moderate, reasonable, cautious, qualified opinions? Rather, they usually state quite strident opinions, as if the goal is to deliberately offend a substantial share of the public.

An essay written by Bo Wineguard of Aporia Magazine