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NYLP Club News & Updates: US Open, UNGA, Carnegie Hall & What’s Next


A Note from the Co-Chairs

We thought summer might be a quieter time for NYLP. It turned out to be quite the opposite.

 

Over the past few months, we’ve seen our biggest membership growth yet, record engagement with our newsletters and emails, and fantastic turnouts at our June, July, and most recent August Social Hours. Even more importantly, we’ve seen new members jumping in from the start, while others who hadn hadn’t joined us in years are finding their way back to the Club.

 

And there is plenty happening around us. Lithuanian cinema made its way to U.S. theaters with the New York premiere of How to Divorce During the War  (dir. Andrius Blaževičius). while Autoriai.lt launched a fantastic campaign ahead of the film’s Lithuanian premiere on September 18 — including a striking Times Square takeover in New York. Three Lithuanian tennis players are set to compete in the US Open qualifications — and hopefully we’ll be cheering them on in the main draw!

 

September brings even more to look forward to. Ingrida Mickutė’s production company, Split Decision, presents the world premiere of SAFE HOUSE at Theatre Row, starring Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and Tony nominee Marc Kudisch. Later in the month, New York welcomes the Presidential Business Forum during UNGA High-Level Week, and in October, the Lithuanian-led Bridgetower Project comes to Carnegie Hall.

 

You’ll find all of this, along with a big welcome to our newest members and a few ideas for enjoying US Open season in New York, in this newsletter.

 

Meanwhile, we are getting ready for September and a busy fall of our own. We’ll be coming back to you soon with new NYLP initiatives, opportunities to get involved, and a few challenges for our growing network. :)

 

For now, enjoy the last days of summer — and thank you for reading, showing up, bringing your ideas, and keeping NYLP moving even when we thought everyone would be at the beach!

 

Sondra Litvaitytė & Aura Taylor Co-Chairs New York Lithuanian Professionals Club


Paulius Kontijevas, Diana Pranevičienė, Darius Peleda, Casimir Zdanius, Airida Povilaitytė, Leonardas Gujis, Ugnė Vaičiulytė, Aistė Akelaitytė, Vilia Baumilas, Darius Jankauskas, Gabrielė Sirutavičienė, Victoria Pochtar, Tiffany Sherris, Tomas Gaigalas, Martyna Meškauskaitė, and Emilija Jakumaitė.

 

We’re very happy to have you with us and look forward to meeting you at one of our upcoming events.


In Case You Missed It: Our Harlem Social Hour

A rainstorm over New York. An Italian aperitivo in Harlem. And a room full of Lithuanians who decided the rain wasn’t going to stop them.

 

Our August Social Hour at CopperLeaf Bakery brought us together Bacio Spritzes, freshly baked pizza, and conversations that continued well into the evening.

 

Thank you again to Tadas Nikulin and Ruth Shin for hosting us, and to everyone who crossed a very rainy New York to join us.

 

A Presidential Business Forum During UNGA Week

The Baltic American Chamber of Commerce (BACC) is extending a special invitation to NYLP members and friends to join the Presidential Business Forum on Resilience on September 21 in Manhattan, during the 2026 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week and Climate Week.

 

The forum will focus on energy security, critical infrastructure, innovation, and opportunities for strategic U.S.–Lithuanian cooperation. The program will feature a keynote address by H.E. Gitanas Nausėda, President of Lithuania, executive panel discussions, partnership announcements, and curated networking.

 

For our NYLP network, this is a valuable opportunity — especially for business leaders, investors, innovators, and professionals working in energy, technology, infrastructure, and transatlantic partnerships — to connect with decision-makers and explore new opportunities.

 

Monday, September 21, 2026 | 10:30 AM–2:00 PM 📍 The Union League Club, 38 E 37th Street, New York City 🎟 Admission: Free, approval required 

Registration is requested by September 16.

Click here for event details and to RSVP.

 

The Forum is organized by the Baltic American Chamber of Commerce, the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York, and the American-Lithuanian Business Council.


An exciting opportunity for NYLP members working across science, technology, research, innovation, and business.

 

MISTI Lithuania and the Lithuanian Consortium for Collaboration with MIT invite members of the Lithuanian professional network to a strategic gathering at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge on October 5, bringing together researchers and business executives to advance the partnership between Lithuania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

A central focus of the day will be Lithuanian Living Labs — a new initiative designed to advance applied research, cross-border innovation, and regional resilience in:

 

Dual-Use Biotechnologies | Energy & Sustainability | Advanced Manufacturing | Interdisciplinary Innovation

 

Participants are particularly encouraged to join the 1:30 PM private session, an interactive discussion where they will be invited to share their expertise, contribute to the development of the Living Labs, and help shape a long-term vision for Lithuania–MIT collaboration.

 

The day also includes MIT case studies, faculty matchmaking, an exclusive MIT Media Lab tour, a fireside chat, and an evening reception and networking.

 

Monday, October 5, 2026 | 9:30 AM–6:00 PM MIT Media Lab | Cambridge, MA

Space for the interactive session is intentionally limited.

RSVP by September 25 to ina.zurkuviene@vdu.lt.

 

Preliminary Agenda | October 5, 2026

Venue: MIT Media Lab, E14-674 Multipurpose room, Cambridge, MA

● 09:30 – 10:00 AM | Check-in & Coffee Reception

● 10:00 – 10:10 AM | Welcome Remarks ( Prof. Gediminas Urbonas & Prof. Elizabeth Wood (MIT)

● 10:10 – 11:50 AM | MIT Case Study Presentations and Roundtable Discussion

Bridging Science, Arts, and Society: Modeling Interdisciplinarity for Global Challenges

● 12:00 – 01:20 PM | MIT–Lithuania Faculty Seed Funds: Matchmaking Roundtable Lunch 

Focus Areas: AI & Dual-Use | Biotechnologies | Energy | Advanced Manufacturing | Education

● 01:30 – 02:30 PM | Private Session: Presentation of Lithuanian Living Labs, 

Interactive co-creation and open discussion with all participants

● 02:45 – 03:45 PM | Exclusive Tour of the MIT Media La, led by Prof. Gediminas Urbonas

● 04:00 – 04:30 PM | Fireside Chat, featuring Prof. Dr. Regina Valutytė, Vice-Minister of Education, Science, and Sport of Lithuania (TBC)

● 04:30 – 06:00 PM | Evening Reception & Networking

 

Questions? You may also contact Diana Pranevičienė, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Consulate General of Lithuania in New York -diana.praneviciene@urm.lt.


Lithuanian Cinema in New York

Thank you to everyone from our NYLP network who came out to support Lithuanian cinema and director Andrius Blaževičius during the New York opening of How to Divorce During the War.

 

After winning the World Cinema Dramatic Directing Award at Sundance, the film arrived in New York and has been attracting attention from American critics, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

 

 


Lithuanian Tennis at the US Open

New York is in tennis mode, and we have extra reason to follow this year’s US Open. Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas and Edas Butvilas are among the Lithuanian players to watch in New York as US Open action gets underway. We’ll be cheering for our players and hoping to see the Lithuanian flag flying deep into the tournament!

 

And even without a ticket to Arthur Ashe, there are plenty of ways to get into the tennis spirit around the city. This year’s Seaport Racquet Club is one option for watching and joining the US Open atmosphere downtown.

 


And for Your Reading List…

If the US Open leaves you wanting a little more tennis, we also have a Lithuanian connection for your reading list.

Florian Gazan’s Brodvėjaus Vitas. Pašėlęs tenisininko ir vakarėlių liūto Vito Gerulaičio gyvenimas tells the story of Vitas Gerulaitis — the New York-born son of Lithuanian immigrants who became one of the world’s top tennis players and one of the most colorful personalities of his era.

 

And a little perk from our friends at the New York Lithuanian Book Club: they are sharing their special LAPAS discount with NYLP members and friends. Use code NYCBOOKCLUB15 when ordering Brodvėjaus Vitas from LAPAS publishing house.

 

A good read for anyone who wants to stay in the tennis mood — with a distinctly Lithuanian-New York connection.


We invite you to see SAFE HOUSE, a new play produced by Viktorija Mickutė and her production company Split Decision, running at Theatre Row on West 42nd Street from September 2–13.

 

Written by L.B. Browne and directed by Benjamin Viertel, SAFE HOUSE stars Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and Tony nominee Marc Kudisch.

 

Set in the days leading up to a U.S. presidential election, the play follows a father convinced that a second American civil war is imminent and determined to protect his family by building a doomsday bunker beneath their Pennsylvania home.

When his estranged teenage daughter unexpectedly returns, the family is forced to confront questions of fear, control, protection, and where love ends and obsession begins.

 

Preview: September 2 Opening Night: September 3 Theatre Row | 410 W 42nd Street, New York


2026 Freedom Run & Community Picnic

Lace up your running shoes, bring your family and friends, and join us for the 2026 Freedom Run & Community Picnic—a day of community, movement, and celebration with Lithuanians from across the New York area.

 

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026

🕛 12:00 PM

📍 McCarren Park, Brooklyn, NY

 

The event is organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York, together with the Lithuanian American Community – New York District, the Lithuanian Community of New York, Maironis Lithuanian School, Lithuanian Athletes' Club of New York, New York Lithuanian Professionals (NYLP), the Lithuanian Alliance of America (SLA), Tautos Fondas, the New York Lithuanian Amateur Theater, and other Lithuanian organizations and community representatives

📧 Questions? Contact: rsvp.newyork@mfa.lt


From Billboard to Carnegie Hall: Rasa Vitkauskaitė & The Bridgetower Project

Boston-based Lithuanian pianist and producer Rasa Vitkauskaitė released the Bridgetower Project album on August 7, and it made an impressive debut at No. 6 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical Albums chart — making Rasa the highest-charting Lithuanian pianist of the chart.

 

And now, New York gets to experience the project live. Rasa brings the Bridgetower Project to Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.

 

Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 7:30 PM Carnegie Hall – Weill Recital Hall | New York City

Tickets  - NYLP Special Offer: 15% off orchestra seats with code BTX57512

 

An artists’ meet-and-greet will immediately follow the performance, giving guests a chance to meet Rasa and the other artists. A cash bar will also be available.

 

At the heart of the project is the fascinating and long-overlooked story of George Bridgetower, the Afro-European violin virtuoso with an unexpected Lithuanian connection. Born in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, with parents who served the Radziwiłł family, Bridgetower went on to become one of Europe’s celebrated violinists. Beethoven composed his famous Violin Sonata No. 9 for him, and the two premiered it together in Vienna in 1803.

 

The project brings Bridgetower’s story back into the spotlight through music and poetry, with an exceptional group of collaborators, including violinist Ilya Kaler, Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove, and multiple GRAMMY Award winner Paquito D’Rivera.

 

A Lithuanian connection to music history, a Billboard milestone, and a Carnegie Hall performance — definitely one for our fall calendar.


Help Us Build the NYLP Trusted Network Directory!

Know Someone We Should Know?

 

Google, Yelp, and ChatGPT can all be helpful—but sometimes the best recommendation comes from someone you trust. Over the years, many of us have turned to one another for advice: Do you know a good accountant? A reliable real estate agent? A primary care physician? A local guide for visiting friends? 

 

Chances are, someone in the NYLP community has already found the right person. That’s why we are launching The NYLP Pro Picks—a definitive directory shaped entirely by our members' own experiences.

 

We are looking for your favorite service providers, including:

  • Local guides, translators, and photographers

  • Primary care physicians, attorneys, and accountants

  • Real estate agents, web designers, and restaurants

  • Any other professionals or businesses you have been genuinely happy to use!

How to share your recommendations: You can email your favorites directly to info@nylpclub.com or submit them instantly through our online form. 👉 Click Here to Submit a Recommendation

 

Exclusive Perk: If you run a business or offer a service yourself and want to provide a special package or exclusive discount for NYLP members, please let us know!

 

 




 
 
 

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