The Irish Arts Center currently has a humanities lecture series underway at its Hell’s Kitchen home called “Two Roads Diverged: A Dialogue on Irish and Black Contributions to American Culture.” Developed by Lenwood O. Sloan and Dr. Mick Moloney, it deals with a variety of aspects that characterized their interactions here in America over the centuries.

The second lecture is on Wednesday, October 24 at 7 p.m. entitled “Jimmy Crack Corn: Irish and Black Diaspora in Appalachia,” The third occurs two weeks later on November 7 at 7 p.m. dealing with the period 1830-1876 with the subject title being “Banjo and Fiddle, Tambo and Bones.” Visit www.irishartscenter.org

For those of you who may be looking to avoid listening to election night returns, there is a special treat in New York City on November 6 at 8 p.m.  Mary Black and her daughter Roisin O’Reilly are performing at the Soho supper club City Winery (155 Varick Street; www.citywinery.com).  Music very definitely runs in the family as many of us were introduced to the Black family from early recordings from the Dublin family. Mary’s sons are in the indie rock band the Coronas.