Ocean House Brings Ludwig Bemelmans to Life with Curated Culinary Experience and Curator-Led Talk

Start: Saturday, April 18, 2026 6:00PM
End: Saturday, April 18, 2026 8:00PM

Ocean House will host a two-day celebration of famed author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans on April 18 and 19, inviting guests to experience the art, appetite and adventurous spirit of the creator of Madeline through an immersive dinner and illustrated lecture led by Hilary Pierce, Curator of The Bemelmans Gallery at Ocean House. On Saturday, April 18, guests will gather in the Drawing Room & Gallery for Ludwig Bemelmans Dinner: The Intrepid Gourmet, an intimate evening of cocktails, conversation and a thoughtfully curated three-course family-style dinner inspired by Bemelmans’ writings and legendary dining experiences. The evening begins at 6 pm with cocktails and passed canapés, followed by dinner and lecture at 6:45 pm, and concludes with a Q&A and desserts at 8 pm. Pierce will present a lively illustrated talk tracing Bemelmans’ favorite meals and storied dining rooms, from classic 20th-century New York restaurants and supper clubs to his own Parisian bistro - La Colombe, drawing from her extensive study of his books and essays for Town & Country and The New Yorker.