If there's one party you don't want to be late to...
SCENE REPORT STARTER PACKS 004
SCENE REPORT STARTER PACKS is a series from Scremes Report, spotlighting the readings and magazines keeping the flame of literary culture lit in New York, London, and LA.
Every few weeks, I will invite the host(s) of a reading series or the editor(s) of an independent literary magazine to a collaborative iPhone note wherein they respond to a few choice inquiries, which I will then turn into a starter pack. Enjoyyyyy!
When I first moved to NYC, I lived just off of Essex and Rivington. The trek up the few blocks to KGB was a weekly pilgrimage for me. If I had anything like a neighborhood bar, a local watering hole, that was it.
When Late To The Party Press launched last year, they also made their home at KGB (though they have hosted a couple of readings at other venues).
Late to the Party Press is a monthly reading series hosted by Madeline Howard and Sophy Drouin at KGB that started with a discussion between the hosts about how they always feel “late to the party” in life: “Late to finding the writers we love. Late to our artistic voices. Late to taking our creative lives seriously. In short, we felt behind,” they say.
Sophy and Madeline carry that background idea through their readings. “With our readings, we wanted to create a space for community engagement, vulnerability, and artistic exploration. After each artist reads, we ask them a few questions about when they’ve felt ‘late to the party’ in life. It’s a relief to realize that even wonderful artists are late to something.”
It’s a relief to realize that even wonderful artists are late to something.
Late to the Party Press was launched in May 2025 and has hosted nine readings, featuring 42 readers. Their series HQ is at KGB Bar in the East Village.
Yes, come on in. No, you’re just on time.
SOUND | Set the tone. Every good series needs a soundtrack. What’s yours?
“We’re Working On Many Levels” by Farren Laen (Sophy’s Husband 🖤)
TOUCH | Ok, let’s get textural with it. If your reading series were a material, what would it be?
One hundred percent organic cotton. Simple and breathable, baby.
SIGHT | Readings have become a runway! What’s your favorite thing you’ve worn to host? In your wildest fantasy, what would you wear?
Madeline: I tend to wear all black because I struggle with stylistic indecision. In my wildest fantasy, though? I’d copy anything worn by Snooki.
Sophy: My favorite thing to host in are the loosest, baggiest jeans with a big cotton t-shirt. In my fantasy, I’m styled by Danielle Goldberg and wearing perfectly tailored menswear.
SCENT | Well, you look great. How do you smell? If your reading series were a fragrance, what would it be?
Warm bodies. Wooden chairs. Dust. Spilled beer on your t-shirt. Hot food on a cold day. Your partner’s sweatshirt.
TASTE | Doesn’t keeping the literary flame alight make you thirsty? What are you ordering from the bar as soon as the reading is over?
Madeline: I don’t like to drink while we’re hosting, because I can be a control freak. By the time we’re done, I immediately need a beer and order a Peroni from KGB’s amazing bartender, Kelly.
Sophy: Tequila soda with extra soda, and an end of the night shot with Kelly and Madeline <3.
Now that we’re all here, let’s get into it.
As literary people, obviously, we all love language. What’s a word or phrase, in English or another language, that nails the vibe of the series?
Better late than never. (SR agrees. Zeitgeist this…zeitgeist that. *yawn*).
What’s your deserted island book?
Sophy says Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
Madeline says My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Contemporary literary culture hot take?
Published writers should read from works-in-progress at readings. We love a polished piece, but there’s something special about sharing a draft. And then we’ll go out and buy your book afterward! (SR agrees even more! As a writer, a reading can be a fantastic place for absorbing feedback on what’s working in a piece.)
Digital flyering is the backbone of reading series promos. What was on the mood board when you came up with your flyers’ art style?
Photos of older adults enjoying themselves. Mood lighting. Bodies of water. Cathedrals. Reflections. Women in windows. Dive bars. Diners. (Enjoy a selection of Late to the Party Press’ past flyers below.)
