Colson Whitehead

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead returns to Sixth & I to present *Cool Machine*, the final volume of his acclaimed Harlem Trilogy. Set in 1980s New York City as it emerges from financial decline and is reshaped by Reagan-era predatory capitalism and unchecked real estate development, the novel follows Ray Carney, the furniture store owner and master fence now named Sterling Furniture’s Dealer of the Month. When banks refuse his wife a loan for her new travel agency, Carney gambles on one last heist, crossing paths with legendary criminal mastermind Pepper. Still haunted two decades later by his inability to save his cousin Freddie, Carney sees a chance to rescue Freddie’s son from the city’s violent forces—but it will mean risking the hard-won safety and security he has built for his family. The story roves from Windows on the World to the Meadowlands, revealing that in New York it is what lies below the surface that holds the truth. The evening consists of a 30-minute lecture by the author, followed by 30 minutes of pre-collected audience questions.

When: Monday, July 27, 2026, at 7:00 pm ET, with doors opening at 6:00 pm.

Venue: Sixth & I (In-Person and Virtual), located at 600 I Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Tickets: In-person general admission tickets are $27 (a $5 increase applies the day before the event). A ticket plus a signed copy of *Cool Machine* is $45. Limited premium reserved seating options are available at select giving levels. Virtual attendance is $12, or $38 for a virtual ticket plus a signed book. Additional fees apply for all purchases.

Format: A 30-minute lecture by Colson Whitehead, followed by 30 minutes of audience questions that are collected in advance.

Ages: Not explicitly stated; standard Sixth & I policy likely applies (typically all ages, but content may be suited for adults).

Note: Seating is general admission. Tickets should be purchased online. The event will also be streamed virtually.