BRIDGING THE GAP

If you don’t often drive between Brooklyn and Staten Island, your recollection of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge may stem from the starting point of the New York Marathon or from its role in The Avengers, when Iron Man flies over and under it while intercepting a nuclear missile. But for many who remember the tremendous building project that changed the face of New York City and resulted in the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, the 50th Anniversary of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is cause for both reflection and celebration. One of these people is author Gay Talese, who observed and wrote about many aspects of the bridge project, from the politics to the workers who actually built it, including three men who died on the job. His 1964 book, The Bridge, bestowed a legacy of the many ways a man-made structure can change our lives. Join Talese and New York Times columnist Clyde Haberman to commemorate the bridge’s 50th birthday tonight.

Thu., Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m., 2014