The Inspiration
New York City’s historic Algonquin Hotel is home to the iconic Round Table, where an informal group of writers, critics, and actors regularly met in the 1920s and 30s for lunch. Nicknamed the "Vicious Circle," these creatives would talk about everything from prose to politics. Known for their sharp wit and literary influence, its most notable women were poet and critic Dorothy Parker, novelist and playwright Edna Ferber, and fierce women's rights advocate Ruth Hale.
In a nod to the Round Table’s "Vicious Circle," The Femme Circle—a seasonal event created and moderated by Nikki Vargas—invites women across industries for a round table discussion in front of a live audience. Whether it's a round table of women in media discussing the importance of sharing women's stories or a round table discussion of women in publishing discussing the mechanics of book publishing and the novels that are published—The Femme Circle encourages important and candid conversations around today's creative industries, while also fostering a sense of community amongst professional women.
New York City’s historic Algonquin Hotel is home to the iconic Round Table, where an informal group of writers, critics, and actors regularly met in the 1920s and 30s for lunch. Nicknamed the "Vicious Circle," these creatives would talk about everything from prose to politics. Known for their sharp wit and literary influence, its most notable women were poet and critic Dorothy Parker, novelist and playwright Edna Ferber, and fierce women's rights advocate Ruth Hale.
In a nod to the Round Table’s "Vicious Circle," The Femme Circle—a seasonal event created and moderated by Nikki Vargas—invites women across industries for a round table discussion in front of a live audience. Whether it's a round table of women in media discussing the importance of sharing women's stories or a round table discussion of women in publishing discussing the mechanics of book publishing and the novels that are published—The Femme Circle encourages important and candid conversations around today's creative industries, while also fostering a sense of community amongst professional women.
The First Femme Circle: Women in Media
Spring 2025
Hosted by The Algonquin Hotel
Hosted by The Algonquin Hotel
For the first Femme Circle, a panel of writers and editors across the media industry gathered at the iconic Round Table inside the historic Algonquin Hotel. This first sold-out event focused on bringing together women in media for a candid discussion on the shifting media landscape, the importance of telling women's stories, how women are represented across media genres, and the stories behind each of the panelists' own impressive careers.
Meet the Panelists
AFAR's Editorial Director, Billie Cohen.
Freelance Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of Full Time Travel, Esme Benjamin, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, and more.
Author of This Might Be Too Personal (St. Martin's Griffin, 2022), New York Magazine contributor, and The Cut Columnist, Alyssa Shelasky.
ELLE's Staff Culture Writer, Lauren Puckett-Pope.
Moderated by Fodor's Travel Senior Editor, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
Meet the Panelists
AFAR's Editorial Director, Billie Cohen.
Freelance Journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of Full Time Travel, Esme Benjamin, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, New York Magazine, and more.
Author of This Might Be Too Personal (St. Martin's Griffin, 2022), New York Magazine contributor, and The Cut Columnist, Alyssa Shelasky.
ELLE's Staff Culture Writer, Lauren Puckett-Pope.
Moderated by Fodor's Travel Senior Editor, author of Call You When I Land (HarperCollins, 2023) and Wanderess (Penguin Random House, 2022), Nikki Vargas.
