Viola Davis (Getty Images)

It’s what all the house ads in our pile of unread New Yorker magazines—we’ve been busy!—have been hinting toward. The New Yorker Festival began last night and continues today. Events include a discussion with celebu-cobbler Christian Louboutin, a panel of presidential biographers moderated by editor David Remnick and celebrity drop-ins from interviewees Viola Davis, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller and, surprisingly, our onetime Friend Lisa Kudrow. Those without evening plans can check out a preview of Cloud Atlas, the upcoming genre-bending sci-fi flick, followed by a chat with the directors—yes, like everyone else here (but for Ms. Kudrow), they were profiled in the magazine first!

The New Yorker Festival, multiple times and locations, tickets and schedule can be found at newyorker.com/festival/program-guide.