Photos: Auden Barbour

We hit the big one-oh, y’all! A decade. Can you believe it? Our 10th birthday bash unfolded on a rainy November night in NYC, but that didn’t dampen our spirits one bit. We soaked up a decade of incredible Gen-X storytelling with six captivating storytellers who took the stage to share their tales of “Ambition,” the evening’s theme. Add in a few quick “secret ambitions” from the audience, and connecting with TueNighters (old and new) was just pure magic.

Stand-up comedian, and our incredible host for the evening, Ophira Eisenberg welcomed TueNighters for a cozy night in at the Caveat cabaret theater on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Margit took the stage and, in a touching moment, shared her heartfelt gratitude for an incredible 10 years of Gen-X storytelling and sisterhood.

Kicking off our storytelling lineup, Julia stepped into the spotlight to share her incredible journey, from conquering brain cancer to achieving the remarkable milestone of being the youngest woman to complete her 300th lifetime marathon. Her story is also featured on TueNight.

Abbe Aronson shared the evolution of her ambitions over the years, revealing the reasons behind her decision to trade city life for the serenity of a cozy cottage in the Catskills, NY — and it sounds temptingly delightful.

Award-winning novelist Carlene Bauer offered a raw and honest account of how the intense desires driving her ambition eventually led to burnout. Drawing inspiration from the art of painter and fellow Gen-Xer Cecily Brown, particularly the piece titled “BFF,” she revealed her journey of treating her writing like a dear friend — a story that struck a chord with many TueNighters.

During a quick break, TueNighters took the chance to catch up.

Filling the room with laughter and shared stories, adding to the friendly and warm atmosphere in the room.

And, oh yes, there were cupcakes!

After intermission, Ophira called upon volunteers to step up on stage, sharing the spotlight as they read aloud the “Secret Ambition” notes from the audience.

Then it was Ebele’s time to shine, stealing the spotlight with her story, a captivating tale about auditioning for Mary in the 8th-grade Christmas pageant. You can catch it, along with the rest of the amazing stories, here on TueNight later this month. Trust us, you’ll love it!

The crowd enjoying the storytelling.

Wrapping up the night, Carla shared a moving story about her abuela (a.k.a. Lala) and how Lala’s unwavering faith carried her from the struggles of addiction to earning a college degree. Dive into her heartfelt tale here on TueNight.

It was an evening filled with laughter.

And a few tears.

Above all, a massive thank you to everyone who made our TueNight 10th Birthday Bash a night to remember!