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A speakeasy where the contraband is literature returns to Old Town this month, inviting guests to sip cocktails inspired by some of America's most challenged books — all in the name of keeping libraries alive.
The Study at Morrison House, 116 S. Alfred St., will host its third annual Banned Book Speakeasy from April 21-25, transforming its intimate, book-lined bar into a haven for literary lovers and the curious alike.
The event is part celebration, part protest and entirely by design. Each cocktail on a newly reimagined menu draws inspiration from a banned or challenged title — though which books made the list this year remains a mystery guests will have to discover in person.
The backdrop is not abstract. A July 2025 report by Virginia's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that 35 percent of responding school divisions — 32 of 94 — removed at least one book from school libraries between July 2020 and March 2025, totaling 344 removal actions across 223 unique titles statewide. Hanover County led all Virginia divisions with 125 titles removed. The most commonly pulled title across the state was "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe, removed by seven divisions. Alexandria City Public Schools reported no removals during the period, according to the report.
The debate has since moved to Congress. H.R. 7661, known as the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, was introduced Feb. 24 and passed the House Committee on Education and Workforce on March 17. The bill would prohibit the use of federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 for any program or material for minors that includes sexually oriented content. The American Library Association has opposed the legislation at each step, with ALA President Sam Helmick calling it "a dangerous bill" in a March 18 statement that argued the measure would give politicians in Washington authority over what students read in local schools and libraries. Helmick warned the bill's language was broad enough to potentially affect fine art, history lessons, court cases and — citing one pointed example — Virginia's own state flag.
"H.R. 7661 is not about what is best for children," Helmick said, adding that the ALA continues to urge advocates to call Congress and oppose the bill. The association is also backing an alternative measure, the Right to Read Act, which it says would direct funding toward well-staffed school libraries rather than restricting their collections.
It is against that backdrop that The Study at Morrison House is once again opening its doors to host this event.
"This is your invitation to indulge in stories that refuse to be silenced," the venue wrote on Instagram in announcing the event.
The atmosphere leans into the speakeasy conceit: live piano music fills the room, a fireplace casts a warm glow and well-worn novels line the shelves for browsing between sips. A limited food menu rounds out the experience, drawing from The Study's broader restaurant offerings.
Admission is $2 per timed entry — every cent of which goes directly to the Virginia Library Association in support of local libraries and librarians. Last year's event generated nearly $4,500 for the organization. Guests who wish to give more can direct additional contributions toward the VLA's Librarian of Color Forum Award, LGBTQIA+ Forum Fund and Scholarship Fund, among other programs.
The timing is deliberate. Book challenges and library funding cuts have intensified across the country in recent years, making the speakeasy's central premise feel less like a literary gimmick and more like a rallying point.
Tickets and additional donation information are available at thestudyalx.com. The Study at Morrison House can also be reached at 703-838-8000.
