What was hidden behind the doors of St. Petersburg's drawing rooms in the 18th and 19th centuries? In this lecture about salons, we will discuss how the circle of guests and topics of conversation changed, what stories were born around the tea table, how the fates of hosts and regulars unfolded, and why evenings in drawing rooms still help us better understand the city and its culture. The social salon in St. Petersburg is often depicted as a beautiful picture from novels: elegantly dressed ladies, gentlemen, candles, and music. Behind this familiar image lies a complex world of gestures, hints, and rules, through which one can see changes in society. The lecture at the "Na Stremyannoy" library is dedicated to how salon life developed from the times of Peter the Great to the early 19th century and why conversations in drawing rooms turned out to be no less important than official speeches in palace halls. Listeners will analyze the path from the first attempts at courtly communication to mature literary and musical salons. It concerns private homes where officials, military personnel, poets, musicians, and publishers gathered to discuss new books, fresh rumors, political news, and the subtleties of social etiquette. Live characters emerge: hosts who set the tone for the evening, "lions" and "lionesses" whom everyone aspired to meet, shy debutantes trying to speak in public. A separate section is dedicated to how salons differed from one another. Some leaned towards music and home concerts, others resembled literary clubs, while others were famous for sharp conversations and comments on social chronicles. Through examples of well-known St. Petersburg addresses, the salon space is shown as a living organism, where every word and gesture could influence a guest's reputation. Guide Irina Tyheeva shows how stories are connected to urban space: where houses stood, which rooms became centers of communication, and which habits of the hosts would surprise a modern visitor. Thus, a picture of everyday life is formed: from how they chose refreshments and entertainment to which songs were most often played. The lecture is aimed at those interested in cultural.