As we prepare to open the gates for the 2026 Summer Season, I’m reminded that each season at Chautauqua marks both a return and a renewal.
Personally, I am so excited to see so many of you back on our beloved grounds as we return to the traditions of day-to-day life at Chautauqua. Mornings in the Amphitheater, afternoons of exploration and evenings filled with music and conversation. At the same time, each summer asks us to renew our commitment to ensuring that Chautauqua continues to serve future generations.
This balance, honoring tradition while caring for what lies ahead, is especially clear this year in our stewardship of one of Chautauqua’s most recognized and cherished spaces: the Athenaeum Hotel.
For generations, the Athenaeum has stood as both a welcome point and a gathering place. It is where many visitors first experience the Institution and where countless moments of connection unfold each season.
Like all historic spaces, the Athenaeum requires ongoing care and thoughtful investment. Preserving its character while ensuring it can continue to serve guests safely and comfortably is essential to the overall Chautauqua experience.
This work is not simply about maintaining a building. It is about sustaining a place that holds shared memory and meaning for so many in this community.
As we begin the season, we are inviting those who care about Chautauqua to consider supporting the continued restoration of the Athenaeum Hotel. Hotel staff are offering history sessions in the parlor of the Athenaeum at 1 p.m. on June 30, July 7, July 21, July 28, Aug 11, Aug 18 & Aug 25. No registration is required to attend, but these sessions will operate on a first come, first served basis.
Philanthropy has always played a critical role in Chautauqua’s ability to care for its historic campus while advancing its mission. Gifts to this effort will help ensure that the Athenaeum remains a welcoming and vibrant part of the Institution for years to come.
The season ahead will bring the full measure of what makes Chautauqua distinctive: thoughtful dialogue, artistic excellence, spiritual exploration and opportunities for lifelong learning.
I hope you will take time to experience both the familiar and the newly improved aspects of the grounds and to reflect on how each of us plays a role in sustaining this place we love.
We look forward to seeing you all soon and spending the summer together at Chautauqua.
Sincerely,
Kyle F. Keogh
Interim Chief Executive
A Season of Renewal for Worship
By Robert Wilson-Black, Director of Religion
As the new Director of Religion and decades-long Chautauquan, I’m pleased to announce the following transitions and enhancements in our program offerings that the department has been working on since last fall.
Introducing the New Buildings and Grounds Committee
The Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees is pleased to introduce the Buildings and Grounds Committee, which was established to provide effective board oversight and guidance for the planning, coordination, maintenance, development, redevelopment and overall stewardship of Chautauqua Institution’s natural and physical environment, and to ensure that major and visible capital, landscape, signage and other site or building design projects on Institution property align with the Institution’s architectural, historic, environmental and aesthetic values and operational goals. The committee will oversee the Institution’s planning and activities to ensure they maximize functionality, enhance experiential quality and maintain harmony with the Institution’s unique setting, built environment and designation as a National Register of Historic Places Landmark District.
Because the committee first began reviewing Institution projects in October 2025, there are current Institution projects such as the Roe Green Theater Center and the Greene Family Commons over which the committee did not provide oversight (although they were approved by the board) because the designs were final, the bids were awarded and construction had begun. Since then, the committee has reviewed one landscape project proposed by the Institution and will review another when a location and design have been proposed.
Between October 2025 and March, the committee held several meetings regarding the garden in Lincoln Park, and the committee held a public meeting in March to receive feedback from Chautauquans. After this review process, the garden was approved by the board of trustees. We sincerely appreciate the patience of the Institution’s Campus Planning and Operations team as well as the many donors to this project and the endowment that supported it.
The committee will also consider the Acceptance Garden, but the location and design are not yet settled because the project is still in early stages of development. We anticipate a proposal regarding the Acceptance Garden from the Institution in the future and will seek further community input when more information is available. In addition to these ongoing projects, the committee will consider various major building and landscape proposals as they arise.
Exploring Future Housing Options: Three Strategies to Support Chautauqua’s Growth
This July, Kyle and the Buildings & Grounds Committee will host three listening sessions to gather feedback on potential future land use at Chautauqua.
The proposal centers on three housing strategies to help boost census and better meet demand: adding an affinity or denominational house, constructing additional condominiums and making select undeveloped lots available for single-family homes.
These sessions are designed to share early concepts, answer questions, and ensure patron perspectives help guide next steps.
Meeting schedule:
Monday, July 13 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall Ballroom
Thursday, July 23 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. | Virtual Register Here
Monday, July 27 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Alumni Hall Ballroom
Introducing the New CHQ Store
Chautauqua Institution is set to open the new CHQ Store this summer. Located in Hultquist Center, the store will offer an expanded selection of Chautauqua-branded merchandise available to patrons to purchase. Until the store is open, some of the items are already available in the bookstore.
The CHQ Store will be located within the expanded Amphitheater security perimeter, allowing individual ticketholders and season passholders alike to shop the new selection of apparel and merchandise during events at the Amp.
The CHQ Store will carry well-known brands not previously available, including Lululemon, Johnnie-O, Peter Millar, League, Imperial and Vineyard Vines. These new offerings are designed to expand variety, while the Chautauqua Bookstore will continue to feature the favorites Chautauquans know and value.
Together, the two retail locations provide broader access to brands and styles that resonate with the Chautauqua community.
Summer Dining at Chautauqua: What’s New & What’s Open
Chautauqua’s food scene is warming up, with longtime favorites returning and exciting updates across the grounds.
Heirloom Restaurant started soft‑opening dinners the week of June 22. Reservations are available through OpenTable or by calling 716‑357‑5005. Full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner begins June 26, and the Lobby Lounge is already welcoming guests daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Just steps away, 3 Taps and the A Truck serves up tacos and Tex‑Mex favorites Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m.–8 p.m., making a perfect casual stop to enjoy the lakefront. Check in with the bar to find out about upcoming trivia, sporting event screenings and more!
Brick Walk Cafe will be open 7 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, offering an expanded grab‑and‑go selection along with classic grill favorites. And for a sweet treat, Brick Walk Ice Cream scoops from 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Coffee lovers can swing by the Gazebo, open 7 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, for specialty drinks and a sunny spot to start the morning.
Rounding out the lineup, Afterwords Wine Bar reopens June 27 with a refreshed menu and convenient new order‑ahead lunch options. Afterwords is open 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Thursday–Saturday and 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday.
Enhancing Access to Kosher Dining at Chautauqua: A Partnership That Strengthens Community
Through our valued partnership with the Zigdon Chabad Lubavitch House, Chautauqua Institution continues to expand access to kosher dining for patrons. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment, ensuring that individuals observing kosher practices have reliable and convenient meal options throughout the season. We believe it is important to keep our community informed about how we are meeting diverse dietary and cultural needs.
At this time, the Institution is not equipped to operate a fully kosher kitchen. Maintaining a kosher kitchen requires specialized facilities, dedicated food-handling protocols, and ongoing rabbinic supervision — components that are not currently in place. While this remains an area we continue to thoughtfully explore for the future, we recognize that access to kosher food is essential for many members of our community today.
To help meet this need, Chautauqua is proud to partner with the Zigdon Chabad Lubavitch House, a trusted provider of kosher food. This partnership ensures that community members and visitors have reliable, convenient access to meals that meet kosher standards throughout the season.
Kosher food is available at the following times and locations:
Bestor Plaza (Lunch Service): 12–2 p.m., Sunday through Friday
Farmers Market (Breakfast Service): 8–10 a.m., Sunday through Thursday
For dinner service and specialized dining needs, individuals are encouraged to pre-order from a full lunch and dinner menu by visiting www.cocweb.org. This website also includes information on programs and services offered by the Zigdon Chabad Lubavitch House.
"Kosher food is more than a dietary preference — it is a meaningful part of Jewish life and community,” shared Rabbi Vilenkin. “We are grateful to partner with Chautauqua Institution in making kosher dining accessible throughout the season. By providing meals, we help bring people together, and we further strengthen community through our weekly challah baking program, Friday night Community Shabbat dinners at the Zigdon Chabad Jewish House and biannual kosher BBQs at Miller Bell Tower Park."
We are grateful for the partnership with Zigdon Chabad Lubavitch House and remain dedicated to strengthening our hospitality offerings in ways that reflect the values and needs of our community.
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