On Saturday, April 6, NOW Generation volunteers are organizing events in 12 cities spanning the country to bring “CHQNearYou.”

Each gathering features a different vibe — be it a brewery tour, an outdoor excursion, film festival, or evening at the ballpark — and you’re invited! With NOW Gen hosts designing these gatherings, we are excited to bring Chautauquans together in person, and further connect the NOW Gen community through social media.

Host cities for “CHQNearYou” include:

Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Boulder, CO
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
Boston, MA
New York, NY
Western New York
Cleveland, OH
Philadelphia, PA
Nashville, TN
Austin, TX

Keep scrolling for details, by city, or click on the list above.

Please invite your friends and fellow Chautauquans living across the country to participate by sharing these events on Facebook!

Share your photos, videos, and more using hashtag #CHQNearYou for a chance to win fun prizes!

 

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Los Angeles, CA

Join fellow Chautauquans at Spoke Bicycle Cafe for a meetup and (optional) bike ride. The quaint combo cafe and bike shop on the LA River is an oasis from the typical gridlock and, like Chautauqua, is operated in the hope of getting people out of their cars, closer to nature, and into relationship with their neighbors.

2:00–4:00 p.m. PT

Spoke Bicycle Cafe
3050 N. Coolidge Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Website

RSVP: Kurt Conner: kurtaconner@gmail.com or 323.337.3185

Host committee: Matt Cady • Kurt Conner

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: Refreshments are available for individual purchase at the vegan-friendly cafe. Bike rentals are $12 for one hour, or $20 for two hours (prices include helmet).

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San Francisco, CA

Families and individuals of all ages are invited to gather on the Presidio Main Post Lawn for a casual (potluck-style) picnic and an afternoon of fun. Enjoy views of the Golden Gate bridge, lunch and Field 1 games from 11:30 am-1:30 pm PT, followed by bowling at Presidio Bowl from 1:30-2:30 pm PT.

11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. PT

Presidio Main Post Lawn
(lawn across from Presidio Bowl)
93 Moraga Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94129
Website

RSVP: Danielle DeLancey: danielledelancey@gmail.com or 443.223.8103 / register via Google Forms (click here)

Host Committee: Danielle DeLancey • Jakob Dobrowolski, NOW Gen Advisory Council •  Anne Trapasso

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: The host committee will provide key picnic provisions. Please bring your favorite California or Western New York dish to share. The Presidio Main Post Lawn is large. The meeting point is at the top of the lawn, immediately across the street from Presidio Bowl. There will be a nominal fee for those who wish to bowl. Additional food & drink are available for purchase at the bowling alley. In the off-chance of rain, please meet at Presidio Bowl instead of the lawn.

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Boulder, CO

Enjoy tea and socialize with friends at the beautiful Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. Nestled against the Rocky Mountain Foothills and sitting alongside Boulder Creek, the Teahouse showcases Persian hand-carved and hand-painted architectural elements.

3:00–5:00 p.m. MT

Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse
1770 13th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Website

RSVP: Kate McKee Simmons, NOW Gen Advisory Council: k8mckee@gmail.com or 303.917.2248

Audience:  All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: The cost for afternoon tea is $24 per person, or $15 for children under age 9.

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Washington, DC

Join a special Cherry Blossom Tidal Basin tour for an opportunity to see the memorials and iconic cherry blossoms in their full splendor. This privately-guided tour meets outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bookstore, takes approximately 1.5 hours and covers approximately 1 mile, ending at the Jefferson Memorial.

1:30–3:00 p.m. ET

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bookstore
121 West Basin Dr SW
Washington, DC 20418

RSVP: Russell Bermel, NOW Gen Advisory Council Chair: russell.bermel@gmail.com or 716.983.0423

Host Committee: Russell Bermel • Billy and Callie DeLancey • Hannah Goldberg • Sheri Lockwood • Mhoire Murphy • Kyle Oliver • Stephanie Schuerman

Audience:  All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: There is a $12 fee for the tour, payable in advance via Venmo or PayPal to Russell Bermel. Tour will be held rain or shine. Sturdy walking shoes, bottled water and comfortable clothes are recommended.

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Chicago, IL

Join Museum of Contemporary Photography (MoCP) Curator and Deputy Director Karen Irvine for a private, behind-the-scenes museum tour and visit the photo vault housing the collection. After the tour, enjoy lunch with fellow Chautauquans at a nearby establishment to be announced.

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. CT

Museum of Contemporary Photography
600 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605
Website

RSVP: Kate Groninger, NOW Gen Advisory Council: krgroninger@gmail.com or 804.357.9246

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: There is no fee for the tour and lunch is available for individual purchase. Space is limited; your advance registration is appreciated!

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Boston, MA

Joing fellow Chautauquans at Lucky Strike for an afternoon of bowling, arcade games and craft beer at Cheeky Monkey!

2:00–5:00 p.m. ET

Lucky Strike
145 Ipswich Street
Boston, MA 02215
Website

RSVP: Kat Orlov: katrinaorlov@gmail.com or 925.785.0728

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: Games and refreshments are available for individual purchase.

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New York, NY

Join fellow Chautauquans for a “Sports Club, NYC Style” experience during an afternoon of ping pong, shuffleboard, and more at Fat Cat.

3:00–6:00 p.m. ET

Fat Cat Music
75 Christopher St
New York, NY 10014
Website

RSVP: Amy Schiller, NOW Gen Advisory Council Vice-Chair: abschill@gmail.com or 216.409.8462

Host committee: Will McEvoy, NOW Gen Advisory Council • Amy Schiller, NOW Gen Advisory Council Vice-Chair

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering. 

Additional Details: The cost is $15/person.

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Western NY

Covering territory from Buffalo, to Jamestown, to Mayville — enjoy a day of laughs and drafts in Western New York! The full line-up includes lunch or libations at the Labatt Brew House at noon, followed by a tour of the National Comedy Center at 3 pm with a special welcome by NCC Executive Director Journey Gunderson & Chautauqua’s VP of Education Matt Ewalt, topped off with a pint at the newly-opened Big Inlet Brewing. Come for part or all of the festivities, and celebrate the Institution’s partnership with the National Comedy Center during Week Six, “What’s Funny?”

12:00–1:30 p.m. ET

Labatt Brew House
79 Perry Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
Website

RSVP for Labatt Brew House: Jordan Nicholson: jordanwnicholson@gmail.com or 716.269.4062

Additional Details: Refreshments are available for individual purchase.

3:00–6:00 p.m. ET

National Comedy Center
203 West Second Street
Jamestown, NY 14701
Website

RSVP for National Comedy Center: Ruth Nelson: ruthanelson@roadrunner.com or 716.708.9980

Additional Details: Discounted tickets for April 6 are available for purchase at http://bit.ly/2TPsjFj using the promo code “GENNOW.” Adults are $19.50 (normally $25.50). Youth tickets (ages 7-18) are $18.50 & children (ages 6-12) are $12.00. 

6:30–8:00 p.m. ET

Big Inlet Brewing
6169 Elm Flats Road
Mayville, NY 14757
Website

RSVP for Big Inlet: Jordan Nicholson: jordanwnicholson@gmail.com or 716.269.4062

Additional Details: Refreshments are available for individual purchase.

Audience:  All ages are welcome. Please use your discretion with very young children touring the Comedy Center. 

Host committee: Ivah Hagner • Ruth Nelson •  Jordan Nicholson • Tim Smeal

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Cleveland, OH

Enjoy an evening reception at Republic Food and Drink at Playhouse Square and take part in the 43rd annual Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF). As part of Chautauqua Institution’s second year sponsoring CIFF, a limited number of complimentary vouchers to attend CIFF screenings will be available at Republic to be picked up at your convenience from 4/5-4/7, or during the Saturday evening reception.  

7:30–9:30 p.m. ET

Republic Food and Drink
1425 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
Website

RSVP: Rosemary Thompson: thompson.rosemary@gmail.com or 440.318.5366

Host committee: Rosemary and Ian Thompson • Sally and Michael Struk

Audience: Appropriate for ages 21+.

Additional Details: There is no charge to attend the evening reception at Republic. Light appetizers will be provided and drinks are available for individual purchase. Vouchers have a $16 value and may be exchanged at CIFF venues to gain access to available screenings. Closing night and some special events excluded. Seats at individual screenings are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For a schedule of CIFF events, click here.

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Philadelphia, PA

Join Chautauquans at Yards Brewing Co. and enjoy a guided tour. Approximately 40-min. tours give thirsty guests a behind-the-scenes look at how Philly’s beer is made. You’ll enjoy learning about the brewing process and hear the Story of Yards with plenty of comedy, beer samples and giveaways. After, mingle in the taproom or outside as weather allows. 

2:00–4:00 p.m. ET

Yards Brewing Company
500 Spring Garden St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
Website

RSVP: Kathleen Murphy: kathleen.m.murphy9@gmail.com or 248.891.9385

Host committee: Dan McKiernan • Kathleen Murphy

Audience: Appropriate for ages 21+. Those under age 21 who are accompanied by a legal guardian are allowed in the taproom but may not participate in the brewery tour.

Additional Details: There is a $10 fee for the brewery tour, which includes drink samples and a souvenir. Additional refreshments are available for individual purchase. For your safety, no open-toed shoes are allowed on the tour. The tour is entirely handicapped accessible.

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Nashville, TN

In Nashville, spend an evening in Germantown enjoying baseball at bar hopping! Nashville Sounds vs. Iowa play at 6:35 pm CT, with optional bar-hopping to follow.

6:30–10:30 p.m. CT

First Tennessee Park
19 Junior Gilliam Way
Nashville, TN 37219
Website

RSVP: Tally Bevis and family: tallybevis@gmail.com or 931.980.6355

Audience:All ages are welcome to attend the game. After-hours appropriate for ages 21+.

Additional Details: Tickets are $27 (includes taxes and fees) payable in advance via Venmo to Tally Bevis (@tally-bevis). To ensure a seat with the CHQ group, please RSVP by March 20. Refreshments are available for individual purchase.

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Austin, TX

AFTERNOON EVENT FOR FAMILIES
Families and individuals are invited to gather at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for “Bees, Butterflies, Beetles & Blooms” followed by a casual picnic. Spring has sprung and the gardens are buzzing with color and activity! Come play and learn why pollinators are attracted to certain plants. Enjoy exploring from 1:00-2:30 pm CT, followed by a picnic at 2:30-4:00 pm CT. 

1:00–4:00 p.m. CT

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
4801 La Crosse Ave
Austin, TX 78739
Website

 

RSVP: Mackenzie Oakley: Mcoon79@gmail.com or 305.407.6355

Host committee: Kate Clark • Mimi Marziani • Mackenzie Oakley• Carrie Zachry Oliver, NOW Gen Advisory Council

Audience: All ages are welcome to attend this gathering.

Additional Details: Admission to the Wildflower Center costs: $12 adults / $10 seniors (65+) / $10 Non-UT Students with college ID / $6 youth (ages 5-17) / FREE for children 4 years & under / FREE for Wildflower Center Members. There is no cost for the picnic as refreshments are being provided by the host committee.

 

EVENING EVENT FOR ADULTS
Adults are invited to enjoy inventive cocktails and the best views of the city at newly-renovated Live Oak Lounge in the Four Seasons. Join fellow Chautauquans to watch 1.5 million bats that emerge nightly from narrow crevices in the underside of the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge as the sun sets over Austin.

6:00–9:00 p.m. CT

Four Seasons Hotel Austin
98 San Jacinto Blvd
Austin, TX 78701
Website

RSVP: Mackenzie Oakley: Mcoon79@gmail.com or 305.407.6355

Host committee: Kate Clark • Mimi Marziani • Mackenzie Oakley• Carrie Zachry Oliver, NOW Gen Advisory Council

Audience: Appropriate for ages 21+.

Additional Details: Drinks and refreshments available for purchase at the bar.