Chautauqua Institution In The Summer

Soon winter will be over, at least we all hope so, and spring will be here. The spring brings such beauty, all of the flowers and trees starting to bloom, the grass turning green and that fresh smell in the air. Are you ready for spring?

Spring then brings summer, and the Chautauqua Institute in the summer is just a hub of activity. Located in Western New York on the shores beautiful LakeChautauqua.

The Institute is 750 acres of beauty with cultural learning, spiritual learning, arts, and entertainment. All of this happening through the summer months.

Thousands of people visit the institute through the summer, it is said that 170,000 people visit through the summer.

Some people spend their whole summer, and some come for a weeks vacation, or just a weekend get-away.

You can learn all you need to know about Chautauqua Institute and see all it has to offer from the link below. This hub is about the concerts every summer in the open amphitheater

The Institute was opened in 1874 for the purpose of a teaching camp for Sunday school teachers. Chautauqua has been opened every summer and expanding every year sine it's opening.

As your walking the grounds and enjoying the beautiful architecture of the many homes and buildings you'll see the Athenaeum Hotel. Built in 1881 it is known as the largest wooden structure in the eastern United States.

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

I could listen to Smokey all night long. Not only did he have so many hits, he is a brilliant song writer.

Ever since I was a teenager I wanted to see him live on stage. I thought that I would never get that chance, until the summer of 1998. Smokey Robinson in concert at the Chautauqua Institute, Wow!! I thought we live here I can finally see him live.

I was so excited l felt like a teenager all over again I had tickets to see Smokey Robinson. Then one week before the concert the company I work for scheduled me on a 10 day business trip.

I was devastated I didn't want to go but work came first. Of course my wife and friends went and had a great time, but I wasn't there.

At this point I thought I'll never get another chance like this. Oh well life and time go on and I soon got over it.

Then in the summer of 2002 our friends picked up the Chautauqua Institute summer concert schedule, and guess who was on it? Smokey Robinson in concert August 16, 2002.

Needless to there was no business trips scheduled on Friday night August 16, 2002. There I was sitting in the 3rd row back from the stage.

Watching Smokey Robinson live, I was mesmerized by his movement and his voice. His songs brought me back to that wonderful time in the 1970's as he sang all of the old favorites.

I was a teenager in the 1970's and my favorite rock band was Three Dog Night. The first time I saw them live was at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Wow!! What a night to remember.

As they got older, so did we, but my love for their music never stopped. They played in Pittsburgh a few more times in the later years, and we were always there to see them.

So now I can sit back listen and enjoy their music with a personal comfort and satisfaction that I've seen them live in concert several times. I don't know why, but that makes me enjoy the music even more.

Every year I check the schedule in hope that Three Dog Night will come to Chautauqua Institute.