There are very few places quite like The Chapel Restoration. Perched on a bluff above the Hudson River in the heart of Cold Spring, this 1833 landmark has been a gathering place for music, literature, and community for generations. Whether you’re discovering us for the first time or you’ve been coming for years, what happens inside these walls — and on the portico at sunset — is something that stays with you. Here’s a closer look at the programming that brings our historic space to life.
Jazz at the Chapel
Jazz at the Chapel brings some of the genre’s most talented players to the stage at this visually and acoustically spectacular space. Great jazz is usually the stuff of late-night clubs and grand concert halls, but at The Chapel Restoration you can experience all types of jazz in a historic building set on a bluff overlooking the Hudson. No dress code, no pretension — just come, enjoy the music, and socialize with musicians and fellow jazz fans over wine and cheese. Our past performers include such luminaries as trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso, genius multi-instrumentalist Scott Robinson, stride pianist Dalton Ridenhour, and Garrison-born gypsy jazz guitarist Sara L’Abriola and her quartet.
Sunday Music Series
The Chapel Restoration’s acclaimed Sunday Music Series has produced outstanding chamber concerts since 2000. Monthly concerts from April through November feature world-class musicians and outstanding emerging artists in an incomparable aesthetic and acoustical setting, with programs spanning classical, contemporary, jazz, and opera. Best of all, parking is free on Sundays at the Metro-North lot directly across the street. The Sunday Music Series is supported in part by the Putnam Arts Council’s Arts Link Grant Program, with public funds provided through the New York State Council on the Arts.
Restoration Roadhouses
The Restoration Roadhouse is an indoor/outdoor party with local craft beer, wine, and a food truck. The traditional roadhouse was a stopping place on a well-traveled road where musicians would pass through and entertain the locals on their way to the big city. The Restoration Roadhouse revives that tradition, showcasing touring indie musicians from all over the globe and bringing fresh sounds of rock, folk, blues, and bluegrass to our local music scene. Coming up this summer: Buffalo Nichols on July 11. Stay tuned for more.
Sunset Reading Series
The Sunset Reading Series brings writers of national renown to The Chapel Restoration, where the serene interior and the dramatic backdrop of the Hudson create an extraordinary setting for both the writer and the audience. The unique space encourages genuine connection and interaction between artist and community — and is simply one of the finest places anywhere to hear the spoken word. A free reception on the portico follows each event.
“The Sunset Reading Series in Cold Spring is one of the most elegant, beautiful venues I’ve ever read in. The acoustics are excellent and the audience is too — clearly the people drawn to the series are passionate, active readers, the kind of audience every writer hopes for.” — Mary Gaitskill
The Sunset Reading Series runs seasonally. Check chapelrestoration.org for upcoming events.
Children’s Programming
Children thrive when they are involved in history and the arts, and The Chapel offers a historic backdrop unlike any classroom or auditorium. Programming designed for children of all ages — from toddlers to teens — has included concerts, puppet shows, holiday performances, recitals, magic shows, classic films, and storytelling. Recent highlights include a live performance of Prokofiev’s beloved Peter and the Wolf, a perfect first encounter with orchestral music for young audiences. Whether it’s a child’s first live performance or a returning favorite, the Chapel is a place where young imaginations come alive.