Conversations by the Fire

Unveiling Newport Scandals, History, and Stories with The Chanler Cultural Ambassador

Gather around The Chanler's cliffside firepit for our summer series, "Conversations by the Fire." On select Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings throughout the summer, join Jeffrey Clark, our Cultural Ambassador, for engaging discussions on Newport's illustrious past and its scandals.

** Complimentary for Hotel Guests **

DATES

June 14 & 15
July  5, 6, 11, 13,  18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27
August 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 29, 30, 31

SESSION TIMES

FIRST SESSION BEGINS AT: 7:00 PM 

SECOND SESSION BEGINS AT: 8:00 PM

FEATURED REVOLVING STORIES

 ’12,’13,’14 — a succession of years that changed everything
In-depth stories of the “trilogy” of technology, taxes, and treaties that ended the Gilded Age.

 Doris and Her Decorator
Doris Duke, Eduardo Tirella, and the “fuzzy” circumstances surrounding his death … or, was it murder?
 

Pony Up to the Bar
James Gordon Bennett, the power of personality, privilege, and pranks that shook Newport society.
 

Greed, Jealousy, Murder, and other Virtues
The rich, talented “insider,” the obsessed, unstable “outsider,” and the Showgirl in the middle, resulting in the “murder of the century.
 

The Nine ‘Cities’ of Newport
We delve into the historical complexity of this small city, which Thornton Wilder made famous with its many intricacies and surprises.
 

Sunny and Stormy
Although it may sound like a cocktail, “S & S” tells the sensational story of riches, intrigue, and attempted murder that transfixed the world.
 

Before the storytelling session, make sure to grab a drink at the bar to bring to the firepit. Perhaps enhance your evening with a William Chanler Daiquiri, a Newport local favorite that became a sensation in 1902 when William brought it back from Cuba and popularized it in society.

Don't miss an evening of history, culture, and camaraderie at The Chanler firepit. Join us for an unforgettable journey through Newport's past!