The Unspeakeasy presents the second annual
Small Gathering for Big Ideas
Three days and two nights of conversation and connection. Off the record. In real life.
Join a small, curated group for a three-day, coed retreat on the Hudson River at Hutton Brickyards. Participants of varied ages, backgrounds, and perspectives come together for sustained, in-person dialogue. Critical thinking is valued. Humor is encouraged. Nothing is recorded.
Featured guests
John McWhorter
John McWhorter is a linguist at Columbia University and a widely read writer on language, culture, and race. He is the author of numerous books, including Nine Nasty Words and Woke Racism, both New York Times bestsellers. He writes regularly for The New York Times.
Lisa Marchiano
Lisa Marchiano is a Jungian analyst, author, and cohost of the podcast This Jungian Life. She has written widely on psychology, identity, and meaning, and is the author of Motherhood and The Vital Spark. She serves on the faculty of the C. G. Jung Institute of Philadelphia.
What kind of event is this?
Think of it as a kind of mini-vacation for the mind, a series of curated, off-the-record conversations with intellectually curious people about complex and often unexpected subjects. It’s like the best dinner party you’ve ever attended — where you walk into the room and know you’ve found your people.
Retreats include guest speakers, shared meals, beautiful surroundings, and enough free time for conversations to continue and new friendships to be forged.
This retreat is limited to 30 participants.
Social Media & Recording Policy
Retreats are off-the-record. No recording, photography, or unauthorized social media is permitted.
DETAILS
WHEN: Oct. 19–21, 2026.
LOCATION: Kingston, NY
GUEST SPEAKERS: John McWhorter, Lisa Marchiano
PRICING: Standard placement: $4,500
Includes two nights’ accommodations in a private cabin and all meals.
A limited number of early placements are offered at a reduced rate of $4,250.
Some participants have been able to use professional development or continuing education funds through their employers to cover all or part of the cost.