Spillian Presenters

Imaginers Who Are Changing the World

We are honored to have world-class presenters share their brilliance at workshops, performances, and special events. Here are a few of the folks who’ve joined us so far:

Anthony Laciura: Metropolitan Opera tenor & Boardwalk Empire star.
Peter Schickele: The incomparable PDQ Bach.
Lauren Flanigan: World-renowned diva soprano.
David Gonzalez: Acclaimed story-teller, poet, musician.
Bob Walter: Founder of the Joseph Campbell Foundation.
Louis Otey: International opera baritone.
Dylan Doyle: Breakout American roots rock guitarist.
David Miller: Leading mythological studies scholar.
Maria Todaro: International opera mezzo soprano.
Justin Kolb: International classical pianist.
Carver Blanchard: Smithsonian lutenist and consort tenor.
John Hoeko: Catskills fly fishing & tying legend and conservationist.
Carey Harrison: Acclaimed novelist and dramatist.
Meg Griffin: The Loft Sirius Radio disc jockey.
Laurie Rasmussen: International harpist.
John Thorn: Official Baseball Historian for Major League Baseball
David Abram: Ecologist and author.
Leigh Melander: Spillian Co-Founder and cultural mythologist.

Please visit our Spillian Imaginarium page to see our upcoming events!

Jenna Gaudio

12:55 09 Sep 23

Spillian is a magical place. You see it the very first time you turn onto the grounds and drive down a long, lush road that climbs to reveal a moody Victorian estate at the top. You feel the magic in the ferns, flowers, and trees that surround the area - creating the feeling of mystical protection from the rest of the world. You know this place is magic when you meet the owners, who ooze creativity and kindness with their every word of excitement for what they do. The building is unlike any other, rich with artwork and collected items from around the world. The meadow, where people meet around the fire, get married, and dance under the stars, is clearly crafted with thoughtfulness and rarity that leaves an impression on anyone who's lucky enough to experience it.The food by Spillian's Chef was impossibly flawless meal after meal - and after being diagnosed with an autoimmune and food allergies a year before the wedding, I didn't really make it easy on him. We had a divine welcome party taco bar, a Mediterranean rehearsal dinner, a special request burrata bar at cocktail hour, fresh, local summer dishes for the wedding dinner, and a to-die-for goodbye brunch.Not only are the owners creative and kind, but they are also keen on logistics, communication, and collaboration to keep the stress down. It was forecasted to storm terribly off-an-on all weekend, but we had gone all-in on a fully outdoor wedding. They watched the weather and stayed in contact with our vendors in case we had to restructure the wedding inside, but the day of everyone felt we should make the attempt outside - and we got very lucky the weather held up! They are creative problem solvers and will go above and beyond to help make the day go smoothly. Our Wedding cake vendor fell through days before the wedding, and when I asked if they could make a watermelon wedding cake so we could still have that wedding cake moment, they made it happen - and it ended up being an incredibly memorable part of the day.Pro tips:-Definitely book it for the weekend and give yourself an extra day to walk the grounds, and sit on the porch.-It is a historic building and operates as such, including no A/C, so be aware/prepare for that. Climate change is real and it was much hotter the weekend of our wedding than was typical/expected.- Sign up for their newsletter to get updates on creative workshops, dinner parties, etc. that the owners host throughout the year. We attended a dinner party before we got married and it was so fun to meet locals and other couples who had been married there previously. It's a wonderful community that shares a deep love for Spillian and all it has to offer.

Heidi Liou

14:48 27 Aug 23

Came here for a beautiful wedding, and stayed for two nights total. The staff was amazing and incredibly nice! Highly recommend. Lots of wonderful memories were made.

15:49 25 Jun 23

Excellent service!! Beautiful venue!! Food was delicious!

Jonathan Moore

16:39 02 Jan 23

Had a chef selected four course meal and spent the night. Wonderful food, wonderful staff, and a magical stay at a unique historical venue.

nancy cottrell

22:26 13 Nov 22

Just returned from my daughter’s wedding! Wow!! It was magical! Spillian gave my daughter the wedding she always dreamed of❤️ Thank you to everyone at Spillian! Truly a wonderful place !

Roza Goltser

02:56 26 Oct 22

Magic in the mountains! That's what Spillian brings to you. If you want your wedding to be in nature it is the perfect place for you. The grounds are stunning with huge bonefire truly makes you feel like you are camping with luxury. Perfect for groom and bridal rooms to get ready on location. Not to mention the estate itself is like from a different area. It was built in the early 1880's!! Absolutely glorious!!

Julia Masotti

22:51 05 Jul 22

We were lucky enough to get married at Spillian in June of 2022, and words truly cannot describe how magical and joyful the experience was. I work in the wedding industry, so as soon as my now-husband and I got engaged, I knew we needed to tie the knot somewhere off the beaten path. We didn’t want cookie cutter, pre-planned menus, or generic banquet halls. Spillian was the first (and only!) venue we looked at- from the winding drive up the forest road to the main house, we felt the magic and we were hooked.   Mark, Leigh, and the entire staff at Spillian treat you like family from first meeting. Whenever we went up to visit, whether for tastings or for a site visit, we were greeted with the biggest hugs and smiles. We designed our menu with Chef Christian, a French-inspired feast featuring the best of all local farms, and our guests are still talking about how incredible all the food was. A wedding at Spilling is so much more than just that; it’s a weekend-long celebration with all your nearest and dearest.We stayed in the estate house from Friday to Sunday with our wedding party, and the house itself is fabulous- beautifully appointed, comfortable, and clean. We had our taco bar rehearsal dinner on Friday night, followed by a karaoke party (Mark and Leigh will really help you make whatever your dreams are happen!), our wedding in the woods on Saturday (complete with a bonfire and s’mores), and a send-off brunch on the lawn on Sunday. Mark, Leigh, and their staff are all so intuitive, quick to solve any problems we ran into and preternaturally able to anticipate any problems before they even arose.   I could go on and on about how wonderful this place is, but you get the idea. It’s truly magic, and Spillian will forever hold such a special place in our hearts.

Jennifer Sauer

20:01 24 Jul 21

Yeah, what they said! Spillian is a perfect venue for weddings, family and friend celebrations, or just to visit for a special event. The mansion is absolutely amazing with antiques and stories in every room and corner. The grounds truly are a beautiful and peaceful nature-filled feast for the eyes and imagination. The hosts are inviting, fun and funny, and super attentive to your needs, comfort and questions and I made it a point to chat with staff when possible and all were delightful and helpful. After a great visit, the hosts pointed me to a great hiking trail in Catskills. Many thanks for a memorable weekend!

Spillian Presenters

Imaginers Who Are Changing the World

Please visit our Spillian Imaginarium page to see our upcoming events!

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