A Shell in the Sky Opens at Yerkes Observatory This June

One of the more remarkable cultural events to land in the Lake Geneva area this summer opens on June 6th at Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay — just a few minutes from the inn.

A Shell in the Sky | Midewigaan Miigis is an immersive exhibition of Anishinaabe art, star knowledge, and living culture, curated by Noelia Cruz and developed in collaboration with elders, artists, cultural teachers, and knowledge keepers from the Council of the Three Fires — Ojibwe, Odawa, and Bodéwadmi nations.

The ceremonial opening runs from 6 to 9 pm on June 6th and includes a keynote from elder and star knowledge keeper Mary Moose, a curator-led artist panel, and open exploration of the exhibit. Tickets are available through the Yerkes ticketing website.

The exhibition itself spans basketry, beadwork, astrophotography, large-scale digital projection, robotics, and poetry — a genuinely unusual range for a regional venue. Highlights include Ojibwe constellation photography by Mishiikenh Abraham Sutherland, a turtle shell lunar calendar tracing 13 moons through Forest County Potawatomi teachings, and a sculptural Jingle Dress honoring Mishibizhiw, the Underwater Panther — a figure with deep ties to the shores of Kishwauketoe, the Potawatomi name for Geneva Lake.

Yerkes is about ten minutes from Eleven Gables by car, and the shorepath puts Williams Bay within an easy bike ride. If you’re planning a June stay around the opening, the inn is a natural base.

Yerkes Observatory’s 2026 Speaker Series Is Worth Planning a Trip Around

Yerkes Observatory’s 2026 Speaker Series Is Worth Planning a Trip Around

Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay has quietly become one of the more interesting cultural venues in the region, and their 2026 Speaker Series is the clearest evidence yet. Six speakers, June through August, and the lineup reads like someone curated it specifically for guests who came to Geneva Lake to think.

Here’s the full schedule:

Nicholas Gulig — Thursday, June 4, 6pm Recent Poet Laureate of Wisconsin and subject of the PBS documentary Welcome Poets, Gulig joins for a conversation about his life and a reading of his work. A good place to start the summer.

Robin Wall Kimmerer — Thursday, June 18, 6pm The botanist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass needs little introduction. Kimmerer will speak about her books, Indigenous knowledge, and her Wisconsin ties. This one will sell out.

Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein — Thursday, June 25, 6pm Theoretical particle physicist, cosmologist, and one of the most compelling science writers working today. Her own description of her work runs to four disciplines. Plan accordingly.

Jeff Epping — Thursday, July 9, 6pm The nationally recognized horticulturalist discusses his new book, The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs, followed by a signing. Garden design as a joyful practice.

Sue Breitkopf — Thursday, July 16, 6pm A talk titled “Olmsted Landscapes in Lake Geneva: Past Vision, Present Stewardship” — covering Frederick Law Olmsted, his son John Charles who designed Yerkes’ own arboretum, and the remarkable concentration of Olmsted landscapes around Geneva Lake. Directly relevant to anyone walking the shorepath.

Dr. Anne Pringle — Friday, August 7, 6pm A celebrated botanist from the Pringle Laboratory speaking on fungi and lichen, under the title “How Does a Lichen Grow? Asking the Wrong Questions and Discovering a Different Path to Immortality.” The title alone earns the ticket.

Tickets are available through the Yerkes ticketing page. Yerkes is about ten minutes from Eleven Gables by car, and an easy bike ride along the lakeshore. If you’re planning a summer stay and want to build an evening around one of these, we’re happy to help with timing.

Lake Geneva Fine Dining: Opus Tasting Menu | Eleven Gables

Seven Courses and a Slow Evening: Dining at Opus Near Lake Geneva

There is a particular kind of dinner that turns a weekend away into a memory you keep coming back to. Not the quick, capable meal you grab between activities, but the long, unhurried evening that becomes the reason for the trip. For guests staying with us at Eleven Gables, that evening is waiting a short, scenic drive from the inn at Opus, the tasting-menu restaurant tucked inside The Belfry House.

French Technique, Asian Influence, One Small Room

Opus is, by design, an intimate place. The dining room seats only a handful of guests, the kitchen sits open to the room, and the whole evening unfolds at the pace of a conversation rather than a clock. What arrives on the table is a tasting menu — you can choose five courses or seven — built on classic French technique and lifted with the brightness and precision of Asian cuisine. The combination sounds ambitious, and it is, but the pleasure of it is how naturally the two traditions sit together: a French sense of richness and structure, an Asian sense of balance and clean, layered flavor.

The menu changes weekly. The chef reworks it around what’s good and what’s inspiring at the moment, so no two visits are quite the same. That evolving quality is part of the appeal — it’s a restaurant built for returning to, not checking off a list.

The Case for the Wine Pairing

Each course can be paired with a wine selected to match it, drawn from a list that has earned Opus real recognition. If you’re the sort of guest who likes the full experience, this is where to find it. A good pairing doesn’t just sit politely beside the food; it changes how a dish tastes, sharpening one note and softening another. Watching a course and its wine click into place is one of the quiet thrills of an evening here, and it’s the detail guests tend to mention first when they come back to the inn afterward, still talking about dinner.

Why It Pairs So Well With a Stay at Eleven Gables

We think of Opus as the natural evening counterpart to a stay in one of our lakefront rooms. The whole appeal of a Lake Geneva getaway is permission to slow down — to spend a day on the water or the shore path and let the evening stretch out without anywhere you need to be. A tasting menu asks for exactly that kind of unhurried attention, and there’s something especially civilized about returning to a historic 1867 inn afterward rather than facing a long drive home. It makes the dinner feel like part of the stay rather than an errand attached to it.

It’s an easy recommendation for the occasions that deserve one — an anniversary, a milestone birthday, a proposal, or simply a night when you want the evening to feel like an event. Couples celebrating something tend to love the intimacy of the room; so do guests who genuinely care about food and wine and want to see what this corner of Wisconsin can do at the highest level.

If You Go

Opus is located at The Belfry House, 3601 WI-67 in nearby Delavan — a short drive from Eleven Gables. The dining room is small and the seating is limited, so reservations are essential and worth booking well ahead, particularly on weekends and around holidays. You can reserve a table through OpenTable on the restaurant’s website at dineopus.com, or call them directly at (262) 394-3900. Come hungry, plan for a leisurely evening, and consider letting them know in advance if you’re marking a special occasion.

When you’re ready to build a weekend around it, we’re here. Reach out to us at Eleven Gables and we’ll help you put together the kind of Lake Geneva escape that an evening at Opus deserves — a room by the water, a slow morning, and a dinner you’ll still be talking about long after you’ve checked out.

Dog Friendly

Eleven Gables: Dog-Friendly Lakeside Accommodations

Eleven Gables is proud to be one of the first boutique inns in the Lake Geneva Area to welcome your furry friends. Our dog-friendly rooms and cottages feature private entrances, making them ideal for guests traveling with pets.

Please contact us for approval before booking so we can reserve a dog-accessible room or cottage with a private entrance that suits your needs. We accommodate up to two dogs per room—unless they’re tiny like Tinkerbell!

Vacationing with Your Dog Like the Buddha Would

Ever wondered what it would be like to vacation with your dog on a lake as the Buddha would? Here’s your guide to making your getaway a zen experience for both you and your furry companion.

Pack Light

The Buddha taught that attachment to material things causes suffering, so bring only what you need: a leash, bowl, food, water, and a few toys for your dog. For yourself, pack comfortable clothes, a hat, sunscreen, and a book or meditation app.

Choose a Quiet Spot

The Buddha valued solitude and silence, so seek out secluded areas away from crowds and noise. Find a peaceful spot on the lake where you can enjoy nature’s beauty with your dog. Look for nearby forests or parks with trails where you can walk or hike together.

Be Mindful

The Buddha practiced mindfulness—being aware of the present moment without judgment. Pay attention to your surroundings, breath, body, and emotions. Notice how your dog is naturally mindful of everything around them. Practice together by sitting quietly and observing the lake, sky, birds, and sounds.

Have Fun

The Buddha taught that happiness comes from within, not from external circumstances. Don’t worry about what you’re missing or what others think. Simply enjoy your time together—play fetch, swim, splash, or cuddle. Laugh, smile, and be grateful for these precious moments.

Vacationing with your dog on a lake as the Buddha would is both possible and rewarding. It helps you relax, recharge, and reconnect with yourself and your companion. So book your lake getaway today and experience the bliss of being one with nature.ke vacation today and experience the bliss of being one with nature and your best friend.