ACTIVITIES [2024]

Our opening reception at the St. George Pool starts at 6pm, with informal welcome remarks at 7:30pm. Come relax, eat, and drink after a long day of travel. We’ll close down the pool at 9pm and adjourn to our late night spots (see below) as desired. 

However, if you’d like to see the Marfa Lights, now is your chance!  

Check out the mystery of the Marfa Lights. A supposedly paranormal phenomenon that has appeared on everything from Unsolved Mysteries to the Disney show So Weird, scientists hypothesize the Marfa Lights are caused by sharp temperature gradients between cold and warm layers of air. But, empirical proof has evaded multiple research groups bent on putting old stories to rest. They look like the headlights of alien spacecraft — fleeting orbs glimmering in the sky that also remind us of the limits of science and how much we may never know. 

We have 36 spots available in our transportation, or you can take your own car out to explore. You won’t be able to see them until it’s dark, so this is a great activity for anyone looking for something to do after dinner. Our shuttles will be running from 9:00pm - 10:30pm in for this event. There is no guarantee that you’ll see the lights but it is a fun experience if you get lucky! The Marfa lights are located about 8 minutes from downtown Marfa. 

We have the opportunity to play together and take some field trips from 2:30 until 6:30pm, when dinner starts at The Capri. Please be prompt.

Julie Speed @Ballroom Marfa. We commissioned Julie to make this year’s official Penrose print. We have one here for you to take with you in a packing tube or we are happy to ship from Austin in the coming weeks. Not coincidentally, Ballroom, an internationally recognized contemporary art museum, is doing a major retrospective of Julie’s work, including most of her science-themed pieces. Join us and Julie for margaritas, and unique conversations with the artist at Ballroom Marfa from 3:30pm until 5:00pm. This activity is available on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. 

Chinati Foundation. Each of you is now a member of Chinati for the next year as part of Penrose. In 1986, the artist Donald Judd established The Chinati Foundation as a site for the permanent installation of large-scale works of art. Please enjoy your membership by exploring the permanent installations of large-scale art by 12 amazing artists, including Judd, John Chamberlain, and Dan Flavin. Chinati is open until 5pm, but the final entry for visitors is 4pm. We recommend heading over right at 2:30pm when we let out. Shuttle SUVs will be outside to take you — Chinati is not walkable (:5 min drive). Note: Robert Irwin’s untitled (dawn to dusk) at Chinati is open just for Penrose Thursday afternoon. Chinati will be available for open viewing on Wednesday afternoon with the dawn to dusk exhibit open Thursday. As a Chinati member, you are also welcome to schedule a guided tour. 

Heretical Wine Tasting. Wine geek extraordinaire Tony Fassi of JDI will lead a 20-person private wine tasting highlighting the science of winemaking with a particularly heretical bent. Join Tony in the courtyard of The Lincoln from 4:30-5:30pm - on a first come first serve basis.

Relax with a massage. We have 14 spots per day for a quick 20-minute restoration. If you are interested, please register at the Penrose Concierge desk- located across from the registration area in the Hotel St. George. These will take place between 2:45pm-5pm each day at the pool of the Saint George. 

Do a little shopping. While most local businesses are closed during the time of our visit, these stores have made special arrangements to be available to Penrose attendees. Please check them out and support the local economy. Here is a list of some we highly recommend. We won’t tell you more — go explore!

• Wrong Marfa open from 12:00pm - 5:00pm each day

• Communitie open from 11:00am - 5:00pm each day

• Garza Marfa open from 1:00pm - 5:00pm each day

• Raba open from 10:00am - 6:00pm each day

Get in an afternoon workout. We will have gym passes to the Hotel St. George gym available at the Penrose Concierge desk. Just ask when you check in, or come find us anytime. Available throughout your stay. 

Take a dip in the pool or hot tub. Feel like taking a dip? Head to the Hotel St. George pool for some swimming or a relaxing hot tub soak. Bring a book or magazine; your welcome bag has some amazing options. Available throughout your stay. 

Drive the famous Pinto Canyon Road.  Known as the “road to nowhere,” this scenic drive through the mountains is a great drive for the adventurous, and anyone who just wants to clear their head. A four-hour drive round-trip, you can technically pull it off in time for dinner on Wednesday night. Instead, we recommend grabbing some snacks at Para Llevar and driving for an hour or so, and stopping for some refreshments before heading home. You’ll get 80% of the value for 30% of the effort. Note: a 4WD vehicle with decent clearance is required. Find us at the concierge desk if you’re interested and we will give you directions and tips. 

Go for a bike ride. Feel the wind in your hair and take a ride around town on an electric bike. Rent a bike at Ebike Marfa open from 2:30pm - 5:00pm— stop at the concierge desk for help or directions. 

We have the opportunity to play together and take some field trips from 2:45 until 5pm, when our buses leave for our dinner venue, High Frontier, in Fort Davis. Please be prompt. 

Julie Speed @Ballroom Marfa. We commissioned Julie to make this year’s official Penrose print. We have one here for you to take with you in a packing tube or we are happy to ship from Austin in the coming weeks. Not coincidentally, Ballroom, an internationally recognized contemporary art museum, is doing a major retrospective of Julie’s work, including most of her science-themed pieces. Join us and Julie for margaritas and a unique conversation with the artist at Ballroom Marfa from 3:30pm until 5:00pm. This activity is available on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. 

Chinati Foundation. Each of you is now a member of Chinati for the next year as part of Penrose. In 1986, the artist Donald Judd established The Chinati Foundation as a site for the permanent installation of large-scale works of art. Please enjoy your membership by exploring the permanent installations of large-scale art by 12 amazing artists, including Judd, John Chamberlain, and Dan Flavin. Chinati is open until 5pm, but the final entry for visitors is 4pm. We recommend heading over right at 2:30pm when we let out. Shuttle SUVs will be outside to take you — Chinati is not walkable (:5 min drive). Note: Robert Irwin’s untitled (dawn to dusk) at Chinati is open just for Penrose Thursday afternoon. Chinati will be available for open viewing on Wednesday afternoon with the dawn to dusk exhibit open Thursday. As a Chinati member, you are also welcome to schedule a guided tour. 

Behind-the-scenes telescope tour. Take a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the world-class telescopes up on Mount Locke at the McDonald Observatory. These telescopes are not open to the public. If you’re an astronomy buff, this is not to be missed.  Dress warm — you’ll depart Marfa at 2:45pm and then head directly to High Frontier when the tour is over, arriving at 5:45pm. After dinner, you’ll head back up the mountain to the Observatory for our star party. This opportunity is only available on Thursday afternoon. Sign-ups are closed. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist, please let us know at the concierge desk.

Relax with a massage. We have 14 spots per day for a quick 20-minute restoration. If you are interested, please register at the Penrose concierge desk. These will take place between 2:45pm-5pm each day at the pool of the Saint George. 

Do a little shopping. While most stores are closed during the time of our visit, these stores have made special arrangements to be available to Penrose attendees. Please check them out and support the local economy. Here is a list of some we highly recommend. We won’t tell you more — go explore!

• Wrong Marfa open from 12:00pm - 5:00pm each day

• Communitie open from 11:00am - 5:00pm each day

• Garza Marfa open from 1:00pm - 5:00pm each day

• Raba open from 10:00am - 6:00pm each day

Get in an afternoon workout. We will have gym passes to the Hotel St. George gym available at the concierge desk. Just ask when you check-in or come find us anytime. Available throughout your stay. 

Take a dip in the pool or hot tub. Feel like taking a dip? Head to the Hotel St. George pool for some swimming or a relaxing hot tub soak. Bring a book or magazine; your welcome bag has some amazing options. Available throughout your stay. 

Drive the famous Pinto Canyon Road.  Known as the “road to nowhere,” this scenic drive through the mountains is a great drive for the adventurous and anyone who wants to clear their head. A four-hour round-trip drive isn’t possible on Thursday afternoon given our dinner time, so instead, we recommend grabbing some snacks at Para Llevar, driving for an hour or so, and stopping for some refreshments before turning around and heading home. You’ll get 80% of the value for 30% of the effort. Note: a 4WD vehicle with decent clearance is required. 

Go for a bike ride. Feel the wind in your hair and take a ride around town on an electric bike. Rent a bike at Ebike Marfa open from 2:30pm - 5:00pm— stop at the concierge desk for help or directions. 

We will have breakfast available Wednesday and Thursday morning from 7:30am to 8:30am Friday morning from 7:30am - 9:00am at the lobby of the St. George hotel. 

The Sentinel is open from 7:30am - 3:00pm daily. This is a great space for some journaling if you are looking for a spot to free-write. It’s also a great place to bang out some work before our day officially starts. They have excellent coffee and great breakfast options, and a small shop of local goods too. The whole operation supports The Big Bend Sentinel, the region’s paper of record since 1926.

Marfa Burrito opens at (gasp!) 6:00am most days. You won’t find anything fancy or expensive here but, the food is delicious, and the patrons fiercely loyal. The perfect grab-and-go on your way out of town, especially if heading into Big Bend.  

Bar St. George also opens at 7:30 am for coffee and breakfast. This is a quick, convenient, and satisfying option for everyone staying in the hotel or nearby. 

After the opening reception at the St. George pool on Tuesday night, after dinner at the Capri on Wednesday night, and upon our return from the Observatory on  Thursday night, you have two late-night options to choose from if you’ve got energy.  

Bar St. George. The bar in the lobby of the St. George will stay open until 10:00 pm. Cash bar. This is a great choice for a quick drink and a convenient wind-down amongst friends in a traditional bar-style setting. 

The Rock Hudson Suite. The Rock Hudson suite is on the second floor of the Hotel Paisano. Rock Hudson occupied this corner suite directly across from Elizabeth Taylor while they were both in Marfa for the 1955 filming of the movie Giant. We’ll have a fire going, drinks and snacks, plus puzzles and board games — a perfect choice if you’re feeling a little more low-key. The suite also has a large outdoor terrace perfect for extra stargazing.  

The Capri. Open only on Thursday evening. If you want more of the ambiance from our dinner there the night before, head on back to the Capri for a lovely evening. 

If you’re getting in early or staying a bit late (or just want to explore a bit on your own) here are a few extra suggestions of how to spend your time. 

• Lobby of the Hotel Paisano (all hours, most stores open daily)

  • Lots of interesting sports and a boatload of history 

• Back patio at Para Llevar (11:00am - 8:00pm)

  • Our favorite lunch spot! The back patio often hosts music in the evenings and is a great place to relax during the day

• Marfa Spirit Co. (W-Su 3:00pm - 12:00am)

  • A distillery and tasting room, created and run by some of of favorite people in town

• Planet Marfa (1:00pm - 12:00am)

  • A quirky outdoor bar that is a local favorite

• Hotel St. George lobby shop (hours vary)

  • A great place to pick up a snack or some travel necessities, but they also stock fabulous clothes, jewelry, and art, as well as excellent Marfa-themed merch.