as well as some community volunteers. They have been specially trained to help the guests navigate this special dining experience.
By Darlene Brace
Imagine going out to dinner at a restaurant and being unable to see anything. Simple dining tasks that many of us take for granted, such as finding the salt or locating your beverage, would be challenging. Many blind and vision-impaired individuals deal with this daily.
The Chautauqua Blind Association (CBA), with its Vision Rehabilitation Services, invites you to experience these challenges at its 13th Annual Dining in the Dark fundraising event. This Dining in the Dark event will take place on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel in Celoron, New York.
The CBA’s Vision Rehabilitation Services is an agency that serves Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties in Western New York. It helps individuals with severe vision loss remain safe, productive, and as independent as possible. The Dining in the Dark event is a fundraiser, with all proceeds going directly to benefit the programs offered by CBA Vision Rehabilitation. Some of these programs include the Vision Rehabilitation Program, the Orientation and Mobility Program, and the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. These initiatives are designed to assist individuals who are legally blind in functioning independently and maintaining their quality of life. (A detailed description of these programs and all the CBA has to offer are listed on their website mentioned below).
In addition to raising funds for these programs, this event offers a fun night out and helps increase awareness about the challenges faced by individuals who are blind or with vision impairment. The Dining in the Dark dinner provides a unique experience, allowing guests to eat without seeing. This dining experience encourages guests to focus on their other senses—taste, smell, touch, and sound and enables them to enjoy a delicious meal in a completely new way.
The evening will begin when the doors open at 5pm, inviting guests to gather and enjoy cocktails at the cash bar while mingling with one another. Attendees will have the chance to participate in a live auction hosted by an auctioneer. Additionally, there will be a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a blind wine pull.
In the blind wine pull, bottles of wine donated by local wineries and residents are placed in opaque bags, concealing their contents. Guests can purchase a bag, which not only contains a bottle of wine but also includes a gift card to a local business.
Seating will begin at 6:15pm, and dinner will take place at 6:45pm. Each guest will be blindfolded and led into the dining room by sighted guides who have been trained by CBA staff. The sighted guides will remain with their table of guests throughout the meal to assist them. There will be seven blindfolded guests accompanied by one trained sighted guide. The guides are students from JCC and Fredonia as well as some community volunteers. They have been specially trained to help the guests navigate this special dining experience.
When you register for the event, dinner will include a salad, a choice of entrees, side dishes, dessert, and a blindfold. Each guest will choose one of the four available entrees. The entree options must be made at the time of making the reservation and include beef short ribs, pan-seared chicken chasseur, Mediterranean cod, and a vegetarian white bean and brussel sprout ragout. If you’re interested in attending, all reservations must be made by March 21st.
If any guests attending the dinner wish to stay overnight, please contact the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel by calling 716-489-2800. When speaking to the front desk, mention that you are attending the Dining in the Dark dinner event and read about it in The Villager. They will provide you with a discounted room rate for event attendees.
The Dining in the Dark dinner is a fun and enlightening event. Guests will enjoy a delicious meal, participate in the fundraising activities, and socialize at this community event. It’s a great opportunity to support a good cause while enjoying a unique dining experience that allows you to gain firsthand insight into the challenges faced by the visually impaired every day.
For more information about the event, to make a reservation, or to inquire about business sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.cbavision.org/dining-in-the-dark or call 716-664-6660.