The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Earned Media Coverage

October 30, 2014

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Planning Your Trip to Colonial Williamsburg

Here is some insider information on getting the most out of your trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, one of America's top family destinations and the largest living history museum in the world. These basic trip-planning tips will help you make your stay a better and better value vacation. 1. Best Time to Visit Williamsburg The least crowded period is January through March but the weather can be cold and damp. The worst crowds are during the school holidays from June through August, and in December, when the historic area is decorated for the Christmas holidays. The best weather in this part of Virginia, where flowers bloom and leaves turn color, occurs in Spring and Fall, and value hotel rooms make a visit

worthwhile if you can get away then. 2. Best Way to Get Around Williamsburg This is a large but compact area with something to see everywhere you turn. One of the best ways to tour the Historic Area with kids is by bicycle. Try Bikes Unlimited (757/229-4620 141 Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg Shopping Center, Williamsburg, VA 23185); rental shop closed Mondays. Not good on two wheels? A free shuttle bus from parking lots is included in the price of a Historic Area admission ticket. 3. Best Family Itinerary in Williamsburg Allow at least two days to visit the Colonial Williamsburg living history museum, and two more if your history buffs want to see Yorktown and Jamestown as well. Two days will also give you enough time to experience both parts of "Revolutionary City," a dramatic, walk-through living history show. If you have time and a little extra money to spend on your experience, enroll the kids in the Colonial Williamsburg Apprentice program, which allows them to visit three trade shops, see demonstrations, collect mementos, and "choose" a future trade. Other must see sites in the area include Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center, Burton Parish Church, the College of William and Mary, DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Gallery, and the Governor's Palace. Give yourselves another two days to lighten the lessons in summer with a day of splashes at the Water Country USA water park, and a fun outing to the Pirates' Cove Minigolf. An alternative theme park is the wonderful Busch Gardens which boasts the world's tallest inverted roller coaster. 4. Best Admission Ticket Options Williamsburg Ticket Plans vary according to length of stay and privileges. A special Hotel Guest ticket, valid for guests of official Colonial Williamsburg hotels, includes length-of-stay admission to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area and local museums, 25% discount on most evening Colonial Performances tickets, regular daytime programs and activities, free parking at the Visitor Center, Colonial Williamsburg shuttle buses, an Orientation Walk, hotel WiFi. The Annual Pass provides unlimited access for one year. This pass includes all general admissions, local museums, daily programs and 25% discount on evening shows. 5. Best Celebratory Family Event in Williamsburg In order to be sure to sample an historic tavern meal with the whole family, book ahead as each restaurant is open seasonally and hours vary. Call 800/HISTORY or 757/229-2141 to make a dinner reservation at King's Arms or Christiana Campbell's, which accept only reservations at dinnertime. (Note that Christiana Campbell's was a favorite of George Washington!) Lunch crowds can be daunting, especially over the school holidays. Another popular and more casual tavern is Chowning's, a reconstructed 18th century alehouse at 109 East Duke of Gloucester Street, but they only serve lunch. 6. Best Williamsburg Experience with Teens Ghost tours are especially popular with school-age children and teens. Contact the Original Williamsburg Candlelight Ghost Tour (877/62-Ghost) or go to nearby Yorktown for a haunted walking tour. 7. Best Williamsburg Information Sources Some handy phone numbers to keep in mind are the Williamsburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (800/368-6511) and the Colonial Williamsburg Reservations and Information Center (800/447-8679).

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www.antiquesandauctionnews.net10 - - Antiques & Auction News — October 31, 2014

To commemorate the beautyand diversity of American quiltmaking over the span of three cen-turies, an exhibition featuring 12superb examples from the ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation collectionwill officially open on Friday, Oct.24, at the DeWitt WallaceDecorative Arts Museum, one of theArt Museums of ColonialWilliamsburg. The exhibit, “ACelebration of American Quilts,”accompanies “Four Centuries ofQuilts,” a landmark book co-pub-lished by the Colonial WilliamsburgFoundation and Yale UniversityPress ($75). Curated by the book’sauthors and ColonialWilliamsburg’s noted scholars,Linda Baumgarten and KimberlySmith Ivey the exhibition will rep-resent the breadth of the Americanquilts in this collection.

“The Colonial Williams-burgFoundation has built an outstandingcollection of early textiles over thelast 80 years, but quilts are amongthe great strengths of the assem-blage,” said Ronald L. Hurst, thefoundation’s Carlisle H. Humelsinechief curator and vice president forcollections, conservation, andmuseums. “Our holdings represent

everything from formal 18th-centu-ry whole-cloth quilts to moreabstract folk art quilts of the 20thcentury. Curators LindaBaumgarten and Kim Ivey havewrung a remarkable body of insightfrom these objects during the lastthree decades.”

Americans made quilts in vari-ous styles and techniques, whichranged from subtle white or solid-colored wholecloth examples tolively pieced and appliquéd worksof art. Some quilt makers madetheir elegant works with new tex-tiles. Others “made do” and recy-cled old clothing and household fur-nishings for their quilts. Quilt mak-ers produced their pieces for differ-ent reason: for some, it was theirartistic outlet; for others, they madegifts for their loved ones. Still otherquilt makers made their quilts sim-ply to keep their families warm,using whatever materials wereavailable. “A Celebration ofAmerican Quilts” explores the richvariety of quilt making in this coun-try and draws examples from acrossthe land with works from Virginia toHawaii, New Hampshire toAlabama, and Maryland to Indiana.

“American quilts symbolize in abeautiful way the diversity ofAmericans, because each makerbrought her own history and culture

to the process of making her quilt.Viewers today share in those liveswhen they view and appreciatethese works of textile artistry,” saidBaumgarten, the ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation’s curatorof textiles and costumes.

Among the highlights of “ACelebration of American Quilts” isa wholecloth quilt, probably madein New Hampshire between 1750and 1800 by an unknown quiltmaker. Many women of the timecreated warm and attractive whole-cloth bedcovers using fine worstedwool textiles for the tops. Theystitched lengths of woven fabrictogether to make a single piecelarge enough for the entire top. This

textile was pressed after weaving bythe textile manufacturer to give aglaze that rivaled silk in sheen. Theglazing process made the textilespermanently shiny and crisp andenhanced the visibility of the quilt-ing. With wholecloth quilts, thesubtle decoration came entirelyfrom the stitches that held the layerstogether. Although the oversizeleaves and flowers of this designappear to be stuffed or raised withextra filling, no additional battingwas added beyond a layer of wool

fiber spread evenly throughout thequilt. The stuffed appearance occursbecause the background diagonallyquilted lines pull the textile in, caus-ing the non-quilted areas to puff up.Bright colors, such as the salmonpink in this example, were typical inthe 18th century.

By contrast to the worstedwholecloth quilt above, a Kentuckyquilt maker working between 1930and 1950 created her work-clothesquilt out of denim cottons. Asthrifty housewives knew, textilesand quilt-making materials could beexpensive so they often recycled oldclothing and home furnishings. Fewquilts exemplify this concept of“making do” better than this practi-cal, sturdy, and warm quilt. Usingold denim overalls and jeans,removing the pockets to reveal less-faded colors underneath, andreassembling the flattened pieces tomake a quilt top, this practicalmaker tied the quilt through heavycotton batting and backed it withfertilizer sacks and barely legiblewords turned to the inside of thequilt. When times were tough, itwas common for women to use stur-dy feed sacks for quilt backings,dish towels, and even children’sclothing. While the maker of thisquilt has not been identified, it wascommon for farm women to makeutilitarian quilts using old denimwork clothes.

Another featured quilt in “ACelebration of American Quilts” isthe Log Cabin variation crib quiltmade between 1890 and 1910 by anunknown quilter, probably aMennonite woman from theShartlesville vicinity in BerksCounty, Pa., using wools, cotton-wool mixtures, and cotton. Thisvisually dynamic pieced quilt fea-tures radiating strips of fabric thatcombine to form a pattern usuallyknown as Windmill Blades, a vari-ant of the Log Cabin pattern. Itcombines woven plaids, printeddots and solid wool, cotton andmixed textiles, all of which werepieced by hand. The hand-quiltingstitches, which follow the patterndesign, are not readily visible on thefront. Most of the Mennonites inPennsylvania were originallyGerman-speaking people fromEurope. Like their Amish neigh-bors, Mennonites have retainedtheir strong Christian faith, worerelatively plain clothing, and held tobeliefs in nonviolence and serviceto their community. However, fromthe beginning, Mennonites tendedto assimilate into the broader cultur-al group. This tendency is reflectedin their quilts that use printed tex-tiles and patterns that were currentamong more mainstream quilt makers.

“Each quilt has a unique story,”

said Ivey, Colonial Williamsburg’scurator of textiles and historic inte-riors. “For example, spinster sistersChristiann and Ann Margaret Rauchof Franklin County, Pa., markedtwo appliquéd quilts with their ini-tials and the date 1849 for their twoyoung nephews, the sons of theirwidowed younger sister. The bondof sisterhood is an intertwiningtheme throughout the collection andis further highlighted in ‘FourCenturies of Quilts.’”

The 12 quilts shown in “ACelebration of American Quilts” arebut a few of the nearly 180 quiltsfeatured in “Four Centuries ofQuilts: The Colonial WilliamsburgCollection.” With more than 300color images, this book reveals notonly the significance of quilts andwhy it is important to study themtoday but also showcases the diver-sity of quilt making across the globeover 400 years, with exquisiteexamples of popular designs andinformation about some of the peo-ple who created these hand-madecloth masterpieces. The publicationof “Four Centuries of Quilts” wasmade possible by a grant from Maryand Clinton Gilliland and theTurner-Gilliland Family Fund of theSilicon Valley CommunityFoundation.

Images courtesy of TheColonial Williamsburg Foundation.

““AA CCeelleebbrraattiioonn OOff AAmmeerriiccaann QQuuiillttss””WWiillll BBee HHeelldd AAtt TThhee AArrtt MMuusseeuummss OOff CCoolloonniiaall WWiilllliiaammssbbuurrgg

Exhibit Accompanies Publication Of Related Book

This Hexagon pierced cotton quilttop from New England, circa 1800-40, was done by an ancestor of thelate well-known illustrator and chil-dren books author Tasha Tudor. Itwas a gift to the ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation by TashaTudor.

The Tulip Cross crib quilt was by amember of the Richter family, possi-bly Anna Richter of Indiana, circa1850-60.

This Star quilt was by an unknownAmish or Mennonite maker fromPennsylvania or Ohio, circa 1920-60.

The Log Cabin variation crib quilt byan unknown maker was probablymade in the Shartlesville vicinity ofBerks County, Pa., by a Mennonitemaker, circa 1890-1910.

A New York Mariner’s Compassquilt by Mary Wright Williams ofNew York, N.Y., was done circa 1845-55.

This Baltimore Album quilt by anunknown maker, circa 1850, was agift of Foster and Muriel McCarl.

A Lyres and Swags quilt, probably bya member of the Moore family ofYork County, Va., was done circa1845-60.

The appliqued Tulip quilt by AnnMargaret Rauch from FranklinCounty, Pa., was done circa 1849.

http://mrsmaryannshouse.blogspot.com/2014/10/our-trip-to-williamsburg-day-2.html

Our Trip to Williamsburg: Day 2 10.26.14

Our first stop on our 2nd day of vacation was to the Colonial Williamsburg visitor's center. First on our agenda was to buy our passes to see the sights. On our honeymoon, we had no extra money so we just did the free things. But this time we wanted to be able to take in some of the ticketed attractions so we had budgeted accordingly ahead of time. We purchased 7 day passes for the Historic Triangle--Colonial Williamsburg,

Jamestown and Yorktown. The passes are certainly not cheap but divided over 6 days (we were only there for 6 days but our passes were for 7), the cost is very reasonable and much less expensive than purchasing tickets to see individual attractions. We walked out of the visitor's center and headed down the path to Colonial Williamsburg.

The walk was longer than we remembered from our previous visit. The rest of the week we took advantage of the shuttle that made a loop around the city, beginning and ending at the visitor's center. We could get on and off wherever we wanted and the longest wait at any one stop was maybe 10 minutes. We still got plenty of walking in but the shuttle rides saved a lot of time and energy! The shuttle service was free with our passes so we were tickled to make use of it!

Anyways, on our walk to the Revolutionary City, as they call it, we toured a Colonial Farmstead. I have no pictures of this which I am surprised by! Upon entering Colonial Williamsburg, we toured the grounds at the Governor's Palace. We toured the inside of the palace later in the week. We also took our daily selfie here. After the tour of the gardens and grounds at the Governor's Palace, we continued walking, stopping to look in a

few of the shops and touring the George Wythe house. A note about the tours--I'm one of those people that can only take so many guided tours. But the tours we did here were very entertaining. Most were told more as a story which helped to keep my attention! Most were only 30 minutes long too.

By this time, we were hungry for lunch so we stopped at Chowning's Tavern for lunch. (I believe I have a picture of the actual building that was taken later in the week that hasn't been edited yet so I'll post it later!) This restaurant was in Colonial Williamsburg and runs much like it would've in Colonial times. It was a fun experience to eat there. After lunch, we walked to the nearest bus stop and took the shuttle back to the visitor's center. We spent the rest of the afternoon looking for some Washington Redskins paraphernalia at local stores and then relaxing at the hotel. We ate supper in our hotel room/suite which included a full kitchen so we could do some of our own cooking. I had brought a few freezer meals along to make cooking really easy! Our hotel also had a free hot breakfast bar every morning so most days we only ate out one time. And thus concluded our 2nd day of vacation. To be continued...

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My Trip to Colonial Williamsburg with Benjamin Moore Dagmar Bleasdale

10.28.14 Benjamin Moore Trip A few weeks ago I spent the most wonderful weekend in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. I shot so many photos, over 500, and it took quite a while to edit them down, but I can’t wait to share them with you. Benjamin Moore invited me to learn more about the 144 hues of Benjamin Moore’s Colonial Williamsburg Color Collection. My friend Lynn came with me, and we flew from Westchester, NY, to Richmond, VA, on Friday morning.

We were greeted by a chauffeur who drove us to the Williamsburg Lodge. Benjamin Moore really rolled out the red carpet for us. When we checked in, we were greeted by Kelly and Ashley from Benjamin Moore and Jackie Hafner, who spent the whole weekend with us. We got settled in our pretty room, and then we got ready for the first event, a cocktail reception across the street.

We met up with the other bloggers, the Colonial Williamsburg team, and the whole Benjamin Moore team at the Taste Studio. Three chefs had prepared the most amazing samples for us, and we all had a hard time to keep some space for dinner.

Pumpkin bourbon ice cream? Yes, please! After we all chatted a bit and got to know each other better, we walked to the Golden Horseshoe Clubhouse for dinner. It was a wonderful evening full of yummy food, and I especially enjoyed getting to know Cheryl, who

writes the popular blog Tidy Mom. She is so funny and she gave me some amazing blogging tips. I fell into bed tired and excited for a full day on Saturday.

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After breakfast, it was time for a walking tour of Colonial Willaimsburg. I couldn’t wait — I’ve been to Williamsburg once before and absolutely love it. The history, the beautiful houses — I feel at home there among all of those brick buildings and antiques. Matt Webster, the director of Architectural Preservation, gave us a behind-the-scenes tour. The first house we toured was the Wythe House. The wallpaper was stunning! It’s so colorful and busy, it’s absolutely lovely. This one was my favorite pattern.

This is Lindsay Souza, who writes The Pursuit of Style. She brought her fiance and they got married the next weekend! Such a cute couple.

We learned so much about paint and wallpaper. Back in colonial times, how you painted your house showed your status, and the same went for wallpaper. The inside of cupboards were usually lined with wallpaper or painted in a bright color to show off

your china, which came from England if you were rich. People in the 1700s weren’t afraid of color!

Having this kind of green wasn’t easy to achieve back then and again showed of your status.

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Our second stop was the Governor’s Palace, which back then was the most expensive house in all of America. The walls of the entry hall are lined with rifles and swords because that made it possible to arm the militia very quickly. The

soldiers would run in and run out with a weapon, ready to fight. I kept thinking of how much Don would appreciate all this pretty woodwork.

This was the pantry. Nice size, with shelves up to the ceiling, a bed, and a desk! This room reminded me of L’s room because of the turquoise color. The carvings around the windows are so pretty. Don’t you wish we lived in homes that still show this

much craftsmanship? I do. We walked out the back through this pretty garden, and then to the Robert Carter House. Benjamin Moore used this house to paint the rooms with colors of their Colonial Williamsburg Color Collection, to shoot the new catalog.

The page in the catalog and the room it was shot in. Pretty cool to see. I really love these historically inspired colors. When I walked to the back of the house and step onto the veranda, this view literally took my breath away.

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This is my single most favorite moment of the whole trip: there was a warm breeze that was just perfect, the view of the garden was stunning, and I was overwhelmed with how at home I felt there. I wish I could have hung out longer, but it

was time to walk down the street to get lunch at the King’s Arms Tavern. How cute is this little house? I really loved the branded dishes and ended up buying a small version to remember this trip.

I chose the “Garden Pye” — so yummy. Another amazing meal, and a few of us shared this cake.

Our next stop was the Conservation Lab. Kristin Moffitt, Colonial Williamsburg’s Conservator and Material Analyst, showed us around and then her lab.

This is what paint pigments in colonial times looked like! See how large the pigment sizes where, and how many layers were applied throughout the years? Kristin can find out which exact color was used back then with her tools, which was so fascinating. And once she knows which color was originally used on a house in

Colonial Williamsburg, she then makes recommendations to Benjamin Moore about how to recreate it so the house can be repainted in that color.

http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2014/10/benjamin-moore-colonial-williamsburg/

Skilled painters then use the paint techniques and the round brushes that were used back then to repaint the buildings.

Our next stop was the DeWitt Wallace Museum, where we all went on a fun scavenger hunt and revolutionary color tour, let by Liza Gusler. She is the licensing manager for all of the Colonial Willimsburg licensed line of fabrics and other items, like coaster, aprons, and notecards. I think I better stop here and tell you about the rest of the day and Sunday in a second post. I hope you’ll come back for that — I have many more photos to share.

http://www.e-conservation.org/issue-2/33-Museum-Pests-2014

MUSEUM PESTS 2014: Integrated Pest Management for Museums, Libraries, Archives and Historic Sites Review by Pascal Querner

To celebrate the ten year anniversary of the IPM Working Group, an ad hoc group of museum and pest professionals who work together each year to create and share IPM resources, a two-day international conference was held earlier this year at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. The conference on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Museums, Libraries, Archives and Historic Sites inaugurated the newly revamped Museumpests.net, one of the most important IPM resources on the web. MuseumPests.net covers the main issues faced when developing, implementing and managing an IPM, including prevention, monitoring, pest identification, solutions to solve infestations and additional resources like literature on IPM.

The active persons behind the website worked together with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Preservation Department to organise the conference, which took place south of Washington from 27th - 28th of March. Some 80 participants met to discuss new challenges in museum IPM from 19 states in the US and Canada as well as Israel, Germany and Austria. In addition to lively talks and poster presentations, the event included an intensive workshop program, visits to the Williamsburg open-air museum and a reception held at the local museum. See the MuseumPests website at http://museumpests.net/museumpests-2014-conference for full information on the conference program.

Some visitors were invited to stay an extra day to participate in the US (East Coast) IPM Working Group meeting with reports on IPM in Europe and updates on the recently updated museumpests.net site.

Keynote talks were given by David Pinniger on Past, Present and Future: The Origins and Spread of Museum Insect Pests and Tom Strang Pest Population Dynamics and Estimating Collection Risk. David Pinniger is the leading IPM specialist in the UK and an independent consultant entomologist with over 30 year of experience on IPM in museums. His presentation described the development of IPM over time and the information we have today including, for example, the spread of pest species. Tom Strang is a senior conservation scientist at the Canadian Conservation Institute; he showed us exactly what can happen if objects are not protected from pests!

Other presentations, papers and posters centred around four main themes relevant to the implementation of IPM in cultural heritage institutions of all types: 1. Institutional Implementation of IPM 2. Monitoring & Control 3. Treatment & Remediation 4. IPM Policy, Health & Safety

Like always at IPM conferences, the UK was well represented with talks on Cost effective IPM initiatives in an existing gallery presented by Jane Hymas from the Natural History Museum and IPM Successes and Trials by Suzanne Ryder from the same museum in London. Posters were also presented on the IPM at the Bodleian Libraries of the Oxford University and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Contributions from US participants included ongoing work at the Andy Warhol Museum The Accidental

http://www.e-conservation.org/issue-2/33-Museum-Pests-2014

IPM Program: A Case Study of Contemporary Art and Archives at The Andy Warhol Museum by Amber E. Morgan and John Samuel Jacobs. Ryan Jones, one of the few people in the world to hold a fulltime IPM position in the museum field (and with a commercial pest company background) presented on Subterranean Termite Prevention in Colonial Williamsburg. Even though the climate at this site is comparable to many central European cities, colleagues from Williamsburg have a tough job preventing damage by termites in the hundreds of wooden buildings that are located there.

Some of the most interesting contributions for me were on IPM Policy, Health, and Safety, moderated by Barbara Appelbaum, a conservator from New York. Investigation into contaminated collections appears to have progressed further in US museums than in European collections, especially concerning the safety of museum staff and policies on how to deal with problematic objects. During this session, there were several presentations by members of the American Institute for Conservation’s Health & Safety committee. Also, the director of the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute, Robert J. Koestler, presented an overview of the activity in this museum (which hosts one of the largest collections in the world) over the last 30 years!

The afternoon sessions allowed participants to choose between very diverse and interesting hands-on workshops and on-site tours including: • Control Options for Termites, Wood Borers and Rodents • Identification of Insect Pests by Pat Kelley (Vice President of Insects Limited) • Risk Zone Mapping for IPM by Suzanne Ryder • Introduction to Integrated Pest Management Principles and Practice • Computerized Record Keeping for Pest Trapping Data • Treatment and Remediation of Infestations and more… The conference was organised by Patty Silence, conservator at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Ryan Jones, Integrated Pest Management Specialist at the foundation and their helpers and colleagues. Many thanks to all of them for what was a great conference held in a unique location. Posters, presentations and most papers are already online atwww.museumpests.net. The next big international conference will be in Paris in 2016.

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Making history fun in Colonial Williamsburg Eileen Ogintz

10.29.14 Do you believe in “The World Unseen”? In ghosts? Maybe this time of year; maybe because we’re in a small room lit by candlelight and the question is being posed by a seemingly possessed young woman named Sarah Pelham, who lived in 18th century Williamsburg and is convinced she’s come face to face with horrible “agents of evil.” “Demons lurk in corners … any dark, sharp angular corner … they are just waiting for the opportunity to enter our world and do grievous harm!” she warned. No, Pelham’s not a ghost, though she did live more than 200 years ago. She’s just helping us to time travel as she tells her tale to the rapt audience at Colonial Williamsburg during what is one of the most popular tours here all year ‘round, not just at Halloween. “Really good!” declared Jenna Denton, 13, here with her dad from North Carolina. Anyone who has ever traveled with a teen knows how difficult they can be to please. Colonial Williamsburg, Jenna added, “Is very informative but in a fun way.” That’s the idea, of course, here in the Historic Triangle – home not only to this re-created 18th century city but also to the living-history museums Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center, which all use interactive activities, 21st century technology and costumed interpreters (including kids who volunteer) to engage visitors with activities like pounding corn at the Powahatan Indian Village at Jamestown Settlement, trying on armor at the Jamestown fort, or joining an artillery crew at Yorktown Victory Center’s re-created continental encampment. At the re-created 1780s farm, kids learn that their 18th century counterparts “had to do so many chores they didn’t have much time to play,” said Julianne Simmons, 10. “You look around, you’ll see actual kids showing you the many ways that kids had fun in the 18th century, and as you experience their daily lives, you share a connection with the kids who would have been your best friends had you lived then. It’s like learning about a new friend’s favorite customs and getting to try them yourself,” suggested Margaret Perry, 16, one of the junior interpreters at Colonial Williamsburg. “It doesn’t feel like history because you are living in the moment, as if you are really living in the 18th century,” said Tess Gibson, 16, also a junior interpreter. At Colonial Williamsburg, kids might follow the fifes and drums as they march down Duke of Gloucester Street, rent a colonial costume to wear while they are exploring the Revolutionary City, carry water from a well or play the very popular game RevQuest through which you must work covertly in the streets encountering secret agents and discovering mysterious documents while pursuing a series of clues and sending and receiving secret messages via text. “You couldn’t predict what would happen,” Jenna said. “I really felt like I accomplished something when I finished.” Kids also like the online Kids Zone. Even the hotels make history fun, whether you opt for a bona fide colonial house at Colonial Williamsburg or the Kingsmill Resort, adjacent to Busch Gardens (free shuttles to Howl-O-Scream!) where we stayed and where you can spread out with kitchens, washer-dryers and you can choose from golf to tennis to jet skis on the James River to another ghost tour. The expansive grounds were once a plantation. Historic Jamestowne is the site of America’s first permanent English settlement – and the place to see a live archaeological dig and museum. The Jamestown Settlement nearby has outdoor re-creations of the three ships that sailed to Virginia in 1607, the colonial fort and a Powhatan Indian Village. Laura Ann James, 8, here from Alabama, was ready to move right into the Powhatan Village. “Life was so simple then,” she explained. Julianne Simmons learned just how young Pocahontas was when she saved John Smith – no older than 12. “My age!” she said. Visit Yorktown Battlefield, site of the last major battle of the American Revolution and Yorktown Victory Center, which chronicles that era through a living-history Continental Army camp and farm. Come for Thanksgiving and learn about how food was prepared by the Powhatan Indians and first settlers; See what soldiers ate – and how food got from farm to table in those days.

For a happy bedtime story, think cool, dark, and quiet Rose Bennett Gilbert

10.25.14

http://blog.virginia.org/2014/10/8-golf-courses-to-take-in-fall-foliage/

Eight Golf Courses to take in Fall Foliage Stefanie Hatcher

10.17.14

It’s not time to pack away the clubs just yet. This time of year is one of the best to hit the links, not only because courses are in great shape, the season’s changing colors add to the experience of one of the best sports to take in mother nature. So get off the couch from watching Sunday’s final round and play a round yourself! Fall is a great time to be a golfer. Here are some courses that are going to give you some of the best fall foliage views around.

Primland Resort, Meadows of Dan The Highland Course at Primland Resort winds its was through the resort’s mountain landscape, playing across ridge tops and over valleys, combining challenging golf, with breathtaking scenery at every turn. The course has received praises as one of America’s 10 Best New Courses by Travel & Leisure in 2007, The Best New Public Course in America by Golf Digest in 2008, and has consistently been included in the top 25 of Golfweek’sannual survey of best resort courses in America.

The Omni Homestead Cascades Course, Hot Springs Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, The Homestead’s Cascades Course provides the challenges of a championship course and the serenity of the surrounding mountains and landscape. This nationally ranked course has hosted multiple USGA Championships and is the home of the late, great Sam Snead– one of golf’s most beloved players. Pete Dye River Course at Virginia Tech, Radford The home course of Virginia Tech’s golf team, the Pete Dye River Course offers beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Highlands and has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” in America. Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, Williamsburg Right in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg, the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club offers 45 walkable holes, completely free of surrounding real estate, offering unobstructed views of the trees lining the fairways and into the distance. It’s been on lists like the Top 500 Golf Holes in the World by GOLF Magazine and the Top 100 Resort Courses in America by Golfweek magazine. Massanutten Resort, McGaheysville Located just outside Harrisonburg, Massanutten Resort boasts two courses that wind through the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley. Take in the spectacular views of the mountainous terrain, foliage and natural wildlife that surround both the Mountain Greens and Woodstone Meadows courses.

Bay Creek Resort & Golf Club Palmer & Nicklaus Courses, Cape Charles Bay Creek’s courses hold a number of accolades, including a vote as one of the best courses in the U.S., landing the 12th spot. Look on to some of the best views the Eastern Shore has to offer and look inland for the lovely reds, yellows and oranges of ever-changing trees. Packsaddle Ridge Golf Club, Keezletown This gem, tucked in the Shenandoah Valley, yields views from the elevated clubhouse

as the course winds through the lush landscape. Keep an eye out for many types of wildlife, including deer, turkeys and more! Paddlesack was given 4.5 stars out of 5 from Golf Digest in 2008 and 2009. Wintergreen Resort Devil’s Knob and Stoney Creek courses, Wintergreen

Test your game at Wintergreens Devil’s Knob and Stoney Creek golf courses, both boasting views of the season’s foliage. The mountaintop Devil’s Knob is the highest golf course in Virginia at 3,850 feet, where its players can take in panoramic views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains and valleys. Speaking of valleys, the resort’s Stoney Creek course is located in the historic Rockfish Valley, where golfers can take in the relaxing streams, hardwood forest and pristine wetlands. Virginia has more than 220 public golf courses to choose from. Pick yours and enjoy some of the best fall foliage views around!

Jeff Hampton 10.26.14

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20141028/NEWS04/141029667

Gunpowder plot anniversary linked to tourism Jonathan Bell

10.28.14

Bermuda’s wealth of history has proved a hit with both US patriots, the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, through the efforts of the Island’s Washington DC office.

Fresh from attending a ceremony at Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia commemorating Bermuda’s role in the American Revolution, representative Cheryl Packwood said the events were taking off with the organisations.

“This has been really exciting — these people are highlighting Bermuda, and they will be coming down to the Island because of it,” she told The Royal Gazette.

“On August 12, 2015, they are coming down — not on a cruise ship, but flying in and staying a week on the Island, for the 240th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot.”

August 14, 1775 marked the infamous theft of more than 100 barrels of British gunpowder from Tobacco Bay in St George’s — all of which went to fuel the American Revolution.

Recent commemorations of the event, organised with the help of the Island’s office in Washington, have drawn increasing numbers of history enthusiasts, whom Ms Packwood described as well-to-do and keen to enjoy the Island’s attractions.

“The St George’s MP Kenny Bascome is even talking about having a re-enactment of the Gunpowder Plot,” she added. “It’s growing as we go along.”

Although little-known to many outside of Bermuda, the Gunpowder Plot has intrigued US audiences.

“When you look at the history of the Revolution, you can see how if one thing hadn’t happened, the other thing might not have happened,” Ms Packwood said.

“Would George Washington ever have become President? It’s an important historical event — ever since the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution found out, they have been incredible at highlighting this part of Bermuda’s history. And these are people who travel.”

While she said it is hard to say how many might visit the Island for the occasion, she said the numbers have been growing as the series of anniversary events has gone on.

“We did get over 100 standing in Williamsburg,” she said. “They are historians and American Revolutionary buffs. They know who traces back to whom and how. They will come with their families. Prices have been estimated already for children and so forth.

“The Bermuda event is a trip planned with events with a draft schedule has already being circulating among them.”

http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/faith-values/bruton-parish-church-celebrates-the-

th-anniversary-of-its-building/article_11bb81de-fd83-56ad-b207-a4c03c559393.html

Bruton Parish Church celebrates the 300th anniversary of its building Bill Lohmann

10.25.14 WILLIAMSBURG — George Washington stood here. Thomas Jefferson sat there. Strolling around the sanctuary of Bruton Parish Episcopal Church is a walk through America’s history. “It goes on and on,” marveled the Rev. Christopher L. Epperson, the church’s rector. “There’s no place quite like it.” This month, the church kicks off a 15-month celebration of the 300th anniversary of its building on Duke of Gloucester Street. The celebration begins in earnest today, highlighted by the presence of a rather notable guest preacher in the Bruton Parish pulpit: the Bishop of London, the Rt. Rev. Richard Chartres, who delivered the sermon at

the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in Westminster Abbey. During the Colonial period, Anglican churches in America, including Bruton Parish Church, were overseen by the Bishop of London. That’s no longer the case, of course, but Epperson said the invitation was extended as a nod to history. Bruton Parish dates to 1674, but the current structure, completed in 1715, is the third to house the church. The church has undergone a number of makeovers — in good times and bad — but has made it to 300, a lot of years for any building. “I don’t live in anything that’ll be around 300 years from now,” Epperson said. What makes Bruton particularly remarkable — and is perhaps the primary reason it remains in such good shape as it embarks on its fourth century — is what Epperson calls the “vitality” of its congregation, which numbers 2,000. Four services are held on Sundays, and special events, such as evening candlelight concerts, are regularly scheduled. The church seems to be always open. When he was called to be the 35th rector of Bruton Parish, Epperson, who is in his fourth year, said he was nervous initially because he feared any church in the middle of Colonial Williamsburg must be “more of a museum than a parish.” “All along the way in the search process, everyone I spoke to was really committed to the mission and ministry of the church,” he said. “It is a church first and historic second.” But historic it is. At first, Bruton Parish was shared between two wooden churches that existed when the parish was created in 1674 by the merger of Marston Parish of York County and Middletown Parish of James City County, according to a church history. The name “Bruton” came from the English ancestral home of the Ludwells, a prominent Colonial family, as well as Royal Governor Sir William Berkeley. A new, brick church was completed in 1683 in Williamsburg, just to the north and west of the present church building. However, it wasn’t long before the structure was overwhelmed by all of the people brought to Williamsburg with the founding of the College of William and Mary (1693) and the relocation of the Colonial capital from Jamestown to Williamsburg (1699). A newer, bigger, cross-shaped church was completed in 1715, and Bruton Parish in the coming decades became a center of community activity. When the legislature was in session, political leaders such as Washington, Jefferson and Patrick Henry worshiped at the church, which was the scene of special services leading up to the American Revolution. It also is a privileged resting place for local luminaries buried beneath the sanctuary and in the

http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/faith-values/bruton-parish-church-celebrates-the-

th-anniversary-of-its-building/article_11bb81de-fd83-56ad-b207-a4c03c559393.html

churchyard, and it is filled with artifacts such as the stone baptismal font that Epperson described as “the oldest piece of ecclesiastical hardware in the Western Hemisphere.” The font was moved from Jamestown, he said, and most scholars believe it originated in England. With the end of its affiliation with the Anglican Church (and the loss of tax support), Bruton Parish experienced a decline in the 1800s. The church lost membership and influence, and the building fell into disrepair. During the Civil War, the church served as a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers. The church regained some of its luster in the early 1900s, but visionary Bruton Parish rector W.A.R. Goodwin brought it all the way back. “He loved the church and the history of the whole town, and he wanted to see it preserved,” said Marcia Hibbitts, a Bruton Parish member and coordinator of the guides who lead daily tours of the church. “His goal was to get the funds to do that.” Goodwin accomplished that by finding time to meet John D. Rockefeller during a visit by the latter to the College of William and Mary. Goodwin must have been convincing. “Because of Mr. Rockefeller’s deep pockets and Dr. Goodwin’s dreams,” Hibbitts said, “we now have Colonial Williamsburg.” As part of the development, Bruton Parish underwent a major restoration in the late 1930s, though it is not officially part of Colonial Williamsburg. However, the church is open almost every day of the year and happily opens its doors to tourists. There is no admission charged, but a small donation is requested. An estimated 60 guides, nearly all of them members of Bruton Parish, lead tours and otherwise welcome visitors to the church. Hibbitts, who has been a guide since 2005 and coordinator since 2008, described it as “a special ministry.” Though precise numbers aren’t kept, the church surely welcomes through its doors a large percentage of the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to Colonial Williamsburg each year. It’s a complicated and expensive dynamic — maintenance alone represents a significant portion of the church’s annual budget approaching $2 million — or, as Epperson put it: “It’s a living, breathing, active and vibrant parish situated in the midst of one of the top five tourist destinations in the country. It’s incredible.” It’s also, he said, an opportunity and, for a church deeply committed to mission and ministry, one not to be squandered. Connecting with someone in a way that “may set them down a path that gets them thinking about their own spirituality, their own faith” can be powerfully important, he said, “even if it doesn’t directly impact Bruton Parish.” To that end, the church created “Friends of Bruton,” an outreach effort that includes a quarterly newsletter as a way to keep in touch with visitors who stop by the church periodically on trips to Williamsburg. The aim is to “create a kind of community among that group of people that care about the place,” Epperson said. “Sort of a 21st-century kind of offering to an extended congregation.” There are almost 1,000 worldwide members of Friends of Bruton, he said. Hibbitts had been one of those regular visitors from away. She and her husband lived in Cincinnati, but had a vacation home in Williamsburg and moved there after retirement. An interest in genealogy led to the discovery that her French Huguenot ancestors had worshipped at Bruton Parish 300 years ago and might be buried in the churchyard. “It’s a powerful feeling,” she said of worshiping at the church and leading tours. “Without a doubt, I know I’m in the right place.”

300 Years of Worship: Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg stands proudly Bill Lohmann

10.26.14

http://www.dailypress.com/news/va-vg-veterans-get-free-admission-to-colonial-williamsburg-nov-711-20141024-story.html

Veterans get free admission to Colonial Williamsburg Nov. 7-11 10.24.14

WILLIAMSBURG – Colonial Williamsburg will provide free admission to U.S. active duty military personnel, guard and reservists, retirees, veterans and their immediate dependents Friday, Nov. 7 through Tuesday, Nov. 11 The “Honoring Service to America” ticket provides admission to Colonial Williamsburg exhibition sites, the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg and most daytime programs. The ticket also includes free parking at the Visitor Center, access to the short movie, “Williamsburg—The Story of a Patriot,” and complimentary use of Colonial Williamsburg shuttle buses. Free “Honoring Service to America” tickets will be provided to immediate dependents of currently deployed troops with appropriate identification. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, form DD 214, as identification of service. These special tickets are available only at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center and on-site ticket sales locations including the Lumber House Ticket Office, the William Pitt store in the Revolutionary City and the ticket window in Merchants Square. On Veterans Day, a military march honoring America’s veterans will be held at 4 p.m. on Market Square North. All veterans of service in America’s armed forces are invited to participate in a march along Duke of Gloucester Street with the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums and military programs staff. A commemoration ceremony honoring America’s Veterans follows at the Courthouse on Market Square. Veterans unable to walk the distance can join the march near the Magazine. For more information, visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/militaryoffer or call 855-296-6627.

http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/food/the-dish-blog/dp-march-of-dimes-chef-auction-coming-up-nov-2-20141021-story.html

March of Dimes chef auction coming up Nov. 2 David Nicholson

10.21.14

Tickets are still available for the 2014 March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction taking place from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in James City County. The popular event includes an auction, wine, entertainment and a sampling of signature dishes created by a dozen chefs. I’ll be joining other judges to make awards in several categories, including best use of local products, best dessert and best overall. There’s a people’s choice award as well. This year’s lineup of competing chefs includes Kenny Sloane of Fin Seafood, Mark Florimonte of Fords Colony, Kelvin Moore of Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Chun Felix of Opus Steakhouse, Kyle Fowlkes of Embassy Suites-Hampton Roads Convention Center, Richard Carr of Berret's Seafood, Matt Wilson of Colonial Heritage, Justin Addison of Traditions at the Williamsburg Lodge, Tyler Johnston of Harpoon Larry's, Frank Lang of Great Wolf Lodge, Nelson Miller of Silt and Stephen Lossee of William and Mary Catering. Tickets are $80, available online at hrsigchef.com/williamsburg/.

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. 50 Kingsmill Drive, James City County.

http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-monthly-williamsburg-lodge-beer-tastings-highlight-the-best-of-

the-seasons-20141026,0,4390433.story

Monthly Williamsburg Lodge beer tastings highlight the best of the seasons Christine Sampson

10.26.14

WILLIAMSBURG -- Want proof that not all beer is created equal? The proof is in the pudding. Or rather it's in the pumpkin, as was the case on Saturday at the Williamsburg Lodge's monthly beer tasting. "Pints and Pairings" is a beer-and-food tasting session that highlights the trends and seasons of beer. This past Saturday's session focused on pumpkin ales, and in particular pumpkin ales brewed in Virginia. Executive chef Anthony Frank along with banquet sous chef Ken Clasen and restaurant sous chef Sean Gonzalez led the session, which featured St. George's "Pumpkinfest" out of Hampton, "Pumpkin Hunter" from Lexington-based brewer Devil's Backbone, "Pumpkin Ale" from Williamsburg's own Aleworks and "Boxcar Pumpkin Porter" from Charlottesville-based brewer Starr Hill. The tasting also featured "Imperial Pumking" from Southern Tier, based in Lakewood, N.Y. "These are the best five I've tasted," Clasen said. Frank said pumpkin is very versatile, with uses not just in brewing beer and baking dessert but also as a starch in place of potato and in relishes and pickling. The brews during Saturday's tasting varied in composition. Clasen called the Pumpkinfest and Pumpkin Hunter "session brews," meaning beers that are light and easy enough to enjoy that you can drink over and over. The AleWerks pumpkin beer and the Pumking brew were the liveliest of the bunch, and made for a dramatic comparison to the darker Pumpkin Porter. Much like wine, Frank said, a pairing with the right kind of food can change the whole experience of drinking a particular beer. In front of an audience of 20, the three chefs prepped and cooked three original dishes for tasting: toasted pumpkin seeds with melted brie cheese in a crispy filo cup; pork belly panzanella with pickled pumpkin, Grand Cru cheese and croutons; and pumpkin donut holes with bacon buttercream. Guests also tasted Stoneyman sheep's milk cheese, Homestead Creamery's butter pecan ice cream, gingersnap cookies and a selection of spiced nuts based on a Chinese five-spice recipe created by Colonial Williamsburg's head pastry chef, Rodney Diehl. Some even used their scoop of butter pecan ice cream to make a beer float with the lively, fruity Pumking brew. "Just like tasting wine, it's about the aroma, the appearance, the texture," Frank said. "When it hits your palate, all of it will start to explode." However, he cautions, food pairings must be carefully considered or else they will overwhelm the beer and it will simply taste like drinking flavored water. But if the guests' reactions were any indication, the three chefs got it just right on Saturday.

"This has been really enjoyable. Nobody gets 'chopped' today," Williamsburg resident Matt Meyer joked, referring to the popular Food Network TV show. He added: "There's a lot of foodie stuff going on here. They really seem to know what's going on."

http://www.vagazette.com/news/va-vg-monthly-williamsburg-lodge-beer-tastings-highlight-the-best-of-

the-seasons-20141026,0,4390433.story

Tom Ruth of York, Penn., said he visits Colonial Williamsburg two or three times per year and said he found Saturday's event to be top-notch. "It was excellent, wonderful," Ruth said. "It's always entertaining, always informative." Frank said hours and hours of research goes into each Pints and Pairing session: Three to four hours of tasting different beer and tasting different foods with those brews, then more than eight hours working on the specific ingredients for each particular event to make sure they're correct and consistent. "We research all year round," he said. According to Frank, beer is "an important ingredient in the success of the Williamsburg Lodge." "Beer is really becoming an integral part of our flavor profile of what we're considering when we're creating a dish," he said, "because so many more people are interested in the microbrews and different seasonal flavors." Want to go? The next "Pints and Pairings" is Nov. 29. Tickets are $45.50. For more information, visit http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/calendar.

Many made wall’s visit a success 10.22.14

Plenty of good reads to fall into this autumn Ann M. Efimetz

10.15.14

Program celebrates ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ 9.24.14

Join Colonial Williamsburg’s Edward

Joyner every Friday at 4:15 pm for

Career Corner

Tune in to WMBG AM 740

http://www.wmbgradio.com/