It’s autumn in CW!

As we get deeper into the heart of autumn, Grace and I are enjoying the explosion of color that has painted Colonial Williamsburg in many shades of yellow and red. The cool weather is here, and we are happy to be enjoying a crisp and sunny fall! Our big news is that we had our first fire in our fireplace this weekend. I’ll admit that, as inexperienced fire-tenders, the flames took many long minutes of coaxing before they took off, but by the end of a sooty and breathless half-hour, we had a roaring, warming fireside to sit (and nap) by. We are currently planning our first s’mores and fire combination evening!

Our home is still decorated with the products of our latest event, the CW house colonial pumpkin decorating party that we held on Halloween. It was awesome to meet so many new students and to see their creative production in action. I also enjoyed the discovery of the electric pumpkin-carving-drill; like something out of a welder’s studio or our own blacksmith’s workshop, the tool brings pumpkin carving to a whole new level. The results were, if not artistically innovative in my case, certainly notable for their uniqueness. Thanks to everyone who came out! It was wonderful to take a creative break over candy, cider, and witch’s brew with you all!

Stay tuned for future events. We’re having a reception before Grand Illumination on the Sunday before exams, so make sure to keep that in mind when you’re planning your study-breaks. Remember to friend us, The William Randolph Lodging, on facebook if you haven’t already, and we’ll keep you posted on the blog about upcoming CW house events and events in the greater Colonial Williamsburg area.  Talk to you soon!

Want to get off campus? Explore Colonial Williamsburg this week!

America’s Music: On November 16, from 11:30 to 12:30, Kelly Kennedy is performing her Irish-influenced music in the DeWitt Wallace museum. Every week the “America’s Music” segment of their programming brings in a new type of American music from various diverse genres.

Kimball Theater: I’m Still Here is playing for two more days! The film follows an experimental year in the life of actor Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Gladiator) after his announced retirement from film in 2008. In Phoenix’s career shift from blockbuster star to hip hop musician, first-time director Casey Affleck (actor Ocean’s 11, Gone Baby Gone) explores the struggles of reinvention, especially when confronted with the ever-present glare of the public eye. It’s playing on Nov. 10–15 in the screening room.

Freedom Denied: Slavery in the Time of Liberty: This is an ongoing activity that explores the realities of enslaved African Americans living in our area, the birthplace of many revolutionary ideas about freedom and equality. The tour explains many aspects of the institution of slavery and attempts to leave us with greater knowledge of how free and enslaved African American lived within and tried to resist the system. Call 1-800-HISTORY for prices and reservations.

More at: http://history.org/visit/whatToSeeAndDo/historicArea/index.cfm