Above Stairs: Inside Colonial Williamsburg

I had the pleasure, nay, the privilege, of accompanying Mr. William Paca and Mrs. Anne Catherine Green on their journey to Williamsburg. The occasion? A new dress for Anne.

Mr. Paca and Mrs. Green speaking the Language of the Fan

Historic Annapolis commissioned The Margaret Hunter Shop: Milliners and Mantuamakers to manufacture the dress.

Mrs. Green models pieces of her unfinished dress

When you walk into the shop, centrally located on Duke of Gloucester street, you might be greeted by any one of the fine ladies that go about their work by the windows to catch the sunlight. You may be greeted by Sarah, and you may be tempted to think she is just an actress portraying a tradeswoman. But in that assumption, you would be wrong. Sarah is a very real seamstress, serving a very real apprenticeship under Janea Whitacre, a Mistress of the millinery and mantua-making trades, to become a milliner herself by trade.

Mrs. Green and Mr. Paca take a break around town in their finery

Part of the fun in Colonial Williamsburg is throwing 21st century technology at the first-person interpreters and watching how they handle each curveball you throw. Whether it be "making lightening" or "the devil's magic" or "one of Franklin's new inventions," the costumed acting-interpreters roaming the streets will answer you as a person of the 18th century. In the milliner's shop, the milliners will speak with you in the third-person, answering your questions candidly and in great detail. Sarah explained to us that this distinction is just another reminder that not only are the staff of the shop dressed and interpreting the colonial-era to guests, but are also keeping the craft alive and running a real business in their trade.

The milliners fitting Mrs. Green

Sarah also gave me some insight as to the lengths that Janea and her fellow Masters and Mistresses of Historic Trades must go through for their honorable title. The mastery process is not unlike a dissertation defense, in that you must gather a portfolio of all your work over the years and prove your skills in the craft. It is an accomplishment to be proud of. The current interns and apprentices may or may not continue on to pursue their mastery, but either way their experience and contribution in keeping the trade alive is invaluable.

Mr. Paca relaxes in the Millinery shop with a book

The Margaret Hunter Shop worked 70 hours over two days, fitting, measuring, cutting and hand-sewing the fabric by only natural light - which was scarce on this rainy weekend. Now, when I say 'measure', I don't mean with string or tape. The pieces of fabric that make up the gown are held up, slipped on, or otherwise fashioned to Anne's person to measure their fit to her body. This authenticity is what brought these ladies to Williamsburg. Preserving these unique talents is why Sarah, Emma, and many more interns over the years have and will continue to devote hours, weeks, and years to learning the trade.

Mr. Paca sits in on a fitting with his friend Mrs. Green

Anne Catherine's visit and the work on her dress drew many visitors to the shop - and why not? How often do you see 5 different women sewing away by hand to finish an entire dress in one weekend?

Mrs. Green discusses gown pockets with another Colonial lady, Mrs. Randolph

The final result was nothing short of amazing. The dress was finished at 5:00 on the dot Sunday evening, was a perfect homage to the Charles Willson Peale painting, and on its own was simply beautiful. Anne looked smashing!


Want to see Mrs. Green and her dress in person? You can! Mrs. Green and Mr. Paca will entertain guests at the Historic Annapolis Tavern Traipse on November 18th. This adults-only event features a tasting of three Colonial alcoholic drinks and period light fare as guests traipse around town from one 18th-century site to another learning about tavern life and libations. Details and tickets here.

Check out The Margaret Hunter Shop and Historic Annapolis to see photos of the finished work.

You can find The Margaret Hunter Shop on facebook or on the web

You can find Historic Annapolis on facebook or annapolis.org for more information about this wonderful weekend.

Please visit Colonial Williamsburg, on the web at history.org for more information about upcoming events and the very real trades that take place in the Historic city.

Annapolis Irish Festival

We arrived at the festival at gate's opening and spent the morning exploring. I got my first taste of Ireland for the day with a Club Rock Shandy, a refreshing citrus soda with little bits of pulp, much like Orangina. Club sodas from Ireland, unlike most sodas this side of the pond, have very little sodium, so you actually feel refreshed when you finish the can.

We snagged The Rovers new CD from Jennifer, along with her signature, and our mission that morning became clear: we were on a scavenger hunt to find all The Rovers and get their autograph on Buy Us A Drink. From one stage to the other and across the fairgrounds, we were successful.

Satisfied with our morning victory, our plan was to grab an Irish lunch at Galway Bay during the heat of the day, so we left the grounds of the Festival for a bit. Disappointment met us in Downtown Annapolis when we found the power was out. The poor Galway staff were outside sweating and letting customers know they were closed. Who would have thought the staff at the festival would be cooler than the ones in the restaurant? I feel for the business the pub must have lost, but know we'll be back to make up for it.

Heading back to the festival, we set out our lawn chairs amongst the crowd in a shady spot. First, the Screaming Orphans. Cute, peppy, upbeat Irish girls singing pop music. I love the delicate sound they produce by harmonizing their voices. The Orphans had an amazing energy to them, their performance was a crescendo of animation, their drummer pounding wildly away and engaging the crowd to clap, dance, and sing.

I hadn't been able to find their old album East 21st Street anywhere, so I was happy to pick it up from the merch stand. The girl at the stand said the Orphans would be down after their performance for signing. And there we have it: another mission. With patience, we succeeded again.

The Rovers kicked off their performance rocking out on the bagpipes. The fiddle, drums, and guitar had the crowd buzzing as performers from other bands were invited onstage. As the sun went down, the rock concert feel took over and we couldn't help but abandon our comfy chairs to stand below the stage.

The lights, the sound, and the pounding of the ground got us pumped for the After Party at Fado Irish Pub.

I must say, Fado handled the crowd really well this time - we've attempted entry into the packed restaurant before on nights that the Rovers are playing to find an overbooked madhouse, but tonight the After Party was well-managed. There was room to stand and service from the bar was doable. We waited it out to the fun sounds of Icewagon Flu and our patience paid off when the Screaming Orphans left their table to mingle with the crowd before their set. We got the table where they had been sitting! Is that Irish luck?

Somehow, Screaming Orphans and The Rovers mustered the energy for another performance. They looked great from where we were sitting, but I imagine after such a long, hot day they must have been tired. What stamina musicians have.

After a day in the heat we had built up an appetite, so we ordered an Irish feast from our attentive waitress. My favorite from Fado is the potato wedges served with savory cheese dip. Salty and starchy, a perfect pub food.

The beer: Harp. My first Irish beer of the day, which is something I hope changes at the second annual Annapolis Irish Festival. Many other Celtic events are sponsored by Guinness, so why not ours? My only real disappointment with the festival itself was the lack of more authentic Irish food and drink (except, of course, my beloved club rock shandy.)

A woman and fellow festival-goer at a neighboring table ordered sliders that were delivered incorrectly, so Fado gave her another whole plate that she couldn't eat. She graciously offered the "extra" plate of sliders to us for free. More luck! She chatted with us for a while and we bought her a Guinness in return for her gift. What are strangers for?

Overall, the First Annual Annapolis Irish Festival was refreshing in its infancy. The vibe of the day was really focused on the music and the community that surrounds it. The Rovers asked the crowd, "Will you come again next year?" I say: yes.

Best of Annapolis Party

The Best of Annapolis Party by What's Up? Magazine was hoppin' tonight. A crowded party is usually not my scene, but a food lover just can't resist a tasting party.

The theme was Paris to Annapolis... which I didn't quite get, but the decor was super-cute with red crabs crawling up an Eiffel Tower.

I got a few shots as we quickly grabbed food from the "Best" restaurant food stations. Paladar was serving their famous fresh guac with homemade yucca and plantain chips. These chips are so addicting!

Tonight I got my first taste of Davis' Pub - and I liked it. I knew I would, everyone has been telling me a visit is long overdue. At the party, Davis' featured pulled pork on a red cabbage slaw. The barbeque sauce was surprisingly light and not at all heavy and syrupy. This was more like a Carolina-style.

The real show-stealer was Main Ingredient's burnt sugar cheesecake. The perfect marriage of two of my favorite desserts. Speaking of marriage, I wouldn't mind this for a wedding cake. It was so good, and I ate it so fast that I barely got a picture!

Party on, Annapolis, and keep making that awesome food. (So I can eat it.)

A Rainy Day in May

May had a rainy start in Annapolis today, but the flowers were blooming all over. I mean, of course, the May Day Baskets that are displayed by residences and businesses in downtown Annapolis and judged by the Garden Club of Olde Annapolis Towne.

For me, May Day always takes me back to our alma maters, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Washington College. Both Maryland schools have traditions for the first of May that are of a... naked variety. Washington's naked May Day romp on the campus green goes back decades. Students dance ribbons around the Maypole, read poetry and play games. The naked bike ride is an annual SMCM tradition in which many Seahawks participate, often painting their skin with the school colors of navy blue and gold. Other events, like a true hippie 'swap meet' have been added over the years.

The rain left me wanting an easy meal and a little warmth. I whipped up some tomato soup with spicy red pepper flakes for a little kick and a drizzle of basil-infused olive oil. Very simple. Gotta love a good bowl of warm tomato soup.

And a well-dressed Caesar salad. When I make this salad at home, I don't use the tough, white stalky part - just the deep green romaine leaves. That's also what I look for when we eat out, a good leafy green Caesar with enough croutons that most bites have that great crunch. A little parmesan cheese doesn't hurt, either. Well, I never said caesar was the healthiest salad...

I hope the rain and flowers are an auspicious start for a beautiful, blooming May... though I'm not sure my allergies will be able to handle all the pollen!

Rehearsal Dinner: a level above the rest

Tonight, I had the pleasure of attending an epic rehearsal dinner at level, a small plates lounge on West Street. We arrived hungry. In the spacious loft area upstairs that was reserved for our private party, the windows were open, letting in the sunshine and a soft breeze. Each table had water glasses and label-less wine bottles full of cool water. Over three hours and five courses later, we were all stuffed, chatting, a little tired, and happy. What more could you want from a great party?

But I'm sure what you really want to know about is the food. Some comments on the dishes I tried:



Impressions

The grilled bison satay was a bit spicy with a good Asian soy flavor.

Level's arugula salad made for a great palate-cleanser, light with a good balance of flavors.

Tart feta cheese really stood out on the cheesy pizza, but the fresh basil leaves helped to counter that tartness with some herbal freshness.

Spicy and smoky were the dominant flavors of the meaty beef short ribs.

I really enjoyed the delicate citrusy marinade on the rockfish.

The taste and aroma of fresh ginger made the grilled chicken thighs an awesome dish, even so late in the game.

But I have to save my favorites for last. Lamb osso buco stole the show, as lamb dishes often do. The meat was buttery and tender, falling apart at just the gentle poke of a fork. No flavors competed with the pan reduction, the meat stood out on its own. The cut was perfect, with just enough fat to flavor but no bites of gristle. I invite anyone who loves lamb to bask in this dish.

And then there's the milk and cookies. Our meal was long and heavy, so this dessert proved too much for us and one-and-a-half of the two huge chocolate chunk cookies came home with us - but I would imagine after sharing several small plates, this just might be the perfect way to end. The cookie is good, but the milk is the true star. Local chocolate milk is topped with cookie dough flavored whipped cream. Don't ask me how they do it, but the foamy topping tastes just like a log of tollhouse cookie dough. If you like sweet, this would be for you. But most of level's dessert offerings are of a lighter variety, highlighting fruit flavors without sweeteners.

Menu

five cheeses from our artisan selection, with sweet, salty, savory

seared sea scallops, roasted garlic agave

grilled bison satay, ginger, soy, scallion, organic agave marinade

arugula salad, white truffle vinaigrette, fresh pomegranate, walnuts

cheesy pizza, olive oil, garlic, feta, mozzarella, parmesan, fresh basil

braised short rib, free range beef, pan jus reduction, heirloom tomatoes

grilled calamari, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, crispy capers

sautéed seasonal greens, garlic, white wine, shallots

zesty pizza, spicy red sauce, salami, garlic, mozzarella, feta, fresh basil

grilled japanese eggplant, feta, olive oil, lemon, tea smoked sea salt

rockfish, yuzu tartar sauce

braised lamb osso buco, pan reduction, lemon, thyme, olive oil

green garlic risotto, porcini, morel, chanterelle, parmesan, thyme, parsley

grilled ginger chicken thigh, ponzu broth, garlic, seasonal vegetables

warm chocolate chip cookies, local chocolate milk with cookie dough foam

Gallery


I tried to grab as many photos as I could, before food disappeared and in between shots of family and friends. Since I was taking pictures of food anyway, I ended up playing the 'crazy lady with a camera snapping photos of everyone' by default.

First of all, I wish I'd thought to take a picture of the bare wine bottles filled with cold water. Such a simple idea, but I cannot stress enough how we all appreciated the gesture... and took advantage.

I can't really speak to the affordability of the restaurant since I was a guest tonight of the groom's family. However, from just a quick glance at the menu, some of my favorites seemed within reason to try again, (see:milk and cookies for a late night snack after bar-hopping) so I'm hoping to stop back.


What an ingenious idea for a rehearsal dinner. The small plates came out family-style, forcing the table to communicate and get to know one another as we shared the same food. The variety of flavors sparked conversations and the signature cocktails provided the social lubricant expected from such an evening. I hope this becomes a trend in hosting this traditional wedding event.

As the night wore on, the room was buzzing and all the movement was causing the heat to rise. Still open, the windows provided a refreshing nighttime breeze. Over french-pressed coffee and artisan teas, we said our good-byes until tomorrow, the wedding day.


This will definitely be a rehearsal dinner to remember, forever known as the night of the never-ending feast!

April 30

It's like everyone and their mother decided to host all the best events this Saturday. Here's just a few:

• 29th Annual Croquet Match

The Johnnies and the Midshipmen take to the lawn of St. John's College for a croquet match, but the real party is off the field-of-play. Alumni, students, parents, and Naptown locals set up impressive spreads, marking territory with blankets, lawn chairs, and sometimes even tents. Wine flows liberally and picnic baskets reveal gourmet food. It really is the social event of the Spring for Annapolitans.

• Annapolis International Food, Wine, and Hops Festival

New this year, West Street will be closed to traffic and at least seventeen local restaurants will host cooking demonstrations, tastings, and entertainment.

• 33rd Celtic Festival of Sourthern Maryland

Jefferson Patterson Park (affectionately known as J-Pat to the historical crowd) will be transformed into a stage for 50 clans to share information, highland games, Celtic dancing and music, and a marketplace. It's your one-stop shop for everything Celtic.


Unfortnately, I won't be able to attend any of these wonderful events as I will be bridesmaiding on Saturday in one of my very best friend's wedding. It'll be a party just as fun as all these other events, but invite only.

I can't wait! Though, this will be the first time in four years that I've missed the Croquet match, so please tell me how it goes.