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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260729T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260729T180000
DTSTAMP:20260720T155750Z
CREATED:20260720T155749Z
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UID:2500-1785344400-1785348000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: The Loyalist and the Patriot (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:Step into a gripping dialogue with acclaimed prize-winning historical biographer Flora Fraser and Doug Bradburn\, President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon\, as they reexamine the American Revolution through a provocative lens. This conversation challenges the familiar narrative of unity and independence. It reveals a nation divided—neighbors\, friends\, even families torn apart by opposing allegiances. Was this truly a revolution\, or America’s first civil war? Through vivid storytelling and historical insight\, Fraser and Bradburn explore the deeply personal conflicts between those who risked everything for independence and those who remained steadfastly loyal to the British Crown.ESU continues celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with this intriguing Happy Hour. Expect a thought-provoking journey into the complexities of loyalty\, identity\, and the true cost of freedom. \n\n\n\nThis Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU New York City Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online\, free\, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link.  \n\n\n\nRegister Here \n\n\n\nAbout Flora Fraser \n\n\n\nFlora Fraser is a historical biographer\, based in London\, specializing in archival research on women of the eighteenth century in Europe and in America. Her books include Beloved Emma: The Life of Emma\, Lady Hamilton\, The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline\, Princesses: The Daughters of George III\, and Venus of Empire: The Life of Pauline Bonaparte. \n\n\n\nHer recent book\, The Washingtons: George and Martha\, won the 2016 George Washington Book Prize. Her new life of Scottish heroine\, Flora Macdonald is available in the UK as Flora Macdonald ‘Pretty Young Rebel’ (Bloomsbury) and in the US as Flora Macdonald: “Pretty Young Rebel”: Her Life and Story (Knopf).About Douglas Bradburn\, PhD \n\n\n\nDouglas Bradburn is the President and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Bradburn joined Mount Vernon in 2013 and was the Founding Director of The George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. He became the 11th Director of George Washington’s Mount Vernon in 2018. He is an award-winning author and well-known scholar of early American history. Bradburn is the author of The Citizenship Revolution: Politics and the Creation of the American Union\, 1774-1804\, and three anthologies\, including Early Modern Virginia: Reconsidering the Old Dominion. He is the co-founder and editor of the award-winning book series\, Early American Histories\, at the University of Virginia Press\, and the winner of numerous awards\, grants\, and fellowships\, including the yearlong Gilder Lehrman Research Fellowship at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello.Exclusive Patron Membership OfferFor a limited time\, we invite you to enjoy a special benefit available only through this ESU Happy Hour event. Members who upgrade to a National Patron Membership\, and new supporters who join at the National Patron level\, will receive an autographed copy of Flora Fraser’s acclaimed book\, Flora Macdonald: Pretty Young Rebel her life and story\,” a unique keepsake from this exceptional presentation featuring Flora Fraser and Doug Bradburn.Patron Members play a vital role in sustaining the English-Speaking Union’s mission to educate\, inspire\, and connect people through the power of the English language and its rich cultural heritage. Signed copies are limited and will be available while supplies last. We hope you will take this opportunity to become a National Patron Member and help ensure the continued strength and impact of the ESU for years to come.Colonial Rum Punch“One of sour\, two of sweet\, three of strong\, four of weak.”Ingredients:1 part fresh lime juice (the “sour”)2 parts sugar or simple syrup (the “sweet”)3 parts dark rum (the “strong”)4 parts water or weak tea (the “weak”)Optional: grated nutmeg on top (very traditional!)Instructions:Stir the lime juice and sugar together until the sugar dissolves.Add the rum and mix well.Pour in the water or tea and stir again.Taste and adjust—colonial recipes were flexible.Serve over ice (or without if you want to stay historically accurate).
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-the-loyalist-and-the-patriot-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260819T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260819T180000
DTSTAMP:20260720T160142Z
CREATED:20260720T160139Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260720T160142Z
UID:2502-1787158800-1787162400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Connecticut: “The Provisions State” (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:As ESU Happy Hours continue to salute America’s 250th birthday\, we turn to the great state of Connecticut. By the mid-to-late 1700’s\, western Connecticut had developed as a quiet\, agricultural “backwater\,” landlocked and insulated from the politics and secessionist turmoil of the big colonial cities. Nevertheless\, during the Revolutionary War\, Connecticut earned the nickname “The Provisions State\,” by supplying vast amounts of meat\, grain\, clothing\, and weaponry to General George Washington’s Continental Army\, and was second only to Massachusetts in the number of men serving in the war. \n\n\n\nGovernor Jonathan Trumbull was the only colonial governor to openly and actively support the rebellion from the beginning. George Washington heavily relied on Trumbull’s logistical support\, famously referring to him as “Brother Jonathan.”  Many other soldiers\, spies and resistance activities came out of “the Nutmeg State.” Join us as our guest speaker\, Judge Edward Krumeich\, relates the many lesser-known military men\, skirmishes\, and resistance activities that came out of Connecticut. \n\n\n\nThis Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Greenwich\, CT Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online\, free\, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. \n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE \n\n\n\nAbout Judge Edward Krumeich  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEdward Krumeich serves as a judge of the Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford and is a former partner at the Greenwich law firm of Ivey\, Barnum & O’Mara. A lifelong Greenwich resident\, he developed an early appreciation for the town’s rich history and traditions through his mother\, Marie C. Krumeich\, a public-school teacher and respected historian who authored A Child’s History of Greenwich. Inspired by her passion for local history\, Judge Krumeich has written extensively about Greenwich’s past in a variety of publications. \n\n\n\nBefore taking the bench\, Ed built an impressive record of public service. A graduate of Hamilton College and the Case Western Reserve University School of Law\, he served for many years in a variety of leadership roles in local government. His service included serving as Chairman of the Greenwich Board of Social Services\, as a member of the Representative Town Meeting\, and on the Budget Committee of the Board of Estimate and Taxation\, the town’s finance board. \n\n\n\nEd is also an experienced performer\, with featured roles in community theater and performances with “The Off Sounders\,” a local men’s a cappella group. His wife\, Elizabeth\, is also a lawyer and active community member. As a student\, Beth received the ESU Isabel Carden Griffin Memorial Scholarship to study in England during her gap year between high school and college.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-connecticut-the-provisions-state-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T040000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T170000
DTSTAMP:20260804T164856Z
CREATED:20260728T162518Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T164856Z
UID:2508-1790136000-1790182800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:Philadelphia\, PA.\, America’s first capital\, held a pivotal role as the cradle of American democracy. When George Washington took the oath of office in 1789\, Philadelphia had the largest free and literate community of Africans in the entire British Atlantic. This community raised families\, built institutions\, created opportunities for self-emancipated Africans to continue north\, fought for equal rights\, and they participated in public life. They exemplified the ideals of the new republic. Oliver St. Clair Franklin is the creator and co-executive producer of a feature length documentary of our Founding Era through the lens of the Black Philadelphia community of that time. Franklin’s documentary\, Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story\, explores how diverse groups that included European colonists\, Native Americans\, free Black communities\, and enslaved Africans lived and worked side-by-side to shape the new United States. Join this ESU Happy Hour as Oliver Franklin describes his film as a shared national and international historical record that explains how America came to be\, how it expanded\, and how its founding ideals continue to resonate today. This Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Philadelphia Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online\, free\, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. About Oliver St. Clair Franklin\, CBE \n\n\n\nOliver St. Clair Franklin curated one of the first Black Film Festivals in the US (1972-78) and then produced documentary films. He became the first Deputy City Representative for Arts and Culture for the City of Philadelphia (1984-90). After his municipal role\, Oliver became an executive at several financial services firms specializing in institutional investments and was Co-Managing Partner of the first US mutual fund to invest in The Republic of South Africa. He has served on many civic and cultural institutions including the National Endowment for the Arts\, the Pennsylvania Humanities Council\, The Philadelphia Foundation\, and The Independence Historic Trust. He also served as the Honorary British Consul in Philadelphia and received the OBE and CBE honors from the late monarch. A Baltimore native\, Oliver is a graduate of Lincoln University (Pa) and Oxford University. He is also a Hon. Fellow of Balliol College\, Oxford.  Cocktail: The Founders’ Toast A simple bourbon-based cocktail tying to colonial/early American roots:-2 oz bourbon-3/4 oz fresh lemon juice-1/2 oz honey syrup (equal parts honey + warm water\, stirred)-Top with a splash of ginger beer-Garnish: lemon twist or mint sprigShake bourbon\, lemon\, honey syrup with ice; strain into a glass with fresh ice; top with ginger beer. Non-alcoholic version: swap bourbon for apple cider\, same lemon/honey/ginger beer combo. 
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-becoming-american-philadelphias-story-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T040000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261007T170000
DTSTAMP:20260728T161946Z
CREATED:20260728T161945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T161946Z
UID:2506-1791345600-1791392400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Daniel Boone: The First Kentuckian (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:Daniel Boone (1734-1820) was an American pioneer\, trailblazer\, outdoorsman\, revolutionary\, and adventurer whose frontier exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. The story of the early settlement of Kentucky is well documented\, and Daniel Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the U.S. state of Kentucky\, which was then beyond the western borders of the Thirteen Colonies. \n\n\n\nThere is a difference between the myth and the man who actually existed. Daniel Boone lived an extraordinary life—even if he didn’t wear a coonskin cap! Boone was celebrated in his own lifetime especially after stories of his adventures were published in 1784\, making him famous both in America and Europe. \n\n\n\nThis ESU Happy Hour welcomes acclaimed actor\, Kevin Hardesty\, who has created a one-man play “Daniel Boone: The First Kentuckian.” Hardesty brings the famous frontiersman to life as he portrays Boone as a man who established himself as an accomplished hunter and explorer in Kentucky. We will see Hardesty live\, in-person\, as well as watch some recorded segments from his one-man play. \n\n\n\nAs ESU continues to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary\, it is noteworthy that Daniel Boone moved to Kentucky and established a settlement just over 250 years ago in 1774. \n\n\n\nJoin us for this special ESU Happy Hour sponsored by the ESU Kentucky Branch. ESU Happy Hour programs are online\, free\, and open to all members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAbout Kevin Hardesty \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHardesty received a B.F.A in acting/theatre from the University of Kentucky in 1986\, and has since performed in theatre\, film\, and television\, including prominent roles in Biloxi Blues\, Hamlet\, Macbeth\, and Romeo and Juliet and leading roles in Of Mice and Men and A Streetcar Named Desire. Film and TV credits include co-starring roles in Not to Forget\, Heathers\, Happy Together\, 100 Proof\, The Cavanaughs\, TV 101\, and Family of Spies. Kevin also appeared with Ashley Judd in the Arthur Miller teleplay Interview with Ryan for PBS. He has been an actor\, writer\, and director for more than 20 years.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-daniel-boone-the-first-kentuckian-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261010T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261010T130000
DTSTAMP:20260924T134709Z
CREATED:20260924T134550Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T134709Z
UID:2545-1791631800-1791637200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:For Educators:  Shakespeare in Action – Teaching Through Performance (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:In this interactive session\, held at ESU Headquarters in NYC and online via Zoom\, Natasha will share practical strategies for bringing Shakespeare to life in your classroom. Teachers will explore exercises for working with Shakespeare’s text\, adapting scenes\, and helping students build confidence through performance. Participants will also have the opportunity to take part in fun and engaging exercises that can be used with their students. \n\n\n\nThe workshop will also explore how a Student Shakespeare Festival can be an exciting school wide activity that brings classroom learning together. Through short scenes and ensemble work\, students can rehearse\, perform\, and create together\, giving everyone a meaningful role while building toward a shared festival experience. \n\n\n\nWe’ll also discuss ways to incorporate the ESU National Shakespeare Competition into your curriculum\, giving students an opportunity to take their work beyond the classroom and onto the stage.  \n\n\n\nEducators attending in person will also be treated to a light brunch and have an opportunity to connect with fellow NYC teachers\, ESU staff and members\, and learn more about upcoming ESU education programs. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re new to teaching Shakespeare through performance or looking for fresh approaches to engage your students\, we hope you’ll join us! \n\n\n\nPlease register here to let us know whether you’ll be attending in person or via Zoom (a link to join the workshop online will be sent several days prior to the event).
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/for-educators-shakespeare-in-action-teaching-through-performance-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T210000
DTSTAMP:20260827T152335Z
CREATED:20260604T181950Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T152335Z
UID:2377-1791914400-1791925200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Black Tie Gala Kick-Off at Farmington Country Club. “The Play’s the thing!” (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:The Charlottesville Branch of the English-Speaking Union cordially invites you and your guests to the Gala Kick-Off event at the Farmington Country Club. \n\n\n\nExpect to comingle\, sing\, quaff\, toast the King and the President\, dine\, laugh\, be edified and bowled over with the exuberance\, mirth\, lyricism\, comedic-tragic orations\, dance\, twists and turns of Shakespearian drama\, embracing your spirits up close and personal! \n\n\n\nCharlotte’s Villeins are set to take the stage\, bringing Shakespeare to life with Comic\, Tragic\, and Historic scenes to delight all the senses. Of course\, the program will begin with such traditions as the toasting of the King of England and President of the United States.  \n\n\n\nAttire is Black-Tie preferred. \n\n\n\nPricing and Details were provided in the email from President Phil Williams on 25 August 2026. \n\n\n\nThe room will be set with tables for 10.  For reservations of six or more\, advise to Phil Williams.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/black-tie-gala-kick-off-at-farmington-country-club-the-plays-the-thing/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261104T180000
DTSTAMP:20260826T161921Z
CREATED:20260522T145702Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T161921Z
UID:2359-1793811600-1793815200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour:  Virginia’s Role: From English Rights to American Constitutions with A. E. Dick Howard (National and Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:The Charlottesville Branch will again host the Nation-wide ESU Happy Hour Podcast.  In this ongoing American semi-quincentennial commemoration\, the Branch is honored to have one of its own\, internationally renowned Constitutional Law Professor Emeritus\, A. E. Dick Howard\, speak to this most relevant topic.                \n\n\n\nToday our ESU Happy Hour takes us on a journey through the pivotal events that shaped America 250 years ago\, this time in the great state of Virginia\, where revolutionary ideas became constitutional action. On May 15\, 1776\, at the Fifth Virginia Convention in Williamsburg\, delegates in Philadelphia proposed to transition Virginia from a British colony into an independent commonwealth\, to establish a new state government\, and urged the Continental Congress to declare full national independence from Great Britain. \n\n\n\nTheir work produced the Virginia Declaration of Rights—one of the most important documents in American history. It was a landmark statement of liberty and limited government and laid out the basic rights and freedoms that all people should have and set limits on what the government could do. The Virginia Declaration of Rights also influenced other state bills of rights\, the U.S. Bill of Rights\, the U.S. Declaration of Independence\, and France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. \n\n\n\nJoin us for a lively step back into this revolutionary moment with Professor A.E. Dick Howard\, who will present “From English Rights to American Constitutions: Americans Transcribe Their Values and Aspirations in State Constitutions.” This special ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Charlottesville\, VA Branch. The program is online\, free\, and open to ESU members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. \n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE \n\n\n\nAbout A.E. Dick Howard \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA.E. Dick Howard is the White Burkett Miller Professor of Law and Public Affairs Emeritus at the University of Virginia. He was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and served as a law clerk to Justice Hugo L. Black\, at the Supreme Court of the United States. He has written prolifically on a range of historical and constitutional subjects\, including The Road from Runnymede: Magna Carta and Constitutionalism in America. \n\n\n\nActive in public affairs\, Professor Howard was the chief architect of the Constitution of Virginia. He has compared notes with constitution-makers in various foreign countries\, including post-communist Central and Eastern Europe. Seven universities have conferred on him an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Washington magazine has called Professor Howard “one of the most respected educators in the nation.”  In 2015\, Virginia’s General Assembly named Professor Howard as that year’s “Outstanding Virginian.” \n\n\n\nCocktail \n\n\n\nAs we are marking the 250th anniversary of Independence\, it would be fitting to recall the imbibing preferences of Thomas Jefferson. When he was our minister to Paris\, Jefferson acquired a taste for French and Italian wine. He explored the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux\, hoping to replicate European viniculture in America. I propose a white burgundy for the occasion.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/a-e-dick-howard/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261108T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261108T150000
DTSTAMP:20261012T230333Z
CREATED:20260619T153750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T230333Z
UID:2461-1794142800-1794150000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:The Story of Burgundy Wine at the Greencroft Club -  Lunch (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:You and your guests are cordially invited to a tasting of Burgundy wines\, paired with hors d’oeuvres and French dishes.  The food and wine will be accompanies by a presentation titled\, “The Story of Burgundy Wine.”  History\, viticulture\, terroir\, politics and festive traditions will compliment the visual and gustatory experience of this Sunday luncheon at the Greencroft County Club.  Please send payment to President Phil.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/the-story-of-burgundy-wine-at-greencroft-lunch-8-november-2026/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261206T170000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163729Z
CREATED:20260619T163521Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163729Z
UID:2470-1796565600-1796576400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Branch Christmas Party
DESCRIPTION:A Sunday afternoon Christmas Party Chez Kelly at The Glenmore House. A tax-deductible per person charge will be levied in support of the Shakespeare Competition.   As always\, will be a “Dickens” of a Christmas\, caroling\, wassailing\, and general merriment.  Christmas food treats are most welcome. Event time is estimated (actual time to be provided).
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/branch-christmas-party/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261209T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261209T180000
DTSTAMP:20260826T162819Z
CREATED:20260826T162816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T162819Z
UID:2531-1796835600-1796839200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: The Surprising History of Santa and Christmas Traditions in America (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:Christmas in America has a much richer and stranger history than the cozy images we know today. This festive ESU Happy Hour explores why early New Englanders outlawed Christmas\, how rowdy wassailing gangs once filled the streets\, and how German\, Dutch\, and English traditions eventually blended into the modern Santa. We’ll trace the journey from medieval St. Nicholas and Alpine mischief-makers to Thomas Nast’s German-American illustrations\, the Civil War era’s sentimental reinvention of the holiday\, and the 20th-century rise of Rudolph\, department-store Santas\, Coca-Cola branding\, and iconic Christmas foods. With a pint in hand\, you’ll learn how a mix of immigrant customs\, reform movements\, and cultural trends brought today’s version of American Christmas into being. Join us as Erica Benson brings a story-packed journey tracing how America invented its own version of Santa and reshaped Christmas into the celebration we recognize today. The ESU Kansas City Branch sponsors this special ESU Happy Hour. The program is online\, free\, and open to ESU members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. \n\n\n\nREGISTER HERE About Erica Benson: \n\n\n\nErica Benson\, founder of Third Place Historian\, is a seasoned historian and educator with over a decade of experience teaching U.S. history at the college level. She holds multiple degrees in history\, including a master’s degree in North American history\, and brings a deep scholarly background to her work in both academic and public history. A recipient of the prestigious James Madison Congressional Fellowship\, Erica has participated in numerous elite history seminars and institutes\, continually advancing her expertise in American political and social history. Her commitment to historical education extends beyond the classrooms. She is a contributing writer for the National Women’s History Museum and an advocate for gender equality issues and the Equal Rights Amendment. Erica’s work is grounded in a passion for making history accessible\, engaging\, and relevant. Her lectures are known for combining rigorous scholarship with compelling storytelling\, offering fresh insights into the complexities of the American past. Cocktail: EggnogEggnog evolved from posset\, a warm medieval British drink made of milk\, ale\, and eggs. Aristocrats drank it with expensive sherry\, while colonists in America substituted cheap rum. By 1775\, the name “eggnog” appeared\, transforming into a popular holiday tradition and even sparking a famous 1826 military academy riot. Ingredients:4 egg yolks1/3 cup sugar\, plus 1 tablespoon1 pint whole milk1 cup heavy cream1 1/4 ounces bourbon1 1/4 ounces dark rum1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg4 egg whites Directions:-In the bowl of a stand mixer beat together the egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar until the yolks lighten in color and the sugar is completely dissolved. Add the milk\, cream\, bourbon\, rum\, and nutmeg and stir to combine.-Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and beat to soft peaks. With the mixer still running\, gradually add one tablespoon of sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg whites into the mixture. Yields six cups. Chill and serve.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-the-surprising-history-of-santa-and-christmas-traditions-in-america-national-event/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270106T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270106T180000
DTSTAMP:20261012T233337Z
CREATED:20261012T233003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T233337Z
UID:2561-1799254800-1799258400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Murder and the Manor House (National and Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:January 6\, 2027\, 5 PM ET\, Sponsored by the ESU Charlottesville\, VA Branch \n\n\n\nDo you love a good mystery? For five decades\, Agatha Christie’s primary obsession was murder\, but her interest in houses was a close second\, particularly the English country house. Taken together\, some of her most popular works offer a keen look at the changing fortunes of English country houses in the 20th century. Beloved by readers worldwide\, Agatha Christie (1890-1976) is the best-selling novelist of all time. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and a billion in translation. \n\n\n\nJoin Anne Kenny-Urban for an exploration of what Christie’s mysteries reveal about changes in the houses themselves and the people – both upstairs and downstairs – who lived and worked in them. This ESU Happy Hour is sponsored by the ESU Charlottesville\, VA Branch. The program is online\, free\, and open to ESU members and the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAbout Anne Kenny-Urban \n\n\n\nAnne Kenny-Urban is the Executive Director at Agecroft Hall & Gardens\, a Tudor manor house that was built in Lancashire in the 16th century and then dismantled\, crated\, shipped and adaptively rebuilt in Richmond\, Virgina in the 1920s. Previously\, she worked for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for nearly a decade. Prior employers include Citibank\, Christie’s auction house in New York\, and the Art Institute of Chicago. \n\n\n\nMs. Kenny-Urban is a graduate of Princeton University. In addition\, she holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In her free time\, she is an active community volunteer. Currently she serves as the President of the American Friends of Attingham which supports the work of The Attingham Trust\, a British educational charitable trust that organizes specialized courses to study British country houses\, their collections and settings\, and the history and contents of British royal palaces. She also serves on the boards of The Valentine Museum\, Hollywood Cemetery and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Foundation for Historic Preservation. \n\n\n\nCocktailCorpse Reviver #2:What could be more appropriate to go with an Agatha Christie murder mystery? The cocktail was created by Harry Craddock\, an American bartender who worked at the famous American Bar inside London’s Savoy Hotel during Prohibition. It’s a classic drink that belongs to a family of pre-Prohibition cocktails that were said to be created and consumed for the chief purpose of rousing the drinker from the dead—in other words\, meant to cure hangovers\, increase vigor and otherwise improve one’s morning. Ingredients3/4 oz London Dry Gin3/4 oz Fortified wine such as Lillet Blanc or Cocchi Americano3/4 oz Orange liqueur such as Cointreau or triple sec3/4 oz Freshly squeezed lemon juice1 dash (or rinse) AbsintheLemon twist for garnish \n\n\n\nInstructionsPrepare the glass: Rinse a chilled coupe or cocktail glass with a small splash of absinthe\, swirling it to coat the inside\, then discard any excess.Combine ingredients: Add the gin\, Lillet Blanc\, orange liqueur\, and lemon juice into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.Shake: Shake vigorously for about 10 to 15 seconds until well-chilled.Strain: Fine-strain the mixture into your prepared absinthe-rinsed glass.Garnish: Add a lemon twist on top. 
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-murder-and-the-manor-house-national-and-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270121T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270121T210000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163634Z
CREATED:20260619T165044Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163634Z
UID:2473-1800554400-1800565200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Burns Night at Glenmore Country Club (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:Now an event with a track record to warm the cockles of old Rabbie’s heart. Pipes\, kilts or black tie\, prayers\, immortal toasts\, an Address to the Haggis\, humor\, a wee dram or two\, and a farewell\, arms interlocked\, with Aude Lang Syne. 
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/burns-night-at-glenmore-country-club-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270220T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270220T130000
DTSTAMP:20261012T224623Z
CREATED:20260619T170034Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T224623Z
UID:2475-1803115800-1803128400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Shakespeare Competition at Blackfriars Theatre in Staunton (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:Come and cheer the contestants on as they orate the incomparable words of the Bard. Refreshments are provided at intermission. This is a unique experience for our young thespians.  If you have never experienced this performance in the architecturally stunning Black Friars theater\, now is your chance to fill that void. For those who can stay\, we have an excellent and convivial private lunch at Blu Point Seafood Co. restaurant nearby.  Event time is estimated\, and update will be provided.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/shakespeare-competition-at-blackfriars-theatre-in-staunton-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270303T050000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270303T180000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163456Z
CREATED:20260623T155629Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163456Z
UID:2492-1804050000-1804096800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour:  Patrick Henry v. Thomas Jefferson - What is a Loyal Opposition? (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:The Charlottesville Branch will again host the Nation-wide ESU Happy Hour Podcast. The Branch is honored to have John A. Ragosta\, PhD/JD\, as our speaker.  An award-winning author\, Dr. Ragosta is a historian\, lawyer\, and beekeeper living in Charlottesville\, Virginia. He is currently a historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and a fellow at Virginia Humanities. \n\n\n\nHe has taught history and law at the University of Virginia\, George Washington University\, Hamilton\, Oberlin\, and Randolph Colleges. His most recent book\, For the People\, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle\, was released by the University of Virginia Press in 2023.  He will talk on the following topic…. \n\n\n\nHyper-partisanship in the 1790s drove the still-new United States to the brink of Civil War. Thomas Jefferson warned that the Federalists’ Sedition Act initiated a “reign of witches” and asked states to “nullify” federal laws. Fearing the possibility of secession\, George Washington begged Patrick Henry to oppose Jefferson’s radical states’ rights agenda. Henry\, the great anti-federalist who had opposed ratification of the Constitution\, came out of retirement to defend the Constitution that he had opposed because “we the people” had adopted it. In the process\, Henry explained the role of a “loyal opposition.” For the People\, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle tells the story about how a democracy must work if it is to survive.  \n\n\n\nThe weblink for this broadcast will be sent out by National 2-3 weeks prior. Registration is free and the link may be sent to others\, non-members\, to register.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/happy-hour-patrick-henry-v-thomas-jefferson-what-is-a-loyal-opposition/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270304T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270304T190000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163337Z
CREATED:20260619T170802Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163337Z
UID:2477-1804176000-1804186800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Mystery Movie Matinee (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:This will be at the Alamo Theater near Wegmans off Rt. 64. Easy parking.  In-seat dining.  President Williams has a classic movie in mind.  More information to follow.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/movie-matinee-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270320T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270320T170000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163258Z
CREATED:20260619T171914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163258Z
UID:2479-1805554800-1805562000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:TLAB Teacher's Presentations (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:The 2026 Teachers Learning Abroad (TLAB) recipients for both the Charlottesville and the Richmond ESU branches will present their experiences and lessons learned from their trips to the UK this summer.  This is an event not to be missed.  The benefit our philanthropy provides is on full display with this event.  Venue for the event will be provided.  Refreshments will be provided.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/tlab-teachers-presentations-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270414T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270414T180000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163211Z
CREATED:20260619T173839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163211Z
UID:2483-1807718400-1807725600@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Semi-Quincentennial Talk and Reception at President Monroe’s “Highland” (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:Highland Executive Director\, Sara Bon-Harper\, will present “Monroe: Soldier\, Stateman\, President.” Refreshments will be provided. A 1.5 hour tour of Highland can be schedule separately and would be scheduled for 2:30. Times of the event and optional tour are tentative. Final details on the event\, the optional tour\, and time will be provided.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/semi-quincentennial-talk-and-reception-at-president-monroes-highland-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270423T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270426T170000
DTSTAMP:20260826T163647Z
CREATED:20260826T163246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T163647Z
UID:2533-1808467200-1808758800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:SAVE THE DATE:  Annual General Meeting in NYC (National Event)
DESCRIPTION:More information about each meeting and pricing beyond the general fee posted on the pictured flyer will be provided as the event draws near.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/save-the-date-annual-general-meeting-in-nyc-national-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270502T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270502T180000
DTSTAMP:20260728T163012Z
CREATED:20260619T175113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T163012Z
UID:2485-1809270000-1809280800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Waverly Hill Estate in Staunton (Branch Event)
DESCRIPTION:New Branch member\,David A. Perry-Miller\, has graciously offered to open his 1929 Georgian Revival home (on the National Historic Register). Entertainment\, includes a presentation by Architect\, Madison Spenser\, on the history of Georgian Architecture and a short performance by Valery Hunt on a 1926 Steinway grand piano\, all while members enjoy sherry\, iced tea\, refreshments and a stroll through the gardens. Not to be missed. Carpooling is suggested. 3:00- 6:00.  \n\n\n\n(https://frazierassociates.com/portfolio-item/waverley-hill/)
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/waverly-hill-estate-in-staunton-branch-event/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20270606T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20270606T190000
DTSTAMP:20260728T162909Z
CREATED:20260619T175857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T162909Z
UID:2487-1812297600-1812308400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Branch Garden Party
DESCRIPTION:The branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Gardent Party is graciously hosted by members Mary and Jerry Keifer at their lovely home.  It will be catered. Hat contest – Champagne for winners\, toasting His Majesty King Charles III\, the National Anthem\, and the President’s renowned Pimm’s Cup.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/charlottesville/event/branch-garden-party/
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END:VCALENDAR