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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260819T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260819T160000
DTSTAMP:20260806T005931Z
CREATED:20260723T165813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T005931Z
UID:2092-1787151600-1787155200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Connecticut: “The Provisions State”
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 1700s\, western Connecticut had developed as a quiet\, agricultural “backwater\,” 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\nd 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. \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. \n\n\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://www.esuus.org/denver/event/happy-hour-connecticut-the-provisions-state/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260922T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260922T210000
DTSTAMP:20260922T130512Z
CREATED:20260907T212844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260922T130512Z
UID:2171-1790101800-1790110800@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Pub Trivia at Lowry Beer Garden
DESCRIPTION:Gather with the ESU Denver Branch for its first-ever get-together for Pub Trivia! Meet at Lowry Beer Garden\, 7577 East Academy Boulevard\, Denver\, Tuesday evening September 22. Meet at 6:30 pm and we will participate as a team with Geeks Who Drink for a night of trivia from 7 to 9 pm. \n\n\n\nEach of us will purchase our own food and beverages. Reservations are not required\, but let us know if you plan to attend at denver@esuus.org.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/denver/event/pub-trivia-at-lowry-beer-garden/
LOCATION:Lowry Beer Garden\, 7577 East Academy Boulevard\, Denver\, Colorado\, 80230\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20260923T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20260923T150000
DTSTAMP:20260817T172222Z
CREATED:20260817T172215Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T172222Z
UID:2116-1790172000-1790175600@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story
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. \n\n\n\nAbout 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/denver/event/happy-hour-becoming-american-philadelphias-story/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.esuus.org/denver/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/08/9-16-26-hh-768x432-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261007T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261007T150000
DTSTAMP:20260817T172733Z
CREATED:20260817T172732Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T172733Z
UID:2121-1791381600-1791385200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Daniel Boone: The First Kentuckian
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\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/denver/event/happy-hour-daniel-boone-the-first-kentuckian/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261010T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260917T215223Z
CREATED:20260917T215222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260917T215223Z
UID:2190-1791624600-1791630000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Shakespeare in Action – Teaching Through Performance
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/denver/event/shakespeare-in-action-teaching-through-performance/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261012T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261012T190000
DTSTAMP:20260924T202359Z
CREATED:20260817T193132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T202359Z
UID:2125-1791824400-1791831600@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:King Charles III: Architecture and Controversy
DESCRIPTION:As Prince of Wales\, King Charles III had a profound effect on the way architecture was viewed\, not just in the UK but around the world. By championing Classicism and traditional styles\, he gave heart to architects who had felt ostracized from their profession\, due to the ideological dominance of the Modern Movement. \n\n\n\nThe King first entered the fray with his famous “Carbuncle” speech. Not content merely to criticize what other people were doing\, Charles first persuaded the Duchy of Cornwall to create the model urban developments of Poundbury and Nansledan. Then\, in the 1990s\, a school for architecture and the crafts. All the aspects of the King’s personality can be seen in the intensely personal Arcadia he has created at Highgrove House in the Cotswolds\, with its famous garden. A different kind of Arcadia exists in parts of Transylvania\, where he owns homes in surroundings of prelapsarian beauty. \n\n\n\nAs King\, Charles is no longer head of the Duchy of Cornwall and cannot freely express his opinions. It is therefore time to assess the legacy of his 41 years of engagement with architecture. This lecture will show that it is astonishingly rich. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClive Aslet is a writer\, publisher\, podcaster and visiting Professor of Architecture at the University of Cambridge. In 2025 he received the Board of Directors’ Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art at the Arthur Ross Awards in New York. \n\n\n\nClive is now publisher of Triglyph Books\, the publishing house that he founded with photographer Dylan Thomas in 2019. Clive’s most recent book\, King Charles III: 40 Years of Architecture\, is a tribute to the King’s long-standing passion for architecture\, seen in the many causes he has championed as well as the model development undertaken by the Duchy of Cornwall while he was Prince of Wales.  \n\n\n\nCopies of the book will be available for sale ($25) after the lecture. \n\n\n\nThe English-Speaking Union Denver Branch and the Denver Woman’s Press Club will host Clive at the clubhouse of the Denver Woman’s Press Club on Monday\, October 12\, 2026\, from 5 to 7 pm MST. There will be Hors d’oeuvres and beverages before the lecture. $20 per person for non-members; ESU and DWPC members attend for free. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRegistration is required using the link below. It has a PayPal payment option for non-members. Registration deadline is October 5\, 2026. \n\n\n\nContact denver@esuus.org for more information.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/denver/event/a-lecture-by-wrench-speaker-clive-aslet-on-king-charles-iii-40-years-of-architecture/
LOCATION:Denver Woman’s Press Club\, 1325 Logan St\, Denver\, Colorado\, 80203\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261024T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261024T133000
DTSTAMP:20260923T191606Z
CREATED:20260817T195949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260923T191606Z
UID:2130-1792848600-1792848600@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:ESU Denver at DCPA: The Tempest
DESCRIPTION:Join ESU Denver members for a matinee performance of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the Kilstrom Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday\, October 24\, 2026. \n\n\n\nGet swept away by Shakespeare’s fantastical tale of shipwreck\, monsters\, romance\, and revenge. \n\n\n\nExiled from their home\, the sorcerer Prospero and his daughter Miranda have survived for years on a remote island. When a ship carrying Prospero’s enemies sails into his conjured storm\, he finally has a chance to take revenge—and maybe\, to weave a brighter future for his daughter. Ensnaring everyone in his labyrinth of sorcery and misdirection\, Prospero summons all his power to set his world right. \n\n\n\nWith its captivating blend of mystery and magic\, The Tempest explores what it means to seek justice\, reclaim identity\, and choose forgiveness over fury. Lyrical and spellbinding\, don’t miss Denver Center Theatre Company’s take on Shakespeare’s final masterpiece. \n\n\n\nTickets are $20 per person\, 40% off the cost to the Denver Branch. Reserve your seat using the Register Here button below\, with a PayPal link to make your payment. \n\n\n\nContact denver@esuus.org for more information.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/denver/event/esu-denver-at-dcpa-the-tempest/
LOCATION:Denver Center for the Performing Arts\, 1301 13th Street\, Denver\, Colorado\, 80204\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261104T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261104T160000
DTSTAMP:20260926T172956Z
CREATED:20260926T172423Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260926T172956Z
UID:2249-1793804400-1793808000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Virginia’s Role: From English Rights to American Constitutions
DESCRIPTION:Today 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\nAbout A.E. Dick Howard \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/denver/event/happy-hour-virginias-role-from-english-rights-to-american-constitutions/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261110T210000
DTSTAMP:20260924T202517Z
CREATED:20260817T203500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T202517Z
UID:2136-1794333600-1794344400@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Teachers Learning Abroad (TLab) Dinner
DESCRIPTION:Please join ESU Denver Branch members in the Terrace Room at The University Club of Denver on Tuesday evening\, November 10\, 2026\, from 6 to 9 pm\, as we hear Andy Bucher and Jeni Korth describe their summer studies. Andy teaches at East High School\, and he studied at Oxford University. Jeni teaches at Overland High School\, and she studied at the University of Edinburgh. We are excited to learn how their time in the UK is impacting their teaching! \n\n\n\nThe cost is $50 per person (discounted from the $75 per person cost to the Denver Branch). The plated dinner menu will include:  \n\n\n\nU Club Salad – Mixed Greens\, Goat Cheese\, Dried Cherry\, Candied Walnuts\, Granny Smith Apple\,Balsamic Vinaigrette \n\n\n\nChoice of Entree – 6oz Baseball Cut Choice Sirloin w/ Rosemary Demi-Glace or Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Creamy Lemon Dill Sauce \n\n\n\nSides – Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Roasted Vegetables \n\n\n\nDessert – German Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce \n\n\n\nBread and Butter \n\n\n\nMake your reservation using the Register Here button below\, with a PayPal link to make your payment. Reservation deadline is November 2\, 2026. Contact denver@esuus.org for more information.
URL:https://www.esuus.org/denver/event/teachers-learning-abroad-tlab-dinner-3/
LOCATION:The University Club of Denver\, 1673 Sherman Street\, Denver\, Colorado\, 80203\, United States
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20261209T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20261209T160000
DTSTAMP:20260926T172859Z
CREATED:20260926T172858Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260926T172859Z
UID:2257-1796828400-1796832000@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: The Surprising History of Santa and Christmas Traditions in America
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\nAbout 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. \n\n\n\nCocktail: 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/denver/event/happy-hour-the-surprising-history-of-santa-and-christmas-traditions-in-america/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.esuus.org/denver/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/09/History-of-Santa-small.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20270106T150000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20270106T160000
DTSTAMP:20260926T173426Z
CREATED:20260926T173425Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260926T173426Z
UID:2261-1799247600-1799251200@www.esuus.org
SUMMARY:Happy Hour: Murder and the Manor House
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\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/denver/event/happy-hour-murder-and-the-manor-house/
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