Elena will be away from the blog for a while. Her husband is ill and facing a long recovery. Elena’s time needs to be spent tending to him and to her children. While she is away we’ll be tapping guest bloggers to fill in for her on Wednesdays.
Please share your support for Elena here. We’re not asking her to respond, but we know that your good wishes and prayers will lift her spirits.
Thanks so much from the Riskies
The winner of Vexing the Viscount is…Eva S! Congratulations! Please send your info to us at riskies@yahoo.com
First off, I would like to welcome any newcomers or visitors to the blog! Risky Regencies is a light-hearted community of Regency writers and Regency fans, and we provide great discussions on everything from the merits of the 1995 miniseries of Pride and Prejudice to rereading Georgette Heyer.
Now, to today’s subject: the 2009 Jane Austen Evening, which I attended this past Saturday!
(In fact, I enjoyed it so very much, that I shall be giving away two Regency-themed prizes to lucky commenters today! Just comment on this post by Wednesday night, and you’ll be entered to win a DVD of the Rintoul/Garvie version of Pride and Prejudice, or the guidebook to the Bath Museum of Costume, or a book on Sarah Siddons, or another prize of your choice!)
I have now attended something like six Jane Austen Evenings, and it seems to me they get better every year.
As always, it was held in a gorgeous location (as these photos attest!)
First, we had a Regency tea, with as much scrumptious period food as one could eat, plus a variety of teas.
My favorite food this year was the sweet rosemary shortbread — I went back for more.
And more…
And more… (Oh, it was heavenly!)
I think every year, the costumes are better, and the dancers more experienced.
And this year, it seemed to me that the costumes weren’t only fabulous, but that nearly everyone was in some sort of costume.
There were moments when one could truly picture oneself back in Jane Austen’s time!
(Though the cameras, I suppose, were a tiny bit anachronistic.) 😉
Then again, with so many amazing costumes, who could blame those of us who took photos?
(And more photos!)
(And still more!)
(In fact, I took so many, that I had to do two blog posts today to hold them all…)
I even brought a camcorder this time — though I’ve yet to see how my taping turned out!
(If it turned out well, then I’m going to upload some of it to youtube, just as Jane Austen would have done herself.)
Then, after all the splendid tea, we danced all night.
(My feet were killing me by the end!)
So: if you want to comment on this post, feel free to answer any or all of the following questions:
Did you attend the Jane Austen Evening? What did you think? Which was your favorite part? (Your favorite food, or dance, or costume?)
If you didn’t attend it, which part sounds the most alluring?
Which is your favorite photo?
Have you ever attended a similar event?
All comments welcome!
(And if you want to see my posts on previous Jane Austen Evenings and Playford Balls, just click the link below that says “Jane Austen Evening.”)
Cara
Cara King, author of MY LADY GAMESTER and dancer of Maggots
Our own historic events this week seem too important to ignore, especially if you live where I do, in the suburbs of Washington, DC. No matter what your political views, you cannot escape the excitement generated by this inauguration. Like many residents of the area, we’ll be staying home for the event itself, but Saturday my husband and I went downtown to look at the preparations for the Inauguration. Thought I’d share.
Here I am in the front of the Capitol. This is where the Oath of Office used to be taken, until Reagan was inaugurated. It is the West view of the Capitol that faces the Mall where the Oath is taken now.
The front of the Capitol faces the Library of Congress, one of the most beautiful buildings in DC.
Here I am in front of the West view. This is as close as we could get. Notice all the chairs and the bleachers.
Here’s a close up view of the podium (the semi-circular place)where Obama will take the oath of office.
This is the view Obama will see.
Most spectators will be watching on screens like this. This screen was on and showing bison or something running from a fire.
The Press were already setting up. See MSNBC and the Smithsonian Castle in the background.
But here were the real preparations. Porta-potties everywhere.
Which makes you wonder what people did in the Regency when they gathered for parades and festivities. I shudder to think.
The best part, though, was seeing everyone downtown smiling. That never happens in DC.
So do you wish you could be in Washington DC to attend? We’re expecting 2 million people.
What do you think it would have been like in London for the Waterloo or Trafalgar celebrations?
To read my blog about Happiness, visit The Wet Noodle Posse.
To enter my contest to win one of my books visit my website.
