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May 13, 6:41 AM
Summer Public House Plans
Imagine entering the cool, cavernous comfort of a post and beam 18th century country public house. A tavern girl brings out a tray full of a drink called "Haymaker's Switchel." Within a few minutes, cider baked ham and Mt. Vernon pie and a cool salmagundi concoction of farm lettuce and cold meat is brought out. A very grave looking captain of militia enters the tavern and begs to be seated at your table; he removes a wax-sealed letter from the pocket of his frock coat, hands it to one of you, waits for you to read the message, and the abruptly walks out. A may 1770 copy of the New Hampshire Gazette is plastered on the wall next to you, with the description of a run-away bond servant, who looks very much like the server at the next table. A fiddler stops playing for a moment, walks a little sheepishly over to your table, and asks you what was written on the note given to you by the captain of militia. You are debating an answer just as the captain of militia walks back into the room and the fiddler scurries back to his perch.
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The U-PIck Blog Season has just begun. Please don't climb on the metaphors--or mix them. |
The captain looks over at the one server who fits the description of the run away bond servant, and the server literally opens a window and scurries out into the field. A bell rings and the tavern goes silent, while one of the serving maids sings a ballad. The bell rings and all is commotion as the desert is served. Then a bell rings a gain and the run away bond servant comes back in through the window. He is prevailed upon to read a poem for the combined edification of everyone in the public house.
No this is not the magical mystery tour, but a new way of running our trophy 18th century public house. After a fair amount of brainstorming and talking to farm friends, we have decided to run the 18th century public house as public-house + improvisational theater + guest game. All characters. All the time. We'll still have Patrick Henry, and music, but you'll be able to walk in anytime, Summer Saturday nights, enjoy a fine meal, and bask in the glow of good music, great food, and unabashed patriotism!
Look for it soon on rileysfarm.com.
More of the Farm Journal -- May 12, 2008
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