There is something about summer that always leaves me feeling slightly exposed. We are offered little reprieve from ourselves under the gaze of the relentless sunshine.There is no retreat, no curling up under a blanket with a book and cup of tea. Our skin needs air, wind, movement. We shed layers and unfurl, become buoyant in the heat. Surely, some part of myself could have been found floating among the trees, untethered to terra firma.

In my own life, this sensation was amplified by a series of transitions. Across three short months, my daughter graduated high school, turned 18, and sailed off to college. In her absence, I found myself unfolding. Pieces of myself that had been packed up when I became a parent unexpectedly came tumbling from the metaphorical attic. All of the sudden, my life seemed awash in possibility. 

Theoretically speaking, I could go anywhere, do anything. It is simultaneously wonderful and paralyzing. It leaves me feeling slightly untethered. 

I find myself yearning for this change of season like never before. I need the cooler weather to bring me back down to earth. To ground me. I want to latch onto the rooted realness of something that exists deep below the surface, something ancient and immovable, that I might tether myself once more. 

And so, I invite you to the table this fall to consider these juxtapositions. Consider all the possibilities that stretch before us, plausible or fanciful, and all the things that anchor us to the spot we find ourselves in right now. 

DETAILS

• Tickets are $85, which includes a catered dinner and wine. Vegetarian options are available.

• Lantern Light, Autumn Night will take place outdoors, on the outskirts Charlottesville. Address will be sent the week prior.

• Inspiration for attire can be found here. We encourage wools, plaids, and layers but most importantly, something that makes you feel beautiful!

• Please arrive promptly at 6:30 PM for cocktails.

• Seating will be limited, so we suggest booking early. Tickets close on November 01!

ESCAPED ALONE
….a reading

"An English backyard on a fall afternoon. Three old friends and a neighbor. Tea and catastrophe.”

Please join us for a reading of Caryl Churchill's apocalyptic play Escaped Alone. This convention-defying play sets in comic and devastating counterpoint the consolations of a good chat and the looming weight of disasters both intimate and global.

We, as audience, will partake in a uniquely immersive experience as we attend this reading from our host’s backyard. This, too, is the setting of our play. It’s very meta!

This exclusive event will be held on Friday, October 04 and again on Saturday, October 05. We’ll gather for cocktails in the garden at 6:30. The reading will commence around 7. We’ll have an informal discussion following the play (there will be LOTS to talk about). Please bring a lawn chair.

In the event of rain, please check email for updates on location!

Tickets are $15.

DETAILS

• Date: Saturday, October 05

• Address: 617 Blenheim Avenue, Charlottesville, VA

• Admission: $15

• Cocktails served

• Bring a lawn chair!

ESCAPED ALONE
….a reading

"An English backyard on a fall afternoon. Three old friends and a neighbor. Tea and catastrophe.”

Please join us for a reading of Caryl Churchill's apocalyptic play Escaped Alone. This convention-defying play sets in comic and devastating counterpoint the consolations of a good chat and the looming weight of disasters both intimate and global.

We, as audience, will partake in a uniquely immersive experience as we attend this reading from our host’s backyard. This, too, is the setting of our play. It’s very meta!

This exclusive event will be held on Friday, October 04 and again on Saturday, October 05. We’ll gather for cocktails in the garden at 6:30. The reading will commence around 7. We’ll have an informal discussion following the play (there will be LOTS to talk about). Please bring a lawn chair.

New location due to potential rain: 42 Canterbury Rd

Tickets are $15.

DETAILS

• Date: Friday, October 04

• Address: 42 Canterbury Rd (this is a location change!)

• Admission: $15

• Cocktails served

• Bring a lawn chair!

“GOLDEN HOUR IS A 60-MINUTE, IMMERSIVE LIVE MUSIC EXPERIENCE CREATED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA BY MUSICIANS SUZ SLEZAK & DAVID WAX (OF DAVID WAX MUSEUM) AND LAUREN & DANIEL GOANS (OF LOWLAND HUM). FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE PERFORMANCE, GUESTS ARE SEATED AND BLINDFOLDED WHILE THE FOUR PRINCIPLE MUSICIANS MOVE ABOUT THE SPACE, HOLDING THE LISTENER CLOSE IN AN EVER-CHANGING SONIC LANDSCAPE. WHAT INITIALLY SEEMS LIKE A UNIQUE WAY TO ENGAGE WITH LIVE MUSIC SOON BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PRESENCE, STILLNESS AND PARTICIPATION IN A DEEP LISTENING EXPERIENCE THAT IS SIMULTANEOUSLY INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNAL. 

THE FOUNDERS HAVE BEEN HONING THIS EXPERIENCE SINCE 2017, AND IN 2020, NPR SHOWCASED THE EXPERIENCE IN A FEATURE STORY: “THESE CHARLOTTESVILLE MUSICIANS WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU EXPERIENCE LIVE MUSIC” 

(From https://www.concertintheblind.net/)

This event will take place at David Wax Museum’s studio in Belmont. Tickets are $67 and include drinks and dessert at the conclusion of the show. Final details and the address will be sent after registration.

LIFE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL…

(Psst… to our registered guests! If you haven’t received the email with the location and details, please check your spam folder!)

I don’t know about you, but I find myself feeling quite world-weary at the moment. Each news cycle seems to portend a new calamity, missives of violence and war, greed and dishonesty, ever growing political turmoil… and all that crazy weather. I fall asleep at night with a vague sense of unease and wake yearning for something that is both tangible and true. Something beautiful. 

Not a superficial beauty, mind you, but one that is real. And what do I mean by this? Here is an example: 

I visited nearly a dozen venues these past two months searching for the perfect spot for our next dinner… the one you are about to be invited to. Many of them were lovely. But they were lovely in a manicured, overly-tended sort of way that felt wholly fabricated. What I wanted was a place that spoke of the wildness of nature, of the deep peace and restoration it can offer, of the way it manages to be beautiful of its own accord. A place that feels both substantial and true. 

I have found just such a spot. And in the process was reminded of the words a friend’s mother had inscribed above her kitchen door. Life can be beautiful. Even in the midst of the mire. Especially in the midst of the mire. We need only look for it. 

I cannot change what is happening in the world around us. I feel, in fact, deeply impotent at my inability to do so. But what I can do is create something beautiful. And somehow, that feels like the creation of something true. Seeking beauty in the midst of chaos is, perhaps, the only way we can remind ourselves of what matters. I suppose it’s the thing that makes it all worth it. 

And so, I invite you to join me now on this lofty quest for beauty and truth. I hope it will offer rest and a sense of comfort.

DETAILS

• Summertide Feast will take place outdoors, on the outskirts of Charlottesville. Address will be sent the week prior.

• This is a catered dinner. Please bring a bottle of wine to share.

• Inspiration for attire can be found here. We encourage bold, colorful prints, but most importantly, something that makes you feel beautiful!

• Cocktails will begin at 6:30 PM. Dinner will be served promptly at 7.

• Seating will be limited, so we suggest booking early!

• The suggested donation for this event is $80. Please email if that feels prohibitive in any way! If you are able to contribute more toward the admission of another, we welcome your generosity.

• Wonder Club exists via word of mouth only. We encourage you to share with friends and like-minded folks who you think would enjoy these events!

Tickets close Wednesday, August 14!

Do you remember the first time you encountered Mary Poppins? So much of the film’s magic stemmed from its invitation to make-believe. To pretend that any of us might come across a sidewalk mural and slip into a new, fantastical realm. Or laugh ourselves silly until we floated to the top of the ceiling. Why not open an umbrella and fly? 

At some point during our childhoods, we looked at the adults around us and vowed to never become that. To never be too serious or too stressed or too boring or too no fun at all. And yet, most of us could likely be accused of one or all of those descriptors midway through any given week. But seriously, when was the last time another adult invited you to play? Just… to have fun. 

Consider this your invitation. On Saturday, June 15 (the last gasp of Spring!), we’ll partake in an afternoon picnic on which we make it our mission to spark delight and laughter. Your ticket will include a picnic basket catered by the heroic folks at Red Bud Catering. Menu items are below. Please be sure to select your choice when purchasing your ticket.

As always, the address for this event will be provided the week prior. Colorful attire (and hats!) encouraged. Inspiration can be found here.

TICKETS CLOSE FRIDAY, JUNE 07!

PICNIC MENU

R O S E M A R Y H A M SANDWICH

b r i o c h e r o l l , d i j o n a i s e , b r i e , g r e e n s , s h a v e d o n i o n

C A P R E S E SANDWICH

b r i o c h e r o l l , b a s i l p e s t o , s u n d r i e d t o m a t o , m o z z a r e l l a , a r u g u l a

C H I C K E N S A L A D

s h a v e d c e l e r y , c h i v e , l e m o n , g r e e n s

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A WONDER CLUB EVENT?

Wonder Club is an immersive experience uniquely designed to spark awe and inspire authentic connection.

• It’s invitation to get to know one another better. An intentional question will be posed to guests during the event to draw us more deeply into the sweetness of shared space.

• Poetry will likely be read.

• There may be music.

• There will definitely be laughter.

• It’s an out-of-the ordinary opportunity to pause and reconnect with oneself and others.

Join us as we spread some old fashioned holiday cheer with a little neighborhood caroling. We’ll gather for some mulled wine and hot chocolate before we venture into the Rugby Hills neighborhood. Bring along family (kids welcome) and friends. Singing talent not required. Address and details upon rsvp.

Summertide Feast offers a moment to pause before we shift into the fullness of the fall season. For our first, inaugural Wonder Club dinner, will gather under the stars for an intimate, outdoor feast. We’re pulling together all the ingredients to create a magical evening that we can’t wait to share with each of you! Details are below...

EVENT DETAILS

• The suggested donation is $40 per person. This includes a four-course meal and service.

• Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be offered- please include your preference in your RSVP.

• Guests are invited to bring their own libations.

• Spouses, partners, and bosom buddies welcome.

• Inspiration for attire can be found here.

• Handmade flower crowns and boutonnieres will be offered by the lovely Sarah Gillespie at Demitasse Flowers. Pricing and order information can be viewed here. Please be sure to place your order by August 15.

• Our location will be announced one-week prior to the event. Please keep an eye on your email for details!

Many components of this particular happening will depend on the number of attendees. Please be sure to RSVP no later than August 15 for planning purposes! Please be sure to Venmo your donation when you rsvp: @d-ainsworth.

THIS EVENT IS FULL

What can I expect from a Wonder Club dinner?

• Wonder Club is an immersive dinner experience uniquely designed to spark wonder and inspire authentic connection.

• The design elements are selected to awaken the senses and set the tone for the evening.

• The most important component to the dinner is the invitation to get to know one another better. An intentional question will be posed to guests at the start of the evening to draw us more deeply into the sweetness of shared space.

• Poetry will likely be read.

• There may be music.

• There will definitely be laughter.

• It’s an out-of-the ordinary opportunity to pause and reconnect with oneself and others.

The Perseid meteor shower is one of my favorite times of the year! Perseid peaks mid-August, and with no moon on the 12th, it’s a great time to catch the event. We will gather on August 12 just before sunset to watch the sun go down and the meteors come out.

Please note that the meteor shower becomes more visible as the night gets later. Plan to take a nap before you come if possible and anticipate that this will be a late night (it is perfectly acceptable to doze as needed). We will have picnic style snacks after sunset and play some games until it grows dark enough to see things. Bring blankets to make yourself cozy and snacks/drinks as desired.

The location for this is private, so we ask that folks carpool as much as necessary. Carpoolers can plan to meet at 7:30 off Fontaine Ave. Details for both locations will be sent on Friday. As always, please RSVP so we have an accurate headcount.

Raindate August 13!

EVENT FULL