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| Mark Twain and Elisse at the Elkhorn Inn |
In October, the Elkhorn Inn had a Very special Mark Twain Weekend, with Doug Riley, the historian and actor who personifies Mark Twain (and Stonewall Jackson) for the West Virginia Humanities’ Council’s “History Alive!” Program!
One of the “added treats” for our guests, on top of Twain-themed gourmet dinners and breakfasts, was Mark Twain’s favorite cocktail, which, he stated, in letters to his wife, he enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Deceptively simple and incredibly easy to make (scotch, simple sugar syrup, Angostura Bitters, and lemon), it was a BIG hit, both with our guests, and with Mark Twain himself, cigar and all!
I discovered the cocktail while researching in preparation for the event: here’s the link: Celebrate NYE With Mark Twain’s Favorite Whiskey Cocktail
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| Mark Twain’s fave cocktail! |
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| Mark Twain at guests at dinner at the Elkhorn Inn! |
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| Chef Dan presenting Buckwheat Crepes to Mark Twain for breakfast! |
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| WVVA News, covering Mark Twain at the Elkhorn Inn! |
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| Mark Twain, with our Elkhorn Inn Guests |
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| Mark Twain and Elkhorn Inn guests! |
One of the things that is the most fun for me is doing research in preparation for planning an event like this! I got to buy and read books I hadn’t read (my fave Twain book is still Life on the Mississippi, but thanks to Doug, I read the EXCELLENT book Mark Twain- a Life by Ron Powers, several others, and have a stack of winter reading, including volumes of his autobiography, and the totally hilarious and risque 601: A Tudor Fireside Conversation, As Written By The Ingenuous, Virtuous And Learned Mark Twain. I also got to listen to great period music, and even buy a super cool bustle skirt and blouse (from Victorian Choice on eBay, of course!) so I could be The Hostess With the Mostest in the right period dress!
I also learned about things like Celery Vases, and other trappings of “The Guilded Age”, and added them to the Chef Dan Dinners that weekend, that included Mark Twain’s favorite foods, including Pan-Fried Trout, and Herb-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens (in lieu of Prairie Chickens), Squash Pie for desert, and Buckwheat Crepes with West Virginia Maple Syrup for Breakfast!
The Elkhorn Inn is planning to do another special weekend event with Mr. Riley in early May 2018, in which he shall portray both Mark Twain and Stonewall Jackson! This promises to be a fabulous weekend of literature, history, great food, and fun! Please call the Inn at 304-862-2031 if you are interested in attending, or would like to book a guest room now and get the room of your choice! And I’m still trying to figure out who I want to be for the spring event! :-)
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