A Weekend with Jane Austen

April 7-9

Toronto, Canada

Taste, touch, smell and sound: textures of life in Regency England – experience Jane Austen's world through historical food, clothing, music, lectures, hands-on workshops, and, of course, a ball!

Where we hit “send”, Jane Austen took out her writing desk, ruled her paper, cut her quill pen, and possibly made her own ink. Find out more about her fascinating world. Go ahead -- spend the weekend with Jane Austen.

Featured venues include four of Toronto's historical buildings and museums: Montgomery's Inn, St James's Cathedral, Mackenzie House, and National Historic Site Toronto's First Post Office in Old Town Toronto.

Highlights include

--Open-hearth cooking workshop

--Five fireside meals of historical dishes, including many known to Austen and her family

--historical games

--open-hearth cooking workshop

--Regency dance workshop and ball (beginners welcome!)

--Chef and professional fromager Martin Raymond: Lecture and tasting of cheeses known to Austen

--Historical seamstress Elizabeth Webb: Did she or didn't she? The secrets of Regency underwear

--Kat Akerfeldt of Toronto’s First Post Office: Lecture on letter-writing in Austen's time, plus a hands-on workshop with quill pens & sealing wax

--Dr Kimberly Alexander: Heels, flats & ankle straps: Transitional Shoes In Jane Austen's World

--An Evening at Mackenzie House: a Young Lady playing upon the Harp, historical games by lamplight and elegant refreshments

--Historical lace-making

--lectures, displays, hands-on workshops and discussion groups

Schedule

Friday venues -- Old Town Toronto: St James Cathedral, St James’s Park, Toronto's First Post Office, Mackenzie House

Saturday and Sunday -- Historic Montgomery’s Inn

Fireside breakfasts, lectures, workshops, cheese-tasting; dance workshop; fireside dinners; ball with live music, cooking workshop.

More details, including menus and registration forms, are at www.JaneAustenDancing.ca. Pay as you go, or choose a combination package for lower admission. (416) 578-1031

Please note that Saturday and Sunday meals must be booked by March 31.