Out of the Salon: The Peak District

I'm out of the salon this long weekend for what my friends have been calling my 'Jane Austen vacation.' I will be breezing through the Lake District and then spending a few days in the Peak District. Of course you know this means, Chatsworth! It's been a long five years since I got to visit Georgiana's home and since then the wonderful house had been restored and even had it's own show! I plan on live-tweeting my adventure so I can share it with everyone. Check out my updates via twitter:

Into a New Salon

"How strange does it seem, my dearest Louisa, to address you at this distance! What is it that has supported me through this long journey, and given me strength to combat with all the softer feelings; to quit a respectable parent and a beloved sister; to leave such dear and tender relations, and accompany a man to whom four months since I was wholly a stranger! I am a wretched reasoner at best.—I am therefore at a loss to unravel this mystery. It is true, it became my duty to follow my husband; but that a duty so newly entered into should supersede all others is certainly strange."

-Julia to her sister, Letter 3, The Sylph by Georgiana

Although I am not following a husband, I am on quite an adventure and can understand Julia's apprehensions.  I'm journeying afar this weekend to situate myself in a more eighteenth-century setting, so please excuse my absence and feel free to entertain me via twitter when I am stuck at the airport Friday night!

(A Reluctant) Out of the Salon

It's been quite a week of natural disasters hasn't it!  Unfortunately the hurricane that swept by my house decided to take the modern convenience of electricity with it which means many things for me, namely no blogging.  But never fear, I will come and gossip with you in person for the small price of your washing machine and dryer.

Out of the Salon

Pardon my absence, doves, but I must step out of the Salon for a weekend of polo matches and horse races.  Your regularly schedule gossip will continue after I have rubbed shoulders with enough aristos.

Out of the Salon: The 99th CAA Conference

From now until Saturday Lauren and I will be out of the salon, away from our computers , yet in a healthy distance of our Twitter-infused smart phones.  The annual CAA conference is in our part of the country this year so how could we not attend?  The weather, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be in our favor so if you happen to see elegant ladies arriving by litter you'll know it's two gossipers who can't stand to get their mules wet.

Posts will not be going up until after the event, however both of up plan on keeping up to date on our twitter accounts, delivering any sort of 18th century deets we may happen to hear.

Here is a small sample of some of the lectures that have me all sorts of curious:

Madame de Pompadour's Indiscreet Jewels: Boucher, Reproduction, and Luxury in Eighteenth-Century France Susan M. Wager, Columbia University

Warhol's Rococo Allison Unruh, independent scholar, New York

Cosmopolitanism and Art in the Eighteenth Century 

 Neoclassical Fashion in Art and Life in the 1790s Amelia Rauser (love her!)

It's not to late to attend! The daily rate for each day is $45 and Thursday is filled to the brim with 18th century art topics.

Out of the Salon: Gossip on the Beach

Pray excuse our absence, but Lauren and I are taking our gossip show on the road.  The toils of court gossip have taken their tolls so we're loading up a glamorous carriage and headed to the coast for some much needed R&R (Ruffles and Raspberry Daiquiris).  Unfortunately that means you must gossip without us!  If we're lucky, a side-trip to Williamsburg could be in order so stay tuned on twitter for any such luck.  How we will miss you; but the coast calls!

See you next week!

Out of the Salon

I have joined Lauren in the lovely city of Boston and will return tomorrow. One can only hope I will run into Mr. Benjamin Franklin outside the Union Oyster House as I have in the past. Watch on twitter for any updates that may be of interest! Also, leave your opinions on this week's Yay or Nay?

Exhibition Day

Sorry to interrupt your usual Sunday critique. For those who are interested, Lauren and I are on a joint exhibition venture in New York City today. There is just too many art exhibitions to do with the long eighteenth century to pass up!

I will be attempting to keep you updated in real time about the excursion via my Twitter account. Don't get too excited, I'm sure that a lot of it will consist of how much I hate the metro system, and a spare picture of window-shopping could get thrown in (aren't you glad my mobile in England couldn't Twitter? What a mess that would have been!).

The exhibitions I hope to get to are as follows-

A Women's Wit: Jane Austen's Life and Legacy at the Morgan Library and Museum

Watteau to Degas at the Frick Collection

Both American Stories and Watteau, Music and Theatre at the Met

Heather on Twitter @GeorgianaGossip Lauren on Twitter @MarieGossip

Out of the Salon

I have some news that may disappoint. For the next week or so the Gossip Guides will be on a bit of hiatus. Never fear though, it is all in the order of business to supply you with more gossip! Lauren and I will be venturing back to our beloved London. We have a busy schedule of getting measurements at our favourite mantua makers, going to balls, seeing the latest sporting events, and rejoining the old discussion groups. As you can guess, this busy schedule prevents us from updating until next week sometime. But before you begin a Lady Spencer-like chastise, I promise to take a lot of fabulous pictures to share the experience.

Until next week my doves,
Heather