Tavern Dinner and Ghost Tour

Friday, August 30 – After all of the running around on this super hot and sticky afternoon, we were ready for some refreshment at the Kings Arms Tavern.  We learned that you never really knew what you were going to be served at a tavern in the 18^th century, and it wasn’t always good.  Our server

brought us a taste of some of the relishes that may have been served: corn, smoked ham, and pickeled watermelon (and that's beer in the mug).  She also told us back then if you asked someone how their meal was, and said “I relished it,” that was NOT a good thing.  It meant that they had to add relish to make it taste better!

We were also serenaded by musicians walking around the tavern, including this guy, who was playing the Smallest Violin Ever.  We asked him about it, and he said they were made for easy traveling.

In addition to the musicians wandering around, there was also a woman named "Sara" who was in character, walking around talking to people at their tables.  She was very friendly, and came over to our table and was telling us about what was going on in town that her mother operated the tavern down the street.  She was also carrying a big basket with a white tablecloth covering whatever was in it. Since Sandy is always curious, she asked her what she had in her basket.  Sara then got a horrified look on her face, and said that Sandy was very forward for asking such a question.  She then looked at me and said that it "had been a pleasure talking to us until she asked that question," and abruptly walked away.  She never came back!  Well... she certainly gave Sandy a schooling in 18th century manners! 

After dinner and after dark we took a haunted tavern tour, where our tour guide walked us around Colonial Williamsburg in the dark, telling us present-day stories of ghost sightings in colonial garb in the taverns and buildings around town.  She told us that when people have taken photos of this building at night, they have seen ghosts in the window.  Do you see anything??