Apropos Of Something hosts Ellen Daniels and Nancy Laurence talk with Micah LeMon, author of The Imbible and head mixologist at James Beard Award-nominated The Alley Light, on the art of crafting serious spirits; and Leni Sorensen PhD, prominent culinary and cultural historian, author, creator of Indigo House, on her unique journey from back-to-basics foodie to sustainable farming and the bounty in between.
Apropos Of Something seeks out guests who are passionate about the arts, politics and society at-large. Co-hosts Ellen Daniels in Charlottesville and Nancy Laurence in New York City chat with experts, activists, and the most interesting people they can find. We guarantee every show will be Apropos Of Something.
Join Ellen and Nancy on 94.7 WPVC the Progressive Voice of Charlottesville, every Saturday from 10-11 a.m.
Leni Sorensen speaking at the Senior Center in Charlottesville.
On April 30, 2015, Leni Sorensen presented the sixth and final part of our CPN Thursday series entitled The Civil War Through Different Lenses (2015).
“In 1820 only 12% of the enslaved had been born in Africa. By the decade leading to the Civil War, American Slaves were Christian, with English their first and only language,” says Sorensen in this interesting talk about the role slaves played in the development of the plantation system.
Leni Sorensen majored in history at Mary Baldwin, and earned her MA and PhD in American Studies at the College of William and Mary. For over thirty years she worked as a university lecturer, museum consultant, hands on presenter and researcher with a focus on African American slavery, American agriculture and Woman’s work in colonial and post-colonial America. Formerly Monticello’s African-American Research Historian, Ms. Sorensen teaches rural life skills such as canning, butchering, and cookery from her home in Western Albemarle County.
The lecture series was organized by award-winning historian and Charlottesville-based author, lecturer, and cartographer Rick Britton in conjunction with the Senior Center in Charlottesville.
Click here to listen to all six parts of this series.
In the fall of 2010, the Senior Center offered one of Rick’s programs entitled “Virginia History 101.” Running from October 7th through November 18th, this six-session lecture series was designed for those interested in Virginia’s fascinating early history. The series focused on some of the big topics that dominated the Old Dominion’s first two centuries, including, Native Virginians, Tobacco, Slavery, the Revolution, George Washington’s Presidency, and Jeffersonian Architecture. The series was followed with a travel session where participants experienced Virginia history first hand.
The lecture for October 21, 2010 was entitled “Foodways of the Enslaved.” It was presented by Leni Sorensen, Monticello’s African-American Research Historian, who besides her duties on Jefferson’s “little mountain,” also teaches rural life skills such as canning, butchering, and cookery. Following an introduction of the enslaved individuals laboring in Mr. Jefferson’s kitchens–at Monticello, in Paris, and at the White House–Sorensen delivered a fascinating talk on the surprisingly complicated, and fashionable, meals they prepared. Previously forgotten by history, these cooks and chefs were talented, amazingly literate, and oftentimes multi-lingual.
This is the third in a six part series for 2010.
Click here to listen to all six lectures in this series:
* December 2, 2010 – The Monacan Nation – Rick Britton
* December 9, 2010 – Tobacco, The First Cash Crop – Susan Kern
* December 16, 2010 – Foodways of the Enslaved – Leni Sorensen
* December 23, 2010 – The Yorktown Campaign – Ed Lengel
* December 30, 2010 – Washington’s Presidency – David Hoth
* January 6, 2011- Architecture in the Jeffersonian Period – Ed Lay
