On September 3, 2016, a group of members attended the matinee of “The Good Earth” at the Flea Theater in New York City. It was presented by Motherlode Theater, based in the Rhondda Valley, Directed by Rachael Boulton and Music Direction by Max Mackintosh.

Susan Davies Sit, Actor Anni Dafydd, Jason Ellsworth, Susan Jenkins Meers and Sherry Williams.

It was co-produced with RCT Theatres, in association with Wales’ Millennium Centre and Arts Council Wales. It told the story of a Welsh valley family who were asked to leave their home along with all the other members of the village, in case the mountain “moved”. It was 7 years after the Aberfan disaster when the slag heap of coal shifted and slid down on top of a school and buried and killed 144 people, including many children. After the play ended we got to meet the 5 member Welsh cast.

Tom Davies in Wales, at the peak of his Pub’s namesake, Snowdon

Following the play we drive over to Astoria in Queens for dinner at the Snowdonia Pub. Their website says:

Snowdonia (in Welsh, Eryri) is a mountainous region in Northern Wales. Named after this beautiful area, we are an authentic gastropub in the Welsh tradition of the “local” that fuses inventive cuisine and quality regional craft beers. Snowdonia prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients, local purveyors of the highest quality foods, and an outstanding selection of bourbon, wine, craft cocktails, and over thirty craft beers. Mwynhau eich hun! (enjoy yourself!) (snowdoniapub.com)

We feasted on Fish & Chips (which Don Sit said was the best he’s ever had here), Bangers and Mash, a slate platter of charcuterie meats and cheeses, Welsh Rarebit, Shepherd’s pie, Welsh cider, Welsh Penderyn whisky for some. it was aw wonderful day of camaraderie and Welsh Hiraeth.

Fish & Chips from Snowdonia Pub

Croeso i’r hydref – welcome to Autumn!

It has been a steamy July and a cooler August and we are already seeing the Fall colors arriving on our trees, so I find myself thinking back to our wonderful month of June when we held Welsh Classes and an Afternoon tea.  The Welsh classes gave many of us a renewed energy to further pursue our mother-tongue by taking more lessons, and speaking more Welsh.  I am speaking some Welsh to my 4 year old grandson who says a pretty good “Diolch”!

Our Autumn program looks to be quite exciting with a trip to “Peint o Gwrw” (“Pint of Beer”) Welsh Pub in Chatham, NY. The St. David’s Welsh Society of the Capital District (Albany, NY) will be holding it’s annual informal pub night in honor of Owain Glyndŵr on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013 at 4:00 pm, everyone is invited! The Peint o Gwrw Tafarn is located at 36 Main Street, Chatham, NY, phone 518-392-2337. For more information, e-mail the society at: harp@nycap.rr.com.

The WSWNE will also hold a luncheon in October, see inside this newsletter for more details as well as the presentation by Craig Davis of Smith College about King Arthur’s legends and myths.

Four of us are recently returned from Toronto, Canada and our time at the North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW) which was another wonderful weekend of Welsh culture, language, history, dancing and of course music and song. A highlight for me was about 150 of us at the pub sing-along with the 3 Welsh Tenors and Male Choir members – so much “Hiraeth” it was palpable.

Hopefully some of you are planning a trip to Wales this fall. Several of us were born in Wales or have traveled there so please just email us to ask about any travel or tourist information. Pob Hwyl!

Susan Davies Sit, WSWNE President

P.S. Check out our newest gallery posting for more pictures of NAFOW!