Featured Image: Photo of Ben Goldman dressed as the Marquis de Lafayette.

The legendary Frenchman will be brought to life by actor and Lafayette authority Ben Goldman during a special wine & cheese event.

BETHLEHEM, PA—Step back in time and raise a glass with one of Bethlehem’s most historic visitors during Wine & Cheese with Lafayette, an exclusive evening in Bethlehem’s Colonial Industrial Quarter that blends history with flavor. On Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m., at the 1869 Luckenbach Mill in Bethlehem, meet the Marquis de Lafayette as brought to life by Ben Goldman and learn how the young French hero recuperated in the care of the early Moravian community after being wounded at the Battle of Brandywine in September 1777. Tickets for the event are $40 and on sale now at historicbethlehem.org.

During Wine & Cheese with Lafayette, guests will enjoy a cheese course and sweets with wine and non-alcoholic beverages; presentation and Q&A with Goldman; and photo opportunities with Lafayette dressed in period attire. Plus, they’ll have the opportunity to meet Anne Supsic, author of The Bookmark, a tale about Lafayette’s rumored romance while he was recuperating Bethlehem.

Few figures of the Revolutionary War hold as much significance and intrigue as the Marquis de Lafayette, whose devotion to the American cause made him one of Gen. George Washington’s most trusted allies. In 1777, after being wounded at Brandywine, Lafayette found refuge in Bethlehem, where the Moravian community tended his injuries. The experience tied him closely to Bethlehem’s early history and is a story that is still celebrated more than two centuries later.

The nation’s premier Lafayette interpreter, Goldman will bring the Lafayette story to life in dramatic fashion, speaking in both English and occasional French. Goldman has a background in Dramatic Literature and French from New York University, and a deep knowledge of Lafayette’s service and personal connection to Washington. His authentic portrayal of Lafayette has captivated audiences from Mount Vernon to the White House — prepare to discover the famous Frenchman not only as a military hero, but also as a man of charisma, conviction and enduring legacy.

Wine & Cheese with Lafayette is presented by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites. Prior to the event, guests can also enjoy a special pre-event dinner with the Marquis himself at 5:45 p.m. at Bethlehem’s historic Sun Inn on Main Street. Attendees will enjoy a historically inspired menu, wine/beer and personal conversation in an 18th-century setting. Tickets for the dinner cost $85 and are extremely limited; they can also be purchased at historicbethlehem.org.

 

ABOUT HISTORIC BETHLEHEM MUSEUMS & SITES

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is a nonprofit institution that brings to life three centuries of American history. HBMS tells the story of a small town of great influence, home to some of our nation’s earliest settlers, America’s first municipal water pumping system and one of the world’s greatest industrial companies. HBMS is located in eastern Pennsylvania, only a one-hour drive north of Philadelphia and two hours west of New York City. The nonprofit is a partner in Moravian Church Settlements-Bethlehem, the United States’ 26th World Heritage site; an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; and part of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, which is a National Historic Landmark District. For more information, visit historicbethlehem.org.

Information provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko