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Travel + Leisure
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Travel + Leisure
America's Best Small Arts & Culture Town Is In Tennessee–and It's Got a Legendary Summer Music Festival and Writers' Conference
Even with the majority of the University of the South's undergraduate population gone for the summer, there's a creative energy humming in the town of Sewanee. I visited in July, during the second week of the annual Sewanee Writers' Conference, and went to hear author Melissa Febos give a talk on non-fiction. A small crowd filled the university's Guerry Auditorium, eager to hear her advice on writing, research, and cultivating creativity. Creatives of all kinds have ties to Sewanee, a small town on Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau (Sewanee is commonly used to refer to both the town and the university.) Some of the 20th century's most notable authors, including T.S. Eliot and Flannery O'Connor, appeared in the pages of The Sewanee Review , America's oldest continuously published literary quarterly. Today, it's still a bastion of American literature, where writers like Lauren Groff and Sigrid Nunez publish stories and essays. Others have led workshops or done public readings during the Sewanee Writers' Conference, a program partially funded by the Tennessee Williams estate, which the famed playwright left to the university. Musicians are also drawn here; the historic Sewanee Summer Music Festival, a month-long training intensive, stages concerts each summer, and the University Choir performs every Sunday at All Saints' Chapel during the academic year. Here's everything you need to know to plan a trip to Sewanee, including what to do, where to stay, and when to go. Stay at The Sewanee Inn, an elegant 43-key property within walking distance of the central campus of the University of the South. Embrace Sewanee's scholarly atmosphere by picking up the latest edition of The Sewanee Review , educating yourself on local Black history, or attending a performance by the University Choir. , educating yourself on local Black history, or attending a performance by the University Choir. Reserve a table at chef Julia Sullivan's latest restaurant, Judith. Align your trip in July with two of Sewanee's annual celebrations of the arts: the Sewanee Summer Music Festival or Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Or plan your visit over the fall, when the humidity has subsided and the foliage begins to change. When I visited Sewanee to hear Melissa Febos speak, she offered a powerful message about the importance of artistic self-expression and exploration. Acknowledging how writing, and creativity in general, can seem futile in this current climate, she reassured the audience: 'Our work is how we make sense of the world and situate ourselves inside of it,' she said. 'It's how we're able to live, to connect, to grow, and to help others.' Sewanee is a place that supports art in all its forms—books, poetry, music, architecture, dance, theater—and invites visitors to engage in the arts, often free of charge. 'Sewanee looks like a sleepy college town lost in the woods, but there is something happening here just about every day and throughout the year,' says Woody Register, professor of history and director of the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation at the University of the South. The Sewanee Writers' Conference and Sewanee Summer Music Festival are marquee events each year, and while university life is central to Sewanee's culture, it's just one part of the narrative. 'Until the work of the Roberson Project began in 2017, local Black history was not publicly recognized or visibly honored at the University of the South,' says Register. 'Today, the Roberson Project works with the people of the historic Black St. Mark's neighborhood and others in the area who grew up there to preserve its memory and honor its residents' important contributions to the life of Sewanee, the town, and the university.' More on the project's work—including a heritage walking trail and key historic sites—below. Aerial view of The Sewanee Inn with surrounding grounds and golf course. 'The Sewanee Inn is fantastic, with gorgeous bluff-side seating for cocktails, a lovely bar and restaurant, two fireside sitting rooms, and a view of the golf course, where you can grab a burger and a beer at Green's View Grill,' says Adam Ross, novelist and editor of The Sewanee Review . If you're interested in going the glamping route, book one of the well-appointed Terralodge treehouses or domes. Recently opened in 2024, the 'treehouse resort' is located on 30 acres in nearby Monteagle, and each of the accommodations comes with a hot tub and a fire pit. 'There are also a lot of Airbnbs and rentals. There's one in particular, Stayframe, that is well curated and beautiful,' says Julia Sullivan, chef and proprietor of Judith, one of the most exciting new additions to Sewanee's dining scene. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom space comes with a soaking tub, a gas fireplace, and full kitchen, and access to a private lake and waterfall. 'For something completely different, visit St. Mary's Sewanee, a convent also known as the Ayres Center for Spiritual Development,' says Ross. 'The retreat center welcomes individuals and groups for overnight stays, and the Anna House enjoys especially cozy rooms. It's a great spot to stay in the wintertime.' The "Willie Six" Sims Field on the Sewanee Black History Heritage Trail. Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure 'The South Cumberland area of Tennessee has a rich Black history, and a good way to see its impact on the region is the Grundy County History Museum in nearby Tracy City,' says Register. He also notes that Grundy County was the epicenter of the development of convict leasing in the 1880s and 1890s and, in the 1950s, the area was central to the Civil Rights Movement as the home of the Highlander Folk School. Sewanee's Jessie Ball duPont Library currently has a small exhibit on Highlander Folk School, which was founded in 1932 with the goal to 'educate leadership for democracy and promote the general welfare of all people in the South.' Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. were among those who, says Register, 'studied the tactics of nonviolent resistance' at the interracial institution. Visitors can also learn about the Roberson Project's important work by walking the St. Mark's Heritage Trail through Sewanee's historic Black neighborhood. 'From one end and back, it is about 1.75 miles long and shady all the way,' says Register, noting there's also a 'driving tour of the major historic sites in the St. Mark's neighborhood.' Places like the 'Negro Swimming Pool' and the site of Kennerly School, the only school for Black children on the mountain before desegregation, are noted with historical markers. 'The legendary Perimeter Trail is an approximately 26-mile loop at varying degrees of difficulty through some of the most gorgeous rock formations you'll ever see,' says Ross. 'There are also remarkable views of the surrounding valley at Green's View, the Cross, and Morgan's Steep.' As far as other hikes, Sullivan recommends the 3-mile Lost Cove Trail, as well as Foster Falls and Fiery Gizzard. For a relatively short hike, Ross adds that the 1.2-mile winding paths' of Abbo's Alley shouldn't be missed. 'It was named after legendary professor Abbott Cotten Martin, who first cultivated the ravine. The rustic walk passes over bridges and streams. You might even catch a salamander or two in the summertime.' The All Saints' Chapel at the University of the South. Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure 'Any visit to Sewanee demands a stop at All Saints' Chapel, one of the most beautiful and grand places of worship in the Southeast,' says Ross. Its splendor is apparent all year round, but Sullivan is especially fond of the chapel during the Festival Service of Lessons and Carols, which she calls 'one of the most special experiences' she's had in Sewanee. With a copy of Under the Sun , a guidebook to Sewanee, in hand, continue past the chapel, admiring the 19th and 20th-century sandstone and limestone structures around campus; Breslin Tower, Convocation Hall, and St. Luke's Chapel are particularly notable. 'Visit the Ralston Listening Room—more formally known as the William Ralston Music Listening Library—on the second floor of the University's duPont library,' adds Ross. 'Here, with state-of-the-art equipment and unparalleled acoustics, you can enjoy any of its 20,000 LPS and 20,000 CDs.' Even if your undergraduate days are well behind you, there's no reason not to work on your manuscript or dive into the latest Pulitzer Prize-winning novel—all you have to do is find an unoccupied Adirondack chair or bench on campus. Or, simply admire the talent that manifests throughout Sewanee. 'There are presentations by artists, scholars, and writers throughout the academic year, and all University-sponsored events, such as public speakers and student theatrical performances, welcome visitors and usually without charge,' says Register. Shop local artisan's at The Lemon Fair. Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure For gifts and local artisan items, like clothing and jewelry, Sullivan recommends The Lemon Fair. Stock up on tea towels, All Saints' Chapel Mugs, stickers, ornaments, and all sorts of unique Sewanee souvenirs, many of which are emblazoned with the Sewanee Angel. 'Be sure to also stop at the campus's local bookstore, whose shelves feature local authors,' says Ross. Swing by to pick up the latest edition of The Sewanee Review , or novels written by faculty; you may recognize the works of New York Times best-selling author Kevin Wilson, who currently serves as an associate professor in the English & Creative Writing Department. A short drive from Sewanee, Mooney's Market & Emporium comes recommended by both Sullivan and Ross. 'It has everything from organic foods and farm fresh eggs to antiques and knitting supplies,' says Ross. Spread across several small rooms, the shoppable collection is more than worth a quick browse before you leave town; you'll likely leave with an art print, small piece of pottery, or T-shirt to commemorate your time on the Cumberland Plateau. Exterior view of Lunch in Sewanee's 'Village.'. Lydia Mansel/Travel + Leisure 'LUNCH, on University Avenue in Sewanee's 'Village,' is a must for breakfast and, of course, lunch,' says Register. Although the food menu rotates, you can expect fresh, filling items, such as a daily quiche, a country ham sandwich, and marinated shrimp skewers paired with orzo and summer squash. The dining room at Judith Tavern. Emily Dorio/Judith Tavern Judith, the recently opened restaurant by the great Nashville chef Julia Sullivan, can't be missed. 'Grab a tahini Caesar salad, a smashburger, and a glass of wine at the bar, and you'll see why Sewanee is fast becoming a foodie destination,' says Ross. The restaurant's name is a nod to Judith Ward Lineback, who in 1969, became the first woman to matriculate at the University of the South. The exterior of the Sewanee staple Stirling's Coffee House. Buck Butler/University of the South Warm, welcoming, and brimming with plenty of tables and chairs for writing, reading, or catching up with a friend, Stirling's Coffee House is a Sewanee staple. 'It's a really sweet place to walk to in the morning and get coffee and pastries,' says Sullivan. Their speciality iced Sewanee Morning—coffee with mint and Swiss chocolate flavoring, topped with half and half—is much appreciated on a hot summer day. Pizza's and popcorn from Shenanigans bar-restaurant. Matt Morrison/Tennessee's South Cumberland Tourism Partnership ( 'For the classic college bar-restaurant experience, grab a pitcher of draft beer and some fried fare at Shenanigans,' says Ross. The institution dates back to 1974, and the sizable subs, hearty burgers, and homemade pizzas are the perfect way to celebrate the end of a long hike along the Perimeter Trail. Autumn leaves on the grounds of the All Saints' Chapel. Matt Morrison/Tennessee's South Cumberland Tourism Partnership ( 'Fall is unquestionably the best because of the foliage and the remarkable views,' says Ross. The colorful show is put on by the broadleaf deciduous trees, mainly oaks and hickories, that dot the Domain. Sullivan agrees that autumn is one of the finer times in Sewanee, but she also has a penchant for the warmer months. 'I think spring and early summer are really special. Every week, a different flower is blooming. It's been really beautiful to see this gradual change, and everything is just incredibly lush,' she says. Sewanee's summer wildflowers include harbinger-of-spring, bloodroot, great white trillium, pink lady's slippers, and mountain laurel. 'February is to be avoided—you'll deal with either soupy fog or ice and snow,' warns Ross, who also says it's critical to 'check the University calendar so as not to conflict with student arrivals or graduation' in May and August. Bike's lined up outside of Woody's Bicycles. Matt Morrison/Tennessee's South Cumberland Tourism Partnership ( Sewanee covers 13,000 acres across the Cumberland Plateau—hence the phrase, 'on the mountain,' which students, alumni, and locals alike affectionately use to refer to life here. Travelers flying into the area can choose between Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) or Nashville International Airport (BNA) before driving the final hour or 1.5 hours to Sewanee. While much of Sewanee is walkable, having a car is helpful to reach trailheads and nearby towns, and it allows you the freedom to embark on scenic drives throughout the area. If you'd prefer to get around on two wheels, Woody's Bicycles has regular bikes and e-bikes available to rent.
Times
06-07-2025
- General
- Times
Highgate School holds funeral for biology department skeleton
A prestigious private school has buried the 200-year-old skeleton of a 'non-European' woman that it had kept in its biology department, prompting calls for reforms over the ownership of human woman, who was likely aged between 20 and 45 and from India, was buried in a private funeral service last week by Highgate School in London.A small wooden coffin was carried into the school's grounds in a procession led by the headmaster Adam Pettitt. The school, which charges up to £10,525 per term, said that no relatives could be contacted as there were no records of who the woman was or how her skeleton came into the school's possession. Highgate School was founded in 1565 YUI MOK/PA Highgate School, which is not accused of any wrongdoing, was reported to have spent three years negotiating with the relevant authorities before the funeral could take place. Alumni include Phil Tufnell, the English bowler, and Tom Hooper, the Academy award-winning director of The King's Speech and Les Misérables, while notable members of staff include TS Eliot, the Nobel prize-winning poet and literary critic, and Adrian Berg, the landscape painter. The ceremony led to calls for reforms over the ownership and display of human remains. Recent changes have prevented the public display of 'relevant material' from a deceased person, leading some schools to put skeletons in storage. Some skeletons may be exempt if they are more than 100 years old and not for used for purposes such as public display. Dan Hicks, a professor of contemporary archaeology at the University of Oxford, applauded the school for looking into the provenance of the skeleton. 'This is an interesting case that shines a light on something that runs far deeper into British culture than we would like to think. There's no regulation at the moment over the holding of human remains in our institutions,' he said. The procession was led by priests and Adam Pettitt, the headmaster 'If you find a human skull or skeleton under somebody's desk in a school or a university or an infirmary, or a hospital, there is no regulation unless they are from these more recent times,' he added. 'At the moment, it's a free-for-all all and it's still legal to buy and sell human remains in this country'.Corrine Fowler, a professor of postcolonial literature at the University of Leicester, said that if the ancestors can be traced, 'these unloved remains should be returned to those who will cherish them'. 'Schools and museums need clear guidance to help them address this matter. Any reforms must allow consideration on a case-by-case basis, emphasise close collaboration with source communities and ensure that, where appropriate, remains are repatriated and lovingly laid to rest,' she said. Lord Boateng, a former home office minister, told the Camden New Journal that he had called for a total stop to the trade of human remains as 'objects of curiosity'. 'The law and practical guidance in relation to the trade and retention of human remains is either non-existent or outdated and in urgent need of clarification and reform. The days in which the people of other lands and with different coloured skins were felt to be less important in terms of human decency, even in death must surely be at an end,' he said.'Action from government is needed now to draw a line under what amounts to a shaming example of historic neglect of human decency affecting our relationship with the peoples of so many lands beyond these shores.'A spokesman for Highgate School said: 'The skeleton has been in our biology department for some time, but there are no available local or archive records to clarify the origin of the skeleton or their next of kin.'We have followed national guidance by consulting with the local authority, London Diocesan Registrar and other local representatives and have received a formal burial notice.'In order to ensure we treat the deceased with dignity and respect, we invited representatives of different faiths to the interment. We received a coroner's order for burial from North London coroner service, signed on May 2 2025.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not respond to a request for comment.
The National
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Scottish Refugee Festival all about creating hope and communities
I don't know what your week has been like but mine has been a dizzying, joyous feast and a heartsore agony of helplessness at one and the same time. In between, the constant struggle to hold back the gaslighting tides of propaganda, lies, and fake news, and always more bodies piling up as a result of Israel's genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. In between, a reaching out to terrified friends and students and colleagues in the illegally occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, in the Palestinian, Iranian and Israeli diaspora all horrified, isolated, and incandescent at the actions of the Israeli government, and the inaction of the UK. Were the international order functioning in any way shape or form, those residing in Gaza would have long since been offered international protection and humanitarian assistance, according to the conventions signed by states. But the international order has been shredded by Israel and the United States, and sadly also the UK, over the last months and is now a gaping, agonised wound into which the salt of helplessness is rubbed every day. READ MORE: Labour blasted as 'deeply authoritarian' over plans to proscribe Palestine Action Israel, with American and now G7 collusion, can bomb who it likes, when it likes, however often it likes, can create mass evacuations on the whim of a social media post, and can bomb hospitals, civilians, schools with utter impunity. Diplomacy is flaccid. Human rights defenders and humanitarians are breaking down in tears unable to take any more. Palestinians in Gaza exist in a state of what the philosopher, Agamben, terms 'bare life' – clinging on to basic existence. Our work has become palliative over these many months. When the internet was cut, to these refugees, our ways of palliating were also removed from us. We were unable to care for those under a mass death sentence. The mass movement of goodwill is basically helpless, angry, grief-stricken, broken and defeated, waiting, indeed, as TS Eliot said, without hope. And yet, someone, also carrying on and a carrier of joy, showing us how we might live and thrive, not so much in hope, but in refusal of despair. Refugee Festival, incorporating World Refugee Day worldwide, offers a space for an extraordinary demonstrate of how we can have life in all its fullness, despite the calculated criminal cruelty. It's not glossy, or expensive, but it is glamorous, defiant, confident and insistently alive. Refugee Festival Scotland this year is celebrating many milestones, from the 40th anniversary of the Scottish Refugee Council to 25 years of the festival itself. Down south, the theme for the Refugee Week is 'community as a superpower'. I've certainly felt as though I've been plugged into the life force by communities coming together this week. Here's a small sample from my festival so far. On Wednesday last week, I was one of the judges awarding prizes in the Refugee Media Awards. It was brilliant to see Hamish Morrison, from The National, receiving an award for his news feature on the experience of racism of a Glasgow resident and the flashbacks. But perhaps even more edifying was the award of the independent journalism, won by refugees who seem to embody superpowers for communities, from the runners up – Tabassum Niamat and Pinar Aksu, Greater Govanhill: 'These Are Our Neighbours': Three Years On From Kenmure Street, What's Changed? – to the worthy winner, Sadia Sikandar, Greater Govanhill: Facing Hatred With Hope – whose exhibition has been on all week at the Gallery Of Modern Art and also at Refuweegee. Tabassum Niamat Sadia SikandarIt's this independent journalism that has bravely ensured accurate reporting and grassroots responses worldwide, against censorship and is paving the way for responsible reporting in Scotland too, as our mainstream and legacy media appear increasingly wobbly when it comes to responsible journalism, with and about refugees. And that was all before Refugee Festival even began, officially. On Friday, the Unesco RIELA team at the University of Glasgow embodied the values of Glasgow as a Unesco Learning City and brought the rituals of the Eritrean Coffee Ceremony to an open circle of around 150 people over the day, introducing the peace-making principle for families and communities who live in the rhythms of this beautiful mode of coffee-making. Glasgow was unveiled as a Unesco Learning City in December 2024 in recognition of outstanding achievements in lifelong learning. The only city in Scotland bestowed this honour to date. The ceremony was a model of life-long learning in the Byres Community Hub at the University of Glasgow – everyone sharing and learning from stories and languages, embodying the principles of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy. In the circle were, it seemed, all the languages, and all the courage, and all the ways of tea and coffee drinking in the world – from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Italy, China, Iraq, Yemen, Germany. From there, smelling of coffee and incense, to the festival launch, with Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart, which saw the opening of Syeda Sadaf Zaidi's Live In Art exhibition of artwork at the Centre for Contemporary Art, a curation of care and compassion, of beauty and possibility with art-work from Ukraine, Iran, Vietnam, Colombia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. READ MORE: Owen Jones: Opposing Israeli violence is 'extremist'? The world's upside down Seeing refugee artists carrying bouquets of flowers, full of appropriate pride in establishing their work, after rupture, was not for the faint hearted and many a tear was shed in gladness and enduring struggle. The commitment from the minister for £500,000 in funding for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) is vital and will contribute to the work of integration for all. ESOL is a superpower in communities and without it, nothing works efficiently or well for those granted protection. Community, as an intercultural superpower, was on display in Wellington Crypt and the New Scots Advisers, those who sit in the New Scots Core Group, with the Scottish Refugee Council, Scottish Government and Cosla partnership, to support the accountability for delivery of the New Scots Refugee Integration Strategy. We were treated to a fashion show, music, mint tea, dates, a BBQ, young and old, from adopted grannies to community gardeners, chefs and so much learning. Everyone bursting to tell about the things of their lives and culture that astonish, delight and bring us together. I sat with a professional woman, with barely any English, living in an English-speaking country because of a mass evacuation was never in her life plan. She was formerly employed in a university, and as we stutter back and forth in the Ukrainian I don't have, and the English she doesn't have, we smile and nod our way to slow understanding. She used the photos on her phone to tell me of her passions, teaching student music, and then she burst into song – her superpower – and goosebumps abounded. "As welfare services struggle to respond to the challenges confronting refugees in terms of housing needs, potential destitution, racial discrimination and health inequalities, it is important to recognise how people might be sustained by mobilising community resources grounded in the arts, theatre, music, dance, food, faith groups, sports, and related activities,' says my colleague Professor Deirdre Ford. 'The path to integration is not easy,' says Doha Tahri, one of the New Scots Advisers. 'With courage and collaboration we can all have the chance to call Scotland home, changing the narrative about what it means to belong.' 'This is what we are wearing today,' says a woman, glittering and hennaed and defiant. 'This is Sudan.' Sudan is, of course, a global catastrophe. It is the world's largest refugee displacement and on the brink of war-induced starvation. But it is also 'this' – a woman who lives on, lives in and lives with communities as superpowers, bringing hers – like a cape – to the glorious mix. No wonder, on his visit to Scotland, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippio Grande 'came back glowing', and seeing Scotland as the antidote to hostility, as the UNHCR representative Lary Bottinick said at the Refugee Media Awards. There is, of course, a raffle. There has to be a raffle. It's a strange one though, as we aren't allowed to buy tickets. So this a New Scots raffle. A Moroccan dress is the prize – green and silver and bejewelled. 'I'll make sure it's your size,' laughs our host, Tahri, mischievously, to all the women. The dignity of hosting, of amending the raffle rules in favour of generosity and absolute inclusion, a way of teaching us in communities that generosity can be our superpower too, and that we can share in it at every milestone and against despair. Alison Phipps is Unesco Chair for Refugee Integration through Education, Languages and Arts at the University of Glasgow
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: His heap of broken images
While the sun beats, the dead tree gives no shelter, and the cricket no relief. The world is a heap of broken images. This evocation from poet TS Eliot's Waste Land can get uncomfortably personal. After all, a substantial chunk of our lives consists of a heap of unfinished fragments. We rarely reach the end of things. Our incomplete endeavours are of many types—a broken New Year resolution, an aborted love affair, or even a thing as banal as the Uber driver cancelling the ride. Here are three of citizen Arjit Roy's many untitled verses that failed to find their end. This evening, the Rohini-based poet scrolls through his mobile phone, showing the poems he couldn't complete due to various reasons, despite his best attempts. (Judgmental readers must be gently told that Arijit has already published a book of completed poems! Brave of him to share his incomplete works, instead of the other way round.) 1. The moon is cut in two equal halves tonight It is cut with such exactness Such quality Such precision That I look at the moon and wonder If a scale was used perhaps So perfect it indeed seems That the mind is forced to ask Was it possible without human touch Or is it so perfect Because of its very absence 2. Why is April The National Poetry Writing Month Is it because No other month had a say Or Nothing is more lovely Than a summer's day But not in India though Then why so Is April given this status? I think it's for the April's fool And just to look a bit more cool For only fools write poetry, that too in English in India And that too for 30 days Surely, these chaps didn't know of life's other ways MBA, Civils, NET, SSC, IIT & GATE Those who aren't really poets, can leave You aren't late 3. O Amaltas tree If I touch your lowest flower Will you also grow into me?
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Wicklow abuse survivor gets closure after clerics acknowledge what happened to him
Jim O'Neill invited members of the Jesuit order to attend his art exhibition A man from Greystones, who was a victim of abuse as a child, has finally been able to feel some sense of closure having completed his Higher National Diploma in Art & Design, at Bray's Institute of Further Education (BIFE). While his abuser is no longer alive, the bold step was taken to invite representatives from the order to the exhibition, where his major piece, 'We Are Forced to Bear Witness', was on display for them to see. The title is taken from a line in TS Eliot's 'Murder in the Cathedral', with its themes of faith, power and sacrifice, which his abuser guided him through for his Leaving Cert.
