Tea Party On, Dudes!

I can’t resist a tea party. Unfortunately, I’ll HAVE to miss this one, as I’m going to be out of town. Still, the least I can do is post it (even though it goes against my “I’m not event blogging anymore” self-imposed rule; still nobody asked me to do it, so at the risk of annoying those who do ask and don’t get, here it is just because it’s my blog and I feel like it).

Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Sunday, Oct. 17

The Craft Council of BC invites you to The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Hycroft, a not-to-be-missed party and a fundraiser for the Council.

The Craft Council is a province wide organization which supports fine craft and the B.C. artists who practice it in its many manifestations. Like most arts organizations, the Craft Council is facing a budget shortfall due to funding cuts, and is hoping to bridge the gap with this special event.

Sunday, October 17, from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m., we are offering afternoon tea, vintage fashions, fine craft, and possibly even croquet – depending on the weather gods! There will be tea leaf reading, prizes, and surprises. The Signature Afternoon Tea will be presented by The Urban Tea Merchant.

We invite you to put on your maddest hat, bring your friends and family and join us for a fun filled afternoon. Tickets are $50 and may be ordered online through the Craft Council web site, or at Crafthouse on Granville Island.

I was at the Urban Tea Merchant today (20 minutes late, as usual) and it was terrific. They have a special between noon and two where the regular small tea service is half price, and you should just go and get it. It’s easily big enough for lunch unless you’re a lumberjack: three finger sandwiches (the salmon is phenomenal), a scone with Devonshire cream and jam, and four petits-fours or pastries of different kinds, including one quite knockout coffee square. The staff could be a little snappier with the ice water, but they are nice and it’s a beautiful room tucked away in downtown. I know everyone says something is “tucked away” when it’s smack dab in the middle of a darn food court or something, but this really is tucked away, since you go into a very nice-looking tea shop with some blinged-out tea accessories and designer decorative items like a standing lamp shaped like a palm tree, and then you take a left at the pastry case and go up a ramp and around a corner and there’s this perfect little tea room, with white linens and floor to ceiling windows and a waterfall made of teapots and all (boys, please get some real napkins; you’re not Paper Napkin People, are you now?).

It must also be said that I am a huge fan of hats, and that I adore Hycroft and when I make my money it’ll be very difficult for me to decide where to live: Deadman’s Island or Hycroft. I may just buy both, just in case I’m caught uptown in the rain or something. Best to be safe, eh?