Archive for the ‘Tea Party’ Category
Tea parties are trending. Heres how to host your own – The Globe and Mail
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The Emily Carr-themed afternoon tea currently available at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
This summers most viral entertaining trend is a throwback to an old tradition: tea parties.
These English-style gatherings, complete with requisite finger sandwiches and pots of clotted cream, have been a popular way to entertain since the 19th century. Now, owing to pop culture and social media, theyre making a comeback.
According to Pinterests 2024 summer trend report, searches for high tea food ideas are up 177 per cent year over year on the platform and people looking for inspiration by searching afternoon tea party ideas increased by 165 per cent.
In particular, searches for Bridgerton tea party are up 430 per cent on the platform, indicating that the latest season of the well-loved, Netflix series set vaguely in the Regency era might be driving the entertainment trend.
Theres a lot to love about a tea party. Amanda Gamble, the executive director of the Friends of Fort George, a Niagara-on-the-Lake-based organization that plays host to Jane Austen-themed tea parties, says that tea parties are so popular because theyre social, feature shareable foods, are aesthetically pleasing, provide opportunities to dress up and can transport guests to a different time.
Darcy Hagan, director of weddings and luxury events at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver responsible for organizing the hotels themed afternoon teas says that the Bridgerton effect is real.
Bridgerton and other shows like that are bringing people back to the era when tea parties were very popular, she explains. People are looking for unique opportunities as well, which is why we put a little spin on our afternoon tea and have different themes so people can experience it multiple times.
Right now, for example, the Fairmont is putting on an Emily Carr-themed afternoon tea, inspired by the painters works and the landscapes she loved. Think: B.C. Forest Mushroom tarts and Huckleberry cheesecake.
Here, Hagan and Gamble share their tips for hosting a successful tea party.
Look for references: Gamble always starts planning for a Jane Austen tea party by returning to the source material. There are so many movies out there to give you a visual concept, she says. She also does research into dining customs from that period and emulates them in her own parties. The food at the Jane Austen tea parties is served buffet-style, and Gamble says that big dinners from Austens time wouldve had very symmetrical place settings, which they try to recreate. It looks really nice and period accurate.
Engage all the senses: The best way to create an immersive experience and transport guests is to use all five senses. When the guests arrive, what are they going to see first? What are they going to hear? What about smell? Hagan says, recalling her own tea party checklist. She ensures that theres on-theme background music playing, an eye-catching set-up and she plays with scent by lighting candles that evoke the theme or location shes trying to emulate. For the Emily Carr tea party, Hagan says that the aesthetic leans heavily on west coast naturescapes, so she has a woodsy candle burning to immerse guests in that place.
Get creative with the menu: Tea parties have traditional dishes that are always served finger sandwiches, scones and other pastries are expected fare. But using that menu as a jumping off point and remixing the traditional dishes will ensure that your party is memorable. In the case of the Jane Austen tea party, Gamble says that they use recipes from that period. It gives the event a historic flair, she says.
Even if youre not serving Regency-era recipes, you can still add a twist to the classics. Hagan says that the chefs at the Fairmont riff on the finger sandwich recipes to elevate them. A layer of cream cheese with thinly sliced cucumbers on top of the sandwich, instead of just inside, adds a fun pop of colour, she says.
Presentation goes a long way: What distinguishes a good party from a great party is how everything is presented. Place settings with names and printed menus, for example, are little touches that help tie everything together, says Hagan. Plus, these details are easy to sort out: Hagan says that she finds templates online for her menu printouts.
Serving sandwiches and pastries on a tiered tea stand will also maximize the visual impact of the food. You can find tea stands in thrift stores or online. If you cant find one, Hagan says theyre easy to make at home: you just need a riser that you can put plates on. Having all the food on different levels elevates the whole experience, and its an inexpensive way to improve the presentation, she says. You can also dress up the tea stand with flourishes like edible flowers.
Using unique dishware also elevates the experience. Gamble uses Blue Willow China teacups, which were popular during Austens time, for her tea parties. Its both a practical choice, as well as a visual detail that adds to the events immersion.
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Tea parties are trending. Heres how to host your own - The Globe and Mail
Forsyth County Tea Party, GOP rally for Trump in wake of shooting – Appen Media
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. More than 150 Forsyth County residents lined up along Buford Highway July 14 in support of former President Donald Trump after he was injured in a shooting at a Pennsylvania campaign event the night before.
The Forsyth County Tea Party organized the show of solidarity alongside the county GOP organization less than 24 hours after the shooting, spreading the word through its social media channels and email lists.
Standing in the sunlight on the 95-degree afternoon, the crowd chanted USA, USA, and cheered as dozens of passing cars honked their horns in support. Almost all were garbed in red MAGA hats and Trump-themed T-shirts, waving various flags depicting the former president or emblazoned with his campaign slogans. A small stand sold Trump merchandise at the rally.
Donald Trump supporters line up along Buford Highway in support of the former president a day after the former president was injured in an assassination attempt.
Members of the crowd condemned the shooting, which also killed one bystander a former fire chief and critically wounded two others, according to the Associated Press.
A lot of us in this crowd have probably been to a Trump rally, said Bobby Donnelly, a member of the countys Tea Party. I dont think that many of us would think that were putting our life on the line by standing behind the president and doing something that would probably be one of the most memorable moments of your life. My heart really goes out for them and their families.
County Commissioner Todd Levent, who also attended the rally, said the Saturday shooting may have galvanized support for the former president.
Theres always 5 to 10 percent of the population that is unsure until the last little bit, Levent said. They dont really care about that Republican or Democrat line I think what happened yesterday is going to change a lot of those minds to go, OK, enough, enough, enough.
Vicki Tarver stands with a pro-Donald Trump flag at a rally in support of the former president July 14.
Vicki Tarver, another attendee, agreed that the attack had likely amped up Trumps base of support.
I definitely think this is a pro, but I hate it, Tarver said. I thank the Lord his head was turned away. You know, it could have been a lot different.
Forsyth Countys Democratic Party organization had planned to hold its own event Sunday, celebrating a Biden campaign office opening in the county. The organization postponed the celebration soon after news of the shooting broke.
Two men hold a flag that reads GEORGIA FOR TRUMP during a rally in support of Donald Trump July 14.
We strongly condemn political violence in any form, to anyone, Forsyth Democrats posted on their Facebook page. Part of what makes America the greatest country in the world is the freedom to disagree on public policy and to organize our communities, galvanize support and take those values to the ballot box.
President Biden also condemned the attack following the shooting and again during an address the evening of July 13.
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Forsyth County Tea Party, GOP rally for Trump in wake of shooting - Appen Media