“Spontaneity is the best kind of adventure” ~Anonymous
The best way to experience a new place to eat is when you find it unexpectedly.
Spontaneously.
Such was the happenstance as when my mother and I intended to visit Universal Studios Hollywood but found ourselves at The Raymond 1886 instead.
A grand plan turned into a smaller still grand plan, an enjoyable lunch and finding a neat little place that showcased a bit of Pasadena’s history.
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”
― Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady
Another birthday, another tea party.
For my birthday last year, I wanted to spend another afternoon dressing dapper and attending an afternoon tea. I invited some close friends, my mother and my grandmother, as they hadn’t been to a tea room before and wanted to try it.
I have found that there are several tea room and afternoon tea experiences around Southern California if you use Google to find them. Price ranges and experiences differ depending on the location, obviously; I’d like to venture out and visit all of them.
This time around, I found that The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (near Pasadena, California) has a Tea Room dining experience in their Rose Garden promising “an elegant and memorable experience inspired by the tradition of English tea service with a distinctive California twist”.
I made reservations through OpenTable and started thinking about outfit ideas for the day.
The Beginner's Guide to Adventuring 