“My Fair Lady” British-style High Tea
12th annual Taking Tea in Taylorville
Friday,
Dec. 7 & Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007
“My Fair Lady” is the theme of the 11th annual British-style
tea to be presented on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8 by
the Taylorville Tourism Council.
An opulent menu will be served at 11 a.m. both days in the auditorium
of Taylorville Memorial Hospital, 201 E. Pleasant St. Doors will
open at 10:30 a.m. for the traditional promenade, when
tea-goers are invited to stroll among circular tables and view
the elaborate settings up close.
All tables will be set by local hostesses using
their own china, crystal and silver. Fanciful centerpieces reflecting
holiday themes and distinctive tableware, including museum-quality
heirlooms, create a sparkling vista. The arrangements are so elaborate
that even chairs wrapped in tulle and satin add to the pageantry.
At the start of each tea, one attendee will be chosen by random
drawing to reign as
“My Fair Lady” over the event. Each
day’s winner will be “crowned” with a magnificent
hat created for the occasion by local artisan Jane Kutch. Winners
will keep the hats as a memento of tea tune in Taylorville. The
hats will be adorned in ruffles and flourishes that evoke costumes
worn by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in the Oscar-winning
file “My Fair Lady,” the inspiration for this year’s
tea.
The annual vintage style show, narrated by tea
chairman Charry Fines, will feature fashions from Yolande Perkins
Oglesby, a great-granddaughter of Taylorville pioneer Horatio
Vandeveer, who rode the old Eight Judicial Circuit with Abraham
Lincoln. Highlighted by a flapper-style dress, the apparel will
be modeled by local students.
Each guest will be served a sumptuous menu comprised of six sandwiches,
a scone and five desserts, all prepared by celebrity chefs, and
hot raspberry tea. Among delectables will be the “Henry
Higgins Cucumber Sandwich” from Marylee Lasswell of One-East
Market Restaurant and Ann Bandy’s “Get Me to the Church
on Time Wedding Cake.”
Priced at $20 each, tea tickets may be reserved
at Cottage Rose Gifts and Crafts, east side of
the historic Taylorville Square, or call the shop at 217 824 9447.
Ticket price includes a keepsake cookbook.
The tea is a special event of the annual Christmas
Home Tour organized on the same dates by the Taylorville Tourism
Council.
Proceeds from both events will go toward reconstruction of
the 1902 rotunda on the third floor of the Christian County Courthouse
on the Taylorville Square.
For tea and tour information, call 217 824-9447.
Tickets on sale now! $20
