weekend adventure: Over the Teacup

First, on Friday afternoon, before the weekend even properly started, Greg’s room flooded, due to summer thunderstorms, and now smells like mildew (don’t worry, he lives off campus in a basement — Messiah’s dormitory rooms do not flood!) and. . . well, wet, dank basement.

Greg was understandably distressed.

To remedy the happenings of Friday (or at least make ourselves feel better), we settled on a good old-fashioned dress-up date to a tea house, one Over the Teacup in Camp Hill, Pa. (behind the Colonial Mall).

You should go.

We had so much fun! When we came in, one of the proprietors greeted us and led us to a table with a welcome note with our names on it. Next to us were three teenage girls in sundresses having what looked like their first formal tea party (my first, too). And across from us were four elderly patrons and a young married woman enjoying one in a long series of life-long Tea Excursions (worthy of capital letters).

One of the elderly patrons, the only male in the party, was truly hilarious. “The good thing about Alzheimer’s,” he said at one point, “is that you get to meet new people every day.” Clearly he had not passed his romancing days, either, because he told the young married woman with them that if she ever wanted to get away for a weekend, she should call him. She just laughed.

The tea was great, the atmosphere fun (in a very quirky way), the finger sandwiches very good, and they served a chilled strawberry soup that is now on my list of things to absolutely learn how to make at home. Oh, and scones! And tiny little pastry desserts. Mmmmm.

I’ve never done a formal “high tea” before, but I am now convinced that multiple forks and spoons always lead to a good time.

And then we went to the mall and I found the most Divine Shoes (and I never rave about shoes and I never really like shopping for shoes). This leads me to a tangent about how fantastic it is to have a fiance who doesn’t mind shopping with me and who loves drinking tea, and the whole ritualized high tea experience.

And on Sunday, to top off the adventure, we celebrated the wedding of two friends (to each other). A good time was had by all. Much dancing happened, including the bride and groom swing dancing so energetically that the bride’s train came un-bustled, and she continued to dance through throws and twirls and also in high heels (I have never been so impressed in my life).

And then today a pipe in Greg’s laundry room is leaking profusely. I hope the landlord fixes it ASAP, before there is a man-made flood in his room.

Conclusion: Go to Over the Teacup. Or A Perfect Blend in Lititz, Pa. (I’ve never been, but that’s apparently Greg’s favorite). And while you’re at Messiah, look for some unexpected out-of-the-way weekend adventures. It just may be delicious and well worth your while. . . .

Filed under general |