Mother's Day Afternoon Tea at the Driehaus Museum

On Saturday, May 12 at 3 p.m., guests are invited to celebrate the special woman in their lives with an afternoon Mother’s Day tea at the Driehaus Museum.

The former Nickerson mansion’s third floor ballroom and adjoining galleries will be transformed into an elegant tea room, showcasing delicate china, aromatic floral, and fine décor.  Guests will be surrounded in the epitome of Gilded Age luxury, as they enjoy a lovely afternoon tea menu and live piano music. To complement the late 19th-century atmosphere, wait staff will be dressed in period styles.

Chef Justin Hall of FIG Catering designed this year’s special occasion menu. An array of fine teas will be accompanied by dainty finger sandwiches, such as cucumber mint and candied bacon with deviled egg. Tea-friendly cheeses, fresh fruit, handmade scones, and an assortment of sweets also will be served on tiered trays.

“During the Gilded Age, many wealthy Americans, such as the Nickersons, adopted the refined tastes and social customs of Victorian-era England,” says Museum director Lise Dubé-Scherr. “The mansion’s third floor, with its elaborate woodwork and period chandeliers from the Driehaus Collection, is truly the perfect setting for recreating one of those practices—the afternoon tea. The Museum first debuted this Gilded Age tradition in 2011, and because it was immediately a favorite among our guests, it has become an annual celebration to honor mothers.” 

Either before or after tea service, which starts promptly at 3 p.m., guests are able to explore the Museum and its fine and decorative arts collection. The event costs $60 per guest. As space is limited, advance reservations are required. Reservations can be made by visiting DriehausMuseum.org or by calling 312 482 8933, ext. 21.

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