Thanks to Berkeley mom Lisa Fontaine for contributing her holiday tea traditions today.
Over the years, our family has built many traditions around the holiday season. We like to chop down our own tree, walk down Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda, visit Santa and his reindeer at the carousel in Tilden park, and make a trip into the city to skate on the outdoor rink at Embarcadero Center.
Our feet at the skate rink
Perhaps, my favorite tradition for the past 5 years has been a holiday tea party at Crown and Crumpet. My daughter and I make it a special “girl date” activity and ditch my husband and twin-four-year-old boys at home for an afternoon of sweets, sparkles and all around girliness. We invite her three oldest girlfriends and their moms (who also happen to be my close friends), we dress up in our holiday best and head into the city for an afternoon of indulgence.
Our holiday best and besties
It is best to make a reservation for the holiday season a month or two in advance. My boys are on the cusp of scoring an invite to the tea party this year, as their table manners have improved quite a bit from last year, but I think it might be in our best interest to wait just one more. This gives me time to add a little gingham and some bow ties into their wardrobe.
Our favorite tea spots
Crown and Crumpet
1746 Post St
San Francisco, CA 94115
415-771-4252
Website >
Lovejoy’s Tea Room
1351 Church St.
San Francisco, CA 94114
415-648-5895
Website >
Our other holiday favorites
- Christmas Tree Lane in Alameda
- Christmas Fantasy @ Tilden Carousel
- Embarcadero Center Holiday Ice Rink
[All photos by Lisa Fontaine. All rights reserved]
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