Tea Time

Tea Time
'Downton Abbey' event coming back

+ click to enlarge TGN file photo courtesy of Michael Therriault The hardworking volunteers of the Narragansett Historical Society helped make the “Downton Abbey” Tea a success last year. Doneen Durling News Correspondent TEMPLETON  Where can one go to escape the age of the ipod and the headsets and communicate genteelly over tea and savories while dressing in costumes reminiscent of days gone by? Templeton. The Narragansett Historical Society will hold a Downton Abbey Picnic in the garden of its building on the common on the afternoon of Saturday June 25. Participants will be served tea, virgin mojitos or lemonade and savories to nibble as Stephen Babineau and fellow musicians on piano, sax, trumpet and drums will appeal to the upper crust by filling the air with music from the Jazz Age to set the mood. Though period dress is optional, Historical Society member Kerry Bettez said that last year everyone participated fully, and it was such a great event, the Historical Society decided they wanted to do it all over again. Bettez said that last year’s event was both picturesque and innovative. Downton Abbey Revisited will be held in the garden of the Narragansett Historical Society, 1 Boynton St., Templeton Center, on the Common, on Saturday, June 25, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. If they didn’t own something, people created costumes from items found at a local consignment store, mixing and matching vintage dresses with feathers and tons of beads. “Some people just went up into their attics and found things that they could put together,” she said. Bettez plays Mrs. Patmore, the Downton Abbey friend-to-all who is in charge of the kitchen. “I’m the one with the rolling pin — the one who rules the kitchen from below stairs,” she said. Bettez said she gets to wear a fancy apron and has to frizz her bangs just right for her cap. “I will have to get red nonpermanent hair dye. The things I do for this!” she declared with a laugh. Bettez gave advice on how to dress for the tea. “The women that played flappers last year, some went to the consignment shops and got slinky cocktail dresses. The girls in the 1920s wore them above the knee. Everyone figured how to put bands around their heads and they stuck a little feather in there. There were lots and lots of beads. They also created finger waves in their hair.” Bettez said the downstairs crew is getting help from Amy Guthrie who is sewing up a lot of accessories for the costumes. Men will wear dark formal suits, and those waiting or answering the door will wear bow ties. Bettez said it took a little imagination. She said though there were no dresses as extravagant as the ones seen on Downton Abbey, the results when everybody dressed up last year were spectacular. There will be many things to occupy guests at the tea. There will be games of croquet, badminton and bocce. The afternoon promises to be filled with food, music, surprises and fun. It is a day to leave instant messages at home, and come and enjoy using a little imagination for a lot of fun on a warm summer day. Teas have a rich history at the Historical Society, and have been served there since 1937. Downton Abbey Revisited will be held in the garden of the Narragansett Historical Society, 1 Boynton St., Templeton Center, on the Common, on Saturday, June 25, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. A rain date has been scheduled for Sunday, June 26. A suggested donation; adults $10, and children $5. Visitors will be welcome to tour the Historical Society building and learn a bit of Templeton’s rich history. For more information, go to narragansetthistoricalsociety.org, or visit them on Facebook.