THE MANSION AT STRATHMORE -- 10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda (Metro: Grosvenor-Strathmore). 301-581-5108. www.strathmore.org. The mansion at this arts center usually hosts a couple of children's specialty teas each season in its Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Music Room. Upcoming parent-child events, scheduled during Montgomery County public schools' spring break, include a Tween Tea, recommended for children ages 10 to 13, March 29 at 1, featuring traditional fare and Strathmore blend tea, $22 per person; and a Teddy Bear Tea for children ages 4 to 9 and their stuffed animals, March 30 at 1, featuring child-friendly sandwiches, sweets and fruit along with fruit punch, $22 per person. Live musical accompaniment by harpist Jo Morrison on March 29 and pianist Rosalind Breslow on March 30. Reservations must be made by March 25.
MARIETTA HOUSE MUSEUM -- 5626 Bell Station Rd., Glenn Dale. 301-464-5291. www.pgparks.com. Family-friendly teas at this 1813 house museum take place seasonally. A May Day celebration and tea, May 7 at 1, for ages 4 and older, offers scones, desserts and teas served buffet-style. Activities include a maypole dance and May basket crafts. $8 adults, $5 ages 4 to 12. An "Under the Sea" tea Nov. 12 features a "Rainbow Fish" theme.
Brownie Leni Kagan, 9, has tea at Gadsby's. "It's the perfect excuse to . . . be a little princess," says Liz Williams, the museum's assistant director.
(Photos Len Spoden For The Washington Post)
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RETRO TEA ROOM -- 13015 Ninth St. (Route 564), Bowie. 301-262-2274, 301-860-0774 or 877-708-7387. www.retrotea.com. Open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5. This kid-friendly tearoom in the rear of an antiques store offers full English tea. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and lemonade or hot cocoa can be substituted for standard fare. $10.95 per person. The tearoom also hosts private parties for groups of eight or more. Guests can borrow Victorian hats, boas and gloves.
TWINBROOK COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER -- 12920 Twinbrook Pkwy., Rockville (Metro: Twinbrook). 240-314-8830. www.rockvillemd.gov. The center holds its annual Mother's Day princess tea party May 7 from 2 to 4 for girls ages 3 and older and their mothers, grandmothers or aunts. Many youngsters dress in princess attire for the event, which features tea sandwiches and treats served on Disney Princess paper plates, juice or fruit drinks poured from an assortment of china teapots, princess-themed crafts, games and commemorative photos. $10 per person for Rockville residents, $12 per person for nonresidents.
Virginia
GADSBY'S TAVERN MUSEUM -- 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. 703-838-4242. www.gadsbystavern.org. The museum offers private children's birthday tea parties for ages 5 and older in its historic ballroom, featuring dried fruits, ginger and sugar cookies, pound cake and Gadsby's "secret recipe" tea. Parties are Saturday and Sunday afternoons, $150 for 10 children, $12 for each additional, with a maximum number of 75. The museum also holds an annual tea with Martha Washington in February.
GREEN SPRING GARDENS PARK -- 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria. 703-941-7987. www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/gsgp. One to two themed family teas for ages 5 and older, accompanied by parents, take place each season at this garden park's historic house. Each event includes a full tea and accompanying activity, $24 per person. Upcoming events include a May Day tea on May 1, featuring May Day customs including a maypole; and a Harry Potter tea on July 17, planned in conjunction with the release of the latest Harry Potter book and including a lesson on reading tea leaves. Green Spring also hosts private group teas for 20 to 36 people, $25 per person, and Sunday themed teas geared toward adults.
THE PINK BICYCLE TEAROOM -- 303 Commerce St., Occoquan. 703-491-5216. Well-behaved children are welcome at afternoon tea, served Thursday through Sunday (only groups of 10 or more on Sundays) from noon to 5, $18.95 per person. Hours change seasonally. The tearoom also hosts private children's parties of 90 minutes to two hours for 10 to 16 people, geared toward ages 8 and older, featuring a full-afternoon "Princess Autumn" tea, tea etiquette and parlor games, $17.95 per person. Menu substitutions -- such as cookies instead of scones or peanut butter sandwiches instead of finger sandwiches -- can be arranged in advance. The tearoom also holds mother-daughter tea parties for younger children.
THE RITZ-CARLTON, PENTAGON CITY -- 1250 S. Hayes St., Arlington. 703-412-2760. www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/pentagon_city. The hotel features a Winnie the Pooh-themed tea daily 2 to 4:30 in the Lobby Lounge. $16. Regular tea menu choices range from $23 to $35 per person. Themed, seasonal teas include popular teddy-bear teas during the holidays, and two upcoming events, $45 per person. Seatings are at 11 and 2. The schedule includes:
April 24 -- "Mother Goose Tea," featuring performances by Mother Goose characters, a plush toy, commemorative photo, hot chocolate and themed sandwiches and sweets.
May 21 -- "Mother-Daughter Tea," with an etiquette class and discussion of tea history.
THE RITZ-CARLTON, TYSONS CORNER -- 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean. 703-917-5498. www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/tysons_corner. Afternoon tea, daily from noon to 4 in the Lobby Lounge, includes a Peter Rabbit-themed tea for children. $18 per child; regular tea menu choices range from $26 to $38 per person. The hotel also holds private tea parties and themed seasonal teas such as the upcoming "Two Ladies for Tea, My Mother and Me" tea parties Saturdays from 11 to 12:30 in May in the Presidential Suite; adults $65, children $25. The schedule includes:
May 7 -- "Glamour Girls With Saks Fifth Avenue," featuring mother-daughter makeovers, commemorative photos and Saks goody bags.
May 14 -- "Perfectly Polite, an Etiquette Tea," offering tea party etiquette instruction by an expert.
May 21 -- "The Princess Tea," with tiaras, magic wands and mother-daughter stories.
May 28 -- "The Crazy Hat Tea," at which participants wear kooky headwear and have their pictures taken.
SULLY HISTORIC SITE -- 3601 Sully Rd., Chantilly. 703-437-1794. www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/sully. This 1799 house museum sometimes features children's teas among its special events. Reservations may be made after May 16 for the next scheduled tea, a "Garden Tea for Young Ladies," June 5 at 1:30 and 2:30. Girls ages 8 and older should dress in their favorite garden- or nature-themed attire and wear hats for tea in the garden, followed by old-fashioned games led by costumed interpreters, a tour and a sachet craft. $20.
THE VICTORIAN TEA ROOM & BAKERY -- 9413 Battle St., Manassas. 703-393-8327. www.victoriantearoomva.com. Open Monday through Friday 6 to 5, Saturdays 10 to 5. Children's tea, available during business hours, includes an etiquette lesson, favors and a three-tiered presentation of cinnamon scones, tea sandwiches and assorted desserts. $12.95 ages 12 and younger, $17.95 ages 13 and older.
