High Tea At the Brown Palace Hotel

      "Wear your pearls and diamonds," I cautioned Friend Jo, when we were both invited to tea at the Brown Palace Hotel. I'd forgotten all about my lippy remark until we were seated. She whipped open her jacket. Sure enough, she not only had a string of pearls around her neck, but they were also dotting her sweater! 

      Take a friend who dresses classy...and you can fit in anywhere. 

      The Brown Palace Hotel is a slice of history in oldtime Denver. Molly Brown stayed in its rooms while her famous house, just a few blocks away, was being rented. Mr. Brown, its owner and builder in 1892, built a mansion, as well -- and sold it to Horace and Baby Doe Tabor. (They had already poured their money into the Tabor Theatre not far away.) Augusta Tabor's mansion was across the street; when her son Maxcy began managing the Brown, she moved over to it, instead. Somehow the Brown managed to hang on through Denver's crashes and Depression era. It remains the second-oldest hotel in Denver, Colorado, beat out only by the Oxford, built the year before. 

     The Brown has a vivid haunted history, full of unusual ghosts. But they're pushed aside by politicians and businessman, socialites and lavish fundraisers. Plenty of movers and shakers meet at the various restaurants of the Brown; even the Grand Champion winners at the annual stock show are brought over to the hotel and shown off in their own custom corral, right in the middle of the lobby. 

    Perhaps you'll notice a wandering ghost in a second floor mirror... who knows.

     And if you want to see and be seen, one of the best ways to do it is the Brown's Afternoon Tea. While a pianist or harpist tinkles away, you'll be seated at a lovely table of fresh linen and fancyware, then treated to finger sandwiches, dainty cakes...and of course, tea. It's very relaxing.

   You can order wine and champagne, too. Notice the truffles? The hotel is famous for them.

     Jo and I found ourselves intrigued by the seafood and cucumber sandwiches and some tempting chocolate truffles. (A few of these, along with a tiny gingerbread cake and a chocolate version, were spirited home to the Brick.) Devonshire cream, currant-flecked scones... they all tasted wonderful. A dainty cookie, flecked with lavender, was on the top tier. Jo took one bite -- and set her cookie down. I did, too -- it was like biting into a mouthful of perfume. Ewwww.

     At least the Bordeaux tea washed the taste away. 

     Others have enjoyed the hotel's ambience and genteel atmosphere, including its High Tea. It isn't exactly for the frugal, at $50 each-- but it is a lovely way to treat your favorite person. We were asked as part of a group of ladies, most of whom were extremely well-dressed and very dignified. And within a minute of the tea's conclusion, they spread out and started scavenging the tables for their favorite leftover goodies -- ours included! One white-haired dame shouldered her way past and grabbed all the lavender cookies on our tray.

 Jo and I looked at each other... she was welcome to them. 

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