Escape to the Chateau: Our escape to NYC, the last stop on the "Dare to Do It" tour, (and a bit of "tea time" with Angela!)

The Gulleys meeting up with the Strawbridges at Manhattan's Town Hall

Dick and Angel Strawbridge have "dared to do it" from the beginning of their "Escape to the Chateau" television series, inspiring a league of devoted fans from their native UK to their adopted home in the French countryside, and extending across the pond to Canada and US. We at Barb's Tea Service, members of the latter group, along with some our family, dared to meet up with the Strawbridge's at the last stop of their first North American tour with our own escape to New York City.

Barb and Angel, a shared passion for vintage china and tea parties

As a fan of "Escape to the Chateau" from the beginning of the series, originally on HGTV, now available on Peacock, I would eagerly await each season as Dick and Angel, along with their children and a streamlined team of skilled crafts folk, would lay out a new project to be tackled at their dream home - a 19th century chateau filled with charm, but in desperate need of repairs and modern conveniences. 

The Town Hall stage before the Dare to Do it show (note the faux ferns on either side).

In nine seasons, the Strawbridges provided us first-row seats to their chateau renovation, turning the estate not only into their "forever home" but creating an events venue for weddings and other special occasions. I was especially enamored with Angel's collection of vintage china and her tables set for teatime.  With her background running a vintage tea party service, it's no surprise I felt a deep connection with Angel & co. from the get-go.

I had corresponded with the delightful Chateau team for over a year and when the series ended and Dick and Angel took their story "on the road", finally coming to North America, I was twice blessed:  one, an interview with Angel in January for TeaTime Magazine and two, prime viewing with my family at their New York tour this week.  

Sharing some 'tea time' with Angel 

Chatting with Angel via Zoom in January

The "Dare to Do It" show in New York was especially great for my husband, Chris, and me, as our favorite NY couple, my son, Matt, and his girlfriend, Jenna, were able to join us as well as daughter, and BTS ops manager, Rachel. 

In our prime seats before the show with some of our family.

We thoroughly enjoyed the evening spent with the Strawbridges at the Town Hall in Manhattan. Natural storytellers, aided by a lively slide show, Dick and Angel shared highlights of both their personal and professional lives, sometimes poignant, sometimes cheeky, but always in good humor and with deep appreciation. It felt as familiar and comfortable as many of Angel's vintage treasures - a big group hug shared by those on stage with those in the seats.

Chris (aka "arm candy"), Dick and Barb

Afterwards, we met up with Dick and Angel, feeling as if we were reuniting with old friends. Dick asked Chris if he was the "tagalong" to which my husband replied, "I'm the 'arm candy'".  From then on, that's how Dick, sporting a large grin that couldn't be masked by his grand mustache, referred to Chris.

A warm hug after the show. 

Angel, truly a born hostess, greeted us warmly with literal hugs and we talked about our last chat that made up a good deal of the TeaTime article.  

And, the positive vibes that Dick and Angel send out permeate throughout crowd as though it's more of a family gathering than a hodgepodge of unacquainted guests. We met and became fast friends with Nadine G, chatting at length about our mutual fascination with the Chateau series. She was also the recipient of Angel's generosity and endearingly quirky style. When she found out that Nadine was a resident of the Big Apple, Angel insisted she take one of the show's stage accessories - a large, gold, faux fern, with significant heft. (Truly a cherished conversation piece, it that now resides in Nadine's home. However, it's the tale of getting it into the taxi that is the best example of what happens when Chateau-meets-New York and we're thrilled to have witnessed the whole experience.)

Nadine gifted a faux fern from Angel

Taking the faux fern home in the taxi:  NY meets Chateau

For more information on Dick and Angel and their Chateau journey, see TeaTime Magazine's March/April issue . You can find it in retail stores (Barnes and Noble, Publix, and more!) and also on-line at TeaTime Magazine subscriptions.

Now that we're back from our escape to New York, what's next? I'd say we've added a direct escape to the Chateau in the future.  Thanks to Dick and Angel for taking us with you on your "Dare to Do It' journey, welcoming us into your forever home and a most wonderful evening in Manhattan.