It's the Great Glass Green Pumpkin! A new New York addition to our collection.

Our new green glass pumpkin arrived from Brooklyn's Urban Glass and it did not disappoint!

Like Linus in Charlie Brown's Halloween classic, we believe in great pumpkins. But, unlike Charlie Brown's best friend, our expectation of a great pumpkin's visit didn't disappoint -  it was real, it was spectacular and it came from Brooklyn's Urban Glass.

This month my husband, Chris, and I,  were in New York for our son and daughter-in-law's wedding and, on our last full day in Brooklyn, enroute from our hotel to the newlywed's home, we passed by Urban Glass. Their retail shop got our attention immediately, but since we were short on time, we decided we'd come back the next day before heading to the airport.

Picture taken from outside the store. Beautiful pumpkins (and more!)

Unfortunately, in our haste, we had failed to look at their posted hours, and, as we returned on Monday, Urban Glass was closed. However, we were hoping we could still be recipients of one of their beautiful glass gourds, so we snapped a few pictures and focused in on the one we wished to add to our ever-growing glass pumpkin menagerie.

Back in Detroit, I sent an email to Urban Glass with the photo and the request for the third pumpkin from the left. Not long after I hit "send", I received a most friendly call from Megan who already had our prized pumpkin set aside. After the requisite contact and payment information, our special delivery was sent and, what seemed like less time than Linus spent waiting in the patch for his great pumpkin, it arrived at our door. 

Our Brooklyn pumpkin resides with other similarly hued glass gourds in our collection.

The great green pumpkin is beautiful and an impressive addition to our collection (see our recent blog story "It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn. .  . Pumpkins in all the colors of the Rainbow"). We're now grouping it with our emerald pumpkin from Newport, RI and our "Monet" special edition from Harbor Springs, MI. I'm quite certain, this will not be the last of our purchases from Urban Glass.

In fact, we learned that Urban Glass, in addition to a wide selection of glass items, offers classes as well. Perhaps a class or two may also be in the future.

Our great pumpkin did not disappoint. In that spirit, we hope, some day, Linus, gets his great pumpkin, too.

In the meantime, Happy Halloween from Barb's Tea Service, and happy carving to those who create with the traditional pumpkins! 

Brooklyn High Low: A charming afternoon tea in New York

Brooklyn High Low offers afternoon tea and a relaxing, vintage ambiance for guests.

Brooklyn High Low has many of my favorite things: afternoon tea, antique furnishings, vintage china and decor, scrumptious desserts and an address that ties to one of the well-known names of the Gilded Age. With such a mix, it's no surprise that I truly enjoyed my visit to the charming tearoom last weekend.

Located on 611 Vanderbilt in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights, guests enter from the bustling New York congestion into a whimsical retreat of plush furnishings and quiet tones - the figurative "comfort food" ambiance that makes one feel relaxed and taken care of.

Celebrating the weekend with afternoon tea!

And, then, there's the literal food to complete the experience, comprised of afternoon tea classics:  sweets, scones and savories. There are several options to choose from for a variety of appetites and occasions (and "extras", like the bundt cake that adds little "something/something" to the festivities).

Brooklyn High Low offers a variety of options for afternoon tea as well as "extras" such as bundt cake.

Our occasion was "wedding weekend". My son and daughter-in-law were married last week in NYC and along with dinners, receptions and ceremonies, afternoon tea was part of the celebration. Matt and Jenna have taken afternoon tea with us many times - including, within the past twelve months, the Palm Court in Manhattan's Plaza Hotel to across the pond at The Prestonfield House, in Edinburgh, Scottland - so they're quite accustomed to this most civilized repast.  The Brooklyn High Low was just the spot for a refined, but laid back, enhancement to the wedding par-tea weekend.

Tray of scones, savories & sandwiches.

The "Classic" is served with the house tea.

We all chose the "Classic" which consists of a bottomless pot of the "house" black tea, eight finger sandwiches (two of each per guest), a baked scone served with jam and clotted cream and, atop the third tier tray, a sampling of sweets.

Vintage serving pieces add to the tablescape.

Our favorites were the scones and the dessert plate. The chocolate mousse was delicious, packing a wallop of flavor in a small shot glass. The macarons were tasty, too - just the right texture. I had a chocolate mint macaron which I will heartily admit, was the best macaron I've ever tasted.

Brookly High Low Manager offered tour of garden room

The service was wonderful and welcoming and, although it was a very busy Saturday afternoon at Brooklyn High Low during our stay, it was managed well and we were able to converse easily in our section of the tearoom.

Brooklyn High Low is filled with antiques and vintage pieces.

What I would try next time:  either an upgrade to our "Classic" or order teas a la carte. Our group of mostly seasoned afternoon tea goers love trying different teas (I'd be on board for their Earl Grey) and, while the house tea was very good, we enjoy sampling ones we don't have as much at home. (I confess, I overlooked that detail when placing our final order).

Also, I may try out the garden section of the tearoom. The manager took me on a small tour, and the back patio space is magical, accented with greenery and lattice walls. It's hard to imagine this tearoom oasis is only a few steps from the crowds and traffic of this Brooklyn neighborhood.

Brooklyn High Low's interiors are in contrast to the busy Brooklyn streets.

In addition, there is another location which I'd like to venture to. The Parlour is in Park Slope, "under the stoop of a Brooklyn Brownstone".

No matter what you're celebrating, Brooklyn High Low, is worth a visit.

For more information, check out their website:  Brooklyn High Low

 

 

It's beginning to look a lot like. . . Autumn: Bringing out the fall decor and pumpkins in all the colors of the rainbow!

Autumn mantlescape featuring traditional colors of the season. . . but there's hues in the pumpkin patch.

 
It's the season of "sweater weather", leaf-peepers and pumpkin spice, and with regard to the latter, we're spicing up our Autumn decor with colorful pumpkins. And, while we love the traditional shades of orange for fall's favorite gourd, we're mixing it up with pumpkins in other hues to suit the pallets throughout our home. The pumpkins, in colors of the rainbow, have arrived!

Green pumpkins match colors of the living room 

In the past, I didn't raise the ante on festive decorations this time of year as, we who live in Michigan know, the season is short. The transition between summer and winter can often be abrupt with 80 degree days quickly followed by frost warnings. But, in its defense, our Mitten state provides one of best, be it brief, fall spectacular shows, imho, in the country. The changing leaves of vibrant reds, yellows and orange are truly awesome and, accompanied by crisp, cool air that pairs perfectly with chai teas and hot chocolate - well, it really is a time that should be celebrated even if it's only a fraction of the many months of our legendary long winters. 

So, in recent years, I've been adding more to this short season's decor, primarily via pumpkins, and primarily pumpkins made of glass.

Mauve pumpkinette is welcomed in the guest room.

I've been collecting glass pumpkins for just over a decade, starting my obsession at a local art fair and continuing the pursuit in art galleries in not-so-far northern and western Michigan all the way to Newport, Rhode Island. As my assemblage of finely crafted faux fall fruit grows, their different shapes, sizes and hues provide even more opportunity to add a bit of seasonal spice to spaces where, perhaps, before no pumpkin dared to go.

Much of summer mantlescape replaced with Autumn decor

After removing the summer "mantlescape", replacing the forsythia with the berry and leaf wreath, I added the complementary orange and gold pumpkins. But, most of my house is not a plain, white back drop, so here's where the fun begins. . .

Our living room has muted shades of green with a sage sofa and soft teal rug. Enter: one emerald pumpkin and one "Monet" pumpkin with colors inspired by the French impressionist. Tres magnifique!

But, one pumkin that really thinks outside the patch, is my pumpkinette from the Glass Academy in Dearborn. Each year they have a special edition color and when I saw mauve hit their website last year, I was smitten. And, yes, it adds a bit of unconventional Autumn whimsey to our guest room where pinks, lavenders and purples are very welcome.

A great season to enjoy nature, cozy sweaters, spice tea and maple leaf cookies. 

Fall is a grand time of year and I now embrace it inside and out. To tweak an old adage, I have learned it is better to light up the season with a rainbow of pumpkins, than to curse its brevity.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Happy Autumn from Barb' Tea Service. Enjoy nature's dramatic scenery, in your favorite cozy sweater, while sipping a delicious chai tea with maple leaf cookies!