2026 Jane Austen Tea Social

abigailmilton
1 day ago
2 min read

Jan. 4 2026 • South Pasadena Masonic Lodge

This treasured annual event, celebrating the music and dances of Jane Austen's era, transported us to the Meryton Assembly. Fortunately, there were no supercilious Caroline Bingleys to be found—only old friends, new friends, and kindred spirits sharing the joy of dance.

🎀 A Wonderful Afternoon Together

While costumes are never required, many guests embraced the spirit of the afternoon by arriving in beautiful Regency attire. Our lively program of dances, inspired by those Jane Austen herself may have enjoyed, kept us all happily on our toes. To round out the festivities, guests had the opportunity to enter a drawing for a charming Jane Austen-themed gift basket, generously provided by Katy Muzikar.

🦋 Dancing & Merriment

🫖 Tea Time

No HTDS Tea Social would be complete without our signature Tea Time! Guests gathered to enjoy a generous spread of delightful savory and sweet offerings while sharing conversation with old and new friends. The menu featured a fresh spring salad, curried pea soup, an assortment of tea sandwiches, blueberry scones, assorted cookies, and decadent chocolate brownies ~~ all accompanied, of course, by a comforting cup of tea.

❤️ The People Who Made the Day Possible

Waltz Class Instruction

Renée Camus graciously organized and lead our pre-event Regency Waltz class! Her elegance and artistry made the Regency era come alive, and gave us skills to build on for ever more delightful dancing with friends!

Caller and Program Director

Our resident Jane Austen-era dance historian, Cara King, selected and called a thoughtfully varied program of beautiful and lively dances from Austen's time. We are deeply grateful for the care, expertise, and enthusiasm she brings each year, creating an afternoon filled with elegance, laughter, and the joy of dancing together.

Musicians

Chip Prince, Laura Osborn, Linda Kodaira

Virtuosos Chip Prince, Laura Osborne, and Linda Kodaira delighted us with their vibrant and elegant music. Their artistry and infectious energy filled every dance, making it a true pleasure to dance the afternoon away.

Helpers and Volunteers

Front desk check-in:

Melissa Crandall Greenberg

Day-of Sound Set Up

Chris Yoder - thanks for stepping up last-minute!!

Gift Basket - prepared and donated by:

Katy Muzikar

Volunteer Photographers:

Leana Wolfe

Stephanie Yuhas

Event set-up and tear down activities:

Deborah Norden

Lindsay Verbil

Harry Middleton

Josie Tidwell

Larry Tannenbaum

Stephanie Yuhas

John Chapman

Christopher Francis

Rachel Davidson

Tea Time Volunteers

Darlene Hamilton ~ Curried Pea Soup

Randi Hetrick ~ Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches

Renée Turner ~ Chicken Salad Tea Sandwiches

Reed Wilson ~ Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Laura Bartak ~ Beef & Watercress Tea Sandwiches

Prep, Set-up, & Serving: Katy Muzikar, Yuri, Josie Tidwell

Clean-up: Yuri (bulk of cleanup - THANK YOU VERY MUCH!)

❤️ And to everyone who attended...

Every smile, every dance, every conversation, and every helping hand contributed to making this a wonderful afternoon. Thank you for being part of our HTDS community.