Tea

A star turn performance and exquisite production values make "Tea at Five" a sure-fire hit at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. Stephanie Zimbalist, known for her 94-episode run as Laura Holt on the "Remington Steele" television series, brings to life legendary Oscar-winner Katharine Hepburn with an uncanny air in this single actor bio-play. Of course the physical likeness and Hepburn's trademark vocal quality and inflections are on display, but Zimbalist's power lies in her ability to fully inhabit Hepburn's devil-may-care personality.

With every sip each tea connoisseur took, the condition of a person's health improved in the Dominican Republic. Last Saturday, members of Project Angel Club of Crescenta Valley High School hosted their annual charity tea to benefit citizens of the Dominican Republic and the Elizabeth House that is centered in Pasadena. The event was attended by more than 60 people and included tea, pastries and a silent auction of 20 gift baskets generously donated by local businesses and community members.

I met them in the Officers' Club. Although, because of its state of disrepair, it could hardly be called a club; the week prior it had taken a hit from a wayward rocket meant for the airfield. My shyness did not keep our distant but similar worlds apart. I was immediately attracted to their boisterous gregariousness and broad smiles. They were rogue warriors, SAS (Strategic Air Service) from Australia, and were considered to be the best of the best. The Viet Cong called them Ma Rung , (phantoms of the jungle)

Although I’m a confirmed coffee addict, there’s nothing better than a steaming hot mug of tea on a cold winter night. Blame my great grandmother from Leeds, England, I suppose. Nevertheless, I will join many hundreds of thousands of my fellow Americans next week in mailing perfectly good bags of tea to Washington, D.C. By now you’ve probably received one of many versions of an e-mail appeal to join the upcoming TEA (Taxed Enough Already) parties scheduled for noon, April 15 at city halls across America.

Favorite Place restaurant is a kind of wonderful enigma. Is it an elegant tea room or is it a quaint lunch place? Is it a spot for finger food or hearty sandwiches? The answer is, it is both. Plus, it is completely unique. Favorite Place, nestled among little storefronts down a side street off Brand Boulevard in downtown Glendale, has been a not-so-secret secret to customers for years. Signs in the window boast multiple Best of Glendale awards, mainly for Most Romantic Restaurant.

Several local girl scouts have been chosen to participate in the elite Girl Scout travel troop that will be going to Savannah, Georgia next summer. Six La Crescenta girls from the Girl Scouts-Mt. Wilson Vista Council are already planning their travel itinerary. The travel troop selection process, which began last fall, included written application and personal interviews. The girls were selected on the basis of their experience in and commitment to Girl Scouting. The six girls are Samantha Boller , Kelly Brundige, Dana Chernich, Claire Cutler, Kaitlyn Ireland, and Rebecca Tjoelker.

PROJECT ANGEL CLUB TEA RAISES $3,000 The Project Angel Club raised $3,000 during a fundraising tea on Feb. 25 at the T Room, a tea house in Montrose, which will open next week. Co-presidents Hannah Wilson and Gohar Kotcharian started the club at Crescenta Valley High School to help those in the Dominican Republic as well as other charities. The club raises funds for the Health Care Promoter Program of the Dominican Republic. This program trains indigenous women in the basics of public health.

Drive-thru flu shots tomorrow      Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center is offering free flu shots to people 60 and older at their annual Drive-Thru Flu Clinic tomorrow, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. while supplies last. The event will be held in the Glendale Memorial parking structure on Laurel Avenue across from the main entrance of the hospital (1420 S. Central Ave.). No reservations are necessary. People can get their flu shot without leaving their vehicle, as Glendale Memorial medical professionals provide car-side service.

A pair of moccasins against a backdrop of tea-stained paper caught the eye of parents and guests Wednesday evening during an exhibit of Native American artwork created by eighth-graders at Toll Middle School. Student Erlinda Kirakosyan painted the picture after studying the Kiowa tribe. ?The beading is made out of acrylic paint and I had to do the beads one by one with a toothpick,? she said. ?I dyed the paper in the background with Lipton tea to make it look like buckskin.

Favorite Place restaurant is a kind of wonderful enigma. Is it an elegant tea room or is it a quaint lunch place? Is it a spot for finger food or hearty sandwiches? The answer is, it is both. Plus, it is completely unique. Favorite Place, nestled among little storefronts down a side street off Brand Boulevard in downtown Glendale, has been a not-so-secret secret to customers for years. Signs in the window boast multiple Best of Glendale awards, mainly for Most Romantic Restaurant.

Members and guests of the Cabrini Literary Guild sure know how to kick off their year in style. On Thursday some sixty supporters enjoyed their annual membership tea in the sumptuous La Cañada home of Patty and Mike Szot. President Mary Andrade greeted early arrivals. Dipping into tea sandwiches, fruit and dessert was the first order of business. Member Marie Urrutia put her catering skills to use when she arose at 5 a.m. to create the feast. The Szot's shaded patio provided relief from the day's heat.

A local tea party group flocked to a Northridge Chick-fil-A Wednesday morning as part of "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day," a nationwide effort to show support for the fast-food chain recently criticized over its chief executive's comments on gay marriage. More than a dozen people stood outside the Northridge Chick-fil-A on Wednesday morning, waving American flags and holding signs that read, "Free to speak, to build, to boycott. " The event was organized by the San Fernando Valley Patriots, a local arm of the tea party.

The Queen of England has nothing on Glendale's Assistance League. The League created high tea in its Chapter House on April 17. Members and guests, all looking like very queenly, were encouraged to wear hats to tea. All that was missing were the white gloves and fascinators. Event Chairman Mary McVay royally conducted her Tea Committee to put on one of the League's most popular events of the year, the Queen's Jubilee Tea. Other event chairmen were Mary Lo Follett, in charge of reservations; Anne Wilson, who as treasurer, handled the $20 admission fees; Sylvia Kowal crafted the place card calligraphy; Sally Benson made the 22 centerpieces of spring flowers and Margaret Hammond (chapeau and all)

Almost 100 years ago, in October of 1912, a group of local women led by Elizabeth Knight founded the La Cañada Thursday Club. In the interest of full disclosure, I am a proud past president of the Thursday Club and am enjoying with the other members the celebration of this centennial year. The club has evolved into a social, cultural and philanthropic organization that has had a great impact on the local community. Over the years, the club has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to local high school students, provided care packages to members of the military service, and given financial support to numerous local charities.

In Beirut there is a manaish restaurant about every fourth apartment building, says Shaunt Adessian, chef and owner of Shanto’s Bakery. Lebanese residents have these savory flatbreads pretty much every morning. I can see why. After trying Shanto’s various offerings, I’m totally hooked. I am now on a mission to try each and every manaish and wrap. I’ve tried 10 so far. Told you I love this place. The secret to their beguiling appeal is in the oven. Shaunt brought his iron, spindly legged contraption over from Lebanon.

The 53rd annual Hoover Tour of Homes is Saturday. See four Glendale homes beautifully decorated by local florists. Included in the tour are a complimentary tea, bake sale and performances by Hoover music groups. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at Hoover High and local merchants. Tickets will be available the day of the tour at each home for $25. Hoover's December PTSA meeting will be 7 p.m. Dec. 13, in room 12101. Enjoy a potluck meal, a holiday celebration and free raffle.

A star turn performance and exquisite production values make "Tea at Five" a sure-fire hit at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank. Stephanie Zimbalist, known for her 94-episode run as Laura Holt on the "Remington Steele" television series, brings to life legendary Oscar-winner Katharine Hepburn with an uncanny air in this single actor bio-play. Of course the physical likeness and Hepburn's trademark vocal quality and inflections are on display, but Zimbalist's power lies in her ability to fully inhabit Hepburn's devil-may-care personality.

The myth is that lemmings are mindless creatures that jump off cliffs to their deaths because they are, ironically, rodent copy-cats, each following the being in front of them even to their own demise. But that’s not exactly true. Scientists tell us that many Republicans and virtually all “tea party” followers probably have the same follow-the-spin, mindless propensity that biologists used to think caused the lemmings to march to their own ends. Turns out, lemmings self-thinned their own herds when their groups became overpopulated.