Afternoon tea just got a lot BIGGER. The enormous floral centerpiece at the Drake Hotel is the most photographed of its kind, at least according to staff there. Now, Chicagoans can get a chance to see the massive creation put together in person by Kevin J. Herman, head designer at Mangel Florist, located just steps from the Drake's famous lobby.I got a chance to sit in on the demonstration for the first time, and to be honest, I was thinking it might be a little bit dry. But watching Kevin start with a vase full of 30 gallons of water and turn it into a beautiful blast of color was surprisingly thrilling. It's like watching an artist paint on a blank canvas. It starts out extraordinarily dull, but ends iconic.
If you are any kind of afficianado of greenery, it's well worth the hour of your time. The Drake had about 15 people show up today, but they're hoping positive word of mouth spreads. It costs $35 and features tea and sandwiches in their Palm Court afterwards. If you'd like to book a reservation, contact the Drake's special events manager Shaun Rajah at 312.932.4619.
