Photo via Samatha Zackowitz
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Samantha Zackowitz
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
Fun fact about me: I’m obsessed with Alice in Wonderland. While I’m fuzzy about whether it stems from the 1951 animated Disney film, which I can remember watching in my mom’s bedroom as a kid, or the 1865 novel by Lewis Carrol, which I remember daydreaming over in class, the whimsical, fictitious world and all its fantastical creatures has always captivated me.
Needless to say, when I started seeing ads online last year for a real-life Alice in Wonderland tea party, I knew I had to go. Nothing could stop me from my chance at tumbling down a real-life rabbit hole for a fête hosted by none other than the Mad Hatter himself! Except, of course, the one thing that did—COVID-19. For more than 365 days, I longingly looked at the jaw-dropping photos of the event, dreaming of the day that I, too, could sit down to tea in an oversized top hat while toasting the dormouse and the March Hare, what with whimsical décor and drinkware all around us.
Last weekend, I finally got my chance, attending Fever’s socially distant Mad Hatter gin tea party with two of my closest friends, Janice and Sam. We went all out for the occasion, dressing up in Wonderland garb, with Jan and Sam playing the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat to my white rabbit (loosely based on Tom Petty’s classic “Don’t Come Around Here No More” video).
For an hour-and-a-half, we were treated to color-changing cocktails, Alice-themed banter and even an impromptu sing-along. Read on below to find if it was everything I dreamed of and more!
Photo via Samantha Zackowitz
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Kiki Soloman
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
Photo via Nicole Briese
The first thing to know about the event is they stick to a very strict schedule. Arrive too early, and you’ll have to wait in line outdoors. Arrive too late, and you’ll be locked out. Considering that I very much identify with the white rabbit, who was perpetually late for a very important date, this was very nearly problematic (bless my friend Janice, who is early to everything and saved us a spot in line).
When they were finally ready to let us in, we were ushered in group by group in order to take care of COVID-precautions—namely, we were subject to a temperature check, which accomplished in seconds by holding our wrists up to a machine.
From there, we were taken behind a black curtain. Now, I had known from a little bit of research (read: Instagram snooping) that the space wouldn’t be quite the showstopper that the Hollywood location used in the ticket photos was, and frankly, I was glad that I did—had I gone in expecting light and airy vaulted ceilings with hundreds of hanging teacups and pots overhead, I would’ve been sorely disappointed. The Chicago space’s décor was charming, to be sure—there were hanging fairy lights, walls of faux greenery with cups placed inside and lighted branches galore—but I would be lying if I said it mirrored the photos I had seen online.
Still, we were ushered to our seats at a darling table set with vintage glassware, quaint floral tablecloths and lovely individual bite-sized treats. The show began with a quick speech—or rather an order—from a voice claiming to be nefarious the Red Queen about COVID safety (no walking about and masks on at all times, unless eating or drinking). Our host for the evening, the Mad Hatter himself, then took the stage to begin what would be an epic monologue, complete with a British accent, riddles, crowd interaction (“Oh HI, candy hat!”) and, of course, an introductory shot of gin to loosen us all up.
Also in attendance? The inquisitive March Hare, who demanded to know why about everything (Why me? Why you? Why a party?) and a keyboard-playing dormouse, who was suited in full general attire.
Back and forth they shouted over one another, turning the audience’s heads left and right. So quick-fire was their banter, in fact, that the prepared snacks, which included a delightful tapenade and a savory a hummus-stuffed pepper, became merely an afterthought.
The drinks, however, were served with plenty of fanfare. From the “Pool of Tears,” which paired color-changing butterfly pea tea with Rabbit Hole gin and was poured from a vintage pot, to the ultra-sweet “Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat” (a delectable mixture of Rabbit Hole gin, John D. Taylor velvet falernum, lime and pineapple juices) that was sprinkled with dehydrated flower petals, each cocktail was expertly crafted to perfection. If only we had had time to enjoy them! Much like the actual tea party from the Disney classic, at the very moment when Alice would put her tea cup to her lips, she was forced to change seats thanks to cries of “Clean cup! Clean cup! Move down, move down, move down!” from her companions.
Mind you, we weren’t actually instructed to change seats (rather, you couldn’t leave them without an escort), but the sentiment was much the same, with waiters and waitresses coming by to pick up your cups seemingly as soon as they’d placed them before you. This, of course, led to some hasty imbibing, and make no mistake—these drinks were strong. By the end of the third and final cocktail, the “Smoking Caterpillar,” (which, for the record, really smoked), I was nice and toasted … and it was also time to leave.
Should you attend?
As someone who loves to chat and socialize (and hasn’t experienced much of either in the last 12 months!), I do wish there’d been an introductory cocktail hour, during which we’d have more time to enjoy these magical concoctions and just converse with our parties before the show began. Between the hatter, the March Hare, the dormouse and the voice of the Cheshire Cat, we hardly got a word in edgewise! It was pretty clear that it was rushed in order to pack as many parties as possible into the day, but honestly, after months of downtime, I get why the company would operate as such—time is money!
As for the actors, the ones who were present were certainly entertaining enough, if a bit hard to understand at times: A rousing rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” as led by the Hatter was a personal favorite, as was the March Hare’s recital of Carrol’s “Jabberwockey” and the dormouse’s own version of “The Walrus and the Carpenter.” I was more disappointed with the ones who didn’t show face—namely, the Red Queen and the Cheshire Cat—who were heard only over the loudspeaker without any explanation for their physical absence.
Still, overall, it was a fun, unique way to spend an afternoon with my friends (and to make a few new ones along the way—shoutout to Ki Ki!!!) that I would absolutely recommend to someone who hadn’t been before. You certainly get your money’s worth as far as the drinks go, and I came out feeling like I had, indeed, fallen down the rabbit hole. What more could you ask for, really? Alas, the Chicago run of this specific party has ended in favor of The Little Mermaid. I strongly suspect it will be making a comeback at some point, however, and when it does, you’ll most definitely want to grab tickets.
What COVID-approved events have you been loving most? Let me know in the comments below! Xo, Nicole
