Weekend Musings

Weekends roll around so quickly.  Seems I just wrote about Mother's Day weekend, and now it's time to share happenings from last weekend. 

As always my Saturdays are spent at The Whitney.  Last Saturday I served 111 guests spread out over the 11:00 a.m. Mansion Tea seating, a 12:00 o'clock Bridal Shower Tea, and a second 1:30 p.m. Mansion Tea seating.  I clocked out 10 minutes shy of an eight hour day, and when I went to my car in the employees parking lot I noticed someone had grazed the front bumper without having the courtesy to tell me.  Fortunately it's not a new car, and the damage didn't impair its usage, so I chalked it up to a non life-altering [trivial] disappointment.  I have to brag on my hubby because he did a great job repairing the mishap.

What would we ever do without our hubbies?

I belong to a J.L. Hudson's Department Store Facebook group [15.9K members] so after I did my Hudson's presentation at Independence Village [a couple of blog posts back], I decided to share some of the Hudson's presentation photos with the Facebook group.  It was received with a fairly good response - 439 likes/loves, 92 comments and 14 shares, but most of the people in the group are lurkers like me.  

There are several connections between J.L. Hudson and David Whitney, Jr. [former owner of the mansion that is now the upscale restaurant where I'm Tea Director], the most significant connection is that David Whitney, Jr. loaned J.L. Hudson $242,000 [the equivalent to $6,967,416.74 in today's dollars] in 1889 to purchase the property and build his new 8-story department store [which was phase 1 of the mammoth building].  That got me thinking how fun it would be to host a Hudson's themed tea at The Whitney and honor both men, along with Detroit's iconic department store. I asked the Facebook group if they would have an interest in such an event.  Oh.  My. Goodness.  The response was overwhelming!  Over 1K likes/loves; 607 comments, and 90 shares.  Hudson's legacy is alive and well!  Now to get the wheels turning to make it a reality.

One lady who lives in Brighton [about 44 miles from my house] messaged me that she had a mink boa/wrap from Hudson's that belonged to her husband's grandmother.  She said she'd like to give it to me for my Hudson's collection of what ladies would have worn when they dined at Hudson's. She was even willing to deliver it to me.  We set the time for Sunday afternoon around 1:00 o'clock. She said she'd just leave it on the porch, but I wanted to meet her and invite her in for tea.  So I made some cream puff shells to fill with ice cream and top them with Sanders hot fudge sauce [an item that was served on Hudson's menus].

Cindy was absolutely delightful and we sat around the table and talked for a couple of hours, as if we had known each other for years.  Below is the mink boa/wrap she gave me from Hudson's fur salon on the sixth floor, still bearing Hudson's label. 

I had just recently purchased a Hudson's ladies 2-pc wool suit from Poshmark.  The seller said it was probably from the 1940's or early 1950's.  I have a dress form that I thought would be fun to display it on during my Hudson's presentations.

The suit is wrinkled from the box it was shipped in, and because it was stored in mothballs I didn't want the hot iron to make the smell permanent.  I will have it dry cleaned.  I'm so happy to have it.

The mink and suit go together perfectly and are so classy just like Hudson's Department Store!

 

So that's my weekend.  Hope you enjoyed yours!  Another Hudson's post coming in a day or two.

Mother's Day Weekend

The technical problems between my iPhone and AOL aren't resolved yet, but my hubby and I figured out another way to download my photos until the problem is fixed.  It's probably a simple setting, but since I'm technically challenged I have to rely on the experts to fix it. 

Last Saturday was the Generations Tea at The Whitney, honoring all mothers.  It was too busy to take pictures once the guests began arriving, but I did take some before.

~ The Drawing Room ~

It was a prepaid event and we set up for 63 guests, using all the dining rooms on the first floor of the mansion except Mr. Whitney's study - the Receiving Room, the Drawing Room, the Library, the Music Room and the Formal Dining Room.

When I got home from work, my daughter and son-in-law came over and brought dinner from our favorite Mexican restaurant, El Charros.  Even though it was carry-out, I set the dining room table with my Spanish/Mexican style dishes.

I had to get a picture with my first-born who made me a mother way back in 1967.  She's brought joy to me from the moment they laid her in my arms up to this present day.

After eating and visiting, we went out to the front porch where she and Dave planted geraniums in the planter.  It was my Mother's Day gift from them.  Lori loves gardening and gets her green thumb from my mother, not me.

They also transferred a hanging basket arrangement to another planter on the front porch.

A couple of weeks before Mother's Day my son, Steve, texted a Mother's Day take-out menu for five from Penna's Italian Restaurant that he was bringing over on Mother's Day.  I could easily get used to having meals brought in!  ;-)

Steve called on Sunday morning and said our daughter-in-law, Sharon, and granddaughter, Brooke, were both sick [from their second COVID shot], so they were staying home in bed. Our count went from five down to three, but we had a nice visit with Steve.  Penna's food can't be beat.

This time I set the table with Italian-themed dishes.

~ We began with Stracciatella Soup and Focaccia Bread ~

~ Then Michigan Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette ~

Then all the other yummy foods - Chicken Piccante, Ricotta Herb Mashed Potatoes, Lasagna, Italian Sausage with Peppers & Onions, and Green Beans.  There was plenty to take home to Sharon and Brooke afterwards.  For dessert he brought Cannolis from a bakery.

While this would have been more than enough, they also gave me a book and a Visa gift card.

Jeremy called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day and we will be visiting him and his family soon.  

Many moons ago [at least 25 years] my hubby bought me a classic Schwinn Cruiser for Christmas.  I loved it because it didn't have any gears to throw myself over the handlebars. It was just a good old-fashioned pedal bike for outdoor exercise.  I rode it diligently for several years, and then it was relegated to the basement where it became out of sight, out of mind.

This Mother's Day he surprised me by having it refurbished at the Schwinn Shop.  Now I'm ready to ride again!  The guy at the bike shop said to hang onto it because they don't make them like this anymore.

It was a wonderful Mother's Day and I am very blessed.

We didn't see granddaughter, Tiffany, for Mother's Day but I'm sharing two pictures she posted with her sweet little girls.  Evie will turn four years old later this month.

~ John, Tiffany, Evelyn [Evie] and Juliette ~

For all mother's reading this post, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!  If you're not a mother I hope you enjoyed reflecting on memories of your mother.

Technical Difficulties

A problem that began yesterday is preventing me from sending pictures from my iPhone to my e-mail [which is how I download pics for my blog].  All Apple stores in Michigan are closed right now due to the resurgence of COVID in our state, so until I can get some technical support to resolve the problem, you won't be seeing any blog posts.

I'm so frustrated because I have a lot photos to blog about from this past weekend.  Hopefully I'll be able to resume posting with pictures soon.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Detroit's Iconic J.L. Hudson's Store

Yesterday, my hubby and I drove to Plymouth, MI to do a presentation about J.L. Hudson's Department Store, at Independence Village.  Jerry goes with me when I do a Hudson's presentation to help carry and set-up all the memorabilia and beautiful oak display case he made.

The presentation was at 2:00 p.m. but we got there around noon so we'd have plenty of time to set up.  I ordered a tee shirt with Hudson's logo in their signature green color from Bygone Retro Tees [an online source] to wear for the presentation, and it got a lot of comments.  It added to the nostalgia. 

The dining room tables were set up with white linen tablecloths, fresh flowers, and fine bone china teacups and teapots.  I was told over 40 residents signed up to attend.  Most of the attendees were women, but two brave men came.  This is the age group that fondly remembers and appreciated the department store.

One of the men who attended, and he was a good sport too!

Four of the attendees were former Hudson's employees - one was a store detective, another was a model, and two were sales associates.

As I spoke, Hudson's signature Maurice Salad, along with a cup of Canadian Cheese Soup [also a Hudson's menu item] was served to the attendees, along with Earl Grey tea.

It's a lengthy program [45 minutes] divided into three segments: [1] Hudson's eateries.  I begin with them because they're what spurred my Hudson's research.  After the store's expansion in 1928 there were five major eateries in the store: three formal dining rooms on the 13th floor - the Georgian Dining Room, the Early American Dining Room and the Pine Room, which later became the Beef Emporium.  In 1958 the Georgian and Early American Dining rooms were combined to create the new Riverview Dining Room.

There was also the 2nd Basement Tearoom and the Mezzanine Tearoom.  The basement tearoom transitioned to a cafeteria-style dining room in 1947 and became known as the Breadstick Cafeteria.  Near the Mezzanine tearoom was a Mezzanine Soda Fountain.

The Employee's Cafeteria was on the 14th floor, and there were also quick service areas - snack bars, sandwich cart, and the Pantry Shop with delicatessen items.  You would never go hungry while shopping in Hudson's!

What women might have worn when they dined at Hudson's

The second segment is about the store's founder - Joseph Lowthian Hudson.  His life was exemplary.  Now that I work at The Whitney I especially appreciate the connections between J.L. Hudson and David Whitney, Jr.

The last segment is about the store itself.  As I shared the many aspects of Hudson's extraordinary customer service, I couldn't help recognizing how far the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction today.  Now there's next to no customer service at any store.

[Debbie Hall, Executive Director at Independence Village]

At the conclusion of the program, several came to me to share their meaningful recollections of Hudson's, but one memory particularly stood out.  A lady named, Carolyn, showed me her wedding photo and the story behind her wedding dress. 

In the spring of 1957 Seventeen Magazine [a magazine for teenage girls] featured a picture of a model wearing a beautiful ballerina-length wedding gown. Carolyn said it was actually an add for Kotex products, but the magazine received so many letters from girls wanting to know who the designer was or how they could obtain a pattern.  Carolyn fell in love with the gown and set her heart on it, and was one of the girls who wrote to Seventeen Magazine.  Hearst Publishing reached out to Hudson's Department Store for assistance.  Hudson's worked with McCall's pattern company, and a pattern was developed.  Then Hudson's devoted a section in their sewing/fabric center with a display of the fabric, lace, pattern and everything else needed to make the gown could be found and purchased.

Carolyn said they lived about three hours away from downtown Detroit, but she and her mother [who was a professional seamstress] made the drive to obtain everything needed for the gown so she could wear it at her June 21st, 1958 wedding.  She said the McCalls pattern got lost over the years, but her gown still exists, lovingly tucked away in a Hudson's suit/coat box like I had on display.  I loved her story and thanked her for sharing it with me.

As I was packing up my things to leave, another resident came in with a large numbered, signed, and framed photo of J.L. Hudson's she and her husband purchased several years ago. When they moved to Independence Village, none of their children wanted it and she wanted it to go to someone who would value it, so she gave it to me.  Thanks so much Mary & James!

Thanks to all the staff who helped make it a special afternoon for the residents!

And special thanks to my hubby for giving up most of his day to transport me and all my memorabilia, help set it up and take it down, and be my official photographer, and anything else I needed but forgot to mention.  I couldn't have done the presentation without him.  

If you look directly behind and to the left of me, there's a photo of J.L. Hudson's department store that hangs on the wall in the dining room at Independence Village.  That added a nice, unplanned touch.

Thank you Independence Village for inviting me to share with your wonderful residents and taking a pleasurable stroll down memory lane with them!

May Day and Derby Day

Happy May Day!  Did anyone hang a bouquet of flowers on your door today?  I wonder how much the tradition is followed in the United States as it is in Europe.

I didn't make any May Day flower baskets, but I did make a sample favor for The Whitney's upcoming Gentlemen's Tea to be held the weekend of Father's Day.  When I was asked to come up with ideas for masculine favors for the event, I ordered some golf ball cups thinking they'd be easier for guys to handle than dainty china teacups.  When they arrived this week, I didn't think they had a good mouth feel, so I came up with an alternative plan.  I made a candy arrangement in the cup to go at each place setting.  My boss liked the idea, so guess what I'm going to be busy making!

My chocolate candy molding project for the Generations Tea next Saturday is all completed and the chocolate teacups and teapots are tucked inside 72 teapot favor boxes.  Time to start another project!  ;-)

It was a busy day at The Whitney today.  We had 69 for Afternoon Tea, and when I left for home the servers were busy preparing for a private Kentucky Derby Party.  At the service bar area ice was being crushed for Mint Juleps.

Derby Day reminded me of the Kentucky Tea Tour tea and blogging friend Linda Jennings coordinated in 2014, which included a day trip to Lexington for tea at Greentree Tearoom and then a stop at a beautiful horse farm.  Hard to believe that was seven years ago!