Plan a kid-sized tea party

When I was small, my mother was a frequenter of cafés, and so I was, too. I would sit with my book and my own tiny beverage, and I always felt rather sophisticated.

In spite of the lack of any major tea culture in this country, the appeal of tea parties for children endures, and one can still easily find tea sets in toy stores. The magic of the ceremony and the idea of dressing up and having a pleasant conversation inspires children to invite friends -- and parents and stuffed animals -- to join them as they hone their hosting skills.

This month, why not make a plain old winter afternoon special by sharing the magic of a tea party with your child, but in a real tea shop instead of at home? The key to distinguishing a tea date from an everyday coffee run is -- as is often the case with kids -- hype.

Make a date with your child in advance to have tea, and make it the focal point of your outing. In other words, leave the laptop at home, and put the cell phone on silent. Dress up a little, bring along the plush guests your child has invited and head to one of Seattle's tea shops for an hour of sipping and conversation.

The Georgian at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel is perhaps Seattle's most famous, and elegant, tea destination, but at $35 for adults and $18 for children (plus tax and tip), it's a little steep for a casual outing. Instead, head to one of Seattle's cozy tea shops, where you won't be required to make a reservation or fork out big bucks for a lovely afternoon.

Miro Tea in Ballard is perfect for children who are as likely to be hungry as thirsty when they sit down. Beautiful jars of tea line the walls, and soft light pours in through the big windows. The modern furnishings lend a clean, crisp feel, while a couch and coffee table add a sense of comfortable ease.

For the young ones, order an herbal infusion. These caffeine-free blends are served just as black or green tea would be, in a little pot with a tea-light warmer ($2.75-$4). Try the Bianca, which blends citrus and chamomile for a cozy soother. For those more inclined to fruity flavors, the Paradiso is packed full of tropical and stone fruits. Since the teas come unsweetened, you might want to add a little honey and milk for a smooth treat. The list of black and green teas and chais should make a caffeine-starved parent happy; the chai cocoa latte was a nice change from a mocha.

Miro's pastry case is full of tasty items from Le Panier, but their house-made crepes are the real treat. The simple Lemon Pops crepe ($3.75), served with lemon, sugar and poppy seeds, was big enough for two light snackers to share.

For a slightly more reverent atmosphere, head to the International District and the Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House. This historic building, which housed the belongings of many Japanese-Americans during internment in World War II, pays tribute to the community with numerous photographs and artifacts from the early days of the neighborhood.

The aesthetic is 1940s tropical, with an assortment of antique chairs and wicker furniture. There is also a small table and chair and a toy tea set to play with in the lower room.

If your child is in the mood for simplicity, peppermint tea with milk and honey ($4.75) is an ever-popular choice. Panama Hotel also serves espresso drinks, which allowed a picky youngster to swap her tea for some hot chocolate. A number of small cookies ($1-$2) are available here, from tiny sugar cookies to Spanish olive-oil crisps. If you're feeling adventurous, try the traditional Japanese sweets ($3.50) made by a local baker, which feature bean pastes formed into beautiful flowery shapes.

While at the Panama Hotel, don't forget to look through the window in the floor at the back of the room; it is a bird's-eye view into the basement, where interned neighborhood residents left their belongings.

If you can't make it to a real tea shop, you can always create a tea party at your favorite neighborhood café. Just order cocoa or steamed milk in a small ceramic cup -- little kids love the demitasses used for espresso -- and sit down for a little conversation.

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