July 9 thru July 31

Bates’s poem originally written in 1893 and published in the form we know today in 1913, explored the striking beauty of the American landscape and celebrated American aspirations and patriotism. Her words additionally touched upon the struggle for equality in the United States, a reflection of the country’s turmoil as it tried to form its identity during a time of financial and social unrest. Bates was an activist of her time, growing up in a predominantly female household and becoming involved in many social movements, such as the reformist settlement house movement spearheaded by Jane Adamms, among others. Thus, when writing and publishing her poem, Bates considered what it meant to unify the people of her nation in an industrialized world in which humanity was growing increasingly isolated from one another and from nature. Most people are not familiar with all of the versus…

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!

America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.

America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.

America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.

Afternoon Tea at Sweet Tease

Join us in an Afternoon Tea experience filled with delightful conversation, delectable bites, and delicious cups of tea. The Afternoon Tea experience at Sweet Tease is a 90-minute seating encompassing a four-course meal, including bottomless pots of tea, a starter course, savories, scones, and sweets. Read below to find out more about our current themes and menus as well as reservation policies. Our themes change every 4-6 weeks so keep an eye out for our newest menus!

Please read before making your reservation

• Afternoon Tea is served Wednesday-Sunday with seatings at 11 am and 1 pm

• Reservations are required for Afternoon Tea

  • Reservations are taken only by calling Sweet Tease at 732-722-8030

  • Please have a credit card ready to reserve. We only charge the card for cancelations made with less than 24 hours or no—shows. This includes any reductions from the original reservation.

  • Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. We do not take same-day reservations

  • Due to being closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, reservations for Wednesdays will have to be made the week prior with Sunday as the latest day to reserve.

  • We must speak with you in order to guarantee that you have made a reservation. Voice messages left do not guarantee a reservation. One of our staff will call you back to confirm we can take your reservation.

• Afternoon Tea $65.00 - . While gratuity is always appreciated, it is not required or expected. Our Tea servers are compensated for the excellent service they provide.

• When offered, Our Gluten-Free and Vegan menus are $70.00 per person. Please confirm they are available when you make your reservation.

  • Children’s Menu offered for children under 10 for $36. Scone, 2 tea sandwiches and 2 desserts. Children’s tea, hot or cold chocolate milk or available juice.

  • Gluten-Free and Vegan Children’s menus are $43

• When making your reservation, please provide your name, phone number and email address. Also the number of guests in your party, any dietary restrictions or allergies, and the number of children in your party.

  • We can accommodate Vegetarian, Gluten Free, or Vegan dietary restrictions. However, we cannot accommodate a joint Gluten Free and Vegan menu. We want to provide the best experience possible for our guests and can only do so by not combining these options.

  • We do not offer substitutions

• We will serve and charge you for the number of guests you make your reservation for. We can only accommodate changes to your reservation at least 24 hours in advance. We cannot accommodate changes in party size or dietary restrictions on the day of or upon your arrival.

• There is no parking lot for Sweet Tease. The parking at the back of the store is reserved for the tenants of 604 Main Street.

  • Free parking can be found in front of the store on Main Street (2-hour parking), on side streets including 6th Ave, and in limited spots in the Municipal Parking lot.

• No outside food or consumable products are allowed inside.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! We look forward to sharing our love of tea with you!