In my attempt to enjoy a complete Tacoma experience this holiday season, I’ve been around.
I’ve met Maritime Santa at the Working Waterfront Museum, and had my daughter sit on (semi debauched) Santa’s lap at the Sanford & Son shops.  (He may or may not have drunk a Bud Light and belched, and he may or may not have offered children change to play on the slot machine.  He most definitely did have a forked tail, however.)  I saw Monster Truck Santa on the Eastside, and chatted with Train Santa at Point Defiance’s Camp 6. I saw a horse drawn carriage and Punch and Judy puppet show near a castle, and rode a horse-drawn cart as I cut down our tree at Clyde & Dale’s tree farm near Olympia.

So what am I missing?

Something classy, that bespoke champagne and crystal, or at the very least, Chitz china.

In that spirit, we were off to Meeker Mansion in Puyallup, after hearing they had a fabulous set-up, and since I’d never been to visit the mansion in 33 years of residence in Tacoma.  The daughter chose to play computer games at home with daddy, so grandma and I went wandering together.

Our wisdom in choosing this exact day was questionable, as the majority of traffic signals in the greater South Sound are dead.  Many drivers, it appears, have not read their driving manuals in a while (note to South Sound drivers: remedial driving courses.)

When we finally reached our destination, our hearts sank as we discovered the impressive wrought iron gate keeping us out.  “Open Daily” meant, apparently, days when power worked.  A beautiful irony: the Powerhouse Restaurant and Brewery was doing a brisk business at noon.

Undeterred and happy to have a girl afternoon together as grown-ups, we wandered on, to a place I remembered from working in Sumner years ago.  Back then, it was a quaint restaurant and holiday shop called Sleigh Bells.  Now, it’s a fabulous little teahouse called the Secret Garden that has quite possibly the nicest ladies room in the area.  We were tempted to stay for lunch, but chose instead to make a reservation for high tea at a future date, and then shopped through the selection of girlie goodies (no chainsaw ornaments here!).

Although it’s a bit out of the way, tucked behind strip malls, schools, and churches and beside an industrial area, the mansion itself, the Herbert Williams House, is restored beautifully, well-suited to its current incarnation and was worth the trip.

The Secret Tea Garden has been an established business at the Factoria Mall for 15 years, and many of the clientele have followed the business.  Owner and chef Mark Elliott lives upstairs, sharing that space with manager Elizabeth Kleingartner, while co-manager Wendy Brawner lives in the apartment previously intended as servants quarters.  The three relocated from the Bellevue area, and have no regrets, but plenty of plans for the future, which include extensive gardens and seasonal menu, gift item, and tea changes. â€" Jessica Corey-Butler