{"id":1310,"date":"2026-03-25T15:23:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/?page_id=1310"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:50:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:50:02","slug":"2025-christmas-tea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/2025-christmas-tea\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Christmas Tea"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1309\" style=\"width:504px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1206-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The lovely thrumming of harpist\u00a0<strong>Luke Brechtelsbauer,<\/strong>\u00a0decorations from the collection of\u00a0<strong>Haydee Mackey<\/strong>\u2019s family, a gracious tea with requisite amenities, and the reading of a special letter fused for the formal and festive fun of the English-Speaking Union, New Orleans Branch. As it has been for years, the ESU Christmas Tea took place in the Windsor Court Hotel. Branch president\u00a0<strong>Bruce Gordon<\/strong>\u00a0(with\u00a0<strong>Melissa<\/strong>) read a letter from\u00a0<strong>James Dawson<\/strong>, Head of Royal Correspondence of\u00a0<strong>King Charles III and Queen Camilla<\/strong>\u00a0(of Great Britain) that recalled the royal twosome\u2019s visit to New Orleans on Nov. 4, 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina. The missive was a response to a thank-you letter sent by Gordon, on Aug. 29, 2025, concerning the historic visit and a reiteration of \u201cthe unbreakable bond between the peoples of the United Kingdom and the United States.\u201d Yet another agenda item was the introduction of board members, including newly-dubbed\u00a0<strong>Monique Clark<\/strong>\u00a0of Thibodaux, who is working with the ESU National Shakespeare Competition Committee to be held on Sun., March 8, 2026, on the Tulane campus for Louisiana students. Two years ago, the national winner was\u00a0<strong>Malachi White<\/strong>\u00a0of the New Orleans Branch. Additional board members in attendance were\u00a0<strong>Lenny Caruso<\/strong>, Dr.\u00a0<strong>Rennie Culver, Benjamin Morrison<\/strong>, Haydee Mackey (with\u00a0<strong>Kevin<\/strong>),\u00a0<strong>Mimi Schlesinger, Preston Valois<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>Benjamin Karp,<\/strong>\u00a0author of the political thriller, \u201cThe Leviathan Conspiracy.\u201d They shared tea talk with\u00a0<strong>JP<\/strong>\u00a0and Dr.\u00a0<strong>Erin O\u2019Sullivan Fleming,<\/strong>\u00a0Dr.\u00a0<strong>Julian Wheatley<\/strong>\u00a0and wife\u00a0<strong>Marjorie Nolan-Wheatley, Kathy Singleton, Julie and David Gooch,<\/strong>\u00a0sisters-in-law\u00a0<strong>Alexandra Stafford and Simone Rathle,<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Katherine de Montluzin<\/strong>\u00a0with Dallasites\u00a0<strong>Jewel and Robert Williams.<\/strong> &#8211; Nell Nolan, Times Picayune &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nola.com\/entertainment_life\/nell-nolan-sociedad-espanola-esu-christmas-tea-patio-planters-saint-lazarus-society\/article_54ef88fb-7c0e-4812-94ae-a4723e6216f4.html\">https:\/\/www.nola.com\/entertainment_life\/nell-nolan-sociedad-espanola-esu-christmas-tea-patio-planters-saint-lazarus-society\/article_54ef88fb-7c0e-4812-94ae-a4723e6216f4.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1312\" style=\"width:524px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1228-1-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1313\" style=\"width:551px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1210-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1314\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.750009056330375;width:530px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1231-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1315\" style=\"width:552px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/neworleans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2026\/03\/IMG_1195-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The lovely thrumming of harpist\u00a0Luke Brechtelsbauer,\u00a0decorations from the collection of\u00a0Haydee Mackey\u2019s family, a gracious tea with requisite amenities, and the reading of a special letter fused for the formal and [&hellip;]","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1310","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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