V18 N30

CAN’T MISS!
Celebrate the onset of sweater weather
if you like, but I prefer to think of
October as the beginning of teatime.
Tea is more than just six ounces of
hot liquid in a pretty cup. It’s a bit
of magic, an invitation to chat and a nod to
America’s roots.
Tea was born with a hint of whimsy almost
5000 years ago when wild leaves blew into
Emperor Shen Nung’s hot water. The brew
caught on, not only as a refreshing beverage,
but as a cure for several illnesses. It seemed
like magic — tea can somehow energize
lethargic patients and reduce insomnia, calm
the brain and provoke thought and stimulate
the appetite and reduce fat. Science recently
identified compounds in tea that explain these
effects, but other tea benefits remain mysterious.
Somehow, it seems that whatever
the question is, tea provides the answer. An
invitation to share a cup is a tongue loosener
— there’s a reason “spilling the tea” is slang for
revealing the truth. Perhaps that’s the explanation
for accuracy among fortune tellers who
The Activity Column
Catherine Dugan’s guide to staying in... this week, enjoy a cup of tea!
read tea leaves — we reveal more than we
intend as we sit and sip. Some mediums will
pour an extra cup for the spirits who might
visit during a seance. Others will use tea-like
infusions in cleansing rituals designed to signal
ghosts that it’s time to leave, just as a host
might serve it to signal that the party is over.
Around election time, tea can help
Americans remember our rebellious birth.
Though the Boston Tea Party in 1773 was an
unpopular protest condemned by the likes of
George Washington and Benjamin Franklin,
the Crown’s over-the-top reaction in the form
of the “Intolerable Acts” fueled revolutionary
fervor and led to the first Continental
Congress. Boston’s small rebellion led to large
rebellion — the Declaration of Independence
was treasonous and had things gone the other
way, all signers could have been executed with
their survivors left penniless. The least we can
do to show our gratitude is cast a ballot.
Cape May offers many places to enjoy a
cup of tea, from Coffee Tyme to Avalon Bagel
to Tommy’s Folly. At Magic Brain on Perry
Street, you can add a scone or other pastry.
You’ll find the perfect brew for your needs
at Tea by the Sea — lavender to soothe you,
lemon to perk you up, strawberry daiquiri
tea if you’re already missing summer. There
are also wine bags and cookbooks for your
holiday shopping. Love the Cook has great
coffee and a wide selection of teas, along with
a magical scone mix you can’t miss.
Hats Tees Tanks Sweatshirts Hoodies Zip-Ups Masks Art
FLYING FISH STUDIO
Monday-Thursday 11-4, Friday 11-5, Saturday & Sunday 10-5
• The acclaimed book no lover of Cape May lover be without.
• Packed with information, advice and inspiring photos.
• Full-color, hardcover, 352 pages.
• Cost is $25.
A MUST FOR EVERY CAPE MAY LOVER!
To buy, visit ezstore.us or call 609-770-8479 for pickup at Exit Zero
All designed and printed in West Cape May
130 Park Boulevard • 609-884-2760 • theflyingfishstudio.com
Page 42 EXIT ZERO October 22, 2020 October 22, 2020 EXIT ZERO Page 43