One of the things I love most about New York is that even though I call it home, I can still be an amazed tourist, every single day. Whether I’m walking briskly to work or leisurely strolling around Manhattan on a Sunday afternoon, my attention is always captured by some articulate detailing on a brownstone, the alluring Art Deco or neo-Gothic architecture of a historic skyscraper, or the once-gold-now-green roof (due to natural oxidation of untreated copper) of a landmark built in the early 1900s.

In conjunction with my absolute favorite building in New York City – The Woolworth Building – a sight for sleepless eyes is The Plaza Hotel, located on Fifth Avenue and Central Park South. Being the only hotel in New York City termed a National Historic Landmark, it has supposedly been said that “nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza”, which makes perfect sense that one of my best friends recently organized a high tea gathering at The Plaza Hotel, in celebration of my birthday (thanks, Sara!).

Designated The Palm Court, for obvious reasons – four lofty palms surround a center-island bar – the beautiful chandelier-lit space resembles an elegant glasshouse, which is the perfect setting for a prim and proper afternoon tea.

Sipping ambrosial tea out of custom china and consuming cake, cucumber sandwiches, crumpets, cotton candy, and champagne, my lunching ladies and I were content and felt like the best Blair Waldorfs we could be.

The relaxing ambience and chic aesthetic of The Plaza made for a very wonderful afternoon, as high tea in the Palm Court is not realistically an experience one would practice every day. It really is no wonder Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway had a falling out over the venue.