- July 17, 2025
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Carol Peschel, Executive Director Amy Steinhauser and Barbara Koetsier participate in a relaxing afternoon of drinking tea and coloring at The Paradise Center.
Photo by Dana KampaTory Newman, Sandy Love and Angela Bennink shared at table at The Paradise Center's first "Color and Cuppa Tea Party."
Photo by Dana KampaThe Paradise Center offered a variety of organic tea selections at its first tea party, along with other nibbles.
Photo by Dana KampaAlla Gray said she appreciated having a moment to relax at The Paradise Center's tea party.
Photo by Dana KampaMaria Ray and Beth Smith enjoy The Paradise Center's first tea party, its first social event since bidding farewell to some seasonal residents.
Photo by Dana KampaThe afternoon tea also featured a few sweet treats for attendees to enjoy. The Paradise Center hosted the free afternoon of tea and coloring for anyone to enjoy.
Photo by Dana KampaTory Newman and Sandy Love selected nature-themed pages for a bit of coloring.
Photo by Dana KampaA hush fell over The Paradise Center as attendees of the first Color and Cuppa Tea Party, where they sipped on steaming brews and filled pages of mandala designs, nature scenes and florals for the first social event since members bid farewell to seasonal residents at a 70s-themed end-of-season party last month.
The Paradise Center hosted the brand new event on May 14, providing sweet treats, organic tea and adult coloring supplies.
A 2022 article from the Mayo Clinic Health System lauds the health benefits of coloring for adults, particularly in promoting mindfulness and improving one's ability to focus.
"Because you're focusing on color choice and staying inside the lines, you're only thinking about the present moment," writes clinical social worker Joel Bobby. "You can shut off the noise around you, and give your mind the gift of focusing on the movements, sensations and emotions of your present moment."
He said the motion of coloring also can help relieve stress, encouraging people to tune into their breathing over more sedentary activities.
Attendee Angela Bennink said she especially appreciated the tea party theme given her English background, although she admits she opted for coffee that afternoon.
Her friend Sandy Love went for turmeric tea, although her favorite is a green jasmine pearl tea with a drop of honey is her favorite.
Bennink offered a bit of advice for making the perfect honey-sweetened brew. She said, based on advice from Sarasota Honey Company representatives who attended a recent garden club event, tea drinkers should let their cups cool slightly before adding the honey to get the full anti-allergen benefits.
Several participating ladies found the coloring surprisingly relaxing.
The next one-off event scheduled at The Paradise Center is a free meditative sound bath at 2 p.m. May 28.
