Saturday, July 26, 2014

Tea Room Postcard #30 -- Ila's Tea Room (Sandy Creek, N.Y.)


This tea room postcard is postally unused, but I like it anyway because of the great image of the neon lettering, the green awnings, and the aluminum folding chairs, for heaven's sake! I'll bet I would have liked Ila, and I'll bet I would have enjoyed eating in Ila's Tea Room.

The back of the postcard notes that Ila's "has long been a landmark for travelers who enjoy good food in relaxing, attractive surroundings." That's the sort of phrase I see pretty regularly on these old postcards, and I always wonder, who are the people who enjoyed eating food in stressful, ugly surroundings? I also think I might have enjoyed shopping for gifts at "one of the best known displays in the north-east." And a floral department was recently added? Sounds like Ila's was a one-stop shop!

4 comments:

  1. Don't you long for at least one of those within wanna-meet-at-Ida's distance? The sheer homey-ness of it, and just that it's an accepted part of the business section of town, with a mantle of grace and charm settling upon the weary traveler or the two-ladies-to-chat as they enter, sit down, set down purses and bags, pour and relax.

    We had a couple of little home-town "caffays" which had almost that atmosphere---that settling in, that belonging, and that aura of quiet fitting-in that the other bustling what-can-I-get-ya diner places with nylon-clad waitreses pouring 40-weight coffee and clanking down bacon and eggs just couldn't achieve.

    Grace and gentility and the thoughts of the old, slower ways call to most of us, I think, and even the longing to put on a smart little hat and gloves and go meet Fran 'n' 'em for dainty sandwiches and a pot of tea has a charm which will linger long.

    I especially love the phone number---our first phone was merely four numbers, and my uncle's family---he who worked for Southern Bell for fifty years---their number was NINE. That's all. Nine.

    Thanks for the memories, some of which I've never had!

    rachel

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  2. Such fun stepping back in time. Now you have me searching for tea room postcards! Found a few old Biltmore Estate postcards but no tea room postcards at our local 'junque' store!

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  3. I would have enjoyed going to lunch there, for sure! Have a great weekend, Joanie

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  4. I would love to have visited here.

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