May 14, 2009

Tea parlor with a twist is welcome ‘estrogen zone’ in BeavertonBy Christina LentBeavertonValleyTimes

Claire Seidler has established a unique haven for women in the heart of downtown Beaverton.

You might even call it a treasure.

Tea Thyme & Lavender is a quaint tea parlor with an old-world twist located at 12675 S.W. First St.

It’s a place for women of all ages to gather, enjoy a lovely visit with friends over a cup of black lavender tea and a light meal, while surrounded by a charming collection of antiques and collectables.

“There’s a longing in women for days when life was calmer, when there was less stress and less responsibilities,” Claire said. “That is what I am hoping to provide – a place where women can come in and go back in time.

“This is a place where they can slow down, sit with tea and then shop for as long as they like. It’s all very nurturing really.”

Since Claire and her husband, Michael Seidler, opened the gift and antique shop last summer, Tea Thyme & Lavender has become a gathering spot for women’s groups, book clubs, friends and sisters alike.

“I always wanted to have a girly girl place like this where I could take my daughter for tea,” said Claire, who fondly remembers the tea parties her own mother hosted on the family vineyard in Southern France. “There was no such place in Beaverton so we opened our own.”

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