The Elms once again played host to the Member Holiday Open House on December 10th. Tickets to this sell-out Christmas party only available to Members, one of the many perks of the Newport Mansions.
New this year was the photo booth, in addition to a delightful commemorative mug gifted to all attendees. The mug was the perfect size for our year-end “hot chocolate and figgy pudding party,” where we discussed all things vision boards and social diary for the new year 2025.
Holiday Open House at The Elms
The Member Holiday Open House was the perfect companion to Sparking Lights at The Breakers. The stately homes hit the mark with their stellar decorations for Christmas. On display were majestic trees, poinsettias and of course Santa Claus!
The designs are to scale to show off the depth and beauty of the rooms. The designers and Newport Mansions volunteers executed the brief flawlessly. The beautifully crafted Christmas event had the ambiance, but the food was a bit lacking.
Food notes
As experienced “foodies,” The Social Diary has an extensive palate. Moreover, we have tasted street foods to world-class cuisine, from “honky-tonk” pubs to white tie dinners. So, we have to admit that the food offerings at the Member Holiday Open House were subpar.
Granted this was a complimentary event for members. However, this event took place between the hours of 6:00pm and 8:00pm, or dinner time in America. Therefore, a crudité offering is definitely not substantial. Even at the “complimentary” price, Newport Mansions should take a page out of the Blithewold Mansion, where the food offerings exceeded expectations. A simple charcuterie board would have sufficed.
Despite the lack lustre food, the service was impeccable and friendly. This was also a perfect occasion to tour The Elms again, in all its Christmas trimmings! This year, three stately homes decorated for Christmas including the Marble House, viewable until January 1st.
The Year Ahead 2025
Legend has it that if you throw three coins in the Trevi Fountain in Roma signifies return, love and marriage. However, for The Social Diary, it’s about the social engagements, giving back and celebrating life. We are thankful for the new connections, friendships and opportunities in 2024. We started our journey in January and lived through another great year. Our vision for 2025 goes beyond.
