In a harsh world, grace is our weapon of rebellion.
Rebellion of Grace is more than a coffee table book — it's a call to reclaim civility, courage and beauty to change the world.
"The most valuable commodity of the twenty-first century will be undivided attention."
~Phil Cooke
What You'll Find Inside
Within these pages, you’ll find more than words—you’ll find a way. A way of life. A way of living beautifully, authentically and harmoniously. A way back to gentleness.
Rebellion of Grace weaves together timeless truths, stirring stories, and soul-deep reflections.
You’ll uncover:
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Tea recipes and traditions that anchor the message in everyday beauty
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Essays that challenge the status quo with kindness
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Rituals of hospitality that restore human connection
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Portraits of historic figures who changed the world through gentleness
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Practices that make grace more than a feeling—it becomes your way of being
It is part manifesto, part memoir, part invitation—to live beautifully in a culture that has forgotten how.
About the St. James Tearoom
The Grand Dame of US Tea Rooms
Tucked away in Albuquerque, New Mexico, The St. James Tearoom is more than a restaurant—it is a portal to a slower, more gracious way of living. Since 1999, this beloved establishment has quietly led a cultural rebellion—restoring civility, beauty, and intentionality one teacup at a time.
Founded by Mary Alice Higbie, The St. James Tearoom was born from a simple yet profound idea: to create a space where guests could gather, slow down, and savor meaningful connection. Modeled after the British tradition of afternoon tea, each visit is a curated experience of refinement, warmth, and grace.
From delicate tea sandwiches and house-baked scones to custom blends of loose-leaf tea served in private parlor settings, every detail is crafted to communicate one powerful message: you are valued.
But the tearoom is more than its menu. It is a movement—one that believes gentleness is strength, that hospitality is resistance, and that grace, when lived out, is a radical force for change.
In 2024, The St. James Tearoom was honored as one of Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S., a testament to its unwavering excellence and the lasting impression it leaves on guests across generations.
Whether celebrating milestones, reconnecting with loved ones, or simply savoring the beauty of stillness, The St. James Tearoom invites every guest into an experience that lingers long after the last sip.
About the Authors
Owners of the St. James Tearoom in Albuquerque, NM
Mary Alice Higbie opened The St. James Tearoom in December of 1999 after traveling to England to study British teas and to search for vendors. She is certified as a Licensed Tea Consultant by the Protocol School of Washington in Washington, D.C., and has lectured to both large and small groups on the Art and Etiquette of Tea. She is also a Japanese Porcelain Artist and designed, planted, and maintained an extensive, private English Cottage Garden that was the subject of numerous paintings by well-known local artists.
Daniel Higbie graduated from Hillsdale College in 1998 with an interdisciplinary bachelor’s in Classical Rhetoric & Persuasive Communication. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University with a Master of Arts in International Relations and Global Markets. He was an exchange student at Oxford University and was an Investment Analyst and Strategy Consultant before coming to Albuquerque to assist with the launch of The St. James Tearoom. He is married to a beautiful Ukrainian “princessa” named Nataliya (also the CFO), and they have two boys.
To learn more about the heart and vision behind the St. James Tearoom, watch Mary Alice's story here.
We live in a world that is louder, but less connected - more critical, but less kind.
Rebellion of Grace revives the lost art of gracious living and calls readers to sip slower, gather closer, and live with heart—just as our literary heroines once did.
Live like Elizabeth Bennet. Dine like Emma Woodhouse.
Sense and Sensibility? It’s not just a novel—it’s a way of life.
This book draws its inspiration from The St. James Tearoom and its founders, carrying their legacy of grace, beauty, and hospitality into everyday living.
This is your invitation to rebel with grace— To live intentionally, love deeply, and lead with gentleness.
What You Will Discover
The Art of Gathering
Intentionally
A quiet table. A warm cup. Thoughtful conversation. A sacred space to know and be known.
Hospitality as an
Act of Grace
More than manners—hospitality becomes a way to love, to honor, and to heal. To pour, to serve, to welcome in—each gesture whispers you are seen, you are loved.
The Courage of Living Counter to Culture
To move gently in a world that rushes—to choose grace where anger reigns—that is the truest kind of bravery.
Share your moments of slowness and beauty using #RebelsOfGrace
