From Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15, 2011, Royal/T—Culver City’s playful Japanese “cosplay” maid café, art exhibition space, and retail store—hosts Kulov’s Annual Tea Lovers Festival for three days of film, food, shopping, and special programming, all centered around the art and appreciation of tea. In its second year at the eclectic Japanese-inspired space, the collaborative festival between Kulov and Royal/T will celebrate the special relationship between tea and popular culture with educational workshops, documentary screenings, live world music and dancing, tea tastings, and unique tea products for purchase in the Royal/T shop leading up to the weekend-long event (Free admission; tastings, workshops, and labs are $10 – 25 each).Tea Lovers Pop-Up Shop: Now - Thursday, May 12, 2011Through Thursday, May 12 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, Royal/T’s shop will showcase unique tea products from the festival’s participants. Items available include exclusive blends by master tea artist Steve Schwartz of LA boutique purveyor Art of Tea, alongside Royal/T’s own specialty lines of brews, tea candles, and themed gift baskets—all ideal for Mother’s Day shopping.Friday, May 13, 2011: “Tea VIP”On Friday, May 13 from 7 – 10 p.m., tea enthusiasts can gather at Royal/T for “dinner and a movie” with a screening of the film, “The Meaning of Tea,” accompanied by a discussion with Director Scott Chamberlin Hoyt, live music by KCRW’s Tom Schnabel, and tastings by The Hankook Tea Company. Attendees can also enjoy a menu of green tea-infused “Ochazuke” dishes from the Japanese maid cafe, including Seaweed, Sour Plum, and Spicy Cod Roe served over Rice and covered with hot Green Tea, and sides such as Kouya Tofu and Assorted Pickled Vegetables ($2.50 – 10 each). Throughout the weekend, Royal/T’s café will offer guests a new way to sample specialty teas with exclusive tea-infused desserts, featuring Royal/T Milk Tea and Green Tea Cupcakes by local recipe blogger, justJENN.Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15, 2011From 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., guests at Royal/T can enjoy two full days of extensive arts and educational sessions with tea tastings, lectures, and workshops suitable for tea drinkers of every kind, including a “Tea Patisserie” seminar on tea-infused sweets with Chef Kristy Choo of Jin Patisserie and a class on making tea-enhanced body care products by Tiffany Williams of Boutique Teas. Three “levels” of programming will introduce both novices and aficionados to the unique history, science, and varying tastes of tea. In addition, young tea fans can enjoy crafts with “Wonderland Tea Etiquette” Creator Sarita Gomez and performances by British classically-trained clown Madame Chocolat in the family-oriented “Kids-Love-Tea-Too” corner. An exclusive selection of exhibitors including Algabar Tea, Matcha Source, Naivetea, and Sencha Naturals will also offer a special look at their products for purchase at the Tea Marketplace, which will be open to guests all day long.About Kulov’s Annual Tea Lovers Festival:In its second consecutive year at Royal/T, Kulov’s Annual Tea Lovers Festival blends tea, arts, and cultural activities for all ages to create a diverse world of flavors and celebrate the rich, ever-growing California tea culture. Founded 11 years ago, the event originated as small tea parties that Kulov would throw for his nieces on Valentine’s Day, and has since grown to become a public, three-day festival that draws over 1,000 attendees. For a complete schedule of events and more information, please visit www.tealoversfestival.com. About Royal/T: Located in Culver City, Royal/T is a playful blending of café, concept shop, and art exhibition space. The 10,000-square-foot space reflects the interior realm of fantasy that strongly influences the artists included in Owner Susan Hancock’s art collection. The art space showcases curated exhibitions with a focus on Japanese contemporary art. The current exhibit “FACEMAKER” will be on display at Royal/T through Thursday, June 30, 2011, and is open to the public from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Royal/T is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The concept store is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily. For additional information, guests can call Royal/T at 310.559.6300 and visit www.royal-t.org. Royal/T is also on Facebook and Twitter.