W Hotel & Residences developer avoids foreclosure

The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald report today on a judge's ruling that Prudential Insurance cannot foreclose on The W Hotel & Residences, which is currently in bankruptcy protection. This is great news for the developer who should be able to sell the remaining residential units with more ease since. The W Hotel & Residences has been in the news a lot lately, most recently being a lengthy piece in Boston Magazine. However the hotel is running at 75% occupancy and Market by Jean Georges along with the lobby are doing brisk business and getting great reviews from travelers.

Hotel Commonwealth partner being considered for Boston Licensing Board position

The Boston Herald reports today on how a vacancy on the Boston Licensing Board is holding up action on a number of cases that have come before the board, including possible sanctions against Kitty O'Shea's and Venu for violent altercations. The vacant position on the board that oversees the city's 1,000 plus alcohol licenses could pay up to $100,000 annually according to the article. It's interesting to see that Hotel Commonwealth partner Terry Guiney is being considered for the position. Some people feel strongly that the licensing board should be totally overhauled, ridding it of political connections and other possible conflicts of interest. Board members are also appointed by the Governor, even though the board regulates only Boston establishments. Try to figure that one out.

The Gallows is robbed during dinner

South End Patch reports today that The Gallows on Washington Street was robbed off an unspecified amount of cash while they were serving dinner last night.

W Hotel gets a well known resident

The Boston Herald reported yesterday that former WCVB Channel 5 newscaster Natalie Jacobson has bought a 24th floor condominium at the W Hotel and Residences on Stuart Street.

Otto Pizza opens in Harvard Square

The Boston Herald reports that Otto Pizza will open this evening at 1432 Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard Square, in the former Finagle-A-Bagel space. This will be their third location and the first one outside of Portland, Maine.

Upscale Mexican coming to Faneuil Hall, other new openings

The Boston Herald reports today that an upscale Mexican restarant called Mija Cantina and Tequila Bar will open soon at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Italian tavern Vito's will soon open on Salem Street in the North End, and that Central Square's Four Burgers will soon open on Boylston Street near Emerson College. Exciting stuff!

The Feast names Boston's top hotel bars

The Feast reports today on the top hotel bars in the Boston/Cambridge area. Noir at the Charles Hotel tops the list, followed not surprisingly by Alibi at The Liberty Hotel. I'm left wondering why the W Hotel Bar & Lounge didn't make it on this list? Or City Bar at The Lenox Hotel?

The Venture Cafe seeks to open in Kendall Square

Grubstreet Boston reports today that The Venture Cafe, a project of the Cambridge Innovation Center is seeking the approval of the City of Cambridge to open a bricks and mortar location of their weekly networking cafe called Venture Cafe Alpha, currently held on the 4th floor of One Broadway, home to the Cambridge Innovation Center.

The European style cafe, which has Central Kitchen chef Gary Strack on board, would take the place of a Dominos Pizza at the base of One Broadway in Kendall Square, Cambridge. For more information on the progress of The Venture Cafe, visit their blog.

"Fashionably Late" returns to Liberty Hotel

"Fashionably Late" returns tonight to The Liberty Hotel. The designer tonight is Charlotte Ronson twin sister of celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson (Lindsay Lohan’s former girlfriend). Ronson, who will preview her spring/summer collection, is doing her first Boston show. The party starts at 8 p.m., and the fashion show begins at 10 p.m, To RSVP email fashion@libertyhotel.com.

Boston Common Visitor Center relocated

The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) reports that the Boston Common Visitor Center has moved across the street to 151 Tremont Street due to building renovations at its park location. When you visit and mention BostonInsider you will get a free gift! This visitor center is located at the start of Boston's Freedom Trail.

Fairmont Battery Wharf to open outdoor winter terrace

The Boston Herald's Forklift blog reports today The Fairmont Battery Wharf will open its new outdoor winter terrace on Friday! It sounds very intriguing, as it is described below.

“magnificent ice sculptures including an ice wall designed to shield guests from the winter wind, lounging couches and Adirondack chairs, cozy blankets, fire pits and heat lamps to ensure a comfortable experience.”

The question is will people want to dine outside next to the harbor when it's below zero?

Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square gets makeover

The Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square (the outdoor patio of which was featured in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting) has been redone and now features a salad and soup bar among other highlights, the Harvard Crimson reports. Other Au Bon Pain locations in the Boston area, such as the one in Copley Place, have extensive salad bars already. Perhaps Au Bon Pain is making the movements to keep its loyal customers happy, should a Panera someday come to Harvard Square?


Thanks to Universal Hub for bringing this to my attention.

Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar review

Check out this excellently written review of Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar by Devra First in Wednesday's Boston Globe. It's the first place I've seen where you can order up a pig roast for your group (72 hours advance notice required!).

New Kids on the Block to play Fenway

The Boston Herald reports today the New Kids on the Block will play a show at Fenway Park on June 11th with The Back Street Boys. This will come just after they play an already sold out show at the TD Garden on June 4th. According to the article the Sox have applied for concert permits for June 12th as well, but there's no word yet on a second act to play then.

Marriott decides to phase out adult films

The Boston Herald reports that Marriott International will ban pornograhic movies from its new hotels immediately and that it will begin to phase out adult films from existing hotels beginning in 2013. In an interesting twist, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney could have something to do with the move, himself being a former Marriott board member and possible presidential candidate. Or it could be that people are getting their porn in hotel rooms not from the television but from the interenet which is much cheaper even if the hotel was to charge, say $9.95 per day.

Treca seeks 1am license approval from City

Even though Tresca received support from one neighborhood group in the North End as was reported here, residents in another group, are opposing it's application to the Boston Licensing Board the Boston Herald reports today. Owner Ray Bourque would like be able to serve dinner to more people who are coming after events at the TD Garden. Said one resident of the proposed closing time,

“If they can’t do enough business, why not open up for lunch or breakfast. Why does it have to be at night?”

Patricia Yeo talks of her new restaurant concept

Stuff magazine talks with former Ginger Park chef Patricia Yeo about her plans for a new "Asian gastropub", which will serve Asian street food along with other gluten & dairy free, low fat "user-friendly" food in a smaller atmosphere. It sounds exciting!

Abigail's Restaurant to open in Kendall Square

Boston Restaurant Talk reports that Abigail's Restaurant will soon open in the Kendall Square area of Cambridge. Abigail is said to be the namesake of the owner/developer's first love.

Fairmont Copley Plaza snowstorm video

Check this awesome time lapse video shot from the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel of the second snowstorm of the season!

New restaurants coming to Central Square

Three new restaurants are coming to Central Square. According to the minutes of the Central Square Business Association's January 11th board meeting the people behind OM are opening new restaurant called Moska at 450 Mass Ave., in front of Central Square Theater. The people behind Veggie Planet in Harvard Square are opening Veggie Galaxy next to Moska. Also a new Asian/Sushi restaurant is planning to take over dry cleaners next to Dance Complex on Massachusetts Avenue and the people developing a the new location of The Floating Rock restaurant in former Venus space at 485 Massachusetts Ave are revising their plans, but their Facebook page says they have good news that they will share soon about their planned Cambridge locaation.

Saus to open in Feburary, Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese coming soon

The Improper Bostonian reports in their newest edition that the long awaited Saus, a Belgian french fries and waffles restaurant, will open next month on Union Street. This will be perfect for the pre and post Faneuil Hall bar crowd, along with hungry tourists walking the Freedom Trail. Also the eagerly anticipated Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese Truck will soon open in Cleveland Circle, serving up a rotating menu of grilled cheese sandwiches along with fried pickles with cheese sauce. Now there's another reason to go to Cleveland Circle besides Pino's. I'm getting hungry just by writing about these two places!

Three new restaurants coming to Cambridge

Boston Restaurant Talk reports today on three new restaurants coming soon to Cambridge. Firebrand Saints (by the people behind Central Kitchen) is coming to Kendall Square, Area IV (from the people behind the former Achilles Project and Persephone) is coming to 500 Techonology Square on Main Street, and Meadhall is coming to the former Quantum bookstore space in Kendall Square.

Free Boston Cream Pie on Sunday at Omni Parker House

Boston.com reports that the Omni Parker House will be giving away free Boston Cream Pie this coming Sunday to celebrate National Pie Day. The Boston Cream Pie was invented at the Omni Parker House in 1855.

Citizens Public House and Oyster Bar review

Check out The Boston Herald's review of Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar!

Boston group begins alphabetical bar crawl tonight

The Boston Herald's Forklift blog today reports on a group called ABC Club of Boston who are beginning a year-long alphabetically themed bar crawl tonight at An Tua Nua! This sounds like a really fun club that I want to join. -Adam

Bricco to serve full menu later

To celebrate their recent expansion, Bricco will now be serving its full menu until 2am nightly, UrbanDaddy reports today. Previously diners looking for late night food at Bricco had only the option of wood fired pizzas served at the bar. This is great news for those looking for good late night food in Boston! Adam

Boston ranked high for rudeness, expensive hotels, and climate

Travel and Leisure readers rank Boston as number 6 for rudeness in the nation (ahead of NYC, Philly, DC, Miami, and LA). We also rank 30th for climate, and 33rd for least expensive hotels. Those last two make more sense I think. Thankfully though we are ranked number 7 for microbrews and number two for classical music! Thanks to Boston.com for bringing this to my attention! - Adam

Boston Convention bookings up

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority tweets that Boston booked 85 future events at its centers in 2010. This, according to the Trade Show News Network, is the second highest number of future events booked by the MCCA. The first came in 2006 when 90 future events were booked. The 85 future events booked in 2010 are projected to have an economic impact of $700 million, and generate $40 million in taxes for Massachusetts.

Four Green Fields Irish pub to open in downtown Boston

Boston.com reports that Four Green Fields Irish Pub will open in the BNY Mellon Center at One Boston Place possibly sometime next week. The official grand opening will be celebrated on February 10th. Located at the corner of Washington and Court Streets, the restaurant will include a small cottage with an authentic thatched roof and a 100 seat outdoor patio. They will also feature live Irish music nearly every night of the week, and also weekly literary readings! The addition of this restaurant will bring life to this otherwise quiet area of city after 5pm. -Adam

Locke-Ober changing ownership

Locke-ober, which previously announced it was closing for renovations has changed ownership, reports The Boston Herald. Don't worry though, Lydia Shire is still involved!

Flour Bakery see rise in health costs

Joanne Chang tweets today that the health insurance costs for her Flour Bakery employees are going up 32% this year. I wonder if this means the cost of her famous sticky buns will be going up as well? From her tweet, it seems she is really concerned about this rise and its effect on them. I wonder how many other people in the industry have bosses as concerned about these things? -Adam

Mass Ave to open next Monday

Mass Ave, the new Lyons Group restaurant in the former Match spot at 94 Massachusetts Avenue near Newbury Street, is set to open on Monday, January 24th at 5pm. UrbanDaddy reports that highlights of the menu, which is designed for every item be shared by groups of diners (no individual sized portions of appetizers or entrees), include kobe cheese steak sliders, meat paella (with chicken rabbit, and chorizo), lobster grilled cheese sliders, and cajun spiced mahi mahi tacos. Cocktails range from $9-$12 including a line of vodka sodas/tonics with over sized fresh fruit garnishes called The Book Club for $9 each including raspberry/lime, grapefruit and clementine + wheatgrass. With the walls filled with antique books and a 12 foot long fireplace (an integral element of Match) on the back wall, it looks to be a hot spot as soon as it opens. The kitchen will be headed up by former Lucky's Lounge chef Nicholas Dixon, and the general manager will be Dimitra Tsourianis, who opened Alibi at The Liberty Hotel. Mass Ave will be open Monday-Friday from 4:00 pm - 1:00 am & Saturday - Sunday from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm - 1:00 am.

The Parking Lot Movie and Customer Service

Check out this excellent posting by Patrick Maguire on his Server Not Servant blog. It's a must read for anyone who has ever worked in the customer service business (which is a lot of us in the hospitality/tourism industry). He draws some great insight about human interaction from The Parking Lot Movie.

Devra First pieces in today's Boston Globe

Devra First, The Boston Globe Restaurant critic offers four great pieces in today's Globe. She talks with local chefs about dining trends for 2011, offers her own prognostications the upcoming year, she reviews Q in Chinatown, and interviews Ken Kojima of the recently closed Ken's Noodle House. Check them out!

Happy Birthday Flour Bakery

The Flour Bakery in Fort Point celebrates its fourth birthday today! Congratulations to Flour Fort Point! And there's free cupcakes too.

Mandarin Oriental's Spa Cafe is new hot spot

Check out this interesting piece from the Boston Herald on how the Mandarin Oriental's Spa Cafe is the newest hot spot in the city for a power lunch (or tea!).

Lenox Hotel having sign issues

Don't let this image fool you. The Lenox Hotel is one of the top rated hotels in Boston. In fact it ranks number one, out of seventy three hotels, in the Boston market. I'm sure they will soon be repairing one of their signature ways of making impressions on present and future guests.

Menino backs hotel construction and hotel tax bills

The Boston Herald reports that Mayor Menino is backing a bill to tax hotel rooms booked online in Boston and also a bill to allow the construction of new hotels within the Convention Center Finance District. This would allow more hotels to be built to support a possible planned expansion of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. - Adam

Panera coming to Back Bay

Panera Bread is coming soon to the Back Bay. The new Panera will be located on Boylston Street in a spot next to the Shreve, Crump & Low store near the corner of Berkeley Street. Panera recently opened near Symphony Hall and is now poised to dominate the breakfast & lunch market in the Copley/Park Square area. One local blogger is thrilled that a Panera will be so close to her office. At any rate, it will definitely give Au Bon Pain, Souper Salad, Rebecca's Cafe, and Finagle a Bagle a run for their money.

State reaches out to hospitality industry about I-93 project

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is reaching to the hospitality/tourism industry in advance of a major road project on Interstate 93 in Medford this summer. The Fast14 project will replace 14 highway bridges over a three month period from June 1 to September 1st. The work will be done in very rapid fashion and will involve weekend closures of entire northbound and south sections of the road from 10pm on Friday until 5am on Monday morning. During the closure time two lanes in each direction will be maintained on the non closed side of the road. It's important to note that no work will be done on Memorial Day, July 4th weekend, and Labor Day weekend. To minimize the impact of this project on residents and visitors, The MassDot will reaching out to the public through many different channels, including social media. Anyone in the hospitality/tourism industry who would like stay informed of the project via email is encouraged to send a message to 93Fast14.info@state.ma.us.

Brighton Music Hall Opens

The Boston Herald reviews the Brighton Music Hall. The club, located in the former Harpers Ferr space, has been renovated by new owner Live Nation and rep-opened this past Friday.

Foreign students add $1 billion to state's economy

A new study shows that international students have a $1 billion annual impact on Massachusetts economy, the Boston Herald reports today. This boon is felt in a big way by the hospitality industry. From the article:

These often affluent students also went shopping, hung out at cafes and clubs, dined at restaurants and entertained visiting family and friends who stayed in Hub hotels.

“It really rippled out,” said Pat Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, of the students’ spending. “It’s a huge driver, and it tends to stay under the radar” of many business leaders.

Island Creek Oyster Bar review

The New York Times reviews Island Creek Oyster Bar!

5 Napkin poised to open Boston location this February

5 Napkin Burger is on track to open in the Prudential Center in February of 2011, their website states. As reported earlier here, it will be the first location outside of New York City and will occupy the former Daily Grill space on the Huntington Avenue side of the Prudential Center, between the Cheesecake Factory and Haru. You can currently find them in NYC locations in the Upper West Side, Hells Kitchen, and Astoria.

The restaurant's namesake is the 5 Napkin Burger, which consists of 10 ounces of fresh ground chuck with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and a rosemary aioli on top. You will need five napkins to eat it, as the name suggests. They also offer a cheddar bacon burger, an Italian turkey burger, a lamb kofta burger, veggie burger, an inside out burger and a burger salad.

In addition to burgers, 5 Napkin offers an extensive menu of entrees, sushi, appetizers, and entree salads along with a selection of 50 beers, 100 wines, and ten signature cocktails.

5 Napkin will be a welcome addition to the Back Bay dining scene and should do very well in a spot where other restaurants (Berkshire Grill, Applebee's, and Daily Grill) have open and closed. It is something different and that Boston hasn't seen before and will add unique approach to the bustling Boston burger scene.

Bosphorus in Inman Square to open Sunday

Urban Daddy is reporting that Bosphorus, a new Turkish/Mediterranean restaurant will open Sunday in Inman Square on the Cambridge/Somerville line!

Locke-Ober to close temporarily after tonight

The Boston Herald reports that Locke-Ober will close after dinner service tonight for renovations, but don't worry as it will be open in time for restaurant week in March! -Adam

Beacon Hill neighborhood group rejects proposed Cambridge Street restaurant

The Beacon Hill Times reports in its January 11th issue that the Beacon Hill Civic Association's Zoning and Licensing Committee voted recently to oppose giving zoning variances to the owners of the Beantown Pub who are seeking to open a new restaurant at the former home of The Spotted Apron on Cambridge, across from the MGH. Their original proposal called for an 89 seat establishment, operating from 7am-2am offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and takeout. Neighbors expressed concern that spot would turn into "one great, big bar." The chair of the zoning committee suggested that in conjunction with the owners, more study be put into the restaurant concept to make it more amenable for the neighborhood. From the article it sounds like the Beantown Pub owners, who also own the Hub Pub on Province Street, are willing to work with the association and the neighbors to reach an agreement, including spending up to $350,000 on the new kitchen. My hunch is that the two groups will come to an agreement and the space which has been vacant far too long will soon become a vibrant addition to the Beacon Hill dining scene. - Adam

Scholars to open in Downtown Crossing

The people behind Emmett's Pub, 6B Lounge, and Crossroads will open a new spot called Scholars in Downtown Crossing this coming March reports the Boston Herald. The 300 seat American bistro and lounge will open in the former Talbot's spot and offer two levels of dining and billiards tables, complete with a Sunday Jazz brunch. - Adam

Phantom Gourmet returning to City Hall Plaza

The Boston Herald
Phantom Gourmet BBQ party to haunt City Hall Plaza
By Donna Goodison
Friday, January 14, 2011 - Updated 10 hours ago

After two years at Suffolk Downs, the Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party will return to where it all began.

The Andelman brothers are relocating the fifth annual event to City Hall Plaza on June 24-26, complete with about eight barbecue teams from as far as Virginia, Texas and Australia; a basketball court-sized beach; beer garden; Ferris wheel and party music. Tickets go on sale today.

While Suffolk Downs offered a bigger venue with parking, CEO Dave Andelman said being centrally located in Boston - where thousands of people can see the makings of the event from their offices - makes City Hall Plaza a better location.

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The Ultimate (and most expensive) Valentine's Package in Boston

Five of the Back Bay's most prestigious businesses are teaming up to offer one of the most alluring and most expensive Valentine's Day packages ever seen. The package includes a two night stay at the Eliot Hotel, a full day of spa services for two at G2o Spa and Salon, a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Cuvee rose champagne from Bauer Wine and Spirits, a seven-course chef's tasting dinner at Top of the Hub, and a 5.19 carat pink sapphire ring along with a platinum Patek Phillippe timepiece, courtesy of Dorfman Jewelers. The price of $246,900 for the package includes all taxes and gratuities. To book the package contact Kim Vaughan at G2O Spa and Salon at 617-262-2220 ext. 136.

Turner Fisheries blasts Copley Square with self-adulation

I was walking through Copley Square today and I happened to walk by Turner Fisheries at the Westin Copley Hotel on my way home.

While other venues such as Vapiano and the W Hotel in the Theatre District pump music lively music into the street (as did the former Daily Grill) none seems as in your face as the marketing messages from Turner Fisheries to people passing by on Dartmouth and Stuart Streets. I cannot recall another restaurant in Boston marketing itself like this.

I have to give Turner Fisheries credit for doing all it can to get people in the door. It is a seafood restaurant, in a sea (no pun intended) of seafood restaurants in Boston. Within a five - ten minute walk you have Atlantic Fish, Summer Shack, McCormick & Schmick's and three Legal Seafoods. It's also located in a large hotel which some people find to be not exactly what they're looking for. Also there is more citywide competition in the seafood category with the Island Creek Oysters, Neptune Oysters, Citizen Public Oyster House opening recently.

It's interesting though how they still highlight their clam chowder which was named Best of Boston by Boston Magazine in 2004. They also refer to the fact that they were chosen to be Boston's Best Seafood restaurant by the Boston's People's Choice Awards, actually that would be the Boston Choice Awards, in 2006. I'm not against a restaurant bragging about how good they are per se but it should be timely and factually correct at least.

Boston Symphony premiers UnderScore Fridays series tomorrow

South End Patch
Arts
Symphony Hall Launches Shorter, More Affordable Concert Series

UnderScore Fridays features an earlier start time of 7 p.m., audience engagement, and a cocktail reception with the artists.
By Cate Lecuyer | Email the author | 3:00pm


Making music a part of your life just got a little easier, with a new Boston Symphony Orchestra concert series designed with your time and money in mind.

The three-concert series, UnderScore Fridays, launches Jan. 14 and includes:

* An earlier start time of 7 p.m.
* Ticket prices that range from $90 to $336 depending on seat location.
* Shorter programs that last between one to two hours, some with no intermission.
* An interactive setting with the conductor speaking to the audience about the program from the stage.
* A post-concert cocktail reception with the artists.

The first performance features

Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain and Le Bernardin's Eric Ripert to appear at Symphony Hall

Thank you to the Globe's Devra First for putting a shout to this on her chat yesterday! It should be a first for Symphony Hall to host two big names from the food world in one night. Tickets on sale through Ticketmaster tomorrow at 10am. -Adam

From bso.org:

"Good vs. Evil: An Evening with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, live at Boston's Symphony Hall on Friday, March 4th. Join Anthony Bourdain, chef, author of Medium Raw and host of The Travel's Channel's No Reservations and Eric Ripert, renowned chef of Le Bernardin, author and regular guest on Bravo's Top Chef as they share stories and muse on the place of food in our personal, community and global life. It's an evening of storytelling and observation providing frank and provocative insight into what really goes on behind the kitchen doors.

A limited number of VIP tickets will be available, and includes premiere seating within the first six rows, access to an exclusive meet and greet session with Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert, complimentary h'ordeuvres, a VIP tour laminate and a limited edition poster.

Tickets go on sale Friday, January 14 at 10am. Tickets range from $35 - $200 for VIP packages and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and all Ticketmaster locations."

Zai to open in May in the South End

South End Patch
New Tapas Restaurant on Union Park To Open in May
Zai will replace Joe V's at popular neighborhood corner.
By Alix Roy | Email the author | 9:58am


Zai, the Japanese tapas restaurant slated to replace Joe V’s at the corner of Union Park and Shawmut Ave., will offer a unique type of cuisine that is new to Boston and New England, according to those involved in the enterprise.

The restaurant will specialize in yakitori, a chicken dish made from several bite-size pieces of meat skewered and grilled over charcoal.

“It’s extremely popular in Japan, it’s where people go after work,” said consultant Kerianne Panos of the dish, which is often served with salt or a special tare sauce.

The restaurant’s menu will revolve around fresh fare that’s cooked simply Panos said - fresh vegetables will be a staple. Customers can watch their meals being cooked on a large grill located at the center of the dining room.

“You’ll actually see the chef, who’s coming over from Japan for this restaurant, grilling in front of you,” Panos said.
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Liberty Hotel becomes part of Starwood's Luxury Collection

This is a great deal for Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members who visit Boston! Starwood gets its eight hotel in the Boston/Cambridge market (others are Sheraton Boston, Westin Copley, W Boston, Westin Waterfront, Le Meridien Cambridge, and Sheraton Commander) with out building a new hotel and is able to bring The Luxury Collection to Boston. I hope the new co-owner continues to let the Liberty do what makes the Liberty unique and special here in Boston! Adam

The Boston Globe
Liberty Hotel gets new co-owner, Starwood affiliation
By Katie Johnston Chase
Globe Staff / January 12, 2011

The Liberty Hotel in Boston has a new co-owner and has become part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Luxury Collection, its owners said yesterday.

HEI Hotels & Resorts bought out an ownership share held by Multi-Employer Hotel Partners LP in Seattle for an undisclosed amount and entered into a partnership with co-owner Carpenter & Co. in Cambridge, the original developer of the hotel.

Carpenter and HEI will run the business together, with HEI assuming day-to-day management of the 300-room hotel.

The Liberty consists of remodeled pieces of the former Charles Street Jail as well as a new high-rise. It has been home to fashion shows and music awards and houses the chic Italian restaurant Scampo, run by chef Lydia Shire and restaurateur Patrick Lyons.

“This is a fantastic hotel,’’ said Richard Friedman, chief executive of Carpenter & Co. “It’s got big potential, and I’m very committed to it.’’

Carpenter co-owns several other hotels in Greater Boston, including the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square.

The company also developed the Westin Boston Waterfront at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Hilton Boston Logan Airport.

The Liberty will remain an independent hotel but has entered into a franchise agreement to become the 11th US hotel in Starwood’s Luxury Collection. Guests who are members of Starwood’s loyalty rewards program will earn points when they stay at the Liberty.

The Liberty previously held a marketing affiliation with the Leading Hotels of the World booking group.

No personnel or property changes are expected at the Liberty because of the new partnership, but the Starwood affiliation may drive up room rates, said Reed Woodworth, vice president of the Boston office of Colliers PKF Consulting USA, a hospitality consulting firm.

“One would expect that people would pay more to have access to Starwood points,’’ Woodworth said. “It’s a move away from a true independent, because now they’re picking up the value of the marketing of the brand, that corporate reservation system, and the affinity program that’s good at all Starwood properties.’’

Katie Johnston Chase can be reached at johnstonchase@globe.com.
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

Radisson Boston Hotel "rebranding" again

It looks like times are still tough at the Radisson Boston Hotel. Earlier I reported their inadvertent "rebranding" and now here's the view from the other side.

Panera opens near Symphony Hall

There is another great spot to grab a bite to eat before or after a show at Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, or the Boston University Theatre. Panera Bread is now open at 289 Huntington Ave, in the space formerly occupied by Burger King. It's a quite a change as the new Panera location has two levels and lots of comfortable seating. One orders at the counter and is given a pager to indicate when your order is ready. More on the Panera opening from the Boston Globe here

The Gallows gets city ok to increase capacity

The Gallows on Washington Street in the South End tweeted that they have received Zoning Board approval to expand their capacity to 110! Thank you to SouthEndPatch for the alert on this!

Smith & Wollensky to open on waterfront at Atlantic Wharf, Back Bay location to stay open

The Atlantic Wharf project, developed by same company that owns the Prudential Center and now the Hancock Building, will have a great positive influence on this neighborhood of Boston. With the the Tea Party Ship & Museum hopefully on course, the potential redevelopment of the USPS building, the opening of the Liberty Wharf development (Legal, Jerry Remy's, etc) and the possible expansion of the BCEC (with a new large hotel) this area is poised to continue to be a focal point for business and pleasure in Boston. - Adam

The Boston Globe
Focusing on Fort Point
31-story Atlantic Wharf adds two more tenants, further transforming Boston’s waterfront
By Casey Ross
Globe Staff / January 11, 2011

With its sail-shaped design, Boston’s newest skyscraper is a 31-story invitation to the city’s newest gathering spot on the water.

The glass-walled tower at the corner of Congress Street and Atlantic Avenue is the largest development yet in a decades-long effort to transform the Fort Point Channel into a contemporary waterfront with residences, restaurants, boating tours, and cultural institutions.

And in addition to being one of the few to open during a slowdown in the commercial building sector, the $550 million Atlantic Wharf complex will probably be the last large property built on the downtown side of the city’s waterfront for some time. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino last year moved to restrict the size of buildings along the new Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, just inland from the channel and waterfront.

Yesterday, developer Boston Properties announced the latest additions to the complex: steakhouse Smith & Wollensky and the Boston Society of Architects, which will also run architecture tours in the area from its new offices.

“It’s all about activating this space for the public,’’ said Michael Cantalupa, a Boston Properties executive. “You can expect performances, art and architecture, and restaurants that will spill onto the plaza.’’

The property features an expansive plaza on the waterfront and a series of new docks that will allow for water-taxi service, tour boats, and private docking for small vessels.

Later this month the building’s first major office tenant, investment firm Wellington Management, will begin moving into the 18 floors of space it has leased in the complex.

Over years of planning, Boston Properties made multiple revisions to Atlantic Wharf, most significantly reducing the number of residences there to 86, from 165 units, while increasing the amount of office space.

Designed by CBT Architects, the complex occupies a long city block between the Fort Point Channel and the Greenway. It includes a seven-story residential structure along Atlantic Avenue, and a 31-story office tower whose base is fashioned out of the former Tufts and Graphic Arts buildings. Those buildings were gutted to make way for new offices, public event space, and ground-floor restaurants.

Smith & Wollensky, recruited in part by Menino, will open a 10,000-square-foot restaurant on the channel side this summer, with outdoor bar and dining. The restaurant will retain its existing Boston location on Arlington Street.

Atlantic Wharf will ultimately contain four other restaurants, including a coffee shop, casual lunch spots, and another fine-dining restaurant on Atlantic Avenue. The coffee shop is expected to be operated by Sorelle, which has two locations in Charlestown. The operators of the other restaurants have not been announced, although Boston Properties said at least one will be operated by a celebrity chef.

Menino yesterday called the project the “cornerstone’’ of the city’s efforts to transform Fort Point Channel into a recreational waterway. The channel, once a workhorse of industry and a staging area for protests that preceded the Revolutionary War, was rid of many of its pollutants during the Boston Harbor cleanup and in recent years has benefited from surrounding redevelopment. The InterContinental Hotel opened in 2006 and the Boston Children’s Museum expanded and redesigned its building on the channel.
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Copley Square Hotel offers snow rate

It hasn't started snowing yet but The Copley Square Hotel is offering a special $99 snow rate for the nights of Janary 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th. If you are going to be stuck somewhere during the snow storm, then it may as well be right in the heart of Boston, next to a 24-hour supermarket and walking distance from numerous restaurants, bars, and shops. Though not as good of a deal as the $18 rooms the hotel offered in July of 2009, the deal is still pretty good as the boutique hotel has recently gone through a multimillion dollar renovation. Click here for more information. The Colonnade Hotel offers a weather based deal as well but it's only on Fridays.

New York Pizza opens remodeled South End location

This is great news for the neighborhood and the even better news is that they will soon begin delivery! Maybe they will give the Upper Crust a run for their money?

South End Patch

Business
New York Pizza Reopens With Updated Interior renovations enlarge the corner shop, which has been a neighborhood fixture for 23 years.
By Travis Dagenais 2:30pm

Following a month of extensive renovation, New York Pizza re-opened on January 1 with an updated appearance, new technology, and virtually twice the space than before for customers to enjoy its signature big-slice pizza.

“We wanted to modernize, but without making it all metal and industrial,” says owner George Axiotis, who has worked at the shop since his parents opened it in 1987. “We wanted it to fit in a little better with the neighborhood, because times have changed, and to provide a better atmosphere.”

After thinking about renovation for a few years, Axiotis and his colleagues started making concrete plans about a year ago. The physical renovation began in early December 2010.

Elements new to the shop’s interior design include clean wood and metal accents along the walls, fresh flooring, and warm reds on walls and furniture, all of which enliven the atmosphere.
continued

Salem museum closes doors

The Boston Herald
Salem’s Lizzie Borden museum shuts doors
By Associated Press | Monday, January 10, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Coverage

SALEM -- A Lizzie Borden museum in Salem that sparked a lawsuit and questions over its location has closed after about 2 1/2 years in business.

Owner Leonard Pickel tells The Salem News that his 40 Whacks Museum faced steep rent and high utility costs at a time of year when tourist traffic slows. He says he was never able to attract key school groups.

His museum that opened in the summer of 2008 was originally called The True Story of Lizzie Borden. But he was sued by the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, where Borden was accused of using an ax to murder her father and stepmother. The Salem museum changed its name.

Others questioned why a museum about something that happened in Fall River was located in Salem, famous for its witch trials.

Business increasing at Boston's convention centers

The Boston Globe
Hub’s halls are centers of attention
Bookings up 27 percent at the Hynes and Convention & Exhibition facilities
By Casey Ross
Globe Staff / January 8, 2011


Boston’s convention halls experienced a surge in bookings in 2010, reflecting improving financial conditions across the economy.

The number of events booked for the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center jumped to 85 in 2010, 27 percent more than the previous year and the largest number since 2006, according to the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, the public agency that operates the facilities.

The jump in activity is a sign that the economic recovery has persuaded representatives of various industries that it is safe to schedule high-profile and expensive business meetings. Among those booking shows in Boston last year were the Association of International Educators, which promises to bring more than 7,000 people to the city in 2015, and the Biotechnology Industry Association, which is expected to draw 26,000 attendees in 2018.

“This is a good sign for Boston’s performance in the industry,’’ said James Rooney, executive director of the convention center authority. “This keeps us in the top 10 cities for conventions in the country.’’

The centers booked 67 events in 2009, and only 47 events in 2008, as businesses slashed travel and related spending in the face of the economic slowdown.

But the recovering economy has improved conditions in recent months. Industry specialists said Boston has fared particularly well with organizations that have a significant international compo nent, such as BIO, that are drawn to Boston because of its heavy concentration of universities and pharmaceutical companies.

Several other large standard-bearers have also booked in Boston, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which is planning a show for 2018, and the Association of Financial Professionals, which is coming to Boston in 2019.

“The meetings and convention industry is coming back in a big way,’’ said Pat Moscaritolo, chief executive of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “All major cities are seeing what we’re seeing.’’

Meanwhile Rooney, Moscaritolo, and other public officials and business leaders continue to examine the feasibility of possibly doubling the 520,000-square-foot Convention & Exhibition Center hall, at a cost of up to $1 billion. The group is slated to produce a report by April on its plans, which could also include adding a large hotel to the complex. Any expansion would need approvals from the City of Boston and the state Legislature.

Rooney said the Convention & Exhibition Center must expand to better host large events that now require attendees to be bused from distant hotels because of a lack of accommodations in the immediate area.

Skeptics point to data that they say show that the big Boston hall has failed to generate the economic activity promised when it was built in the early 2000s. A consultant at the time projected the exhibition hall would generate more than 650,000 hotel room stays a year, but it has averaged about 550,000 during the last two years.

Still, the convention center has continued to grow by many other measures, with overall attendance more than doubling to 540,000 a year between 2005 and 2009, according to the authority.

Casey Ross can be reached at cross@globe.com.
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

Crowne Plaza celebrates 2011 in unique way

Check out how the Crowne Plaza Newton celebrated the New Year last week!

Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar review

The Boston Globe
The Tip
Mexican food, and your choice of tequilaBy Devra First
Globe Staff / January 7, 2011
LOLITA COCINA & TEQUILA BAR

It’s a funny fact of living in Boston. People here love Mexican food, but there aren’t enough great places to eat it. That could be starting to change. It doesn’t hurt that several well-known local chefs are passionate about the country’s cuisine. To wit, Ken Oringer’s La Verdad, opened in 2007, just brought in chef Darren Carbone to shake things up. And Michael Schlow’s Tico is slated to open before spring.

Then there are new spots like Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar, where former La Verdad chef Brian Roche is in the kitchen. A spinoff of a Greenwich, Conn., restaurant, it opened in December in the former Papa Razzi space in Back Bay. It showcases tequila. Two hundred kinds of tequila. Need I say more? continued

Hostel buys downtown building, new location to open in 2012

Boston.com
Hostel group buys Hub office building for $15mJanuary 7, 2011 12:29 PM

Hostelling International Boston, a nonprofit organization that operates seven youth hostels throughout New England, has completed its $15 million purchase of 25 Stuart St., a six-story Boston office building that is being redeveloped as a 450-bed youth hostel, said a broker involved in the transaction.

The broker is Colliers Meredith &Grew, a Boston firm that represented Hostelling International Boston in the transaction. The seller was M&M Realty Trust.

Last year, Hostelling International Boston announced that Suffolk Construction Co. had been selected to renovate the building.

Hostelling International Boston currently operates a Boston hostel on Hemenway Street. The new facility on Stuart Street will nearly double current capacity of the Hemenway location, which will remain operational until the Stuart Street renovation is completed, something expected to happen in the spring of 2012.

The new facility was designed by Boston architectural firms Bergmeyer Associates and Stegman + Associates. The rendering that appears with this post shows what the Stuart Street facility will look like. It was provided by Colliers Meredith & Grew.

Boston Phoenix on the Phantom Gourmet/Upper Crust

Interesting piece here in this week's Phoenix on the Phantom Gourmet's comments on the Upper Crust controversy. - Adam

The Boston Phoenix
Phantom Gourmet kisses ass, defends Upper Crust
Bitter aftertaste By EUGENIA WILLIAMSON | January 6, 2011


The day after Christmas, those who follow the Phantom Gourmet's Facebook feed were treated to a provocative status update.

"Let's name restaurants that deliver," wrote the Phantom. "I'll start: Upper Crust Pizzeria."

It took only three minutes for someone to raise an eyebrow.

"I don't order food from places that don't pay their employees," Megan Boyer Tobins wrote. Quipped Jim Farrell, "If you mean deliver illegals from Brazil, then, yes, upper crust [sic] is your restaurant."

The Upper Crust chain — which has been a sponsor of The Phantom Gourmet, the local food show run by brothers Dave, Mike, and Dan Andelman — has been in bad odor in Boston since early last month. That's when the Boston Globe reported that the company employed dozens of illegal Brazilian immigrants who worked up to 100 hours a week with no overtime pay. When the United States Labor Department ordered the company to pay $350,000 in back wages in 2009, the Globe story said, the Upper Crust paid up but slashed employees' salaries to less than minimum wage.

In the last few weeks, the Globe reported, the state attorney general's office has been investigating the Upper Crust for their alleged violation of minimum-wage laws. Further, a whistleblower filed a civil suit alleging, among other things, that the owner threatened to kill him.

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Tremont 647 to reopen tonight

A call to the restaurant late this morning indicates they will definitely be opening tonight, but that it may not be right at 5:30pm. Definitely call for a reservation as the new design sounds exciting! - Adam

Southendpatch.com
Tremont 647 to Reopen Tonight
Customers will be treated to an expanded menu and remodeled lounge area.
By Alix Roy | Email the author | 10:30am

With the sudden departure of neighborhood restaurants Ginger Park and Rocca, many residents cried out upon seeing the papered-up windows of beloved Tremont 647. But not to worry, Executive Chef/Owner Andy Husbands is merely giving his place a facelift.

"After 14 years it was definitely time to make some well-needed changes," Husbands said. “Every renovation 'change' is being done with our longtime customers in mind and the changes being made will only enhance the cool neighborhood vibe and feel of the space.”

Friend and colleague Anne Barrett of 30E Design is spearheading the overhaul, which will include a wall of food-themed tattoos, a favorite of Husbands’. Other changes include an extended bar in the front room with high top tables and chairs on the opposite side.

As for the menu, only additions will be made to Husbands’ selection of “Globally Influenced Adventurous American Cuisine.” Some add-ons will include appetizers “perfect for sharing" at the new bar and lounge area, Husbands’ publicist wrote in an email.

Tremont 647 will be re-opening for dinner tonight. Call (617) 266-4600 to make a reservation.

Nation's top hotel concierges to hold meeting in Boston next summer

This conference will be an excellent opportunity for Boston to show everything it has to offer to a nationwide, and worldwide audience. - Adam



Les Clefs d’Or, USA

Press Release

Nation’s Top Concierges to Visit Boston

(Boston, MA) July 2011: Boston has been chosen to host the national chapter of the annual Les Clefs d’Or Congress July 7-11, 2011. This is the first time in twenty years that the City of Boston has been so honored.

Les Clefs d’Or (pronounced Lay-Clay-Door) represents an exclusive group of hospitality professionals comprising the top three percent of concierges in the world. Recognized for excellence in service and leadership in their field, Les Clefs d’Or concierges are identified by the “gold key” pins that they have the honor of wearing on the lapel of their uniforms.

Through their affiliation with Les Clefs d’Or, concierges benefit from an unparalleled network of accomplished colleagues around the world who have the unique ability to help them meet and exceed guest requests. Les Clefs d’Or concierges have invaluable insight into destinations, businesses, and/or products that they share with millions of business and leisure travelers throughout the world. Members of Les Clefs d’Or, USA represent over 275,000 hotel rooms nightly at over 250 four-and five-star properties. They also constitute the only national association of professional hotel concierges in the United States.

With this opportunity to welcome the Les Clefs d’Or Congress, Boston’s own Les Clefs d’Or members will be able to showcase the city to opinion-makers and thought leaders in the industry. The Congress will provide ample opportunity for attendees to sample Boston’s rich history, its cultural offerings, and its world-class cuisine. At the same time, attendees will convene to discuss the current environment facing the sector, ranging from new technological tools to trends in hospitality.

Today’s concierge professionals do more than just make dinner reservations, and the industry is evolving to meet the emerging needs of business and leisure travelers. Concierges are also setting a standard of service that is impacting other sectors as well. “The word ‘concierge’ appears almost everywhere these days as the ultimate symbol of excellent service, [throughout] all industries,” states Roberta Nedry, President of Hospitality Excellence, Inc., a leading service excellence training and consulting firm. “Consumer and guest expectations are driving these increasing numbers with a frenzied desire for more personal service and the concierge appears to be the ultimate solution. Today’s professional concierge plays an increasingly strategic role in the overall guest experience.”


Local organizers for the 2011 Les Clefs d’Or Congress are currently seeking strategic promotional and sponsorship partners to support the event, which will benefit both the Boston tourism industry and the concierge profession for years to come.

Follow us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Les-Clefs-dOr-Boston-2011-Congress-Fan-Page/104150616308259#!



Contact: Elizabeth Wilson, Administrator

Les Clefs d’Or, USA

Email: info@lcdusa.org

Phone: 617-469-5397

Boston bartenders seek to organize

Thanks to Universal Hub for putting this out there!

Universal Hub
Bartenders united, will never be defeated
By adamg - 1/7/11 - 7:57 am

DrinkBoston.com reports on efforts to develop a Boston bartenders guild:

Most meetings take place in one of the members' bars during a weekday. The next one, at Craigie on Main January 10, will feature John Mayer of Craigie and Tyler Wang of Drink talking about ice and dilution in cocktails. Other topics in the works include an interactive roundtable about cocktail formulas and discussions on speed and volume, guest relations and managing inventory.

Max Brenner on Boylston Street delayed until March

The Boston Herald
Get ready for chocolate pizza, other Brenner treats
By Jay Fitzgerald | Friday, January 7, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Business & Markets

Boston-area fans of Max Brenner chocolates may have to wait a little longer to bite into one of the company’s famous chocolate pizzas or sip its luscious hot chocolate.

The Israeli-owned Max Brenner chain, which has taken Israel and Australia by storm with its wide variety of everything chocolate, had already delayed its planned opening of a Back Bay shop from November to February.

Now Max Brenner, which has U.S. stores in Las Vegas, New York and Philadelphia, may have to wait until March before it opens its 745 Boylston St. chocolate wonderland, a spokeswoman said.

The issue is simply getting its operation team from Las Vegas, where they finally have a Max Brenner store up and running, to Boston for setup work and training, said Danielle Sarna.

“We’re still shooting for late February, but it may be March or sometime in the spring,” said Sarna.

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Faneuil Hall to get ice skating rink

Faneuil Hall Marketplace will open its first ever ice skating rink on Janurary 21st. It will be open from Sunday through Thursday from 11am-7pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-11pm, through February 27th. Admission will be $5 adults, $3 for children, with family rates (2 adults, 2 children) available for $10. Skate rentals will be $5 for adults and $3 for children.

BSO to offer rush tickets for Friday evenings!

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is now offering $9 rush tickets to all of its 8pm Friday concerts for the remainder of the 2010-2011 season! Tickets go on sale at 5pm at the Symphony Hall Box office at 301 Massachusetts Ave (though many will arrive before 5pm to line up). Tonight's concert features BSO Music Director James Levine leading Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex and Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle.

For more information visit the BSO website.

Please note that there will not be rush tickets for any Friday concert that begins at 7pm. Also if you are under forty, a limited amount of tickets for all shows are available at just $20! Visit the Symphony Hall box office, bso.org, or call Symphony Charge at 617-266-1200 to purchase these tickets.

Island Creek Oyster review - The Boston Globe

Dining Out
The Boston Globe
Shellfish fans, your ship has come in
Island Creek cultivates a fresh approach
By Devra First
Globe Staff / January 5, 2011

Skip Bennett and his crew at Island Creek Oysters have been cultivating excellent shellfish in Duxbury for nearly 20 years now. If you’ve ever eaten oysters in a local restaurant, chances are you’ve eaten Island Creeks.

That reputation is what’s bringing diners to the new Island Creek Oyster Bar. But the restaurant is here to do more than showcase its namesake bivalves. It is indoctrinating people into the cult of oysters. Along with the food, the owners offer a glimpse of what it is to make a living on the water. In addition to Bennett, they include chef Jeremy Sewall of Lineage and Garrett Harker, whose ever-popular Eastern Standard is located next door. Also on board are general manager Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli, well known from his time crafting drinks at Craigie on Main, and classic-cocktail guru Jackson Cannon as bar director. It’s a strong team.

The Kenmore Square restaurant is filled with sleek blondes in black dresses, chiseled men in sport coats, carefully disheveled hipsters. The crowd has the attractive gloss of a stock photo. The interior of the restaurant, opened in October, is inspired by the sea. Weathered gray boards hang on the walls like docks defying gravity. One wall is composed entirely of oyster shells contained by wire mesh. A vast photograph of Duxbury Bay hangs on another, enlarged to the point of abstraction. At the center of everything is a bar, where oysters, lobsters, and shrimp beckon come-hither from their bed of ice.

Island Creek Oyster Bar offers oysters from all over, including varieties hard to come by in these parts. In addition to Island Creeks, there are Peter’s Points and Moon Shoals, Hog Islands and Hama Hamas. The menu lists their origins and the names of those who grew them. Other offerings include South Shore clams, cod and whiting and dorade, and “Cousin Mark’s’’ lobster from Bar Harbor, Maine. (Lobsterman Mark Sewall is Jeremy Sewall’s cousin.) Here, the menu tells us how they were caught (Island Creek is focused on low-impact methods) and the names of the boats that brought them in. Not every item at Island Creek Oyster Bar is seafood, but this is a seafood restaurant, the kind that automatically goes to the top of the list of places to take out-of-towners seeking something more stylish than Legal. more

Island Creek Oyster review

The Boston Herald

Mussel your way into Island Creek
By Mat Schaffer | Friday, January 7, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Dining Reviews
ISLAND CREEK OYSTER BAR: B

How busy is the new Island Creek Oyster Bar in Kenmore Square? So busy that when we called a few hours ahead one recent Thursday looking for a 6:30ish reservation we were told we could only be seated at 6 or 9. But when we arrived at 6 they placed us at the bar.

Reservations at the bar? When co-owner Garrett Harker (Eastern Standard) spotted me, a table was quickly forthcoming - there were plenty of empty ones at that hour - but we were nevertheless nonplussed. (On a second visit, I dined anonymously at a table.)

There’s a triumvirate of talent behind ICOB. Harker is the G in B&G Oysters. Co-owner Jeremy Sewall (Lineage) is one of Boston’s best seafood chefs. And co-owner Skip Bennett owns Island Creek Oysters, the Duxbury farm from which the restaurant gets its name (and many of its bivalves).

Try Island Creeks on the half shell ($2 each) from the raw bar or in an IC slider ($4 each), battered, fried and nestled into a brioche roll with spicy, tart lime-chili aioli. Or enjoy them sprinkled with bacon and bread crumbs on a bed of creamed leeks - an oysters-Rockefeller-like preparation called Oysters Gregory ($12), named for the director of marketing at Duxbury’s Island Creek. (Dishes honoring people unknown to most patrons are annoyingly common on this menu.)

But there’s plenty to explore here besides oysters.

Upper Crust wins another "best" award

Upper Crust was just named Boston's Best Gourmet Pizza by CityVoter Boston A-List. Somehow they beat out Pizzeria Posto (#2), Pizzeria Regina (#3), Peace O'Pie (#4), and Figs (#5) for the top honor. Surprisingly there is no mention in the top of great pizza places such as Mangia, Hot Tomatoes, and The Flatbread Company. Upper Crust posts the following message on their Facebook page: "THANK YOU to all who voted us Boston's Best Gourmet Pizza on CityVoter's A-List. We appreciate your vote and are so thankful for your support!"

Beantown Pub owners seek to open new spot across from MGH

Boston Restaurant Talk
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Beantown Pub Owners Plan to Open a New Restaurant in Boston's Beacon Hill Neighborhood

If all goes as planned, an American restaurant may be coming to the Beacon Hill section of Boston, and the people behind it also happen to own a watering hole near Boston Common.

According to Boston.com, the group behind the Beantown Pub on Tremont Street are looking to open a new restaurant on Cambridge Street (across from Massachusetts General Hospital) where The Spotted Apron bakery and cafe used to be. more

Foundry on Elm fires waitress after lateness due to I-phone glitch

I'm sure that this girl will get a new job faster than many other job seekers out there. If only everyone who becomes unemployed could get this kind of exposure in their local media market (and be able to blame Apple for your getting fired), then our nation's unemployment rate would be really low. Good for the restaurant for saying only good things about her to the press. Perhaps the real issue here is why a restaurant makes someone work such crazy shifts in the first place that would cause a person to try to expect to function reasonably on just five hours of sleep. -Adam

Boston Herald
Waitress’ iPhone alarm failed, getting her fired
By Jessica Van Sack | Thursday, January 6, 2011 | http://www.bostonherald.com |

Apple Inc.’s popular iPhone can scan prices at stores and recognize songs on the radio - but one woman claims it can also get you fired.

Lindsay Garvey, 28, says the widely reported glitch in the iPhone’s calendar software caused her to oversleep for her job as a server at a popular Somerville restaurant, Foundry on Elm. Garvey was promptly fired for “tardiness,” she said.

“If you had warned me about the glitch, I could have at least picked up a $5, battery-operated alarm clock that would have saved my job,” she wrote in an open letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted on the Huffington Post. “Now I’m unemployed in a time when jobs are not easily had, and I am short on my rent. So, Happy New Year to you, Mr. Jobs. I hope you remember to shoot me an e-mail next time there is any chance of a glitch. (Just a note, my iPhone bill payment will probably be late this month.)”

Garvey, a 2005 Tulane University graduate, told the Herald yesterday that she worked late on New Year’s Eve and went to bed at 5 a.m., setting her alarm for 10 a.m. so she’d have plenty of time to make her noon shift.

But she awoke at 11:50, without enough time to make her shift, and was fired. Foundry’s co-owner, David Flanagan, would only say, “We loved her. She was a great employee.”

Garvey sidestepped questions about whether her tardiness was an isolated incident. She said after paying $300 for her iPhone in September 2009, and $100 each month on her contract, she blames the phone - not Foundry - for her lack of employment.

“It just made me feel angry because I spent all this money on this phone,” she said. “I’m not asking for anything. Maybe an apology.”

Apple officials did not return calls yesterday.

As for Garvey’s job prospects, she’s in the market for a bartending or waitressing gig, vowing, “I won’t be late.”

George Regan to marry Kimpton Hotels executive, former Mandarin chef concierge

George Regan is back in the news, just not defending the Upper Crust!

Boston.com
George Regan getting married
Posted by Mark Shanahan January 5, 2011 05:20 PM


Regan Communications CEO George Regan is engaged. The powerhouse publicist told his staff today that he plans to marry Lubna McInnis, an executive with Kimpton Hotels, owner of the Nine Zero, Hotel Marlowe, and the Onyx. The couple - he is 59, she's in her early 30s - have attended several events together in recent months, including a party on Nantucket and the Celtics kick-off dinner in October. Regan, a onetime aide to former mayor Kevin White whose firm represents companies ranging from Bank of America to the Boston Celtics, has been engaged at least once before, but has never married. (Former flames include Channel 7's Darlene McCarthy and TV newsgal-turned-artist Dixie Whatley.) Prior to working for Kimpton Hotels, McInnis was chief concierge at Boston's Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Wondering about the ring? Those who've seen it say it's sizeable - an emerald-cut diamond of over two carats. A staffer who was summoned to today's meeting say the veteran spinmeister joked that he'll have to raise his rates just to pay for the rock. (He also quipped that he's poised to make two business acquisitions in the new year, and "a third that (he's) in love with.") Attempts to reach McInnis, who grew up in Wales and speaks with a thick Welsh accent, were unsuccessful yesterday. Reached on his cell phone, Regan declined to comment. We're told the couple will trade "I dos" this summer at the Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee, where Regan has a place.

Scup's in the Harbour delays reopening until spring

Scup's in the Harbour, a real hidden gem of a restaurant located in the East Boston shipyard has delayed its reopening until the spring. See below for an emailed message from the owners, Wendy and Dave. I can't wait until they reopen! - Adam


Dear Friends and Neighbors.

The happiest of New Year's Wishes to all of you from all of us.

Thank you for your support and loyalty to Scup's in the Harbor. We regret to inform you that due to both the poor business climate and our spectacularly behind scheduled renovations, we have come to the realization that the best course of action is to delay our reopening from the Holidays until after the snows of deep winter left our shores.

It is hard to believe, but true, that a certain amount of our customers are fair weather sailors. They have not come down to experience the harbor on a winter day. It is our favorite time of the year to be on the Harbor Walk - clean crisp air with sparkling skyline views. Then back to Scup's to sit in front of the warming fire with a locally brewed beer or carefully chosen wine in hand... Many of you have discovered this with us. We thought we could cajole and entice the rest of you but we failed.

Of course we will honor all gift certificates when we reopen again. Have no fear - we are not leaving forever.

Sadly then, until Spring...

Wendy, Dave and D3

Boston Phoenix to investigate Upper Crust/Phantom Gourmet in next issue

Grubstreet Boston
Is a Boston Pizzeria at the Center of an Industry Revolution?
by Kara Baskin
1/5/11 at 3:50 PM

We hear that the Boston Phoenix plans to probe the Phantom Gourmet/Upper Crust debacle in their next issue. We reported on the contretemps — in which the Phantom decreed that "I’m sorry to tell everyone, but without illegal aliens, there is no restaurant business" — and wondered how the local critic could be oh-so-chummy with a chain that has reportedly treated several employees poorly ... perhaps illegally. (Shockingly, based on the Phantom's Facebook replies, sponsorship just might play a role!) But really, it's a soap-opera-ish footnote to a larger moral issue, one that's been going on for a lot longer than Upper Crust has been open — and Boston's at the forefront. more

The Gallows seeks city approval to increase seating

Thank you to South End Patch for this great story about a South End restaurant possibly expanding its capacity. I hope The Gallows is able to get approval for this. - Adam

Southendpatch.com
Gallows Restaurant Petitions for More Seating
Increase would bring maximum capacity to 110.
By Alix Roy | Email the author | 6:00am

A hearing will be held next Tuesday to discuss a proposed increase in seating at The Gallows, one of Washington Street's newest eateries.

The restaurant's owners have filed a petition with the City Licensing Department to increase the restaurant's seating capacity from 90 to 110. The matter will come before the Board of Appeals next Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in Room 801 at City Hall. Residents wishing to speak in favor or against the proposal may do so by contacting the Board at (617) 635-4775 or writing to Board of Appeal, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02118.

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Tremont 647 closed for renovations

Walking by Tremont 647 this morning I noticed that they are closed for renovations until January 7th! To hide the construction work they have very creatively posted menus of their restaurant on all of the windows. A call to the restaurant today indicates that Sister Sorrel next door will be opening for drinks this evening and that Tremont 647 should re-open for dinner service this Friday, January 17th. As reported earlier here Tremont 647 will be installing pictures of people's food tattoo's as part of their remodeling to celebrate their 14th anniversary. - Adam

California company to buy Back Bay Restaurat Group

This is big news for the Boston Restaurant scene. Back Bay Restaurant group has done an amazing job with their restaurants, always keeping a high level of quality and customer-focused service that is not always there in the restaurant business. Hopefully the new company will keep this going, if they are to indeed take over. - Adam


The Boston Globe
West Coast firm to buy Boston restaurant group
By Jenn Abelson
Globe Staff / January 5, 2011

The Back Bay Restaurant Group, with popular dining spots such as Joe’s American Bar & Grill and Abe & Louie’s, has agreed to sell its assets to a California firm, Tavistock Restaurants LLC.

Tavistock Restaurants, part of a privately held investment company, is looking to take on all 33 restaurants that operate under six brands: Abe & Louie’s, Atlantic Fish, Charley’s, Coach Grill, Joe’s American Bar & Grill, and Papa Razzi, according to Amy Daniels, a spokeswoman for the Back Bay Restaurant Group.

“This is by no means a done deal, but we’ve long been mutual admirers of each other. Of all the restaurant groups out there, we know that Tavistock Restaurants has the same passion for great foods and great service,’’ said Charles F. Sarkis, founder of Back Bay Restaurant Group. “They want to be in this market and retain our employees. We’re hopeful this deal goes through. There are still many terms to be worked out.’’

The deal, which is expected to close by the end of February, will bring an end to Sarkis’s almost half-century reign over some of the Back Bay’s pre mier dining destinations.

Abe & Louie’s was ranked as the highest grossing restaurant in New England with annual sales of close to $15 million in the 2010 Restaurant & Institutions Magazine.

Sarkis has continued to oversee the company despite a 15-year battle with brain cancer.

Sarkis “is confident that Tavistock Restaurants is in line with our core values and will be able to continue his legacy of providing quality food and exceptional hospitality,’’ Daniels said.

“And while [Sarkis’s] health improves every day, this decision will allow him to focus on his continued recovery.’’

Tavistock Restaurants, which runs chains such as Napa Valley Grille, California Cafe, and Blackhawk Grille, could not be reached for comment late yesterday.

Daniels said the California company has expressed interest in keeping the Back Bay Restaurant Group’s roughly 4,000 employees, who work in Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. About 65 percent of the workers are located in Massachusetts.

Daniels said she did not have terms of the deal. But the estimated value of the agreement is roughly $50 million, according to a person briefed on the matter.

Several people with knowledge of the discussions said there is talk that another company may take over the Papa Razzi chain and Tavistock would keep the other five brands in its portfolio.

Sarkis also owns three of the Back Bay buildings that house some of his restaurants. He will keep ownership of the buildings for Abe & Louie’s, Atlantic Fish, and Papa Razzi.

Tavistock has eyed the Boston market for several years and had planned at one point to open ZED 451, a high-end restaurant, on the waterfront at the former Jimmy’s Harborside Restaurant.
© Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

'New' hotel in the Theatre District

It looks like the Radisson Hotel has been inadvertently rebranded due to an electrical problem!

BFD to fine Rise $100; allows them to reopen

Universal Hub
Fire Department reverses course, decides to fine Rise for overcrowding after all
By adamg - 1/4/11 - 3:24 pm

Post update with further information from BFD.

This statement just in from Fire Commissioner Roderick Fraser:

I have reviewed the evidence provided by the Boston Police Department regarding the events at the Rise nightclub as well as the documentation provided by my Nightclub Inspectors and have determined that the Rise was in violation of their posted capacity and have fined them accordingly. The Boston Fire Department takes overcrowding or any other violations of the fire code which would endanger the public's safety, very seriously.

Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said that even the club's own counters showed the club had exceeded its 292-person capacity by 25 to 30 people, and that the club was fined $100. He added the department told club owners yesterday they were free to re-open.
continued

Rise owner cites 'lies' in police report on NYE incident

BOSTON METRO
MICHAEL NAUGHTON
Published: January 03, 2011 7:29 p.m.
Last modified: January 03, 2011 7:31 p.m

Club owner: Police report full of ‘lies’

The owner of a private nightclub that was shut down by Boston Police on New Year’s Eve doesn’t want his club to have the same reputation as the officer who closed it.

Darrin Morda, owner of Rise on Stuart Street, said he was “appalled and shocked” by what he said were “lies” that were posted online Sunday as part of an incident report.

“The whole thing is just ridiculous,” Morda said.

Police alleged that the bar was guilty of various safety violations — including having 800 people in the club, which has an authorized capacity of 292.

The officer named in the report, Sgt. Detective Daniel Keeley, is known for his aggressive approach and earned the nickname “Mr. Homicide” for his ability to garner a murder conviction. However, his methods have been criticized in recent years.

Police originally charged the club owners with failure to comply with the conditions of their fire permit.

Steve MacDonald, a Boston Fire Department spokesman, said yesterday the club would not be cited and a review of the permits showed the club was up to date.

Police said they stand by the report and will work with their licensing unit to determine how to proceed.

Is officer ‘tainted goods’?

A 2005 profile by Boston magazine called Sgt. Detective Daniel Keeler “tainted goods.”

That profile also recounted how Keeler admitted to making false statements on a police report and in an affidavit for a Dorchester shooting about seven years ago.

In 1980 he was suspended for four days after he and another off-duty officer harassed women working at a bar, the profile said.

Keeler avoided more trouble in 2006 when video of him allegedly stealing sunglasses from a Newbury Street shop during an investigation was leaked. A clerk magistrate found there was not enough evidence, but he was later suspended for 30 days for using poor judgment during that incident and for lying about talking to a reporter.

“Attempting to make Sgt. Keeler a scapegoat for the mismanagement that occurred ... is unfair and without merit.” –Police spokeswoman

Schlow's Tico poised for late February opening

GrubStreet Boston
Tico's on Track to Open in Late February
1/4/11 at 12:24 PM
by Kara Baskin

We just received word that Radius chef Michael Schlow's new venture, Tico, is on target to open in late February. The restaurant will feature dishes influenced by his Spanish, Mexican, and Latin American travels and, per his rep, promises flavor profiles "unlike anything Boston has tasted before." More info ahead.

Rudi's Resto closes

This is sad to see Rudi's have to close, largely because of an incident that was not their fault at all. The city should do everything they can to encourage businesses to open in this area and help good business owners like these deal with landlords such as the one in this incidents. - Adam

Universal Hub
Gun violence claims showcase Roxbury restaurant
By adamg - 1/4/11 - 12:26 pm

The owners of Rudi Resto, a key part of a city effort to revitalize the area along Melnea Cass Boulevard, closed shop on Sunday, victims, they say, of the aftermath of a wild car chase that started in a parking garage across the street last October.

"We've lost our shirts, we've lost everything we own," co-owner Julian Maria said this morning at a hearing before the Boston Licensing Board on the incident.

His co-owner, Mark Koeck, said the restaurant went into "a financial nosedive" immediately following the chase, during which one officer fired at Johnell Gilmore's car to try to keep him from plowing into Rudi's patrons leaving for the night. The problem was not patrons - many of whom, he said, made a point of showing their support by coming back - but landlord Corcoran, Jennison, which he said actually locked the restaurant to give the impression the city had shut it down, Koeck said. Kocek said it took an expensive legal fight to re-open and he and Maria were simply unable to recover.

Maria, a native of the Seychelles, said the experience has shaken his faith in the American dream. "I'm having second [thoughts] whether I'm really protected in this country," he said. continued

Former Rocca chef Faison eye opening her own restaurant

Grubstreet Boston
Tiffani Faison: Boston Has Been 'Incredible' to Me
by Kara Baskin
1/3/11 at 12:11 PM


Tiffani Faison, the Rocca chef who's now on the lookout for new work after that South End Italian restaurant suddenly closed over the weekend, isn't letting the news get her down. She paused to chat with us before heading off to bond with her Rocca pals over dumplings at Winsor Dim Sum.

"I'm staying in Boston," she says. "Boston has been incredible to me." Right now, as she also told the Globe, she's setting her sights on opening her own restaurant.

She wouldn't tell us exactly what she has in mind ("It's living in my head, if investors are interested!" she joked), but says she wants it to be the kind of place that people can frequent three to four times per week. "Casual, but not too casual," she says. "Fine dining, but not white tablecloths."

As for rumblings that the South End might not be the easiest place to operate a restaurant, Faison thinks the neighborhood is just fine. "Gaslight is doing well. I don't want other restaurants to think, 'It's coming for you.'"

Continued

Jersey Boys sets new box office record in Boston

Names
The Boston Globe
‘Jersey Boys’ breaks box-office record
By Mark Shanahan & Meredith Goldstein
Globe Staff / January 4, 2011

At the finale of “Jersey Boys,’’ the musical biography of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the entire company delivers a rousing rendition of “Who Loves You?’’ Evidently the answer is: Boston audiences. The current production of “Jersey Boys’’ has broken the weekly box-office record at the Colonial Theatre, pulling in a whopping $1,127,032 for the week that ended Sunday, according to Broadway Across America. That puts “Jersey Boys’’ ahead of “The Producers,’’ which previously held the record at the Colonial with a one-week gross of $1,115,241 in 2003. “Jersey Boys’’ still has a few weeks to try to break its own record: The show runs through Jan. 30.

Upper Crust plans to open 2nd downtown Boston location

UPper Crust is continuing its rapid expansion. According to an ad on page 25 of the newest Improper Bostonian, Upper Crust is soon going to open its 19th location at 109 State Street. This location is directly across from Al's State Street Cafe and between Dunkin Donuts and 7-11. Hopefully it will be open late to take advantage of all of the drunk people streaming from numerous bars in the area seeking something decent to eat at 2am.

Marisa Iocco eyes return to the North End

It looks like Marissa Iocco is returning to North End. She is applying to the North End Waterfront Neighborhood Coucil for a liquor license transfer from the former Grezzo (69 Prince Street) to be exercised at 78-80 Salem Street. As reported earlier by Boston Restaurant Talk, a restaurant by the name of La Sosta di Maria is looking to open at the same Salem Street address, a former hair salon. Marisa Iocco is the former executive chef behind Bricco, Mare, Umbria, Il Panino, Galleria Italiana, La Bettola, South End Galleria, and Spiga. It's not yet clear what role she has in a this planned restaurant but it's exciting to see her looking back toward the North End! - Adam

Local food writer on what happenened with Rocca

MC Slim JB

03 January 2011
CSI Boston – Restaurant Edition: Who Killed Rocca?

A lot of Bostonians woke up New Year’s Day to the news that Rocca Kitchen & Bar, an upscale modern Italian restaurant in the South End, had closed. (I broke the news at 8am on Chowhound, having first heard it the night before from several parties close to the restaurant, and after some early-morning confirmations from a few more.) Many expressed shock: wasn’t Rocca doing well? Hadn’t chef Tiffani Faison (brought aboard in March 2010) reinvigorated the menu, garnered new critical acclaim (like enthusiastic re-reviews by Devra First in the Boston Globe and Corby Kummer in Boston Magazine), and attracted plenty of press (in part with her celebrity from a second-place finish on Top Chef, Season One)? What the heck happened?


It’s said that success has many fathers while failure is an orphan. I expect many conflicting stories to trickle out in the coming weeks, laying blame for Rocca’s closing variously on troubled management, the recession, the fickleness of customers, bad weather, crossed stars. As someone who lives nearby, roots for local businesses to succeed, and gave Rocca many chances over its three years and eight months of life, I have my own particular theory. Let’s consider the evidence:

Co-owner discusses why Rocca closed

The Feast

Pulling the Plug by Leah Mennies 4 hours ago in Eat Michela Larson Discusses Rocca's Demise, Has Ominous Forecast For The South End
Leah Mennies

This weekend, South End Italian restaurant Rocca closed, leaving many to question how this could happen to a beloved spot with a successful new chef (Tiffani Faison) and three stars from The Globe.

The Feast spoke with co-owner Michela Larson, who also opened lauded restaurant Michela's in the 80s, Rialto in 1994 and Blu in 2001. Larson, along with co-owners Gary Sullivan and Karen Haskell, opened Rocca nearly four years ago. "We built this place in a neighborhood that didn't have anything going on at the time," Larson says. "We played a really strong role in helping it move [along]."

The restaurant was hit hard when the economy downturned, Larson says, and they had hoped that bringing Faison on board would revitalize the restaurant. While it did in terms of garnering praise and buzz for the spot, it took far longer for the restaurant to turn around financially, especially when a major investor scaled back funding.

"We were faced with something that we had to deal with in December, but we truly believed that we were going to move through it," Larson says. "It turned out not to be so easy— it was going to take a very, very big investment to remain stable through the worst part of the year [January-March]."

The owners and staff are devastated about the close, and Larson is concerned for the state of the restaurant scene in the South End. "I heard just a day or so ago that there are four other restaurants in the South End that are either in the same [predicament], or heading there," she says. "It's scary that the people who put the time and effort to draw attention to this area don't have the bandwidth to stay around for a year or two until [the economy rebounds]."

As for now, Larson's not looking too far into the future. "For the next month or so, I'll be working to help Rocca come to a respectful end," she says. [The Feast]

Tresca gets neighborhood approval to serve until 1am

Tresca is an excellent restaurant, it's good to see them get the neighborhood support for this later closing time. Adam

Northendwaterfront.com

Tresca Restaurant Receives Full Support of NEWNC For Later Closing Hours
DateMonday, December 13, 2010

Tresca Restaurant at 227-237 Hanover Street received a unanimous vote of support (9-0) from the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council for its application to serve alcohol until 1:00 a.m., one hour later than its current closing hour of midnight. The later time would apply to its existing C.V. All-Alcohol Beverage License, 7 days per week. The vote was taken at NEWNC’s meeting on Monday, December 13, 2010.

Presenting presenting for Tresca were co-owner and hockey legend, Ray Bourque, co-owner Harvey Wilk, General Manager Massimo Tiberi and Attorney Daniel Toscano.

The applicants said they want the extra hour to 1:00 a.m. so that late diners coming in at 10:30 - 11:00 can have the full “Tresca Experience.” A complete meal can take up to 2 hours.

Ray Bourque said, “I spend a lot of time promoting Tresca. I am also still involved with the Bruins. Games often don’t let out until after 10:30 p.m.”

“The council would not be setting a new precedent by voting to support,” said the Attorney Toscano. According to his research, the 02113 and 02109 zip codes have 25 all-alcohol, 7 day, serving licenses, of which nearly 70% have a 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. closing time. There are also 56 beer and wine only licenses and 30% of those have a 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m. closing. continued

Vox Populi closes

As reported earlier on Boston Restaurant Talk, Vox Populi is now officially closed. Their website is offline and their number is out of service. Perhaps this is another good spot for The Lyons Group to take a look at? - Adam