Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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02 03 and funky use of reclaimed materials, such as the chandelier in the lobby made of coiled phone cords and rope. The work of local artists can be found throughout the hotel. Bells and whistles: Room TVs are pro grammed to be a "digital concierge," with the Enseo system offer- ing access to Netf lix, Hulu, and the Internet. Before-hours: Outlook Kitchen + Bar, the Envoy's restaurant, features American cuisine. After-hours: Enjoy a drink and panoramic views of the Boston skyline from the Lookout Rooftop Bar. The bar's specialty is "ingredient-driven" cocktails as well as local beers—Harpoon Brewery developed a special brew for the Lookout, while Lookout Punch is made with rum distilled locally by Privateer. The Godfrey The Godfrey has the best of both worlds: beautiful old architecture on the outside, ultra-modern rooms on the inside. Oxford Capital Group refurbished the Gothic exte- rior of the Armory and Blake buildings, which date to the early 1900s, while completely gutting and rebuilding the interior. The 242-room Godfrey is located in the heart of Boston's Downtown Crossing shopping district, which, after falling on hard times, is in the midst of a multibillion-dollar devel- opment boom. "Our goal was to create a calming oasis within this urban epicenter of the city," says general manager Larry Casillo. The artists: Finegold Alexander Architects over- saw the restoration of the façade of the Amory and Blake buildings. The Gettys Group did the interior design, restoring historic features like the original lobby, elevator banks, and stairwell, which lead to modern, cutting-edge rooms. Bells and whistles: Guests have access to unlimited bandwidth on their wire- less devices, including the ability to download movies in seconds. Rooms feature large TVs equipped with the Inspire technology platform, which is designed to look like an iPhone. Guests can stream content from their mobile devices on the screen. Before-hours: T he Godf rey adjoins George Howell Coffee, which harkens back to the Coffee Connection, a café that Howell opened in Cambridge in photography by adrian Wilson (Verb); eric leVin/enVoy (king suite) To-Do LisT Godfrey Hotel general manager Larry Casillo shares his must-do holiday attractions. For The romanTic Traveler "If you're traveling with a signifcant other, I recommend a neighborhood pub crawl. Each neighborhood in Boston celebrates the holiday season in its own unique way. A stroll through downtown Boston would be my choice. There are great restaurants within walking distance of each other, like Townsman, Serafna, and Yvonne's. They all have a lively bar scene and are very different from each other—a great cross-section of our city." For The Family Traveler "I love taking my two young sons on a Christmas tree tour through the city. Around the holidays, family travelers must start with lunch in the new Boston Public Market, followed by skating at The Boston Common Frog Pond and a late-afternoon snack at Faneuil Hall. To fnish the perfect family day, check out the blue lights at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End." There's plenty of space to congregate and collaborate at the rock 'n' roll-themed Verb, near Fenway Park. below: A king suite at The Envoy. 1974. The coffee shop promises a blend of "sophisti- cated yet inviting coffee experiences," including an espresso bar in the European style. After-hours: A lounge area in the hotel's lobby dou- bles as a coffee shop and communal breakfast area by day and a craft bar by night. The Verb Most people assumed the old Howard Johnson next to Fenway Park was destined for the wrecking ball, but most people aren't Steve Samuels, who teamed up with legend- ary Boston hotelier Robin Brown and Weiner Ventures to restore this Mad Men–era classic, turning it into a rock 'n' roll-themed boutique hotel. The hood: Once a no-man's land of gritty sports bars and souvenir shops, the neighborhood around Fenway Park has morphed into one of the city's most vibrant areas over the past few years. Bells and whistles: The Verb is awash with rock memorabilia (Samuels is a longtime friend of John Mellencamp). The lobby is equipped with a vintage turntable, with dozens of old albums ready for a spin. There are also backstage passes and posters from Boston rock shows over the years, from The Who to The J. Geils Band. The walls are decorated with post- ers from the now defunct Phoenix club, which made its home for years in the shadow of Fenway. After-hours: There are parties during the summer at the palm-lined pool in the hotel's courtyard, reminis- cent of The Beverly Hills Hotel. You can find top-shelf Japanese pub fare at the new Hojoko, launched by Tim and Nancy Cushing, best known for O Ya. BC 116 bostoncommon-magazine.com haute property