boston

Luxe Travel Tip: JetBlue's New Direct Service to Turks & Caicos

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Thanks to JetBlue, it's now a whole lot easier to get to one of our favorite luxe travel destinations, the Turks & Caicos islands. The eco-friendly airline known for its style and value just introduced direct service to the Caribbean hotspot's Providenciales island from New York's JFK and Boston's Logan airports. The flights leave JFK daily.

Tags: airlines, beach, Boston, Caribbean, islands, JetBlue, jetblue+service+to+turks+and+caicos, jetblueservicetoturksandcaicos, JFK airport, Logan airport, luxury resorts, luxury travel, resorts, travel, Turks Caicos

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Luxury Truffle Purveyor To Open Boston Shop

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Shopping

Boston's luxury shopping destination, Newbury Street will have a new treat come March 24. Sabatino North America, the largest importer and manufacturer of gourmet truffle products in the U.S. is opening their first flagship retail store, Sabatino&Co. Roma in Boston on Newbury Street on March 24th right around the time that the Italian company celebrates its centennial. The store will introduce a wide range of products including gourmet foods and condiments, cookbooks and home accessories to add a little luxe to your life.

Tags: boston, newbury street, retail, sabatino and company, truffle, truffles

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Starwood Sponsors First Skating Rink at Boston's Prudential Center

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

Starwood Sponsors First Skating Rink at Boston's Prudential Center

Luxury hotel megabrand Starwood is sponsoring the first-ever ice rink at the Prudential Center in Boston, now open through the end of March. Starwood's Boston properties – Sheraton Boston Hotel, The Westin Copley Place, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, W Boston, and The Westin Boston Waterfront – dedicated the rink to the Boston community in the hopes that Bostonians will take the time to connect with one another on the ice. "This rink speaks to our commitment to give back to the community that has been home to the Sheraton Boston for more than 45 years," notes Colleen Keating, Sheraton Boston's Marketing Manager. All opening day proceeds went to the Bruins Foundation. In celebration of the occasion, the Sheraton Boston (above) is offering two "Share the Ice" value stay packages:

Tags: Boston, hotel deals, ice skating, sports, Starwood, W hotels, Westin, winter sports

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New $2 Million Projector Creates Dazzling Display At Boston Museum

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Boston's Museum of Science recently spent $9 million upgrading the Charles Hayden planetarium but the most expensive piece of that renovation is not one of the exhibits it's the $2 million Zeiss Starmaster Projector. The projector brings the universe to life on a 57-foot aluminum dome using lights and fiber optics. Two Sony high-resolution digital projectors contribute to the richness of the display. The Zeiss Starmaster is one of only two in the United States (15 worldwide) and the only one on the East Coast. The Boston Globe reports that the resolution is so good that you can actually use binoculars.

Tags: boston, charles hayden planetarium, museum of science, zeiss

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Boston's Liberty Hotel Joins Luxury Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The owners of the luxe Liberty Hotel in Boston, a National Historic Landmark built in 1851, have inked a deal to make it part of Starwood's Luxury Collection portfolio, its very first in Boston. Located in a historic former jail at the foot of Beacon Hill overlooking the Charles River, The Liberty Hotel is a 300-room "urban retreat infused with a distinctive personality that honors the building's rich history while imparting contemporary vibrancy." The building preserves the original structure's commanding 90-foot central rotunda, soaring ceilings, exposed-brick walls, and authentic portions of its historic jail cells. Three floors of balconies are restored prison catwalks, and the property includes a landscaped courtyard designed to be a hidden gem in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

"We are proud to welcome The Liberty into our unique collection of hotels and resorts that celebrate distinctive heritage and authentic character," notes Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. "With the building's rich storied past and mysterious character, The Liberty is destined to be a coveted destination for global travellers and an unparalleled way to discover Boston." The hotel is owned by a joint venture between HEI Hotels & Resorts (HEI), the nation's fastest growing private owner/operator of hotel real estate, and Cambridge, Mass.-based Carpenter & Company, Inc. The Liberty Hotel is anchored by several restaurants, CLINK, Alibi, Scampo, and the Liberty Bar. CLINK is designed with vestiges of original jails cells that create cozy nooks for an intimate dining experience.

Gallery: The Liberty Hotel, Boston

Tags: Beacon Hill, Boston, Liberty Hotel, Luxury Collection, luxury hotel, Paul James, St. Regis, Starwood

Boston Wine Expo Celebrates 20th Year

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine, Events

Boston-area wine lovers are eagerly anticipating the 20th Anniversary Boston Wine Expo coming up this weekend, January 22-23, 2011 at the Seaport World Trade Center. This year's event includes the "Founding Chef" culinary series with celebrity chefs and local favorites Ming Tsai of Blue Ginger; Todd English of Olives, Figs and Kingfish; Jasper White of Jasper White's Summer Shack; Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley's Bistro; Michael Schlow of Radius, Via Matta and Alta Strada; Marc Orfaly of Pigalle and more.

The Boston Wine Expo also features keynote speaker Ray Isle, Executive Wine Editor of Food & Wine. The main event is the Grand Tasting showcasing over 300 international and domestic wineries pouring over 1,500 different wines. There is also an exclusive Grand Cru Wine Lounge, featuring high-end vintages; and a Seminar Series designed for all levels of wine enthusiasts. Tickets for the Grand Tasting are $110 each after that date and two-day tickets are $145. Grand Cru Wine Lounge ticket prices are $175. Seminar and other events are priced separately. For more information on chef demonstrations, seminars, participating wineries and to purchase tickets, go to www.WineExpoBoston.com.

[via MetroWest Daily News]

Tags: boston, boston wine expo, wine event, wine events, wine tasting, wine tastings

Burroughs Street, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Boston's Jamaica Plain area is full of beautiful old houses along the roads near Jamaica Pond. Today's home is a pondside residence 100 yards from historic Jamaica Pond, part of Boston's Emerald Necklace of parks. Built in 1897 this home combines Victorian and Greek Revival elements and retains its grand and gracious space. this large home has ten bedrooms and includes a servants wing. The Carriage House was structurally restored and renovated and now serves as family recreational and home office space. This home is listed at $2.5 million.

Gallery: Burroughs Street

Tags: boston, boston real estate, estate of the day, jamaica plain, massachusetts real estate

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Boston's Hancock Tower Gets New Owners

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Boston's most recognizable skyscraper, the John Hancock Tower has a new owner. Boston Properties has purchased the tower from private-equity firms Normandy Real Estate Partners and Five Mile Capital Partners for about $289.5 million, plus the assumption of about $640.5 million in debt, a total of around $930 million. The tower sold at auction last year for around $661 million ($20.1 million for the mezzanine debt as well as that $640.5 million mortgage). The tower had sold for $1.3 billion in 2006.

According to a Wall Street Journal article the sellers have agreed to complete some capital and improvement projects that are under way. Last year we mentioned that the owners were planning a $20 million renovation inside the building adding restaurants, shops and underground parking. Boston Properties also owns other local icons including the Prudential Tower and 111 Huntington, a building famous for its rooftop crown.

Tags: boston, boston real estate, hancock tower, john hancock tower

Book Taj Boston's $6 Million Suite and Put Your Name on the Boston Conservatory's New Theater Building

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Charity, Big Givers

Are you a patron of the arts seeking a unique legacy opportunity in Boston? Consider this exclusive offer. A $6 million donation on the weekend of October 15-17, 2010 will allow you to put your name on the new performance complex at The Boston Conservatory, Boston's prestigious independent performing arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater.

Naturally, that's not all - you'll also get private round-trip jet transport for two from anywhere in the world, limo transfers to and from exclusive hotel Taj Boston and two nights accommodations in the Presidential Suite. Amenities include 24-hour butler service and a new Jaguar XS to enjoy during your stay and take with you or garage in Boston with lifetime valet parking at Taj Boston. You'll also enjoy access to the exclusive ribbon cutting and grand opening events, including guided tours of "your" new theater with a VIP reception, tickets to opening night and a post-performance Champagne and dessert reception, lifetime tickets to all Boston Conservatory performances arranged by the Taj concierge staff, a collection of commemorative items including an engraved Christofle sterling silver platter, etched Tiffany Champagne glasses and a magnum of Cristal Champagne Rose and a festive farewell Sunday Champagne Brunch on The Roof at Taj Boston.

Don't care to shell out the full $6 million? There's a less pricey option! How about the $4 million package? You won't get the private jet package or the car, but you can enjoy the naming rights for the Main Stage Theater only as well as two nights in your choice of Luxury Suite or Park View room accommodations, limo transfer to and from all Conservatory events, a welcome amenity of Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries, and butler service throughout your stay. You will also enjoy access to the ribbon cutting, opening night, VIP reception and private after-party.

Payment for packages with naming rights will be divided between The Boston Conservatory and Taj Boston. Payment to The Boston Conservatory ($5 million for theater building naming rights or $3 million for the main stage theater auditorium naming rights) will be applied to the Conservatory's capital campaign and used to fund part of the $32 million theater building construction project. Payment to Taj Boston ($1 million) will be used to cover hotel and added expenses, with the remainder applied to the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust formed in 2008 to provide hope and healing to victims of terror, war, natural disasters and other events that disrupt life.

To book the packages, contact Claude Dubois at Taj Boston, 617-536-6700. Naturally, neither package includes taxes or gratuity.

Tags: boston, boston conservatory, christofle, jaguar, taj boston, tiffany

Atlantic Fish: A Landmark for Boston's Best Seafood

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Atlantic Fish in Boston is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Seafood

Known for serving the freshest fish and seafood, Boston's Atlantic Fish, is a nominee for a Luxist Award for Best Seafood Restaurant.

A classic Boston favorite, the restaurant prints its menus daily to reflect only the freshest seafood available that day. Atlantic Fish, which opened in 1978, focuses on the finest-quality seafood and the freshest catches of the day, offering guests a wine variety of daily seafood selections. Atlantic Fish is a seafood haven for locals and visitors to Boston alike, offering signature classics including its award-winning New England clam chowder, its famous baked stuffed Maine lobster, jumbo lump crab cake and a signature swordfish chop. The menu also features some contemporary seafood dishes such tuna bolognese, barbecue glazed salmon and sea bass chowder.

Gallery: Atlantic Fish in Boston, Ma.

Tags: Atlantic Fish, awards-main, Best Seafood, Best Seafood Restaurant, Boston, luxist-awards

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NYC Named America's Richest City With Over 650,000 Millionaires

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

New York has been named America's richest city with a record 667,000 high-net worth individuals, or people with $1 million or more in investible assets, recorded as living there in 2009. The figure, 18.7% higher than in 2008, comes from the new Metro Wealth Index created by consulting firm Capgemini, the Wall St. Journal reports. New York not only topped the list but demolished the competition, with a sum greater than the total of the next three runners up combined – Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington. The number of millionaires in New York City – some of whom are of course billionaires – is now greater than the entire population of Boston. While growth is up across the board over 2008, only New York, D.C. (#4), Houston (#9) and San Jose (#10) are now above their 2007 or pre-recession levels, with the rest still languishing behind.

Tags: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, millionaires, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Washington, wealth

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Plans For Edward Kennedy Institute Revealed

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

The late Senator Edward Kennedy will have his own institute next to his brother's presidential library and museum. The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate will be next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum on the University of Massachusetts at Boston campus. Renderings for the project were revealed this week. The 44,000-square-foot compound was designed by architect Rafael Vinoly. A groundbreaking is scheduled this fall and the institute is set to open in 2013.

The Boston Herald reports that the institute hopes to raise $125 million to cover the building expenses and start an endowment. The Kennedys have already donated millions on top of the nearly $3.5 million given by the late senator's political campaign. Peter Meade, the institute president and CEO, told the Herald that donors have given or pledged $50 million and that the institute floated $60 million worth of bonds to pay for the construction.

The institute has a unique role, it's not a museum or a library but is focused on education. It will have an exhibit hall, Senate Chamber representation, a replica of Kennedy's office, classrooms, digital library and archives.

Tags: boston, edward kennedy, Massachusetts, ted kennedy, umass

Jordan's Furniture Company Could Pay Out $40 Million In Monster Contest

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Sports

New England furniture store Jordan's Furniture has launched the latest version of the "Monster" campaign to have fans rooting for the home team, the Boston Red Sox. The Boston Globe reports that customers who bought any Jordan's furniture merchandise at one of the regional chain's stores from April 1 through May 2 won't have to pay for their purchases if any Red Sox player manages to hit the baseball in the Jordan's Furniture company sign at Fenway Park between July 15 and October 3. It's no easy task, the sign measures six feet by twelve feet and hangs 421 feet from home plate. But there will be around 3,000 at bats that could yield victory.

The company started the Monster promotions in 2007 when it promised rebate checks to customers if the Red Sox won the World Series. The Sox won and Jordan's furniture paid out around $20 million in the form of rebate checks to 24,000 customers. The company could be on the hook for $40 million if a player dings the sign but Jordan's Furniture takes out an insurance policy before these promotions to protect itself.

Tags: boston, Fenway, Fenway Park, Fenway+Park, Jordans Furniture, red sox, red sox boston, Red Sox fans, Red Sox Nation

Hotel Commonwealth's $755/night Red Sox Suite

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Boston's Hotel Commonwealth has created a Red Sox suite for those Fenway Fans – or Fenway taunters – more comfortable with the yellow seats down by the field. For $755 overnight you can lock yourself in a suite well stocked with Red Sox relics: Ruth, Agglanis and Conigliaro baseball cards, photos of Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams, and balls autographed by Johnny Pesky, Carlton Fisk and Jim Rice.

At the end of memory lane, suite guests can pass the hours around game time at either of the two plasmas – one in the living room, one in the bedroom – and watch the 2004 and 2007 runs to the World Series trophy and Ken Burns' "Baseball" series. The hotel fitness center is where they can work off the gift basket with Baby Ruth candy bars and baseball cookies, and it's probably best for everyone involved that the Commonwealth omitted the beer guy and his plastic cups. If you're nice, you might be able to get the 24-hour room service attendant to throw you a Haagen-Dazs ice cream bar...

Gallery: Hotel Commonwealth's Baseball Suite

Source

Tags: baseball, boston, Boston Red Sox, fenway, hotel commonwealth, Red Sox, sports, suite

W Boston Hotel and Residences Facing Foreclosure

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

Another hotel is in trouble. The developer behind the 28-story W Boston Hotel and Residences in downtown Boston has filed for bankruptcy protection. The Boston Globe reports that documents filed in US Bankruptcy Court in Boston by SW Boston Hotel Venture LLC, a subsidiary of Sawyer Enterprises, show liabilities of $100 million to $500 million. The City of Boston itself gave the developer a $10.5 million loan a few months back to help it finish building the $234 million project. The complex opened in October, not exactly a perfect time in the struggling condo real estate market. Only around 10 percent of the building's 122 condominiums have been sold. The Globe reports that W units have sold for as much as $1.9 million for a three-bedroom and $345,000 for a studio.

The W Hotel has 235 hotel rooms on its first 15 floors with rooms that cost more than $300 a night. Hote occupancy rates are still down in Boston because of diminshed tourism. As is usually the case in these situations, the hotel operations are not affected by the filing.

Tags: boston, hotel foreclosure, hotel foreclosures, hotels in trouble, w hotel boston

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