Boston Craft Cocktails at Craigie
August 7, 2015
An evening that started with a nice dinner at Kirkland Tap and Trotter (not to mention some very nice cocktails) ended with a nightcap at sister restaurant (big sister, that is) Craigie on Main.
Craigie on Main has a fantastic bar program.
Oysters with Caviar at Craigie on Main
One of the many fantastic cocktails on the menu is the Pepper in the Rye:
1.5 oz peppercorn infused overholt rye
.75 oz cardamaro
.5 oz house amer picon
.25 oz aperol
splash lemon
splash lime
dash grapefruit bitters
stir. strain into cocktail glass. flamed lemon (discard)
The House made Amer Picon is fairly close (a bit on the orange side kind of like Torani Amer made with Reagans number 6). Can’t wait to compare iterations of this cocktail with real Amer Picon.
Craigie on Main Amer Picon Knockoff
Bartenders Rob Ficks and Eric Books were on duty.
Craigie on Main Bar
Rob is working on an experimental beverage as yet untitled:
1.5 oz mizu shochu
.75 oz cocchi americano
.75 oz pickled nectarine
.25 oz verjus
1 dash grapefruit bitters
stir. strain up in champagne glass. garnish with a violet.
Hotel Marlowe (Boston): Kimpton Karma Supreme
August 6, 2015
Last year, the fine folks at Hotel Marlowe served up the best amenity ever by making a collective donation to my Leukemia Cup boat. Talk about Kimpton Karma! Wow.
How could they ever top that? Well pull up a chair…
The first thing they did this year was double their donation! I mean holy cow, that is the coolest thing ever. Supporting a good cause and fighting blood cancer. You guys rock.
(You’re welcome to join the fun by making a donation of your own, dear reader.)
Kimpton Karma Supreme
The valet Jonathan said hello when I arrived. He knew my name!
Then my friend Joe Capalbo plussed up the room to the gorgeous Presidential Suite (820). Awesome.
820: The Top of the World
But wait, there’s more. The very nice amenity involves bacon(!!!) and a craft cocktail from downstairs. And a personal note from Joe.
Bacon
This is definitely the way to ease in after no fly July. Thanks you guys!
Kimpton rocks.
820 Bedroom zoom 1
820 Bedroom zoom 2
820 Bedroom zoom 3
Of course the shower in here is way not plastic.
Glass shower in 820
Dining/meeting
Telescope is a Kimpton thing
820 Hotel Marlowe
Anyway, ten showerheads (double the max) for Hotel Marlowe and Joe. Home away from home in Boston.
That and the Presidential Suite will do it for me every time @Kimpton! Did you see that the team also made a @LeukemiaCup donation?! wow.
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) August 6, 2015
On United it is One Step up and Three Steps Back
October 20, 2014
Since I remain locked into a hub, I am pretty much consigned to fly with United on at least some portion of my flights. United has suffered so much operationally since the merger with Continental that this is very painful indeed. I can say without any exaggeration that operations at United is still completely broken.
I spent 75,000 frequent flyer miles to get up to NH this weekend to write some music. What did I get? Two unsatisfactory flights.
Flight one to Boston was delayed 90 minutes (right through the dinner hour). There was no food on the flight—not even peanuts. The “entertainment” system is that ridiuclous DirecTV system that plays mandatory ads to you while you are strapped in your seatbelt. No wifi. No power to power your own iPad or Nexus.
Flight two never happened. A broken airplane rippled through several flights like toppling dominos. The way this unfolded was classic united. First a 40 minute delay. Then 90 minutes. Then 3 hours and 30 minutes. Then never. I was upgraded to first class on a flight that never happened!! awesome!
The only saving grace was the red carpet club in Boston which is a beautiful space. If you have to be on the drip delay (united can’t run an airline) the red carpet club is the place to be stranded.
the new @united club in boston is nice. sadly stuck here for an extra hour maintenance delay. https://t.co/WZHQNpv05q
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 19, 2014
The people at the United club were fantastic. They helped everyone get backup flights and even stayed open an extra two hours. But best of all, this happened. When I finally decided to bail and get some dinner, I went down to the Legal Seafood. As I was having a snack, the United rep came down to find me and let me know that she had booked me on a USAir flight to DCA. I had to run to Terminal B, but I got home thanks to the United club people. Too bad those good people can’t fire Jeff Smisek!
This tweet from United pretty much says it all.
@noplasticshower Our apologies for the inconvenience today. But we are glad that you made it to your destination. ^ML
— United Airlines (@united) October 20, 2014
Hiatus at the Highball Lounge (Boston)
October 17, 2014
Of course the United flight up to Boston was delayed (90 minutes) and of course there was no wifi on the flight. You see, United spent all kinds of money on that stupid DirecTV system as if everyone in the universe does not have their own nexus or ipad. United, you guys are truly behind the technology curve by a decade. Oh, and there was no food on the flight…at all.
So I was hungry when we finally landed 90 minutes late. We hightailed it to the Highball Lounge to visit my friend Shaher Misif. Shaher Misif is a dangerous man.
made it to @highballlounge where @smisif remains a dangerous man https://t.co/ETxANlBV0E
— noplasticshower (@noplasticshower) October 17, 2014
The Highball Lounge rocks. After an obligatory authentication shot, we had a delightful Barnyard Punch, recently added to the cocktail list and made as follows:
1.5 oz Bourbon
.5 oz Falernum
.5 oz Suze
.5 oz Lemon juice
.5 oz Raw sugar
2-3 dashes celery bitters
shake, strain, serve on rocks. garnish with mint and lemon moon. (I will cut the sugar down myself when I make this one.)
We also had an outstanding bacon cheeseburger and some tater tot nachos. Delicious.
Then we drove to NH with a warm fuzzy feeling.
The leaves are peaking in NH
Hotel Marlowe in Boston = Best Kimpton Karma Ever
August 14, 2014
It’s true that NPS has been here countless bajillions of times. And it is true that like in all relationships we’ve had our ups and downs. But the Hotel Marlowe staff (ably led by GM Joe Capalbo) outdid themselves this time. Best amenity ever. Wait for it…
Team Tartan sailing in the 2013 Leukemia Cup.
The staff made a sizeable donation to my Leukemia Cup sailing team. Holy cow you guys absolutely rock. (You, dear reader can join em here.) We’re trying to raise $22,000 this year, and every penny counts. Just wow.
Thanks Amanda and Ryan and everyone else involved.
I am in 621 which seems to be my default room these days (though I do fondly recall the Presidential Suite…yes I do…love that prosthetic blog memory unit!). Things are very nice here with plenty of room to relax and get some work done before the work starts…or something.
Bedroom 621 at Hotel Marlowe.
Living room with really TALL furniture in 621 at Hotel Marlowe
I do really like the bathroom part of this room, though I still have never been in that huge tub. One of these years, I swear.
What is that in the mirror?
The shower is definitely not plastic. NPS approved.
No plastic to be seen near the shower in 621 at Hotel Marlowe
Though I am missing my rock in the middle of the Shenandoah River now that no fly July has come to an end, Hotel Marlowe and their killer staff are a home away from home. Five showerheads plus two.
The evening started with a delicious cocktail at Brick and Mortar. Great space. Great vibe. Great cocktails. Good place for a business chat. After a Greenpoint, we tried a house invented More Than Classic:
1 oz wild turkey 101
1 oz Aperol
1 oz Braulio
.25 oz demarara syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
A roller coaster of a drink that starts bitter and is a bit too sweet in the end. Not much in the middle. But a decent experiment.
Dinner at Bondir was nice, but they are trying too hard. The first three courses (bread included) were a veritable confusion of great tastes. Too much going on. But some sublime ideas in there. Main course and desert were much better. All in all, Bondir seems overpriced to me. The atmosphere is nice and homey though.
All this and a telescope to boot.
Back in the Air: Why Jet Blue Dogs United
August 14, 2014
Don’t tell anybody, but I have only been on 2 airplanes since June, and one was today! You see, air travel is no longer something I look forward to since it devolved to “bus service in the air” a couple of years ago. It was a long slow death spiral, but consistent and very much depressing.
As long time readers of NPS know, I am no longer a fan of United airlines. After 10 years of being a 100K member and 1,560,787 miles, United finally used up ALL of my remaining loyalty. That’s right. Every drop. I’m stuck with United since I live near a major hub of theirs, but I plan to do what I can to avoid flying with United.
So, for the first trip back from the famed “no fly July” we’re giving Jet Blue a shot. Lets compare and contrast, from the sublime to the stupid.
Why Jet Blue is Better than United (a one trip comparison)
1. flies modern equipment (new embrear regional jet vs United prop (?!) jet)
2. has a better commuter terminal for East coast travel at IAD (Terminal A, the “walmart” terminal sucks)
3. costs less (by $200 to get to Boston and back)
4. people at Jet Blue seem to like their jobs (at United they all know Jeff Smisek sucks and they hate working for him…really)
5. whole cans of soda water by default even in cattle class
6. United loves to talk about what they are “gonna” do, but they never get it done –> WIFI = not that hard
7. Jeff Smisek sucks and he is the CEO of United
Not that Jet Blue is perfect mind you. I don’t like paying $50 for an extra bag as a newb, but I have to have my bag of electronics for this trip. I also don’t like paying $30 more so I can get on first and stow my instruments, but I am sure as heck never checking my precious violin. So that all sucks. This trip will cost me $160 more than planned. Maybe #3 up there is wrong.
In the end it is clear that I need an airplane.
p.s. Here is a comparison between United and Delta FWIW.
Hotel Marlowe (Cambridge, MA) Ends the Shift with a Flourish
March 25, 2014
It’s like coming home—with a telescope.
Telescope in 621
GM Joe Capalbo is known for reaching across the country to make a guest feel special. It’s much easier when you’re in his domain! Boston is Joe’s domain. We were greeted with the special makings of a Shift Ender (as recently featured on Glassaholic). See, at least somebody reads this blog!
Cocktail-related amenities? We approve. Heartily. Lets make this a trend.
The Shift Ender before construction.
The Shift Ender post construction
So we start with a Shift Ender and lots of delicious snacks. That should tide us over before we hit Sportello and drink and a late evening of fun and games. Hopefully, no phones will be sacrificed.
Snacks include this gorgeous charcuterie plate.
Anyway, thanks Joe. You rock.
Amongst all of the goodies was a note from GM Bill McKinney who runs not only the Bambara downstairs but also the shiny new Highball Lounge where barman Shaher Misif presides. A visit is on the docket for Wednesday (after dinner at Journeyman, no wait, strike that, dinner is slated for EVOO).
621 is a very nice executive class room at the Hotel Marlowe. The key to this room category is the glass shower cube. That’s what we do all this for!
621 has a glass shower.
Once again, I am utterly unlikely to get into the gigantic tub thing. What is it with these huge tubs and underuse?
Bedroom portion of 621.
Living room portion of 621.
And the best news? I get to spend two nights in Boston this time.
This just in from our excursion to drink, here is the inestimable Ezra Star wearing google glass. Sportello was great and so was drink. John Gertsen runs a tight and highly entertaining ship.
Ezra wears glass.
Ezra does her thing.
Somehow we managed to rally for a second evening out. Started with an OK dinner at EVOO, the highlight of which was some Slovakian stew made by a talented student chef. The bar at EVOO tried to make a good drink they call the Bleeding Heart:
3 oz grapefruit juice
2.5 oz Tequila
1 oz orange liqueur (use something not too sweet)
splash of lemon
dash of salt
Shake, serve over crushed ice, float a teaspoon of grenadine, throw in a luxardo cherry
The only problem with EVOO’s version was fake grenadine and a red dye number 5 fake cherry (plus middle quality booze). This drink has enough promise to do it properly at home.
After dinner it was off to the Highball Lounge where barman Shaher Misif presides. Shaher is a dangerous man. I repeat, Shaher is a dangerous man.
Shaher Misif is a dangerous man.
We were joined by a flamboyantly gay mexican architect who really would not keep himself to himself as well as the good man Robert Gonzales, brand Ambassador from Zacapa rum. Robert was super fun. He caused this flaming cocktail to appear.
Things became fuzzy. Liberals were served (with house amaro consisting of 26 ingredients). Alcohol rained from the sky? I believe we even got into the Pappy 23, which escalated the bill nicely into the stratosphere. Oh well, you pay what you get for (or something like that).
Eventually even the bar ceased to act as a barrier. This is Roberto on the wrong side of the bar.
Shaher is a dangerous man. But we think he’s fun anyway.
The Highball Lounge is a great place to drink. Shaher Misif is a dangerous man. Bring your bag of bitcoins. But watch out, Shaher Misif is a dangerous man.
Five showerheads and a tip of the shaker to the Hotel Marlowe.
Joe Does It Again: Hotel Marlowe Reaches Cross Country
February 27, 2014
Meanwhile back at the Palomar, it was a noplasticshowers birthday. Yeah I know, “one day older, and one day closer to death.” Don’t even ask.
A note from Hotel Marlowe (Boston to San Francisco)
Joe Capalbo, GM of the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge reached all the way across the country to say happy birthday. Awesome.
Cupcakes and prosecco.
Ending the Year Strong: Hotel Marlowe in Boston
November 26, 2013
Hotel Marlowe is one of my favorite destinations, especially with Joe Capalbo’s steady hand at the helm. What a great way to cap 2013’s out of control travel. The Marlowe staff for this short stay was in rare form and managed to create the funniest amenity poster ever (Meghan rocks). Check this out:
Even Kimpton agrees: Jeff Smisek sucks!
I must admit that I do bitch about Smisek here on this blog, and, well, at least somebody is listening even if United is not!
This trip also included the best side run ever to an undisclosed location in NH where we did some experimenting with special fuel additives.
Special fuel additive creation device.
Dinner at Sportello was extremely convenient since our ultimate target was drink downstairs. Because of the previous Jacques-inspired evening in Boston, I owed Josey Packard a bottle of Amer Picon. It was delivered last night almost direct from Paris. That really got the (snow) ball rolling. By the end of the evening we had an avalanche on our hands. Woo hoo!
The ultimate victim was my phone, which Caroline used as a gravity test meter after we somehow managed to make it back home. Yes, gravity is still in effect.
Ouch. Midnight mishap.
Meanwhile back at the Marlowe, all was peaceful and awaiting an extremely abbreviated evening. Sleep is for the weak in room 825.
Short sleep here.
Fruit is really good after midnight.
No sitting happened here.
No soak occurred in this tub.
This shower hit the spot. Plenty of hot water in a nice glass cube.
Obligatory mirror in mirror shot.
I look forward to my next visit to Boston and stay at the Marlowe. Five exemplary showerheads and a great laugh. Thanks!
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