According to the BVI people, I have never been here before. But I distinctly remember being here in 2012. Someone needs a computer.
The computer believes you did not exist in previous times.
Room 7 is gussied up in the standard BVI fashion. Heavy on the flower prints. The building is solid and nice. But the decorator needs to be replaced.
Room 7: Bedford Village Inn
The desk with no outlets, designed before laptops, tablets, and the net.
The grounds outside are lush and green with lots of actual real flowers
Marble clad bathroom
Big giant hot tub thing but it has a shoer curtain (wah wah waaaaah)
The sound track in the morning at the restaurant is Frank Sinatra. Somehow fitting. Oh, and there is a presidential candidate staying here on my floor. Who knows, probably some jackass from Texas.
The sound track the evening before after dinner at the Copper Door (right next door) was some live music on the patio. A spontaneous appearance by Where’s Aubrey. And real Liberals with a new bottle of Amer Picon. The evening was delightful and candlelit.
Where’s Aubrey’s new CD
At least it’s not a massive chain of hamster cages! Three showerheads and some flowery print for the BVI. As far as we can tell, there is nowhere better to stay in Manchester, NH.
He’s Back: Joe Takes the Reigns at Hotel Marlowe (Boston)
October 17, 2013
Long ago in a galaxy far far away Joe Capalbo set the Kimpton hook by paying attention. Since that time, Joe has moved up the food chain, running the Onyx across town, and recently coming back as the General Manager of my Boston home away from home, the Hotel Marlowe.
Joe has been good to his word. He even listens to Where’s Aubrey. That’s above and beyond the call of duty.
Another personal note from Joe, this one featuring a song title.
The welcome setup in 621 reminds me of a miniature version of Christmas morning. Fun. Thanks Joe.
High information welcome package.
One of the four featured local craft cocktail bars mentioned above is Craigie on Main, which I can attest has a superior bar and some very skilled people working behind it. The coup de grace of a great bar is a real sazarac capability. The sazarac, though simple in concept, is always a very tricky drink to get just right. At Craigie they do it right (and they surprise you with it with a comped delivery after a delicious meal). Also of note is the fantastic wine list at Craigie. We enjoyed a stellar a 2010 Nit de Nin Priorat. The food was very good as well.
Craigie on Main makes a Mellow Yellow as follows:
1.5 Buffalo Trace bourbon
.5 Yellow chartreuse
.5 Becherovka (a new one on me, see below)
.25 Apricot liqueur
dash Regan’s orange bitters
Stir. Express orange peel and drop in.
Becherovka is a cinnamon bitters from the Czech Republic
Back at the Marlowe, some pictures from 621.
Glass shower de riguer
Bedroom
Bathroom mirror (mirror).
Telescope room.
But wait, there’s more. Day2 the plan was to bar hop with Kimpton bar strategist and Tequila master Jacques Bezuidenhout and his trusty associate Ken. It was a dangerous plan and well executed.
We started at the Blue Room with a very good meal indeed. Their bar program is really looking up these days, and the space is nicely spruced up. Then it was off to drink for the best visit ever. Ezra Star was in the house and surprised that Jacques and I arrived together. (The planet is really small.) She joined us for some tequila after her shift. The highlight of the evening other than the company was a tour of the entire incredible kitchen drink/sportello/menton trifecta by Barbara Lynch’s very natty GM John. Amazing place and excellent tour. And somehow I now seem to owe Josey Packard a bottle of Amer Picon?!
Suffice it to say that 6:30am rolled around way too early.
Five showerheads and a very high bar indeed for the Hotel Marlowe and my favorite Kimpton GM Joe Capalbo.
In flying news, United saw fit to upgrade me on two of three legs for this trip. I’ll be checking a bag from Boston, because I was given a bottle of Rhum to bring home to the bar. (Directions are: 1/8 oz lime with pure cane sugar and 2 oz rhum – or so.)
Rhum Agricole from Guadeloupe.
noplasticshowers Gives Back
February 2, 2013
As you can tell by our snarkier postings, those of us in charge here at noplasticshowers are spoiled rotten by our high-end lifestyle. This blog is one of the ways that we give back (to you, dear reader, so you can become as spoiled as we are). That’s not enough, though! We want to give back in a more tangible way by creating opportunity for those whose circumstances are less fortunate than ours.
Geek philanthropy good.
So we do. Through music, sailing, Kiva, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.
Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.
The noplasticshowers Kiva portfolio.
Where noplasticshowers touches the world through Kiva.
Where’s Aubrey philanthropy ($11,013 and counting). Raising money with our music.
Where’s Aubrey: Luminous
Sailing in the Leukemia Cup with Team Tartan ($20,355 in 2012).
Team Tartan in the 2012 Leukemia Cup.
The most important charity of all is a local one. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is an outstanding organization that helps alleviate hunger in my own county. For several years running, the noplasticshowers family has provided a monthly stipend of $210 to the food bank. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to go hungry in the United States of America.
We encourage you to join in. Giving back feels good, and it really helps.
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