Room in Your Heart 2024

This holiday season there will be families in our city that might otherwise go without a gift if it weren’t for the kindness of those they have never met. That’s why we are partnering with Wonderfund for our annual Boston tradition, Room in Your Heart. From now until December 16, we will have a room at The Lenox set aside solely for accepting gifts. Our goal is to fill the room to the point of overflowing and make the wishes of countless children that Wonderfund supports come true this holiday season.

Our kick-off gala is Thursday, November 14th – join us for a fun-filled evening, all for a great cause. Limited tickets available here!

Details:
November 14 – December 16
Bring new & unwrapped gifts to The Lenox and ask for the Room in Your Heart room
Place gift under tree and make dreams come true!

Wonderfund provides resources, comfort and dignity to children receiving services from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. They provide enrichment opportunities and can lend immediate support during emergency situations. In addition to providing goods and necessities, they facilitate and fund involvement in the arts, music, academics and athletics. We’re hoping to provide these children with items they want on top of the ones they need. Wonderfund’s most needed items are geared towards teenagers, but any toy donation is greatly appreciated.

We hope you can make some room in your heart to fill up the room in our hotel!


Check out the video below to see how the room filled up last year:

 

Sweeneys & The Irving

So, what’s changing? Ultimately, we’re going back to our roots. Based in The Lenox, our service will be as warm & welcoming as you’ve come to expect. We’ve long prided ourselves on guest service as the core of who we are, and that will remain unchanged in our outlets. While the names & branding are changing, with Solas becoming Sweeney’s on Boylston and City Bar becoming The Irving, it’s more than a name change. It’s a continued growth of The Lenox’s singular focus of heartfelt hospitality throughout our building.

The Irving is truly reaching into our heritage. The name itself is pulled from the very history of our company. In 1940, Irving Saunders purchased the Broadway Hotel, kicking off the first of what would become a long legacy of hospitality in the Saunders family. Throughout the branding, you’ll see subtle nods to the heyday of train travel, stemming from when The Lenox abutted the Boston Albany Railroad immediately behind the hotel, as well as art deco ties from the early days of The Lenox. Crafted cocktails make for a perfect pairing alongside shareable plates.

Who exactly is Sweeney? Represented by a playful caricature of an Irish terrier, Sweeney represents the deep Boston-Ireland connection embedded in our shared history. Born in Ireland but having emigrated to Boston, Sweeney loves his Irish homeland, but has embraced his new Boston home. At Sweeney’s, our culinary heritage focuses on a true Irish experience with authentic Gaelic classics made new alongside longtime Lenox favorites.

The best part? The people you’ve come to love and know are staying the same, but we’ve been revitalized. Our new Executive Chef, Daniel Kenney, brings decades of New England experience through our doors. A graduate of the renowned culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University, Chef Dan brings a true passion for local products that resonates with The Lenox independent & local spirit.

We are simply so excited to have you settle in at the bar or take a seat and enjoy a meal with us as we embark on a culinary adventure together. And if this wasn’t exciting enough, stay tuned for some big changes happening at City Table this winter!

A Statement on Racial Equality

The violence and discrimination faced by Black people in the United States follows a long and cruel tradition of injustice that predates the founding of this country. We unequivocally believe that Black Lives Matter and stand in solidarity with those protesting systemic racism and police brutality across the country and in Boston. As a team and family, we are committed to the life-long work of education and action required to stand in solidarity with People of Color, Black and Indigenous communities.

We have used recent weeks to listen and re-educate ourselves to create a more informed plan to implement the practice of racial equality into our business. In support of this goal, and in recognition that remaining silent and complacent is neither responsible nor in line with our values, we are making the following commitments:

First, we commit to the continued diversification of our partners, vendors, and leadership team. As a 4th generation family business, we are proud to work with many local companies, and we commit to creating more of these long-term partnerships with Black, Indigenous, and POC-owned businesses and vendors.

Second, we commit to financially supporting the long-term work of racial justice organizations. We will make donations of time and resources on an ongoing basis to support Black, Indigenous, and POC-led organizations, in addition to the like-minded non-profits in which we are already active.

Third, we commit to establishing a Diversity Team, comprised of associates representing all departments, which will lead our initiatives.

Fourth, we commit to creating partnerships with several Greater Boston schools in order to introduce Black, Indigenous, and POC students to the hospitality industry and offer career opportunities within our business.

Fifth, we commit to ensuring that all of our team members have the opportunity to vote and to support them in their efforts to do so. We believe that voting is a right, and we will do everything in our power to make this essential part of democracy fully accessible.

Sixth, we commit to our team and communities to listen, learn, train and re-train on racism and discrimination in the workplace and beyond.

We understand that these actions are only the beginning of our work, and we are committed to consistently listening and acting on our support for racial equality, now and for generations to come.

We look forward to welcoming you back!

We have been truly humbled by the events of late which have changed all of our lives. Both the last few weeks and the last few months have allowed us, as a family, as a business, and as individuals to take an honest look within and without. To analyze not just the way we do business as hoteliers, but to better understand our place in the community of which we are a part. My unwavering promise to you is that we will continue to find ways to listen, to improve, and to evolve. We will be better for it, more focused on what it means to be a community and with an even greater spirit of welcoming than ever.

Today, I am ecstatic to share that our doors are open!

Circumstances of late have not allowed us the pleasure of being able to look after you as we have done for over five generations, and we cannot wait to get back to the foundation of what we do, taking care of you. Times have, of course, called for some changes in how we operate, and we have looked at every facet of your experience and painstakingly created measures to ensure that your health & safety are paramount. Peppered throughout your stay are some additional special touches to remind you just how much we have missed you!

I can assure you of one thing that will never change when you stay with us – the steadfast dedication in each of us to make you feel as cared for and special as ever. I have long said that while you may not remember exactly what we did for you when you were with us, we are confident that you will long remember how we made you feel when you were here – looked after and safe!

Just as our doors are wide open, so are our arms (six feet away!) as we get the pleasure of welcoming you back!

Hope to see you soonest!

Dan Donahue

President

 

It’s All
About Judy

At The Lenox, we have a special affinity for Judy Garland, where the star often stayed for over 35 years and even lived for a short period of time. In her honor, we created a beautiful suite which pays homage to the musical icon and channels the opulence of old Hollywood glamour with a lavishly designed apartment-style setup.

Judy first fell in love with The Lenox in 1939 while on a promotional tour for MGM, and the legendary singer would return to the same suite throughout her life – including stays in 1961 when she appeared at the Boston Garden in front of a sell-out audience, in 1965 when she called the suite “home” for over three months, in 1967 when she gave a memorable live performance on The Boston Common heard by over 100,000 people, and shortly before her death in 1969.

It’s admittedly pretty early to start making Oscar predictions for 2020, but if you feel so inclined, Renée Zellweger is looking solidly like a Best Actress contender for her performance in the biopic “Judy”, which was released in September and earned her a Golden Globe award for best actress in a motion picture, drama.

The movie chronicles the final year in the tumultuous life of Judy Garland, and the film will depict Garland’s struggles with addiction, depression, and stage fright, as well as her relationship with her fifth husband Mickey Deans. Check out the trailer here.

Live Game-Day Analysis with Tedy

I came of age as a Pats fan in the 90s, suffering through the terrible teams early in the decade and witnessing the beginnings of a dynasty. I remember Tedy Bruschi getting drafted in ’96, playing a ton as rook for Parcels (no easy task!), and being a force in that Super Bowl. I have a really fond place in my heart for those Bruschi-Milloy-Law defenses of the late 90s. By the time Brady and Belichick were rattling off Super Bowls, Tedy was the linchpin of that D!

At The Lenox, we are lucky to have a special, personal relationship with Tedy. Tedy’s Team does incredible work raising awareness fighting stroke and they have used The Lenox as their home base for the Boston Marathon for 15 years. More recently we’ve teamed up on charitable work including our Room In Your Heart initiative and the Bruschi Burger here at Solas.

So, it’s with great excitement that we announce a special Patriots vs Giants viewing party! On Thursday October 10th, join Tedy at The Lenox as he gives a pre-game intro and halftime analysis while watching the game on large screen TVs in our comfy second floor space. There will be tons of yummy food and a cash bar along with awesome auction items all to benefit Tedy’s Team. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Have you ever seen Tedy on ESPN? He’s almost as good at talking about football as he was playing it! Secure tickets here.

Check out this highlight video to get you excited:

Picking off that pass in the snow against the Fins with the Foxboro crowd hurling snow into the air:

2004 Divisional round when he pops Dominic Rhodes and rips the ball away from him for the turnover. See it here at the 22 second mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3BmND1u7Y0

Book your tickets now! You don’t want to miss this!

Second Annual Back Bay Battle of the Breweries

Citizen Cider

Burlington, VT
Citizen Cider, founded in 2010 on a hunch and some good old-fashioned hard work by three friends in the great state of Vermont. Citizen Cider has quickly become a leading player in the craft cider arena. Citizen Cider strives to look at the bigger picture and focuses on being involved in every aspect of their supply chain, sourcing all fruit directly from local farmers and pressing the juice to create a true craft cider. Cider for the people, made by the people.


Great North Aleworks

Manchester, NH
Great North Aleworks is a 20 barrel production brewery located in Manchester, NH.  Founded by Rob and Lisa North, the brewery’s goal is simple – to craft flavorful, food friendly beers, while maintaining a fanatical devotion to quality.  Great North Aleworks has been a dream of Rob & Lisa’s for many years. Rob has been a long time home brewer and after rediscovering the craft back in 2007, he immersed himself in the hobby. Lisa was always extremely happy with the outcome, and even talked Rob into teaching her how to brew some creations of her own.


Definitive Brewing

Portland, ME
Definitive Brewing was formed in 2017 when we came across lightning in a (beer) bottle. After months of planning, we were introduced to our now Director of Brewing Operations, and found an ideal location, all in a single week.  Our investment group is made up of friends and family all with ties to Lake Cobbosseecontee in Manchester, ME. After 6 months of tireless efforts to transform an old scaffolding company into a production brewery and tasting room, we opened May 19, 2018 on the legendary Industrial Way. At Definitive Brewing we strive to provide a memorable tasting room experience for all of our customers. This is culminated by our wide variety of beers, including our Kolsch (Contee), Session Ales, IPAs, Stouts and Sours!


Bent Water

Lynn, MA
We’re bent water brewing company, located in the steel heart of Lynn, Massachusetts. around here, we do craft beer good and gritty. because there’s no reason sophistication can’t have a little rust around the edges.  We believe that passion can turn industry into art. this isn’t just beer; there’s beauty in our bubbles, just as much as there’s elbow grease in our ethics. when we pour you a cold one, we’re pouring everything we’ve got into it. We work hard so people can take it easy. and most importantly, everyone’s welcome to what we’ve got stocked in the fridge


Lord Hobo

Woburn, MA
With beer on a pedestal and adventure up our sleeve, we set out to craft style-defining New England beers that highlight paramount traits of quality ingredients. Beer has a unique ability to bring all kinds of people to together, from the Lords that only enjoy the finer things in life, to the Hobos that work hard to earn their small pleasures, great beer is an accessible luxury. Proudly brewed in Massachusetts, we’re bringing the New England beer experience to thirsty fans everywhere. We relish in connection and find sanctuary in the beers that unite us.


Aeronaut Brewing Co.

Somerville, MA
In December 2013, friends / housemates / cofounders: Dan, Ben and Ronn set out from a Somerville backyard on a journey that would become Aeronaut Brewing Co. On the first day of Summer 2014, AERONAUT launched in the loading bay of a historic envelope factory, creating Somerville’s first craft BREWERY in more than a century. AERONAUT exists to push the boundaries of beer through fearless recipe design powered by house-cultured fermentations. Our mission is to brew world-class beer, amplify the voice of our community and support arts and culture.


Night Shift

Everett, MA
Night Shift Brewing was founded in 2012 by a trio of friends with a shared passion for homebrewing. Through culinary inspiration and determined innovation, we aim to create memorable craft beers that offer a wide array of unique, complex flavors. They began homebrewing in a Somerville, MA kitchen in 2007, starting with a 5-gallon “boil kettle”, a Gatorade cooler “mash tun,” and some basic starter recipes. Over time, we refined our process, enhanced our recipes, upgraded our equipment, and were soon homebrewing well past midnight 2-3 times per week. We called ourselves “Night Shift Brewing” – desk workers by day, homebrewers by night.


Turtle Swamp

Boston, MA
At the start of the 20th century, 24 of Boston’s 31 breweries were in JP or Roxbury, pulling in pure, clear water from the Stony Brook. By 1964 they were all gone. Turtle Swamp Brewing founders John Lincecum and Nicholas Walther were aware of the area’s brewing history but weren’t opening their new business out of nostalgia. “Nostalgia isn’t quite the right word,” says Walther. “We both love Jamaica Plain, and the fact we own a brewery right in our own neighborhood means we can add to the history. But we chose to work and live here because of what JP is now — a diverse, exciting, livable community.” Turtle Swamp Brewing opens its doors in the heart of Jamaica Plain, bringing beer back to the first true home of American brewing. We are a neighborhood brewery that strives to be a good neighbor, while making consistent beer with high quality and local ingredients. The beer of Jamaica Plain.


Jack’s Abby

Framingham, MA
Founded in 2011 by three brothers, Jack, Eric, and Sam Hendler, Jack’s Abby has become a mainstay of the craft brewing scene in the Northeast and nationwide. The Hendler brothers grew up in a family that promoted entrepreneurship and hard work. Spending summers with their grandfather and working at the family’s ice distribution company, they learned the value of committed family members and loyal employees – the foundation of which Jack’s Abby is based. Jack’s Abby creates authentic German-style flavors with traditional ingredients and techniques. The brewing team travels to Germany each year to procure German hops and malt from small family operations in Bavaria. Jack’s Abby is loyal to lager, brewing the finest craft lagers using the highest quality ingredients.


Idle Hands

Malden, MA
Founder, Christopher Tkach, found a good use of his “idle hands” as soon as he turned 21 and received his first beer-making kit as a present from his uncle. From that day forward, he became not only a fan of beer, but a student of the craft of beer making. He founded Idle Hands Craft Ales in 2011 with a local focus and penchant for brewing a wide array of styles from classic German style lagers and Belgian inspired ales to more popular New England IPAs. When they brew a beer, they brew it with uncompromising integrity and with a desire to make the best example of that style possible.


Naked Ox

Boston, MA
In 2017, four friends who love beer as much as they love live music decided to create a locally based Boston beer that would have the same independent spirit of the early settlers of Boston and faithful to the city they love and also complement the amazing live concerts they attended every week. A beer that was not only crafted with immense love but tasted great while watching their favorite bands play at the clubs around Boston.


Widowmaker

Braintree, MA
Founders of Widowmaker Brewing, Ryan Lavery and Colin Foley, are longtime homebrewers who turned professional. They chose the name Widowmaker for the long hours spent honing recipes in their basements, at the expense of family time. Each of them have been making little tweaks to around a dozen recipes for beers, ranging from a hoppy session blond to coffee stout. Widowmaker Brewing is a partnership of longtime friends and beer enthusiasts. “Our goal is simple: make great beer to share with those wish to share it with us.”


Small Change Brewing Company

Somerville, MA
Small Change Brewing is our take on classic and sometimes overlooked beer styles.  From traditional European styles to the uniquely American, these are the beers that we love to drink and the beers that we want to send out into the world.  Our beers are usually low in alcohol and always high in flavor with an unwavering commitment to quality.


Cambridge Brewing Company

Cambridge, MA
Cambridge Brewing Company has a long history of brewing handcrafted beers of many origins and influences. While we can’t be all things to all people, we do enjoy the challenge of producing a very broad spectrum of beers which we hope will appeal to the vast majority of beer drinkers. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of brewing and have created new expressions in beer by incorporating the influences of many fermentation traditions. We serve honest, American Craft Beer, made by us. With great flavor, of high quality, in a wide array of style and which our customers will love.


Devil’s Purse

South Dennis, MA
Friends and avid home brewers Matt Belson and Mike Segerson started having occasional brewing sessions, which then became weekly get-togethers to brew beer, bottle, and keg, and just as importantly, to drink and talk about craft beer. From these late-night brew sessions came the idea for Devil’s Purse Brewing Company and the desire to open a craft brewery on Cape Cod.  They are dedicated to the pursuit of making exceptional handcrafted beers using only the finest ingredients.


Notch Brewing

Salem, MA
Launched in 2010, Notch Brewing – named for the nick made to keep a record when you’re having more than one – was the first brewing company in the U.S. to focus exclusively on session beer. At the time, we simply wanted to brew the beers we loved to drink because finding them was a challenge. Session beer has been enjoyed in every great beer brewing nation for centuries, yet in the U.S. it was overlooked. So we set out to brew the world’s classic session styles from the Czech Republic, Germany, England, and Belgium, as well as explore how session beer could fit with the U.S.’s hoppy beer infatuation. Nine years later, we have a brewery built on the back of session beer and it’s proven two things: beer consumers like options, and session beer is a great one.


Bantam Cider

Somerville, MA
Bantam Cider was born from a proud, family tradition of winemaking and a desire to be part of a creative process rooted in the local community. We don’t believe Cider must fit neatly into one standard style. Instead, we want to push the creative process and elevate cider as the versatile, complex, and interesting choice it deserves to be. We are committed to making creative and distinctive crafted cider using fresh pressed apples and high-quality, all-natural ingredients.


Castle Island Beer

Norwood, MA
Dedicated to the belief that the best parties are the ones where everyone is invited, Castle Island was born in 2015 to crank out award-winning beers that are just as approachable as they are tasty. The brewery sports a roster of consistent core beers with an ever-changing specialty lineup, keeping things interesting and reliable at the same time. When they’re not brewing, you can find the CI squad grilling out, talking Boston sports, or faking the lyrics to a Beastie Boys tune. Named after the iconic South Boston landmark but located in sunny Norwood, Castle Island distributes cans and kegs of tongue-tickling beers throughout Massachusetts.


Cisco Brewers

Nantucket, MA
Here on Nantucket we have a Winery, Brewery, and Distillery.  Nantucket Vineyard was the first arm of our business opening in the early 1980’s as a small project of the Long Family.  After a few years, Winery employees ended up falling in love with the wine and each other, and voila! – Cisco Brewers was born on the Hudson’s stovetop in 1995.  Whispers of a brewery floated on the Nantucket wind, catching the ear of a few people, including a Mr. Harman.  Using the previously tested and proven formula of starting a business from another business, Winery and Breweryemployees enjoyed a few glasses / pints (respectively) together and hatched the idea for Triple Eight Distillery in 2000.


Winter Hill Brewing

Somerville, MA
Winter Hill Brewing, located in Somerville, is the Boston area’s first Craft Brewery/Restaurant/Cafe. Offering 7 rotating lines of small batch beer with a focus on freshness paired since April 2016. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner services and proudly pouring Counter Culture Coffee and Espresso 7 days a week.


Westfield River Brewing

Southwick, MA
Situated on a 73 acre farm in Southwick, MA, Westfield River Brewing Company is a destination taproom brewery focusing on diverse recipes brewed in small batches. Founded in 2011 by 12 friends who love both a great beer and a great party, WRBC offers a 6,000 square foot event space and a 2,000 square foot taproom, both located in our fully restored barn, built circa 1912. Weddings, corporate outings, birthday parties and showers are all common place in the barn as are concerts and festivals on our farm in the summer months.


Athletic Brewing Company

Stratford, CT
We believe you shouldn’t have to sacrifice your ability to be healthy, active, and at your best to enjoy great beer – so we created our innovative lineup of refreshing, non-alcoholic craft beers.We’re beer lovers at heart. But we also love being healthy, active, and at our best. These conflicting passions created an internal struggle. Why couldn’t these loves live in harmony? Yes, there was non-alcoholic beer – but we’re lovers of great tasting beer. Maybe it just wasn’t possible, but we had to give it a try. A few years and hundreds of recipes later, Athletic Brewing Company was born – the first brewery and tap room fully devoted to the production of non-alcoholic

Love Is Love.

Just over fifteen years ago, on May 17, 2004, same-sex couples along with friends, family and supporters in Massachusetts gathered at city halls all over the state to celebrate! The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling came about six months earlier which ruled that the Massachusetts Constitution guarantees the right of civil marriage to same-sex couples.  Massachusetts was the first state to achieve marriage equality!

To celebrate 15 years of marriage equality here in the Bay State, The Lenox Hotel is running a special promotion over Pride Month we are calling, Love Wins at The Lenox! The premise is simple, any couple who books their wedding over the month of June (for any future date), we will donate $1,000 to BAGLY on their behalf! BAGLY is the Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth and is a youth-led, adult supported social support organization! They are committed to social justice and creating, sustaining and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ youth community.  Read more about this amazing organization here: BAGLY

Our friends at Ben & Jerry’s and 33 Munroe are also spreading the love! One lucky couple who books their wedding at The Lenox this month will win a Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Sundae Bar for up to 100 people AND every couple that books with us and 33 Munroe will receive $500 off of floral design services for their special day! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate marriage equality than to be supporting an amazing LGBTQ organization while finding the perfect venue for your own big day! If you are interested in learning more about this promotion and about weddings at The Lenox Hotel please email alison@lenoxhotel.com

LOVE IS LOVE.

 

Photo credits:

Kate McElwee Photography

BKB Photography

Joseph Laurin

Back Bay Battle of the Breweries

Devil’s Purse Brewing – South Dennis, MA

www.devilspurse.com
120 Great Western Road, Unit 1
South Dennis, MA
508-694-7171

Friends and avid home brewers Matt Belson and Mike Segerson started having occasional brewing sessions, which then became weekly get-togethers to brew beer, bottle, and keg, and just as importantly, to drink and talk about craft beer. From these late-night brew sessions came the idea for Devil’s Purse Brewing Company and the desire to open a craft brewery on Cape Cod.
They are dedicated to the pursuit of making exceptional handcrafted beers using only the finest ingredients.


Westfield River Brewing Co.

www.westfieldriverbrewing.com
707 College Highway
Southwick, MA
413-330-9367

Situated on a 73 acre farm in Southwick, MA, Westfield River Brewing Company is a destination taproom brewery focusing on diverse recipes brewed in small batches. Founded in 2011 by 12 friends who love both a great beer and a great party, WRBC offers a 6,000 square foot event space and a 2,000 square foot taproom, both located in our fully restored barn, built circa 1912. Weddings, corporate outings, birthday parties and showers are all common place in the barn as are concerts and festivals on our farm in the summer months.


Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers – Framingham, MA

www.jacksabby.com
100 Clinton Street
Framingham, MA
508-872-0900

Founded in 2011 by three brothers, Jack, Eric, and Sam Hendler, Jack’s Abby has become a mainstay of the craft brewing scene in the Northeast and nationwide. The Hendler brothers grew up in a family that promoted entrepreneurship and hard work. Spending summers with their grandfather and working at the family’s ice distribution company, they learned the value of committed family members and loyal employees – the foundation of which Jack’s Abby is based. Jack’s Abby creates authentic German-style flavors with traditional ingredients and techniques. The brewing team travels to Germany each year to procure German hops and malt from small family operations in Bavaria. Jack’s Abby is loyal to lager, brewing the finest craft lagers using the highest quality ingredients.


Widowmaker Brewing – Braintree, MA

www.widowmakerbrewing.com
200 Wood Road
Braintree, MA
781-849-0205

Founders of Widowmaker Brewing, Ryan Lavery and Colin Foley, are longtime homebrewers who turned professional. They chose the name Widowmaker for the long hours spent honing recipes in their basements, at the expense of family time. Each of them have been making little tweaks to around a dozen recipes for beers, ranging from a hoppy session blond to coffee stout. Widowmaker Brewing is a partnership of longtime friends and beer enthusiasts. “Our goal is simple: make great beer to share with those wish to share it with us.”


Mighty Squirrel – Waltham, MA

www.mightsquirrel.com
411 Waverley Oaks Road (coming soon)
Waltham, MA

We brew our beers with the highest quality malted barley, which is the primary source of the beer’s color and contributes significantly to its flavor and mouthfeel. Cofounders Henry Manice and Naveen Pawar launched the company back in 2015 with a distinct specialty: protein-packed beers that appealed to active consumers. As time has gone on and Mighty Squirrel has evolved, they have moved away from protein beers in favor of more traditional styles, including wheat ales and IPAs. “Bundled in each serving of Mighty Squirrel beer, you will find a few of our favorite things: friendship, sports, entrepreneurship, innovation, and fun.”


Lord Hobo – Woburn, MA

www.lordhobobrewing.com
5 Draper Street
Woburn, MA
781-281-0809

With beer on a pedestal and adventure up our sleeve, we set out to craft style-defining New England beers that highlight paramount traits of quality ingredients. Beer has a unique ability to bring all kinds of people to together, from the Lords that only enjoy the finer things in life, to the Hobos that work hard to earn their small pleasures, great beer is an accessible luxury. Proudly brewed in Massachusetts, we’re bringing the New England beer experience to thirsty fans everywhere. We relish in connection and find sanctuary in the beers that unite us.


Night Shift Brewing – Everett, MA

www.nightshiftbrewing.com/
87 Santilli Hwy
Everett, MA
617-294-4233

Night Shift Brewing was founded in 2012 by a trio of friends with a shared passion for homebrewing. Through culinary inspiration and determined innovation, we aim to create memorable craft beers that offer a wide array of unique, complex flavors. They began homebrewing in a Somerville, MA kitchen in 2007, starting with a 5-gallon “boil kettle”, a Gatorade cooler “mash tun,” and some basic starter recipes. Over time, we refined our process, enhanced our recipes, upgraded our equipment, and were soon homebrewing well past midnight 2-3 times per week. We called ourselves “Night Shift Brewing” – desk workers by day, homebrewers by night.


Cambridge Brewing Company – Cambridge, MA

www.cambridgebrewingcompany.com
1 Kendall Square, Building 100
Cambridge, MA
617-494-1994

Cambridge Brewing Company has a long history of brewing handcrafted beers of many origins and influences. While we can’t be all things to all people, we do enjoy the challenge of producing a very broad spectrum of beers which we hope will appeal to the vast majority of beer drinkers. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of brewing and have created new expressions in beer by incorporating the influences of many fermentation traditions. We serve honest, American Craft Beer, made by us. With great flavor, of high quality, in a wide array of style and which our customers will love.


Bantam Cider – Somerville, MA

www.bantamcider.com
40 Merriam Street
Somerville, MA
617-299-8600

Bantam Cider was born from a proud, family tradition of winemaking and a desire to be part of a creative process rooted in the local community. We don’t believe
Cider must fit neatly into one standard style. Instead, we want to push the creative process and elevate cider as the versatile, complex, and interesting choice it deserves to be. We are committed to making creative and distinctive crafted cider using fresh pressed apples and high-quality, all-natural ingredients.


Down the Road Brewing Company – Everett, MA

www.downtheroadbrewery.com
199 Ashland Street
Everett, Mass
617-454-4255

In days long past, both brewers and bards were largely illiterate, so recipes and stories were rarely committed to paper. Instead, they were handed down from master to apprentice, generation to generation, and with each telling and retelling, the new blood would alter things slightly – adding a new ingredient here or there to the brew or the tale. Down The Road Beer Co. draws inspiration from the grand narrative of both brewing and storytelling. Our beers are rooted in tradition, yet inspired by change. We know your tastes are always evolving, and so are ours. Our beers are familiar, yet they’re peppered with the unique, exciting and curious, so there’s always something new to experience “Down The Road.”


Idle Hands – Malden, MA

www.idlehandscraftales.com
89 Commercial Street
Malden, MA
781-333-6070

Founder, Christopher Tkach, found a good use of his “idle hands” as soon as he turned 21 and received his first beer-making kit as a present from his uncle. From that day forward, he became not only a fan of beer, but a student of the craft of beer making. He founded Idle Hands Craft Ales in 2011 with a local focus and penchant for brewing a wide array of styles from classic German style lagers and Belgian inspired ales to more popular New England IPAs. When they brew a beer, they brew it with uncompromising integrity and with a desire to make the best example of that style possible.

Rooftop Garden
Season Two

We got a late start on the rooftop garden this year. April showers turned into May showers (lots of May showers), graduation season sneaked up on us and business just got in the way of planting I guess. But this gave me a little more time to think about what we did right and wrong last year and how to change our approach. The basic realization was that we should keep things simple. Plant a lot of what we use the most and keep it growing as far into the season as we can. These things happen to be basil, mint, and tomatoes. We also threw in some bee friendly flowers to keep our resident bee population happy.

Our restaurants and bars at The Lenox go through anywhere from 1-3 pounds of mint and 2-4 pounds of basil per week depending on business levels. Each of our containers on the roof should produce anywhere from 2-5 pounds of fresh herbs during the season, not enough to stop us from purchasing from outside vendors completely, but enough to supplement for the summer months. Last year’s tomato harvest produced about 4 quarts of exceptional cherry style tomatoes. This year we went with 2 varieties of large heirlooms, Mr. Stripy and Black Prince. Both mature in about 80 days, with any luck they’ll be hitting plates by the end of August.

I was on the roof the other day with the intention of watering the flowers we planted, a spectacular perennial called Dianthus Kate and the striking Salvia Nemerosa, and as I approached the containers I realized the spires of the salvia seemed to be alive. Our bees were busy at work, I sat on the roof for a minute before I remembered all the work I had to do. The watering would have to wait.

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For a taste of our summer bounty, come in and check out our seasonal menu at City Table!


Five Ways to GREEN at Home

Going green doesn’t have to be difficult, learn some easy ways to green your daily routine with these helpful tips from The Lenox Hotel, offering sustainable accommodations in Boston:

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Alternative Uses For Lemons


Lemons are extremely versatile and have many uses, so instead of throwing out old or half-used lemons, use them in the following ways!

  • Freshen the fridge and remove odors by dabbing lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leaving it in the fridge for several hours.
  • Refrigerate soggy lettuce in a bowl of lemon water, dry, and enjoy now-crisp lettuce!
  • Disinfect cuts and scrapes.
  • Clean tarnished brass or steel by mixing lemon juice and salt, and applying to stains.
  • Sprinkle some lemon juice on guacamole to keep it from browning.
  • In addition, drinking lemon water has a multitude of benefits:
    • Prevents kidney stones
    • Lowers blood pressure
    • Helps with respiratory problems
    • Anti-aging properties
    • Boosts your immune system

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Green Your Coffee Routine


With over 500 billion cups of coffee served globally every year, our morning start to the day has a big effect on deforestation and climate change.

  • Coffee is derived from plants that require a special climate to thrive in, so slight changes in temperature can threaten crops. Buying coffee locally can help cut down on transportation emissions, so look for local roasters like Share coffee.
  • Drink coffee at home: Use reusable coffee filters or opt for a manual coffee grinder or French press to save energy.
  • Bring your own coffee cup if you purchase coffee on the go. Some stores (like Starbucks) offer a discount if you use a reusable mug!
  • If you use pods or K-cups, recycle them through programs like Grounds to Grow on.
  • Look for fair trade and organic certifications to further ensure your coffee is being sourced responsibly.

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Whiten Your Clothes Without Toxins


Here are some tips to whiten your clothing without resorting to bleach or other harmful chemicals:

  • Wash whites separately, reducing the risk of tinting your clothing.
  • Pre-soak clothes in lemon water, a natural bleaching agent.
  • Use a cup of white vinegar in your wash. By the end of the cycle the smell will disappear and your laundry will be soft, white and disinfected.
  • Add a cup of baking soda to the laundry detergent. It will help remove acids and grease stains in clothing, and is a cleaner and healthier alternative to bleach Continue reading “Five Ways to GREEN at Home”

Share Coffee Roasters
Ethiopia Fahem

We are extremely lucky to have some incredible local partners who not only produce amazing goods and services, but are also doing amazing things for the greater good. Share Coffee Roasters, the coffee roaster for The Lenox Hotel located in Hadley MA, recently purchased a coffee lot from the Fahem Estate in the Limmu region of Ethiopia. Grown at an elevation of almost 6,400 feet, the coffee is naturally occurring, found in the mountain forests of their 200 hectares of farmland, and roasted by Share to highlight the inherent notes of tea and peach.

Beyond growing delicious coffee, the farm is also making a wonderful positive impact on the community in which it is located. Unusually for western Ethiopia, the farm is female-owned and majority female-operated. Employing nearly 400 workers, 300 are female. They also invest heavily in the local primary school, ensuring a quality education for the local children, as well as help raise the quality of the surrounding coffee farms by the quality example they set.

So, if you are in our lobby and want to help support such a wonderful farm as well as enjoy some great coffee, be sure to pick up a bag of Ethiopia Fahem from our Lobby Mercantile, or order it directly from Share!

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Room in Your Heart 2018

This holiday season there will be families in our city that might otherwise go without a gift if it weren’t for the kindness of those they have never met. That’s why we are partnering with Wonderfund for our annual Boston tradition, Room in Your Heart. From now until December 20, we will have a room at The Lenox Hotel set aside solely for accepting gifts. Our goal is to fill the room to the point of overflowing and make the wishes of countless children that Wonderfund supports come true this holiday season.

Details:
December 1 – December 20
Bring new & unwrapped gifts to The Lenox and ask for the Room in Your Heart room
Place gift under tree and make dreams come true!

Wonderfund provides resources, comfort and dignity to children receiving services from the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. They provide enrichment opportunities and can lend immediate support during emergency situations. In addition to providing goods and necessities, they facilitate and fund involvement in the arts, music, academics and athletics. We’re hoping to provide these children with items they want on top of the ones they need. Wonderfund’s most needed items are geared towards teenagers, but any toy donation is greatly appreciated.

We hope you can make some room in your heart to fill up the room in our hotel!


Check out the video below to see how the room filled up last year:

 

The Future of Fuel

Before covered, drive through filling stations were the norm, curb-side gas pumps were available for fueling up the Model T’s roaming the streets.

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Fast forward to today, where gas stations are ubiquitous and the electric vehicle charging infrastructure resembles the 1930’s filling capabilities. It’s no mistake that Tesla’s first launch was the Model S – the parallels of a technology that is poised to change the world cannot be overlooked.

The all-electric options are limited, but growing. The infrastructure is in its early stages, but projections have it passing gas stations for number of locations by 2020 in many countries. The Lenox Hotel added its first curb-side station in 2011, a universal level 2 unit, and recently complimented it with two Tesla Destination Charging Stations in 2017. “This wasn’t our decision,” said Daniel Donahue, President of Saunders Hotel Group and General Manager of The Lenox Hotel, “our guests told us to do it.” The first 6 months with the universal station were a complete dud. Picture getting everything set up for a party – music playing, food hot, ice bucket full – and no one shows up. . . But then every month thereafter more and more people showed up. Word got out, more people both in the neighborhood and those driving to Boston started showing up and making use of the universal station. The hotel hosted some cutting edge technology (BMW’s I3 and Tesla’s Model S and Model X), and some bloody edge technology (the discontinued Fisker Karma). But people were using it more and more.

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After installing two more charging stations at two of the suburban properties owned by Saunders Hotel Group, the focus turned to Tesla at The Lenox Hotel in Boston. By far the most frequent car type over the last 5 years to visit The Lenox’s electric vehicle charging station, Tesla was also opening a store just down the road from The Lenox. The dual-headed Destination Charging Station showed up to the party – now in full swing – and opened the doors to the back patio to the DJ and light show!

It is entirely possible that the lonely, curb-side charging stations are replaced by infrastructure more similar and ubiquitous to the gas stations we are now used to; that our picture will be as quaint as the two units outside Spitlers Auto Supply Company. But so long as there are people coming to the party – we’ll keep passing hors d’ouerves and playing music. Our guests want it. Heck, we want it!!

Just Water

Water always follows the path of least resistance…until it got to The Lenox Hotel in Boston. The epitome of hospitality is: bringing someone an ice cold glass of water on a hot day; offering an umbrella if it looks like it might rain; or simply offering a warm, welcoming smile when your guest arrives. We try to embody that philosophy times 214 (rooms at The Lenox). But with Genuine Hospitality comes Genuine Responsibility – which we see as the marriage between those special touches and a care and concern for our impact. Because while it is a lovely amenity to provide free bottled water to our guests, producing plastic water bottles generates 2.5 million tons of CO2 annually. To cut down on the amount of water bottles used, every guest room at The Lenox is equipped with a glass carafe fillable at each floor’s filtered water station or by our team upon request. While pitchers of water are beneficial as an in-room amenity, they can’t be taken on-the-go. That’s why we’ve decided to provide a bottle of water that combines Hospitality and Responsibility…

As an independent boutique hotel, we like to foster partnerships with companies who share similar values and ideas. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with JUST Water! As a fairly new company, JUST has done an excellent job of standing out from the crowd. In under a year and a half, the unique, plant based bottle has made its way into shops across the nation. The bottle is made from sustainably sourced paper and sugarcane product, and has a small carbon footprint – it results in 74% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a traditional plastic bottle. In fact, JUST Water bottles avoided emissions equivalent to taking 285 cars off the road in 2016 alone!

JUST Water’s commitment to the environment and community extends to its bottling facility, located in upstate New York and sourcing water directly from Glens Falls springs in the Adirondack Mountains. Just a few hours’ drive from Boston, the facility operates out of a repurposed Church and employs exclusively local employees. The company’s dedication to their local community and sustainable initiatives reeled us in, but the great taste got us really hooked! Maybe it’s knowing the mountain water is located not far away, or that its natural pH doesn’t need adjustment, but the crisp cold water makes you feel like you’re drinking directly from the spring!

Emphasizing responsible and sustainable decisions do not always prove to be the path of least resistance. Instead we take the extra effort to create a rare and inspired experience. And we do the legwork so our guests can enjoy their trip – guilt free!

Room in Your Heart

This holiday season there will be families in our city that might otherwise go without a gift if it weren’t for the kindness of those they have never met. To that end, we are excited to offer what will hopefully become a Boston tradition, Room in Your Heart. From now until noon on December 19, we will have a room in our hotel set aside solely to accept gifts to The Home for Little Wanderers.  Our goal is to fill the room to the point of overflowing and make the wishes of the countless families that The Home supports come true this holiday season.

To make things even easier, they have put together a list of their top 20 most needed gifts for this year.  We hope you can make some room in your heart to fill up the room in our hotel!

Details

  • December 9th – December 19th
  • Bring new & unwrapped gifts to The Lenox and ask for the Room in Your Heart room
  • Place gift under tree
  • Make dreams come true

 

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About The Home

The Home for Little Wanderers serves children and youth from birth until the age of 22 providing a seamless continuum of vital programs and services for every stage of child and family development.  Their overarching mission is to ensure the healthy behavioral, emotional, social and educational development and physical well-being of children and families living in at-risk circumstances. They’ve been at it for over 200 years, and their contribution to the community over those 200 years is immeasurable.

A Golden Celebration in the Gilded Dome!

We recently hosted the lovely 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration of Drake & Madeline Dierkhising. Here is their love story!

Drake Dierkhising was from St. Joseph, Minnesota when he met Madeline Westfield in the kitchen of her Savin Hill, Dorchester home where she grew up. Her brother, John and Drake were roommates in the BOQ at the Naval Station, in Newport, RI, during February and March ’64 where Drake was in Military Justice School to become a Sea Lawyer. “I begged him to invite me to visit Boston – I was bored, not knowing anyone in Newport!” Luckily, Drake got that invitation and made it up to Boston where he met the woman of his dreams.

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“Madeline was snapping beans in the kitchen and she had on a green sweater, showing off her blond hair – it was love at first sight!” They exchanged letters for a year, while Drake was stationed at the Naval Base, in Norfolk, Va. In 1965 Madeline moved down to Washington D.C., to work for the Navy Department. “I made many weekend trips to D.C. in 1965, when I wasn’t deployed to the Mediterranean. After I returned home from that cruise, things became serious and I proposed to Madeline on New Year’s Day 1966.” While Drake was on a Caribbean cruise June – September 1966, Madeline found out thru the Navy Department grapevine that they were going to be posted to the Naval Communication Station located in Rota, Spain!! “While I was continuing Communication School in Newport, Madeline made the arrangements for our Wedding reception which was held in the Dome Room of the Lenox Hotel! Our Wedding was held on Saturday the 26th of November 1966 – which will be exactly the same day as 50 years ago..”

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On November 26, 2016, Madeline & Drake returned to the Lenox Hotel to relive the magic from their special day exactly 50 years ago. While the Dome Room has had some beautiful design and maintenance updates over the last 50 years, the architectural integrity of the room remains just as they remembered! Many of their friends and family who joined them here back in 1966 returned to watch this amazing couple renew their vows. One of their sons, Adam helped planned the special evening which included a photo booth, a three-tiered replica of their wedding cake, a roast of the couple paired with a slide show and an amazing buffet spread and open bar for guests! After friends and family made toasts and speeches, they danced the night away! On their way out the door the following day Drake explained, “We had such a wonderful time, it is actually hard to leave, we had such a great time and the entire staff was great.”

Taste of the Terrace

We are very excited to announce that our sister property, the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro in Boston is hosting a series of events on select Saturdays in September. Pairing tempting drinks with delightful light bites, the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro’s roof terrace is unique in being the only publicly accessible roof deck in the area. Instead of having to beg, borrow, or plead your way onto an exclusive roof deck, you can join them on theirs!

Perched three stories above bustling Charles Street, the Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro’s roof deck is the perfect spot to spend time with friends & neighbors while soaking in the last warm rays of summer and ushering in an exquisite fall season.

Save Your Spot Now!

Turn Blue Jeans Green

One clothing item that’s always on everybody’s favorite list is blue jeans. Jeans are a versatile must-have for kids and adults alike and a staple in most American closets. In a year’s time, Americans buy more than 450 million pairs! This makes jeans a perfect item to start with when giving your wardrobe (or your kids’ closets) a green makeover – and don’t throw away that old denim just yet.

• Go vintage. Hold off on hitting up the mall and head to nearby thrift stores, vintage, and consignment shops first. These stores are usually well stocked with donated denim. Plus, here’s the good part, your jeans will cost significantly less than retail and come with a much smaller carbon footprint – no production required!

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• Opt for organic. Cotton is the most pesticide-intensive crop out there. Non-organic cotton production is responsible for 11% of global pesticide usage. Just a single pair of jeans made from conventional cotton, amounts to 2/3 pound of fertilizer and pesticides. Fortunately, a lot of well-known brands are using organic cotton and non-toxic dyes in their denim collections. Check out Levi’s, Patagonia, Edun’s and Eileen Fisher for some eco-chic options.

• Keep it simple. The average woman owns eight pairs of jeans. Now, we love jeans just as much as you do, but do we really need eight pairs in our closets? A good rule of thumb when buying jeans is to search for quality over quantity, and classic styles. High-quality basics will last longer, have more versatility and reduce your overall impact.

• Launder responsibly. Since washing your jeans too often can do a number on the fabric, most manufacturers recommend that you only wash them when you absolutely must.

• Hang them out to dry. Line drying saves a lot of energy and helps to preserve fabrics by sparing them the heat of the dryer.

• Put old denim to good use. Be sure to donate your old jeans to thrift shops so someone else can enjoy the feel of well-washed denim. If they are too worn out for that, jeans make great materials for crafts and projects. Dust off your sewing machine and try your hand at DIY denim wallets, organizers, bulletin boards, potholders, iPad cases – you name it.

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Our Promise

We are passionate about your experience on our website and the content we provide here. Selecting a hotel can be daunting, and we strive to make that process a little easier by painting a true picture of what we are about. From the pictures of our staff to the blog posts written by them, what you see here is genuinely who we are

If you are shopping around and see a different offer for The Lenox on another site, let us know and we will make it right. We would be honored to be your home in Boston!