Tag Archives: ames hotel

Ames Boston: a hotel that aims to please

a hipster hotel in historic downtown Boston

Ames Boston

i’m not sure how many people yet know about the Ames Hotel in downtown Boston. this lovely Morgans Hotel Group property is a toddler still, only 2.5 years old. i’ve had the pleasure of patronizing the property since it first opened in 2009 – for dinner & drinks on several occasions – but had never stayed as a guest until a few weeks back. saying i’m impressed would be an understatement. Ames is lola-worthy, indeed.

history is alive all around Ames in downtown Boston

actually, saying it’s a toddler is a bit misleading only in that Ames is housed in a ‘National Register of Historic Places’ building completed in 1889. the structure, one of the tallest masonry buildings in the world, was commissioned by the Ames family to act as their headquarters for their hugely successful agricultural tool business, Ames Plow. built in the Romanesque style, the building stands out for its intricate details and dramatic roofline. Truly a MUST SEE!

some of the unexpected surprises you’ll find at Ames

ok, so back to my stay. i was able to arrange a walk-through tour of the property with the Director of Sales, Paul. what a TREAT! Paul has been with the property since before they broke ground renovating the swanky boutique hotel and it was obvious that Ames is like his own child. he took such pride in the architecture and original unique details of the hotel as well as other special things the design team created to tie into the history of the property. like other Morgans hotels, Ames is designed with simple, minimalist furnishings. Paul explained, the design firm, David Rockwell, wished to have patrons focus on the architecture and special characteristics of the building. SUCCESS!

simple yet luxe furnishings

the 114 room hotel feels intimate AND of course, you can count on the universal fantastic service and comforts of any Morgans property. i especially enjoyed the juxtaposition of the minimal modern and historical. it’s definitely my style. i believe in keeping old things alive but breathing new life into them in new and unexpected ways. to me, UNEXPECTED is exactly what you get in Ames. i love that this Boston icon of a building lives on but isn’t stodgy in the least. extremely hip & cool.

SNACKS, BOOZE & GUIDE BOOKS! some of the modern comforts found in the guest rooms

some of my favorite unique features seen in my photographs are the custom souvenir plates found in guest rooms, the artist commissioned ‘Cabinets of Curiosities’ with objects dating from 1889, the year the building was completed, AND the magical-illusion of a chandelier hanging in the hallway.

i say come find your own UNEXPECTED treasure at this completely lola-approved property! located in downtown Boston at One Court Street, Ames is in a prime location for just about all things Boston.

*Ames Boston photo by Michael A. Muller – read his article for more on Ames Boston

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Boston: taking on ‘The Hub’ one cocktail at a time

Boston booze outing

as you know, if you are a regular lola fan – i just LOVE my cocktails. i have my old standbys, to be sure, but i really enjoy trying out new ones and lately this has been especially fun. hand crafted cocktails seem to be ALL THE RAGE and many establishments change their menus regularly. this means all the more for lola to sample.

my little stay-cation in Boston recently proved very successful in the cocktail tasting department. allow me to give you a tour.

second marriage

i enjoyed this lovely “lola pink” cocktail – SECOND MARRIAGE – at Woodward in the Ames Hotel. although Ames is only 2.5 years old, SECOND MARRIAGE has been on it’s cocktail list since its opening. looks like the 2nd time might be the charm! 😉 AND while this looks like a girly drink let me warn you – IT IS NOT! another Woodward cocktail institution is ONE COURT. that’ll be my next cocktail victim when i return to Ames.

  • SECOND MARRIAGE ingredients: Ketel One Citroen with Chandon Brut and raspberries
NOW onto stop number two!

peach n’ pig

  • PEACH N’ PIG ingredients: Bacon-infused House-Smoked Bulleit Bourbon, Punt E Mes, Homemade Peach Simple Syrup, Homemade Bitters, Grilled Peach Garnish

Gn’T

  • Gn’T ingredients: Beefeater, Fresh Lemongrass, Homemade Lemongrass Tonic Water, House-made Bitters

hot and dirty

  • HOT and DIRTY ingredients: Ketel One Vodka, Homemade Dry Vermouth, Olive Juice, Sriracha, Garnished with a Habanero Stuffed Olive

st. james negroni

  • ST. JAMES NEGRONI ingredients: Berkshire Greylock Gin, Camapri, Cocchi Americano, Fresh Lemon Juice, Homemade Sage Syrup

the second stop on my cocktail jaunt was Post 390. i have dined at Post 390 before but the recent cocktail tasting to-do stop was brought to my attention by Thrillist – a “what’s happening” email newsletter i receive. they had me at bacon-infused bourbon in the PEACH N’ PIG! i am not a bourbon gal but this was too intriguing not to try. while it was quite tasty, i preferred the HOT & DIRTY more. what can i say, lola likes it spicy! really all the cocktails were incredibly tasty and worth the visit to Post 390.

negroni

the final stop of my Boston cocktail trip was brunch at Kitchen – a new establishment in the South End. Kitchen’s concept is a take on historically inspired foods which is a burgeoning trend right now. with every dish on the menu, Kitchen tells you how old the recipe is. most cocktails and dishes hail from the early 1900’s. i had the NEGRONI (circa 1919) with my brunch because, well, one NEGRONI tasting wasn’t enough!

  • NEGRONI ingredients: barrel aged Bombay Gin, Campari, Vya Sweet Vermouth, Flamed Orange, Orange Bitters

and that’s all folks for this edition of lola’s boozy visit to Boston!

sante! XO – lola

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