Looking to have a unique cultural experience during your stay in Boston?  Perhaps you would like to bring home a one of a kind piece from a local designer, or have lunch at one of the over 30 rotating food trucks?

Look no further than this beautiful district in the South End of Boston.  Located on Harrison Avenue, The SoWa open Marketplace  (meaning “South of Washington St.”)  celebrates its 10 year anniversary and will reopen for business this Sunday, May 5^th!

Only about a 15 minute walk from the Westin Copley, this is a great way to spend a lovely Sunday afternoon (hours of operation, 10am –  4pm) sampling a few gourmet treats from the extensive farmers market, or just supporting local businesses.    So go ahead–  make your friends jealous!  Bring home a piece of Boston!

Photo credit: boston.com

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Relaxing out in Copley Square ranks pretty high up there as one of our favorite activities, but the heady spring air and Red Sox season has got us wanting to get up and go! That’s why we’re so thrilled to take on our Social Responsibility committee’s challenge to participate in Project Bread’s Walk for Hunger. Always eager for opportunities to play as a team and do the right thing in the community, it came as no surprise that our sister hotels Westin Boston Waterfront and W Boston have joined us to form Team Starwood!

The event brings thousands of people to Boston each year to raise money for anti-hunger programs, and promote hunger awareness in our communities.  The 20-mile Walk route goes through several Greater Boston neighborhoods and  all money raised supports community-based meal programs and school nutrition initiatives. As the oldest continual pledge-walk in the country, The Walk for Hunger helped provide 61 million meals to hungry people in 2012 with 43,000 participants raising $3.6 million.

In June of 1969, two thousand activists walked 29.6 miles through Quincy to raise $26,000 for two hunger projects. The walk moved to Boston the next year and by 1979, grew to three thousand walkers raising funds for thirty four emergency food programs. Six years later in 1985, the walk crossed the $1 million mark with 11,000 participants and has grown exponentially since then. 2008’s 40^th anniversary walk was its most successful to date, with 40,000 walkers raising over $4 million.

If you’re in the area on May 5^th, head to the Boston Common to see this great event unfold.  Here’s to the beginning of a great spring tradition!

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In honor of National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day, my team and I took a journey to

Cheesy, chewy goodness!

the Roxy’ Grilled Cheese truck – which parks near the Westin Copley Place in front of the Boston Public Library on Boylston St. on Tuesday evenings and Friday afternoons. We ordered three of their signature sandwiches – the Rookie Melt, the Green Muenster Melt, and the Kinda-Caprese, along with sides of roasted tomato soup and handcut truffle fries. The truffle fries are to-die-for. Seriously, I’m developing a dangerous addiction! And the secret to that extra crispy bread? A secret mayonnaise spread!

This is one assignment the team and I were more than happy to take on!  Have you been to Roxy’s Grilled Cheese or do you have another favorite food truck? Share with us the comments!

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• Plan Ahead For Meals: With this many people in town for the race, restaurants can and will be very crowded!-(Especially the ones that serve pasta and carbs for our runners!) We are happy to help with reservations, but try and book ahead as early as possible to make sure that you get your ideal time and location!
• Time, Time and More Time!- If you are traveling on Monday, whether it be to view the marathon itself, heading to Logan Airport, or just getting around Boston, be aware of the road closures! Especially in the Copley area, as the finish line is just one block away from us, travelling (even by foot) can be a challenge—but not impossible! Just give yourself ample time to get to where you would like to go; take advantage of the T whenever you can—taking a taxi will not be as easy as it usually is!
• Watching the Marathon: If you are interested in supporting a friend or loved one, or just catching some of the excitement live, here is a list of great locations throughout the 26.2 mile course to watch!

No matter how you decide to enjoy the race, it’s a great time to be in Boston! Good luck to all the runners and have fun!

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1.  The earlier the better – typically ticket prices go up the closer you get to game day. Buy them as far ahead of time as possible and you’ll also have a wider selection of seats to choose from.
2.  Try multiple ticket brokers – Tickets are traditionally sold on the Red Sox website, however they are also available online through StubHub, Ace Ticket and Ticket Liquidator, among others. Being patient and doing some research will pay dividends when it comes to finding the best price.
3.  Ask the locals – Most Boston sports fans know a guy who knows a guy who has the hookup with Red Sox tickets. But If you’re just visiting and want to see a game, it never hurts to ask our friendly hotel concierge. They are always looking for opportunities to surprise and delight!
4.  Be flexible with your seat selection – The Red Sox have long been known for having among the most expensive ticket prices of all the teams in Major League Baseball. But unlike the old Boston Garden where the Celtics used to play, there really isn’t a bad seat in the house. The deep bleacher seats in the outfield start at $15. Bring your binoculars, make sure to be generous putting on sunscreen, and thank me later!

Now grab some tickets, put on your Sox hat and cheer on the team!

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The contemporary lunch menu is composed of New England seafood dishes with modern twists. The competitively priced menu is broken down into starters, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and a raw bar. Standouts include: Turners “Hall of Fame” (and gluten free) Clam Chowder with house-made oyster crackers; Cobb Salad with Maine lobster meat, Jonah Crab, heirloom tomato, soft poached egg, Boston lettuce, and chevre; Lobster BLT with Maine lobster, double smoked bacon, avocado, Boston lettuce, and tomato; Crab Cake Sandwich with Jonah Crab, remoulade and brioche; Grilled Salmon Filet with quinoa, English peas, kaffir lime glaze.

With a drive toward efficiency, the team has streamlined procedures to offer guests a complete lunch in 30-45 minutes. Guests can enjoy dining in the greenhouse with large windows and skylights or have a seat in the lounge area.

With lunch service offered Monday – Saturday, 11:30am – 2:00pm, Turners meets the needs of professionals, shoppers and tourists alike who want excellent food and service.

We look forward to welcoming you!

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When I first came to Boston to see my brother-in-law run in the 2009 Boston Marathon, our families took a stroll through the Boston Public Garden. I couldn’t believe the wondrous spring spectacle in front of me! The view was like a postcard, with tulips, magnolias, azaleas and cherry trees all in full bloom. It was breathtaking. The best time to see them is mid April to early May. Since then I have watched the Boston Public Garden burst into bloom every year. The festival held last year in Boston to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Japan’s famous gift of cherry trees to the USA was so popular it is now an annual event; the “Haru Matsuri Boston 2013” will take place in Boston City Hall Plaza on Sunday, May 19, from 10am – 6pm.

But it doesn’t stop there, the rhododendrons, lilacs, peonies and roses arrive in their own splendor early May to early June, which is a sure sign that summer has arrived.

Enjoying spring blooms in Boston isn’t just a Boston Public Garden event, there are several to choose from:

• Boston Garden Show

• Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour

• Lilac Sunday

• Art in Bloom

• The Rose Kennedy Memorial Garden at the Rose Kennedy Greenway

Come, enjoy and welcome Spring!

P.S. The photo above is one from my collection!

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The Westin Copley Place’s commitment to green initiatives can be seen across the hotel – from our recycling efforts to repurposing used soap, to our reduction of water consumption by 25 million gallons since 2010.  To us, doing the right thing is the way we do business, not only for our guests, but for the environment as well.  That’s why we’re thrilled to participate for the second year in a global phenomenon known as Earth Hour on Saturday March 23 from 8:30pm-9:30pm. Earth Hour is a global movement uniting people to protect the planet, bringing together communities from across the world by switching off lights for one designated hour.

Earth Hour asks everyone to take personal accountability for their impact on the planet and make behavioral changes to facilitate a sustainable lifestyle. Last year, it took place in more than 7000 cities in 152 countries across all seven continents. Hundreds of millions of people switched their lights off for an hour, and the c

ampaign experienced its biggest growth since 2009.

Here at the Westin Copley Place, we’re offering guests an opportunity to have “dinner in the dark” at Bar 10, showcasing an exclusive Earth Hour cocktail special, turning off the Westin sign on the front of the building, and creating a cozy ambience of candle light in the lobby.  Mayor Thomas Menino is encouraging everyone in Boston to participate, so be sure to keep an eye out for the whole city skyline to dim.

As a partner of Earth Hour, we encourage you to get involved in their I Will If You Will  campaign. Whether it’s daring your network to commit to recycle, switch to energy efficient light bulbs or something much bigger, IWIYW encourages action beyond the hour.  For some motivation and truly inspiring ideas from around the globe, check out Earth Hour on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

We’ve made our commitments. What’s yours?

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But once Dave Roberts stole second base in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS in only my second month as a Boston resident, my view of what makes a great sports city was turned upside down. Now nearly a decade into my time in Beantown, I have no doubts that there isn’t a better city to be a sports fan. Here’s three reasons why Boston is the best sports town in America:

1. Success – There’s no better measure of a city’s sports dominance than the number of championship banners its teams have collected. Between the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins, Boston has celebrated 7 championships since the turn of the century, ahead of Los Angeles and New York as the most in the country.
2. History – Any self-respecting sports aficionado would have to acknowledge Boston’s rich sports history. There’s the century-old Fenway Park in which the Red Sox still call home. The Celtics have won more championships (17) than any other team in professional basketball. The Bruins are one of the NHL’s “Original Six” franchises, and Harvard University played in what was considered the first modern-style college football game in 1875.
3. Passion – A true Bostonian has no idea what it means to be a “fair weather” sports fan. The Red Sox boast a MLB-record 793-game (and counting…for now) sellout streak. The Patriots’ Gillette Stadium is one of the toughest places for road teams to win in the NFL, and that’s not just because their games are often played in sub-freezing temperatures. It’s because the New England fan base truly cares about its teams, and its passionate fans never hesitate to make outsiders aware of that fact.

Do you agree?  Have another reason to add?  Share with us in the comments!

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Our associates are the heartbeat of the hotel. We take immense pride in the service we provide and dedicate bi-weekly Wednesday posts to the associates who make it all happen!

Meet: Al Saunders

Al Saunders is one of the original employees who started at the hotel in July 1983. Technically, he worked here before we even existed – Al was part of a team who laid the bricks for the building during construction in 1981 and 1982.

In addition to construction in 1981, Al worked the bar at Lombardo’s alongside his best friend Anthony. When Anthony scored an interview at the hotel before opening, he brought Al along and they were both hired on the spot. Al started as a bartender at Turner Fisheries and worked his way up to head bartender. A reorganization in the early 1990’s brought an opportunity to work in the back of the house as the Assistant Executive Steward. It was in this position that Al learned the inner workings of a hotel. A much different experience from bartending, yet was integral to his success, as it allowed him to see how all the pieces – back of the house and front of the house – came together to deliver flawless service to guests.

Al knew though, that his destiny was working the bar, interacting with guests. A man with a warm smile and quick joke, he can make anyone feel instantly comfortable. He moved back to the front of the house, this time as bartender in the lobby lounge where he met a few celebrities, and then as a head bartender with the banquets team. He was right – it was the perfect place for him and he’s been serving our guests ever since. One thing Al enjoys most is his “regulars”, the guests with groups who book repeating events with us, that even though he only sees them once a year, always seems to recall their favorite drink and what they spoke of the year prior.

Al’s one of 4 full time bartenders, a team of “brothers” who consider each other family. He’s worked with some of them for over 30 years and have seen each other through thick and thin. In Al’s words, “working at the Westin Copley Place rarely feels like ‘working’. When you work with great people, you enjoy coming to work every day.”

Al’s dedication, continual quest for excellence and ability to anticipate the needs of guests fit perfectly with Westin’s core values: personal, instinctive, renewal and we’re proud to have him on our team.

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