Misstropolis

Friday, December 04, 2009

The 12 Days Holiday Gift Guide: Woodward

by John Ross

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Misstropolis has been excited about the opening of the Ames for some time, because despite being part of the Morgan’s hotel chain, it is conscientiously and definitively Bostonian. The Ames building at one Court Street in the financial district has a rich history -  owned by Frederick L. Ames, a powerful capitalist and owner of Ames Manufacturing, designed by Shepley Rutan & Coolidge in the Richardsonian Romanesque style and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Ian Shrager tried to buy the building but was too late; the current financiers, including Dover’s Eamon O’Marah got there first, and it’s all the better for the city. Their multimillion dollar renovation has transformed the historic landmark into a unpretentious gem both residents and visitors will adore. ~ Robin Hauck

Story has it that the Ames family had a tavern in the building they called Woodward. Morgans, along with two legends of the Boston restaurant industry, has brought the concept back with a modern, manly update. As Travel and Leisure wrote, “Mistral’s Seth Greenberg and Mark Goldberg are behind The Woodward, which serves up small plates—like cheesy mushroom toast and short-rib pot roast with parsnip and carrot—that you can really sink your teeth into. It’s a modern-tavern concept, with Victorian curios lining the walls. The house ale, created by New Hampshire’s Smuttynose brewery, is available by the growler. One or two of those and your stay at the Ames may (sorry, Ben Franklin) be as long as a winter’s night.“

Inspired by Woodward, here are three gift ideas for the men on your list:

Since the Ames is located in the heart of the Financial District and the look of Woodward is inspired by Gentlemen’s clubs of yore, I wanted to include something a modern day gentleman might wear after hours. This Nom de Guerre Cardigan ($695) can be had on Stel’s new online store or in the store itself at 334 Newbury Street, Boston.

2. Bar of Gold designed by Arik Levy ($79). I’m sure there are already plenty of these in the Financial District, but I like that this one is marked with the date women were first allowed to enter the London Stock Exchange, which was, shockingly, 1973!  This gilded piece is meant as a doorstop, but I’d place it at the center of the table for all to ogle.

3. Our Pinstripe Linen Scarf ($102) For a man or woman who likes classic power-suit fabric minus the power suit.  Trimmed with a batik print for a dash of color and reconfigured as a perfectly rumpled, linen-soft scarf.  Available at www.patchnyc.com.

Woodward
in the Ames Hotel
1 Court Street
Boston, MA
617-979-8100