Thursday, January 26, 2017

All That Jazz: Upscale Casual Dining With a Side of Sax

By Emilie-Noelle Provost

While there are many wonderful things about wintertime in New England (think ski slopes and magical snow-covered landscapes) one of the season’s drawbacks is our seemingly universal tendency to hibernate. If it’s been a while since you got out of the house, it’s time to turn off Netflix and dig your favorite date night shoes out of the closet.

On Friday February 3 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., NoLo Bistro & Bar at The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa will host an evening of superlative jazz with renowned saxophone tenor Noah Preminger and his band.

A Connecticut native, Preminger’s debut album, Dry Bridge Road, released in 2008 when he was just 21 years old, was named Debut of the Year in a Village Voice critics poll. A self-described lover of adventure, Preminger enjoys boxing and skydiving and believes, “Taking risks in life helps you take risks in art.”

Now based in Brooklyn, N.Y., Preminger has played in bands with such notable jazz artists as Cecil McBee and John McNeil and has performed on several albums released by Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records. He has been named among the nation’s best tenor saxophonists by the New York Times, Time Out New York, the Boston Globe and the Boston Phoenix. Now age 30, Preminger has performed live as bandleader on several legendary jazz stages including Scullers Jazz Club in Boston and the Metropolitan Room and Ginny’s Supper Club in New York.

Preminger released two recordings in 2016: Some Other Time, on French vinyl label Newvelle Records, and the independent release, Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground, inspired by Mississippi Delta blues. His seventh album, Meditations on Freedom, which the saxophonist’s website describes as “a musical protest against ominous political developments in America,” was released on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2017.

When you combine Preminger’s talent for jazz with Executive Chef Mark Filteau’s innovative, seasonal menu (look for wintertime favorites like NoLo Bolognese with lamb, pork and veal and papardelle pasta and New England Bouillabaisse featuring locally sourced seafood) and resident mixologist Jared Bracci’s creative cocktails it’s sure to be a special night out.

There is no cover charge for NoLo’s February 3 jazz dinner though reservations are recommended. To complete your evening with an overnight stay visit The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa’s online reservation page or call (978) 649-4400.

To listen to a preview of Preminger’s music visit https://www.noahpreminger.com/listen.

Monday, January 9, 2017

Tatiana Bobr, The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa’s Catering Sales Manager, Specializes in Making Wedding Dreams Come True

By Emilie-Noelle Provost

Maybe it’s the close proximity of family or because the season is full of joy, or perhaps it’s just that diamonds make great gifts that the holidays are one of the most popular times of year for couples to get engaged. If you were among the lucky lovebirds to give or receive an engagement ring this year, you’re probably beginning to look for just the right place to tie the knot.

Nestled among New England woodlands along the banks of the Merrimack River, The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa in Tyngsborough, Mass., offers a perfect setting for a romantic wedding weekend. Tatiana Bobr, the hotel’s catering sales manager, is an expert at helping couples plan the wedding of their dreams, whether it’s an extravagant affair for 90 or something elegant and understated.

In an industry that’s notorious for employee turnover, Bobr has been at The Stonehedge since 2011. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business management with a concentration in hospitality from Salem State University, she started working in the hotel’s dining room. Within just three months she was promoted to executive assistant to the hotel’s previous owner where much of her job involved managing catering and events. “Before long I was promoted to catering sales manager,” says Bobr. “I have been on a shift in every department in the hotel, so I know when a client asks for something whether it will work – and whether there’s a better alternative. I’ve found this can really help alleviate stress and make couples feel at home. I want to provide a personalized experience.”

To make planning easier for couples, wedding packages at The Stonehedge are comprehensive. Food for the entire event, including the rehearsal dinner, cocktail reception, wedding dinner, cake and brunch the next day, as well as the use of space, can be included. “Packages also include an overnight stay for the bride and groom the day of their wedding and dinner on the couple’s first anniversary,” Bobr says. “People really enjoy that.”

Bobr advises couples who want to get married on a specific day to begin planning as early as they can. “We only host one wedding per weekend,” she says, “so the calendar can fill up fast.” But, Bobr notes, if you can be flexible about dates it’s often possible to plan something quickly.

Because the hotel hosts just one wedding at a time, Bobr says it’s possible for her and her staff to go out of their way, if need be, to make a couple’s experience extra special.

“We once arranged for two horses to be on the property because the bride enjoyed horseback riding when she was younger,” Bobr says. “Another time I arranged for a groom to have lo mein noodles for his appetizer at the request of the bride. During the planning process he kept joking that he wanted Chinese food at their wedding. It was prepared from scratch in our kitchen by our Chinese cook, Seia. He was very surprised!”

Bobr has also helped couples plan weddings from overseas, personally handled last-minute flower mix ups and helped family members who were unable to attend weddings deliver special gifts.

“By the time a wedding weekend is over, everyone involved – the guests, the staff – feels like family,” Bobr says. “We are one big family here.”

To read Bobr’s reviews on Wedding Wire or to see photos from recent weddings at The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa visit this link. For more information about planning a wedding at The Stonehedge Hotel & Spa visit the hotel's wedding page or contact Tatiana Bobr at +1 (617) 231-6664 or tbobr@stonehedgeinnandspa.com.