At first blush, the idea of a romantic getaway just eight minutes from our Annapolis home might sound a tad weird, but not to us. My husband, Terry, and I have been eyeing the elegantly urbane Park Place, a new development on West Street comprised of a Westin Hotel, Veruna Aveda Salon Spa, upscale boutiques, restaurants, and condos, ever since a hodgepodge of used-car dealers, ramshackle garages and a luncheonette were bulldozed from twelve acres to make way for this snazzy $250 million project. Such posh amenities minutes from our backyard seduce us into taking a rather unusual in-town overnight holiday. Our only hesitation when booking a room at the Westin a few days after the grand-opening ribbons were snipped: Will there be enough to do to keep us amused? Early one Saturday morning, sans traffic woes or flight delays, we decide to find out.
From the moment we turn onto the vast circular cobblestone space reminiscent of an Old World piazza, we feel a long way from quaint Annapolis. The spacious area separates the six-story hotel from the office building, spa, shops, and condo building. The architecture is an updated translation of Beaux Arts, the same style used for several Naval Academy buildings, including the world’s largest dormitory, Bancroft Hall, and is a striking entry to the town’s historic district. “The inspiration came from a visit my wife, Bonnie, and I took to Paris several years ago,” says Jerome J. Parks, the project’s developer and chairman of The Parks Companies. “We fell in love with the timeless beauty of the grand old buildings along the Seine, and we wanted to capture that style here in Annapolis.”
Bill, the obliging bellman, welcomes us to the Westin with no less intensity than if we had traveled for hours. (We are mum about our brief journey.) Inside, the chocolate-brown and flaxen Italian marble floor pulls together a soothing minimalist lobby design that has subtle hints of our region: ceiling treatments use fabrics suggestive of sailcloth and wavy chocolate-brown wall panels are nods to the movement of our beloved Bay. Here and there, jade green mohair chairs sit below local painters’ contemporary interpretations of water. We spot a sleek bar at the end of the lobby opposite a two-sided fireplace, an idyllic destination for a before- or after-dinner respite.
After a quick check-in, we head to our room, a serene blend of cream, heather, and moss starring a wine-colored leather headboard and king-size bed that’s topped with a welcoming snow-white hypoallergenic comforter. An ergonomically designed chair and desk (half the hotel’s business is business travelers) is tucked along the wall, but I gravitate to a comfy chaise beneath a large picture window. Other savvy touches: dual-head shower, 42-inch flat-screen HDTV, Bose radio, and in-room coffeemaker with Starbucks coffee or Tazo teas. We like the understated contemporary style, but, who has time to linger? We’re late for massages at the eco-friendly Varuna Aveda Salon Spa across the piazza.
B-r-e-a-t-h-e,” whispers Val, my massage therapist, shortly after I settle atop a toasty, well-padded table for an aromatherapy massage in the candlelit couples’ suite. I sniff a variety of massage oils in search of one that suits my nose, and personality, best while Val explains that everything in the universe—including me—is composed of five basic elements, infinity, air, fire, water, and earth, and the balance of these elements is essential. “You’re an infinity person, someone always on the go,” a fact she ascertains as a result of a brief questionnaire I complete pre-massage. “Let’s try Ylang ylang, it’s calming, grounding,” she coos. I take a whiff and give it a thumb’s down. I whiff and whiff as she takes me on my “Sensory Journey.” Rose, eucalyptus, lavender. Ahh, lavender. ‘That’s the one!’ I say. Val eases my sciatica with skillful kneading and the aroma really does calm me down. At the same time, Kimberly tends to Terry’s golf shoulders with a deep tissue massage in the adjoining room.
The spa, with thirty-six different spa services (not including hair and nail treatments) and six treatment rooms, proves that green can be gorgeous. The space is as stunning as it is eco-friendly thanks to polished bamboo floors, stone walls, and countertops made of crushed sunflower seeds. I’m lovin’ being pampered with all-natural products, including soy-based, nontoxic nail polish by Zoya on my fingers and toes.
Terry and I find it hard to believe we are minutes from home and not at some fancy out-of-town spa as we tour the steam room, relaxation room, facial and hydrotherapy rooms, and spaces for a guy’s hot lather shave and shoeshine. Reluctant to leave, I ask for a refill of complimentary Aveda Comforting Tea, a yummy caffeine-free licorice and peppermint brew, before moving on to lunch.
Since my British husband lived in Ireland for four years, lunching at Fado Irish Pub is a must. Despite the fact that it’s a chain restaurant (there are thirteen nationwide), everything here, from the furniture to every accessory in the place, is made in Dublin. Terry heartily approves of the Shepherd’s Pie that, according to him, is the closest he’s had in the U.S. to the real thing and I devour a towering bistro salad, a healthy pile of mixed greens, tomatoes, mandarin oranges, cucumbers, and cheddar cheese topped with grilled chicken. But let me cut to the chase: The Black & Tan Brownie with Guinness ice cream is so good that I want to lick the plate. It is hard to imagine a better ice-creamy, brownie, syrupy creation.
To walk off a few brownie calories, we get down to the business of shopping and stroll around the street floor of the office building opposite the hotel that houses the stores, restaurants, and Starbucks. Carpaccio Tuscan Grill and Vizions Art Gallery are two reasons for a return visit—they aren’t open during our stay but plans call for them to be open by January. We check out The Papery, a fancy stationery store that specializes in classy paper collections from the likes of Kate Spade and Vera Wang, as well as just-for-fun cards and unique gift items. I hone in on the sweetly scented Smencils, pencils made from recycled newspaper infused with aromas such as cotton candy, bubblegum, and popcorn.
We stroll on to Saucy, a trendy shoe boutique that features high-style lines by Kate Spade, Bettye Muller, and Rafe. A pair of $375 black silk high-heeled sandals by Pedro Garcia catches my eye as I sink into a white leather chaise and offer the salesgirl my right foot. I mull over pulling out the plastic, but I’m saved by the clock—time to dress for dinner.
Fortunately, the hotel is connected to Morton’s Steakhouse, so even on this chilly night, I don’t need a coat. Inside, subtle lighting, dark woods, and a wall of wine bottles create a clubby, uptown atmosphere. We maneuver past the bar, a magnet for a lively, stylish crowd, and are led to a quiet banquette, possibly the best seat in the house, positioned opposite the open kitchen where we have a view of the cooks dancing around one another. Within seconds, a warm loaf of egg-and-onion bread is set atop our table while my white napkin is swiftly replaced with a black one, an observant reaction to my noir attire. Our waitress recites the menu with the help of a few fresh props—a wiggly lobster, slabs of USDA prime meat, a grapefruit-sized red onion and tomato. Terry goes classic—shrimp cocktail and filet mignon escorted by sides of sautéed spinach and mushrooms and Lyonnaise potatoes—while I opt for Morton’s salad and grilled salmon. Portions are plentiful, so we skip dessert and linger over wine, scanning the happy faces in the crowd. But the evening doesn’t come cheap: Our bill is more than $200!
The next morning, after refueling on the hotel’s buffet breakfast at its in-house restaurant, Azure—we optfor a healthy start of cereal and fruit, but other choices include the usual eggs, sausages, and bacon—we take our eight-minute ride home, re-freshed and rejuvenated. Park Place is a joyful in-town refuge from the cacophony of daily life. We’ll be back.
Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant
One Park Place
410-626-0069, http://www.fadoirishpub.com
Morton’s Steakhouse
100 Westgate Cir.
410-280-1170, http://www.mortons.com
The Papery One Park Place
410-268-2190, http://www.thepaperystores.com
Saucy
One Park Place
410-263-3435, http://www.saucyshoes.com
Varuna Aveda Salon Spa
One Park Place
410-268-2828, http://www.varunasalonspa.com
The Westin Annapolis
100 Westgate Cir.
410-972-4304, http://www.westinannapolis.com
Rates from $159-$1,700
