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February 9, 2006
Madison Beach Hotel an ideal romantic roost
By MIKE WOOD
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here is your recommendation for a romantic weekend getaway from the guy who once gave his girlfriend a loaf of bread as a Valentine’s Day gift.
And I’m not talking about homemade bread baked with love or some expensive artisanal bread brought back from Brooklyn. I’m talking store-bought, shrink-wrapped Pepperidge Farm French Toast Swirl that you can get for $3.29 (with coupon) at any Stop & Shop.
So why listen to me regarding matters of the heart when, as any of my friends will surely tell you, I am the least romantic person they know? They’ll be more than happy to cite you numerous examples of my supposed cheap and insensitive behaviors, like how I have never given a girl flowers, perfume, or even a single piece of jewelry (unless they count the engagement ring — which they will — but only so they can tell you how I presented it to my wife-to-be in that most romantic of settings … the nursing home parking lot).
But ask my wife and you’ll get an entirely different story. For her, that parking lot was the perfect place to pop the question, as it forever connected us to her beloved grandmother, who passed away a month before our wedding. And she thought the bread was a very romantic gesture. Seriously, she loved it. And the thing is, I knew she would, and that’s what makes me a romantic.
I may not be your traditional romantic, but I know enough about love to know that it’s the little things that count. My wife may not be adorned with jewels, but not a day goes by that she isn’t adored by me. And I don’t wait until Feb. 14 to show how much I care.
And now that I’ve established my romantic credentials, let me tell you about that weekend getaway. Not too far north on Interstate 95 (but far enough to feel like you’re getting away from it all) is the beautiful town of Madison, where the Madison Beach Hotel (245-1404) has been providing guests with one-of-a-kind lodging for almost 200 years. Once a boarding house for shipbuilders, it is now a lovely, 35-room hotel (each with its own private entrance and balcony, all with waterfront views).
And if that’s not romantic enough, maybe the many celebrities who have enjoyed the hotel’s charms will get you in the mood. Peter Gallagher, the bushy-eyed guy from “The O.C.� stayed there. You older ladies might enjoy sleeping where the great John Barrymore once laid his head. And who wouldn’t love spending the night in the same room as Paul Shaffer, the bandleader on the “Late Show with David Letterman�?
OK, two out of three ain’t bad. But Art Carney, of “The Honeymooners,� once worked there, and honeymoons are pretty romantic, right?
But before getting too romantic, start your evening with an intimate dinner. The hotel has its own restaurant, The Wharf, which is fine for bread-giving cheapskates like me, but if you’re looking for something a bit more formal and fancy, the nearby Dolly Madison Inn is probably your best bet.
Unfortunately, the only way to top a night of dining, dancing and romancing is to spend the next day shopping. And while I believe that true romantics need not express their love by purchasing material things, that doesn’t mean their loved ones don’t enjoy shopping for them. Happily (for them) the Madison Beach Hotel is surrounded by tons of little gift shops and antique stores, and is just a few minutes from two major outlets, Clinton Crossing and Tanger in Westbrook. My wife goes for the shoes and clothes. I tag along for the free samples from the gourmet food stores.
So whether you’re a hopeless — or helpless — romantic, the Madison Beach Hotel is a great place to spend a weekend with the one you love. It may set you back more than a loaf of bread, but you might be able to save a few bucks by booking the Paul Shaffer suite.
Posted by getout on February 9, 2006 8:47 AM
