PUBLICK HOUSE HISTORIC INN RECEIVES AWARD!

Publick House Historic Inn Receives 2008 Best of Sturbridge Award

U.S. Local Business Association’s Award Plaque Honors the Achievement

WASHINGTON D.C., December 18, 2008 -- Publick House Historic Inn has been selected for the 2008 Best of Sturbridge Award in the Hotels category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2008 USLBA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USLBA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA)

U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USLBA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Local Business Association

CONTACT: U.S. Local Business Association

Email: PublicRelations@USLBA.net

URL: http://www.USLBA.net

We're proud of our award! Hope you are too!

Kristie Poehler

Regional Director of Sales & Marketing

Publick House

Come to the Publick House for Christmas

We invite you and your family to come to eat with our family on Christmas Day! Our tradition of delicious holiday dinners continues with our Christmas feast! Take a look below to see what it includes and make your reservations right away! After all, what could be better than to have a great meal with family and friends---and not have to clean up after!!

CHRISTMAS DAY BUFFET

December 25, 2008

Served from 11am - 5pm

$49.00 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

Publick House Bakery Baskets

Seafood and Charcuterie Display
Poached Shrimp Cocktail
Imported and Domestic Cheese Display
Antipasto Display • Smoked Salmon Display
Freshly Sliced Seasonal Fruit Display

Soup
New England clam chowder

Salads
Hummus and Baba ghanoush
Mixed Greens Salad • Caprese Salad
Pasta Salad with tomatoes, olives, feta cheese
Romaine leafs topped with grilled chicken,
Grilled marinated vegetable display

Carving Station
Roast Prime Rib of Beef
Carved Ham with Ginger Ale mustard glaze

Entrees
Turkey with Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing
Yankee Pot Roast with Braised Root vegetables
Roasted Chicken Breasts
Lobster and Crab Ravioli with roasted tomato sauce

Vegetables
Old fashioned Mashed Potatoes
Pecan and Cranberry Wild Rice Pilaf
Cauliflower Mornay • Sauté of fresh vegetables

Children’s Station
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Chicken tenders and French fries
Buttered Ziti • Mini Cheeseburgers

Call 1-800-PUBLICK for reservations
295 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA 01566
www.publickhouse.com

Gift Cards are a great deal at the Publick House

Only 22 shopping days left until Christmas! Can you believe it? Now that we've had too much turkey and stuffing, and the weather's turning colder, we need to finish our shopping, right?

Purchasing a Publick House Gift Card is the way to go! We have a special going on--for one more week, you can purchase a Publick House Gift Card in any denomination (and there is no limit to how many cards you can purchase) for 20% off! Buy one for $100 and pay only $80!

Better yet, stay in your warm and cozy house while you do it! You can purchase them online!



Click here and order away!



Have a happy holiday season from our family to yours!
Kristie Poehler
Regional Director of Sales

Special on our Wedding Package!

Weddings are just beautiful in the Winter! And they are even more special when they are a Publick House Wonderful Winter Wedding!

Starting right now--new weddings booked with the Wonderful Winter Wedding Package for January or February 2009 will get a special $28pp price! (offer not valid on previously booked weddings--may be subject to taxes and service charge).

Visit our Wedding Page to find out more information!

Congratulations on your special day--let us make it magical at the Publick House!
Kristie Poehler
Regional Director of Sales

2008 Stitchers Hideaway Weekend!

Second year participant Denise McCloughlin of Berkley, CA made and created her own pattern ‘Publick House Historic Inn Cross Stitch Quilt’ and gave to the Inn as gift.

Denise came in 2007 for the Hideaway Weekend and enjoyed it so much she had her daughter and a friend join her in 2008 and they stayed for an entire week exploring the Sturbridge area.

Come visit us with your group soon!

Michelle Rondeau

Director of Rooms

More Pictures of our Harvest Fest

With such great October days here, it's fun to see all the activity we had at our Harvest Fest. Below is a photo of our Chowder Shack and after that, the Train Rides. Thanks again to all who attended and to the volunteers! See you next year!

New England Business Expo

Just yesterday, Laura Skowron and the rest of our sales team manned a booth at the New England Business Expo in Worcester. It was a great way for us to be part of the Central Mass business community and to remind people we're a great place for meetings and other events.

The photo below shows our Director of Sales, Laura Skowron talking with a potential client. The person taking the photograph is Thomas Mac Donald, the Corporate Sales Manager from our sister property, The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, MA.

Come visit the Publick House and the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem soon for all your meeting needs!

Kristie Poehler
Regional Director of Sales

2008 Winners of the Scarecrow Contest

Now that another successful Harvest Festival is over, we wanted to take a few blog posts to highlight the winners and their amazing scarecrows! So enjoy!!!



1st Place in the Family Category--Ben & Scarey's I Scream!

Stay tuned for more photos coming soon!

Thanks!
Kristie Poehler
Regional Director of Sales

Very Good Friends of the Publick House

I have now been here at the Publick House since Valentine’s Day. It has been a tremendous experience so far but also tough because of all the familiar faces and friends that I had made at the Hawthorne Hotel over my 13 years of service to the operations. One thing that has not been hard to come by is meeting new people here and many returning guests that have become my new familiar.


I have had the honor and pleasure in meeting Robert and Virginia Stone. They have been frequenting the Publick House for over 25 years. What meant a lot to me were their comments on how they have come to know many of the staff members and how much they have enjoyed their services over the years. I felt proud as they stated that they only eat out at maybe two or three restaurants and we are one of them. Christmas Eve has some memories as it has been a tradition for them. They remember after being first married that they could barely afford going out for dinner but found this to be a special treat for them.


One thing that I enjoyed most about talking to Robert and Virginia is that they are what I consider great customers, not just because they keep coming but because of their constructive and positive feedback on their experiences. This helps me with knowing what my customers' expectations are and maybe what they would like to be able to experience here.

So thank you for the challenges and I hope to meet your expectations and try some of your ideas!









James Kluge
Director of Food and Beverage

Autumn Recipe!

We've added our newest seasonal recipe to the website! Chef Mike Heenan debuted this recipe on New England Cuisine, a Connecticut cooking show he was featured on! Try it yourself and get a taste of the Publick House Historic Inn!

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

12 oz butter
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup cranberry juice
1 tsp 5 spice powder
2 cups frozen cranberries
8 oz butter
1 cup milk
1 egg
1½ cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp kosher salt
½ cup sugar

Melt 4 oz butter add brown sugar, cranberry juice and spices until sugar dissolves add cranberries then place in 9in cake pan chill set aside.

In another pan melt 8oz butter add to milk and then mix in the one egg

In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar and milk mixtures and whisk until smooth.

Cook in 400 degree oven for approximately 30- 35 minutes
Let cool for a few minutes then turn onto plate
Serve with ice cream or whipped cream

This is what Fall days are for!

On a beautiful weekend like this one, you just want to go away for a short Stay-Cation! And what better place to do that then Sturbridge! Come spend the weekend with us in our Motor Lodge and take advantage of our tickets to Old Sturbridge Village! This is what the Village looks like in the Fall...come see it for yourself! Call us at 508-347-3313 to make reservations!

Hope to see you soon!
Kristie

Publick House competes in Best Chef Competition

We wanted to show you the competitive spirit of the Publick House culinary team. This hearty group of men is standing at their booth at the Worcester Best Chef Competition! Although they didn't win this year, they gave their best effort and created some amazing dishes to wow the judges!

From Left to Right: Executive Chef Mike Heenan – Executive Sous Chef Tim Wentworth – Purchasing Manager Edwin Morales – Banquet Chef Chris Heenan

Thanksgiving Family Feast

We have a succulent Thanksgiving menu ready for you now that the holidays are almost upon us! Make your Thanksgiving reservations right away! You won't be sorry!

Publick House Thanksgiving Feast
Thursday, November 28, 2008
Served 11 to 8pm

Menu
Sweet Apple Cider
Publick House Bakery Basket

Appetizers – choice of one
Autumn Bisque
Clam Chowder
Fresh Fruit Salad
Shrimp Cocktail
New England Crab Cake with Remoulade Sauce

Choice of Salad
Mixed Greens with Tomato, Cucumbers, Carrots, Onions and Maple Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad with House-Made Croutons

Followed By
Roasted Native Turkey with Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce,
Mashed Potatoes, Candied Yams, Maple Butternut Squash

Dessert – choice of one
Apple Pie with Ice Cream
Pumpkin Pie
Baked Indian Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Whipped Cream
Warm Minced Meat Pie with Cheddar Cheese
Chocolate Truffle Cake with Whipped Cream
Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee or Tea
Milk or Soft Drinks for Children

Adult price $48.00 inclusive
Children ages 3-12 $22.00 inclusive
Children under 3 are free

To thank the local community for years of loyalty, the Publick House will be giving away to one family who celebrates Thanksgiving at the Publick House a complimentary "Family Feast." The feast includes food for twenty of your family or friends and will be delivered to your home on the day of your choice during the month of December. Call us at 508-347-3313 for information and reservations.

Celebrating 13 years together!

I was doing my daily walk around and went into Paige Hall and found the above Tricia and Mike May peeking around. I stopped to ask if I could help them in any way and they told me they were just taking a look around remembering their Wedding Reception which was held here 13 years ago. They told me that they visit almost every year for their anniversary, sometimes for birthdays and get together with friends and family, either for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They chose this destination for their Wedding because it was different then any hall. The whole package is offered here with a place to stay and such beautiful grounds and its old-style New England feel. They keep coming back for the same experience and for the great meals.
It was truly a pleasure to meet another couple here and to find of their experiences and reasons why they come to the Publick House.

Thank you for your time.
James Kluge
Director of Food and Beverage

Enjoying a great lunch and remembering good times!

In my travels today walking around and stopping table to table I bumped into a former employee of the Publick House. I was so excited to chat with Donna Pluta-Marchant and ask lots of questions. She grew up in the Sturbridge area and now resides in the Gloucester area. Donna worked here at the Publick House roughly from 1964 to 1970 back at a time when Treadway Inn was on the property, Saturday dinner was served in our Barn (now where we traditionally do most of our cocktail and hors d’oeuvres hours for our weddings), the Deck was open all summer for dining (where we hold all our large corporate, social gatherings and weddings), there could be up to a 4 hour wait to get in when the Harvard/Yale game was going on!

Some other family events that went on were “Yule Log” and “Boars Head Ceremony.” As a server she worked with many students going to various schools in the area, which all had parents that had worked here in the past. She mentioned how fun of a place it was to work and how beneficial of a role it played in helping her make her way through school. The food continues to keep her coming back to visit and said that this establishment has set the standard for food and service.

It was a pleasure to meet a past employee that shared her experiences and times held here at the Publick House.

James Kluge
Director of Food and Beverage

More Scarecrows at Publick House!

We wanted to share with you all the update on what our scarecrow area looks like now! What a change from only a couple weeks ago!!

Good luck to all the entries! There are some amazing works of art out here! We'll keep posting them, but come by and take a look!

We have great banquet menus for any age!

The Publick House is known for exceptional food and service. That includes the little diners! We have an extensive Children's Banquet Menu so don't forget to ask about it when you're setting up your party or event.

Choice of One Entree

Ages 3-12 years old $15.95 per child

Classic Hamburger/Cheeseburger with French Fries
Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich with French Fries
Peanut Butter, Banana and Jelly Sandwich with French Fries
Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Chef's Choice of Vegetable
Chicken Fingers and French Fries
Hot Dog with French Fries
"Little Tom" Turkey Dinner

Above entrees served with same additional courses as adult entrees

A 5% Massachusetts Meal Tax, a 15% Service Charge and a 3% taxable administrative fee will be added to the above prices.

Prices are subject to change.

Meet our Sales and Catering Team!

Without a doubt, at the Publick House, we have the best Sales and Catering team around! When you bring your group here for a meeting or event, you can feel confident that you will be pampered! From the moment you express interest in us to after your group has gone, our team prides itself on our customer service and expertise! Come to Sturbridge and stay with us at the Publick House Historic Inn!

(From left to right: Cathy O'Brien, Director of Catering; Michael Harrington, Jr.; Director of Marketing, Cheryl Dymek, Catering Sales Manager; Laura Skowron, Director of Sales; Lisa LaCoste, Sales/Catering Administrative Assistant)

Sturbridge Landmark Closes

Sturbridge lost an icon last week--Rom's Family Restaurant closed after 56 years in operation.

The Publick House is happy to welcome several new employees to our family from Rom's restaurant. We consider ourselves very lucky that they chose us!

Here you can see them with our Director of Food & Beverage, James Kluge

From left to right: James Kluge, Yvonne Dalton, Linda Arnberg, Leyroy Lamica

The Wedding Expo

How do we get the word out about weddings at the Publick House? We have our booth at a Wedding Expo. That's where we were this past Sunday! At the Sturbridge Wedding Expo held at the Sturbridge Host Hotel.

Here we see Cathy O'Brien, our Director of Catering, greeting people in the booth. It was a busy day and a lot of fun! Down below is a sample of a great tablescape we can create!

If you have any questions about having your wedding with us, just let us know! We'd love to have your ceremony and reception at the Publick House Historic Inn!

Kristie Poehler

Regional Director of Sales and Marketing

Celebrate the Season--The Publick House Way

Holiday parties at the Publick House will make you the hero of your company! Trust us!



You and your guests are cordially invited to a Publick House holiday gathering. Join a shared party with other businesses and celebrate the holiday season together!

We will provide a cash bar, hors d'oeuvres, dinner buffet, music, dancing, door prizes and festive decorations including our 15-foot Christmas tree and homemade Gingerbread House.

All you need to do is make the reservations!

To make reservations, call our Sales & Catering
Office at 508-347-7323 x286 or email us!

Take a Tour of the Publick House Historic Inn

Maybe you're too far away to see the Publick House but are thinking of coming to visit! Maybe you live in another state but want to hold a wedding, shower, memorial service, meeting or other event with us! We have a great way for you to check out our facilities without setting foot outside your house!

Watch our virtual tour!

We are so proud of our chance to show off in this technological age! Let us know what you think!!

Hope to see you soon!

Kristie Poehler

Regional Director of Sales

THEY'RE BACK!!!

Mark your calendars, the Annual Scarecrow Festival will be the event of the season! The contest will take place on the front lawn of the Publick House with more than 50 scarecrows anticipated this year. Some are already displayed!!

The Annual Harvest Festival will conclude the contest with events such as the pumpkin decorating contest, a farmer's market and festivities planned by the Sturbridge Area Tourist Association 'On The Common'. Be sure to stop by and cast a ballot this year for your favorite scarecrow, as this is one festival you won't want to miss.

For the rules and information on how to get your scarecrow on the common, contact the Publick House at 617-504-8894.

Sharing their special day at the Publick House!

Above is Shanda and Richard Ives sitting in our comfy chairs in the Parlor area a few short steps away from our Historic Tap Dining Room. They chose to celebrate their 13th Wedding Anniversary with us because they really like the establishment’s uniqueness and natural charm. They have been here to meet friends for lunch and David has also been here for a work event in one of our private function rooms. Shanda commented how much she loves our Bake Shoppe and especially the Fig Bars!

It was really nice having the chance to meet them today and to be able to congratulate them on their special day.

Thanks for visiting us!
James Kluge
Director of Food and Beverage

PUBLICK HOUSE ACQUIRES FURNITURE

The Publick House has its own brand of furniture and we found this out by doing some research.

The pieces are stamped with both the Heywood-Wakefield logo and a Publick House logo. The furniture we acquire will go into a guest room with a sign decribing it as an original Publick House piece.

Presently, we have already have a chest in a guest room and a china hutch in a lobby area. A sign hangs beside the china hutch at the Publick House.

Moving into the early 1960s, the company expanded its Old Colony Collection to incorporate Publick House, a solid maple grouping finished in a rich, warm brown. Spearheaded by designer Joseph Carr, long part of Heywood's design team, the collection was extensive and featured an innkeeper's chair, settles and other unusual pieces that reflected the hospitality of the famous New England Publick House Inn.

Come by soon to see them!

Michael Glick

General Manager

Check out the new nightstand!

The Publick House is more than a place to sleep!!

Did you know that we can accommodate groups up to 220 people for meetings and events?

Make the Publick House your first stop for unique meetings in Central Massachusetts! We offer 11 distinctive and flexible meeting rooms and two full service restaurants.

Contact our Catering Department for more information by calling 1-800-PUBLICK or fill out our online RFP form here!

We hope to see you here!
Laura Skowron
Director of Sales

Wi-Fi now available in the Motor Lodge!

The Publick House is pleased to announce that the entire property now offers complimentary wireless internet access. We want to provide the tools necessary for any guest that has to stay connected while traveling for business or pleasure.

Contact us at 508-347-3313 • 800-PUBLICK or at http://www.publickhouse.com/ for more information!

See you soon!
Michael Harrington Jr.
Director of Marketing

PUBLICK HOUSE RAISES MONEY FOR MS!

The Publick House has always been a vibrant part of the Sturbridge community and with our dinner series, we have raised $30,000 for Multiple Sclerosis over the past three years! "Publick House Cooks for MS" has been a big draw in the Sturbridge area and we are proud of what we've been able to accomplish with this event.

Based on the success of this event, the Publick House Historic Inn is starting a new dinner series. One dinner per month will be held specifically to raise awareness about various organizations and the proceeds will go directly to the organizations!

September 15--Multiple Sclerosis (Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner)
October 20--Tantasqua High School Athletic Department (Italian Night)
November 10--Mitochondrial Disease (New England Classics)
December 8--Toys for Tots (Chicken Dinner)

These All-You-Can-Eat Buffets will be served from 5-7:30pm at the Publick House on 277 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA. Check our website for more information (www.publickhouse.com).

Prices are $13.00 for Adults and $5.00 for children ages 4-13.

See you there!!

Kristie Poehler
Regional Director of Sales

WELCOME TO THE FIRST POST OF OUR BLOG

Welcome to the Publick House Historic Inn Blog!

We wanted to be able to share with you the many different events that take place here at our historic inn and meeting place as well as in the vibrant town of Sturbridge, Massachusetts! Check here for different events, special programs, photos of our guests and staff, tours of different Sturbridge attractions, and interviews with friends of the Publick House!

Please share your comments with us and let us know how your stay, meeting, or special event went with us! Share photos, Publick House memorabilia, and answer our poll! Sign up to receive the postings every time they come out!

Yours in history,

The Publick House Staff