The story of the Verb Hotel is one that began way back in 1959 when the Fenway Motor Hotel first opened its doors at 1271 Boylston Street. The bustling backdrop of The Fenway, with its cast of unconventional characters, electrifying music scene and indie edge have all helped shape the events and stories that the hotel has played a part in ever since. During the last half-century, the changes in Fe
nway have been profound. Our neighborhood nurtured the music scene of Kenmore Square and the multitude of clubs on Lansdowne Street, gave rise to the pre-eminent alternative weekly newspaper, the Boston Phoenix, housed the offices of iconic and competitive rock radio stations WFNX-FM and WBCN-FM and has been home to a thriving art scene as well as ever-expanding dining opportunities. And let’s not forget a few epic ball games and stadium music performances along the way. Through the decades, the hotel’s status as a home town icon kept growing, like a cool local personality who’s seen it all and has the characteristic looks to prove it! On one level, the creation of The Verb is about the style—the painstaking restoration of the architecture, the idiosyncratic touches and colorful references throughout. But on another, it is about the journey to reconnect with our cultural roots. To help us, we enlisted our very own vibe conservators—long-time local cultural observers and players, Stephen Mindich, publisher of the Boston Phoenix, and David Bieber, WBCN Creative Services Director and the Boston Phoenix/WFNX Director of Special Projects—who with real love and attention to detail have summoned up stories and memories of Fenway’s rich music, media and arts scenes. The bottom line is, The Verb has been around. It’s a character. At the heart and in our hearts. And now it’s back, restored, reloaded and ready to let the good times roll again. Oh, and why the name? Well, if you want to get literary about it, “Verb” describes an action, and a state of being. But we like that it came from “reverb”—a reminder of the music and attitude that’s inspired us all throughout the years. Peace. �
