The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 34

C-8 bUNIMY UMta, Aia 4, Iwha-aulANIUN, FA. Restored Berkshire Place Combines Charm, Modern Elegance rooms, grand lobbies, Impeccable service and a history closely woven into the fabric of its city location." And, Indeed, the Berkshire Place offers all of these and more. The experience of the Berkshire Place begins the moment one steps through the tlass doors of the entrance ito the lobby where the two 19th Century stone lion dogs that guard the entry and Italian arable interior hint at the extravagance and luxury to be found within. In the recesses of the lobby Is the driwingroom-like setting of the Atnum, one of two public arose In the hotel that drew together all of the creative energies of the Boston-based interior design firm of Justras and NobUi. Marble and cut mirrored wails reflect its beige sod soft green interiors, and its plush settes and rattan chairs are graced by potted palsm and oriental objects irt Tbe effect Is on of intimacy and dan, comfort and refinement Philip general manager at the Berkshire Place, has even revived the custom of high tea which ia now aerved daily in thia exquisite skylit room.

furbishing of all 13 guestrooms, the lobby, the Atnura lounge and the adjacent Re-ndez-voui Restaurant. The renovation was part of Dun-fey Hotels efforts to restore the Berkshire Place to ita former 1920 splendor and to maintain the high standards of its "Clastic Hotel" divi-sion which includes two other venerable establishments, the Parker House In Boston and the Ambassador East (home of the famous Pump Room) in Chicago. Jon Canas, executive vice president of Dunfey, describes a "Classic Hotel" as "old in the sense of spacious Salvador Dali printed on hn aumalutic canvisset there Roger and lUmmenteia brrirutormed there In I Mi to create one of America'i moat memorable muncali 0k-lahom." Countleaa regular! from Alfred Hitchcock to Ethyl Merman lingered in the lobby or relaxed in the rooms. The old Berkshire Hotel, now the new Berkshire Place, hat the history and charm of a grand dame and the fresh new face of a debutante. A 19 5 million restoration project recently completed by the hotel entailed the re Down the carpeted corridor psst 1 19th Century Japanese six pi set screen la the Re-ndrivous Bistro Cafe where continental cuisine with a flair of nouvelle cuisine prevails former Bill Blass designer Jean-Pstric 1L Cour-taul bat transformed a cavernous space Into five exquisite dining environments a sidewalk cafe, a bar, two elsvited arris called the "right" and "left" banks, a casual dutch of marble topped tables referred to as tha bistro, and tha gallerv.

an intimate dining room wch can ba reserved for private gatherings. Additional meeting and banquet facilities are to be found on the 19th and 20tb floors in the Hampton and Ambsssador Rooms, both of which can accommodate persons for banquet and 30 persons In theater style seating. The Madison Room on the second floor can accommodate an additional 40 persons for dining and 3 persons theater style. Guestrooms it the Berkshire Place are located in two towers, the East Tower which rises 20 stones snd the slightly lower West Tower which rises It stones. Each room carried out in beige and powder blue la furnished with custom-made furniture and draperies.

Amenities include private baths, color televisions, AM-FM radio, direct dial phones with message signal full length mirrors and Individual air-conditioning units. Guests of tbe Berkshire Place also receive a complimentary newspaper each morning. Other features include room service from 6 a m. to midnight same day valet and laundry services, safe deposit boxes and valet parking. Among the recent staff additions are two concierges who are available to answer guest questions on neqrby sightseeing, chopping and dining.

At the Berkshire Place on 52nd Street and Madison Avenue, the Atrium offers a respite from the hustle and bustle of New York City. A tribute to the bygone era of graciousness, the Atrium serves "high tea" every afternoon from 2:30 to 5 o'clock hc uni)aij Glimes and Recreation One of New York's popular dining sports, the Rendez-Vous Restaurant is located adjacent to one of the city's newest hotels Dunfes Berkshire Place Hotel at Madison Avenue and 52nd Street Pari of a multimillion restoration program, the Rendez-Vous serves nouvelle cuisine three meals a day, seven days a week. Rendez-Vous Bistro-Cafe Lures Visitors with Menu, Setting Sipping cappucino at a sidewalk cafe. Swapping the latest stories over a brandy at a bar. Dining on filet of striped bass En Papillote in the intimacy of a small restaurant.

The Rendez-vous Restaurant at 52nd Street off adison Avenue with its soft lights, understated elegance and cusine is the setting for all of these pleasures. Jean-Patrice H. Courtaud, former Bill Blass designer, recently spent $1.5 million on creating an ambiance to enable guests to appreciate an array of dining experiences. The once cavernous room has been transformed into five distinct dining environments with seating for 230 and a burnished wood bar that oc brass railings which add to the richness of the decor. Gray flannel walls and banquettes, antique wall sconces and rich wood paneling lend a formal tone to these areas while paintings of leggy cancan girls, bnght splashes of tropical flowers and etched glass mirrors accent them with a touch of levity.

On the main floor, a bistro of marble topped tables offers an informal gathering place near a tiered display of pastries and desserts, An intimate gallery off to the rear is graced by modern oils and a huge centerpice of freshly cut exotic flowers reflected In a framed mirror. Here, hundreds of bub-shaped lighting fixtures hang from the furrowed ceiling. cupies centerstage. The adjacent "sidewalk cafe" runs alongside a wall of lace-curtained arched windows fronting 52nd Street where sippers and diners can watch the passing parade. The cafe and two main dining areas called the "left bank" and "right bank," are elevated from the main floor and are rimmed with polished produce.

Vegetables, when cooked, are lightly steamed to maintain their crisp texture and natural bright coloration. Serpes 17 years of culinary scholarship in Italian and French cuisine has resulted in five awards for excellency including a gold medal from the Societe Culinaire de Philanthroplque for original creations he has authored. Among the nouvelle cuisine entrees found on the Rendezvous dinner menu are Serpe's Mousse of Pike with chive sauce, Paillard of Veal with lemon butter and Steamed Filet of Sole wrapp ed in spinach leaves. Specialities at the Rendezvous weekend brunch include fresh Salmon marinated with green peppercorns, Striped Bass Nouvelle Cuisine, Chicken Breast Florentine and Cold Swordfish Nicoise. The Rendez-vous welcomes guests for breakfast weekdays from 6 to 10:30 a.

m. and until 11 a.m. on Weekends; lunch from noon to 3 p.m.; dinner from 6 to 10:30 m. and late supper from 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3:00 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling (212) 753-5970. All major credit cards are accepted. Take a 'Champagne Weekend' Break Applying this same flair for decor, Courtaud designed the Rendez-vous distinctive graphics, uniforms and tableware. Table linens and menus are pale pink, and gracing each tablecloth is a pitcher of freshly cut flowers.

According to designer Courtaud, "The space was designed around the menu. The visual quality of a room should relate to the quality of the food," he claims. Like the Rendez-vous traditional decor which is treated in a light, modern fashion, its continental menu is an adaptation of classical French cuisine with an added flavor of nouvelle cuisine. Fish and white meats, the mainstay of the Rendez-vous bill of fare, are prepared so as to retain their natural flavoring, fresh herbs are used in deference to salt and pepper, and cream or butter is substituted as a thickening agent in traditionally flourladen sauces. Executive Chef Angelo Serpe who designed the Rendez-vous five menus, Incorporates into his recipes toe freshest available regional with fresh fruit or Eggs Benedict A concierge is always available in the lobby to answer questions guests might have and to offer helpful hints on nearby sightseeing, the theater and shopping.

The Berkshire Place's trudtown location is just minutes from Saks, Cartier and other fine Fifth Avenue shops, Radio City Music Hall and the Broadway theater district. After an activity-filled day, the hotel provides an afternoon pause for au old and If the coming weekends bring only thoughts of another losing battle with the crab-grass, running a troop kitchen with meals every hour on the hour, and shuttling the kids and all of their friends everywhere from football practice to dance lessons to the movies the chances are youre suffering from a "classic" syndrome. The only known cure is a weekend in New York City a Classic Weekend, that is at the Berkshire Place on East 52nd Street and Madison Avenue. From the moment you step through the double glass doors, to the sparkling champagne and rose that await you in your luxurious double room, the weekend holds the promise of an exciting change of pace. The "Classic Weekend at the Berkshire Place costs only 3130 per couple.

The package, based on double occupancy, includes deluxe accommodations for cherished tradition high tea in Us flower-fUled Atrium. A delightful array of teas, coffees, pastries and cocktails served In a comfortable intimate setting offers a perfect end to the day and an elegant beginning to the evening. The "Classic Weekend package priced at 3130 for two persons provides deluxe accommodations Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Monday, complete with breakfast each morning, champagne and a welcoming rose. three days and two nights, breakfast both mornings either in the Rendez-vous Restaurant or through room service complete with a newspaper, compliments, of the hotel. The breakfast selections on the room service menu are also prepared by the Rendezvous' chef.

So whether you decide to "eat out" or linger a little longer in bed, the hotel promises a morning feast from freshly baked croissants and brioches to waffles ATLANTIC CITY WEEKEND At The RESORTS INTERNATIONAL JULY 11-12-13 Dbl ft SI.9S Triple, 1141.T5 $m5 Inchdot: Round Trip Motor Coach to Atlantic City 2 Nights Accomodations Hesqris Entertainment: "Bravo 81 Roto Show Admission to Casinot lox ol Salt Water Taffy A Tram Ride All Taxes, Tips, 8 Gratuities BOOK NOW1I THOMPSON TRAVEL BUREAU 29 Lackawanna Scranton, Pa. 344-8664 54-164 Afternoon Tea Enjoys Renaissance fast tea. Each specially prepared tea ball is steeped In individual silver urns and poured into delicate oriental patterned teacups. Coffee and Expresso are also served, and cocktails may be enjoyed in the Atrium from noon to midnight. As a sweet note to the occasion, the pastry chef at the adjacent Rendezvous Bistro Cafe presents an array of freshly baked fruit tarts, including the restaurant's kiwi papaya specialty, strawberry cheesecake, chocolate mouse cake and other continental delicacies.

We hope high tea in our beautiful Atrium will offer our guests and visitors an afternoon respite from the nonstop pace of New York City and toe modern world, says Philip Georgas, general manager of the Berkshire Place. "Its our tribute to 8 bygone era of graciousness ana hospitality. Traditions become traditions because regardless of the age, they bring joy to the participants. Whether a proper close to an afternoon game of croquet in the days of Henry James or a settling brew following a Fifth Avenue shopping spree, the splendor of high tea is a custom enjoyed by all who partake. This timeless activity of sipping tea in the afternoon is enjoying a renaissance in New York at the Berkshire sion of potted palms and an edectric decor of oriental and modern objets art.

Acrylic table lamps, a 17th century Foo dog and an 18th century Chinese handcarved teak armoire grace the marble and mirrored walls of the Atrium done in tones of warm beige and soft green. Longskirted hostesses offer a connoisseurs blend of Gertrude Ford tea balls in selections of orange pekoe, oolong, jasmine and English Break Place on 52nd Street off Madison Avenue. Here shoppers, strollers and serious tea connoisseurs linger in the flower-filled skylit Atrium where tea is served each afternoon from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Two marble steps down from the main lobby of the Berkshire Place, the elegant Atrium creates a drawingroom setting for this light afternoon repast with islands and niches of plush conversational style seatings. a profu The complete booh of great vacations.

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New Jerseys got 127 miles of gleaming beaches, sparkling lakes, history, beauty and excitement. Youll be amazed at how much New Jersey offers dose. Send for this enlightening new book today. Brotherhood Winery Sets Dates For Ballooning, Tasting Events I I "I New Jersey Vacation P.O. Box 400 ST Trenton, ILL 06625 how the wine is made, then learn to appreciate wines in free tasting.

The special events are gen-erally scheduled on weekends. In the event of rain, it may be best to call. The telephone number for information, directions and brochures is (914) 496-9101. Starting this weekend, Brotherhood Winery will begin its new wine-tasting workshops. This is a special free course for people that want more information about wine making, its serving, storage and appreciation.

Each workshop will be led by a wine exeprt. Participants will learn by tasting wines and through visual demonstrations. Several wines will be served with defects, or aged too early or too late in order to demonstrate how To promote tourism to the Hudson Valley region, Brotherhood Winery has announced a schedule of special weekend events at the winery. Brotherhood, Americas oldest winery, is also the largest winery tour operation in the country. About an hour from New York City, northern New Jersey and southern Connecticut, almost one-half million people visit the winery annually.

Being so close to the metropolitan area, tourism at the wineiy has increased reflecting families taking advantage of the short drive, officials there said. Steeped in history and beauty, Brotherhood gives tourists an hour and twenty-mintue guided tour of its picturesque aging vaults and cellars. In a fun setting, see quality is achieved. Palate clearing cheeses and crackers will also be served. In toe past year Brotherhood won mbre awards than any other winery in the eastern industries leading wine competition.

Classes are limited to 20 people and last about two hours. Theyre scheduled Saturday and Sundays (space available) beginning at 10 a.m. Advance registration and prepayment of 310 is required. The fee covers park-' ing, a printed outline, wine glass, tasting wine and snacks Up, up and away In those beautiful balloons to Brotherhood Winery's second annual Balloon Festival on June 6, 7 and 8. Fifteen hot air balloons and their crews will converge on the winery, nestled in the heart of the Hudston river Valley in Wasbingtonville, N.Y., for three days of fun and frolic in the sky.

The tradition linking wines and balooning goes back eral centuries, when balloonists making stops in open fields, gave bottles of wine to the surprised and often irate farmers. But, at Brotherhood the tradition will be carried out In reverse. Balloonists will receive prizes for competing in the Hare and Hounds, Crepe Paper Tie and other exciting events. Balloonists will begin tethering by mid-afternoon, Friday, June 6, in preparation for the first series of events beginning at 6 p.m. The second ascension will take place Saturday, June 7, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Spectators are urged to arrive as early as possible. Balloning is a spectacular, unusual and uncertain sport in that the pilot has only vertical control Direction Is determined only by the winds. Wind direction will vary at different altitudes of which use by maneuvering his balloon higher or lower. loon higher or lower. Balloonmeister for the event.

Bill Armstrong of the Balloon Federation o( America, commented, The event will take place rain or shine." To reach Brotherhood, take the New York State Thruway to Exit 18 (Harriman). Follow Routes 6-17 (Quickway) west two-and-one-half miles. Turn off at Exit 130 and follow 208 to Washingtonville. For a brochure with map and year-round schedule write Brotherhood Winery, Washingtonville, N.Y. 10992.

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