ongoing

We know Boston hotels love to drum up business locally. That is, provide something special, something extra for people who live around here that makes them want to leave the confines of home and luxuriate at a classy hotel. Usually, these enticements involve the word "romance." That's not what XV Beacon is selling right now. What it's got going is this: They're offering an overnight stay in a Classic standard room ($425) or a Studio delux room ($525) complete with Nikkei newspaper, in-room tea service and a Japanese breakfast through room service or their sister restaurant the Federalist. Why? To celebrate the addition of Daisuke Matsuka to the Red Sox staff, the Japanese phenom who will surely win 40 games this year and make us forget Smokey Joe Wood. This package is up now through ... November! We're not quite sure exactly how your stay at XV Beacon really celebrates Dice-K - does he even know about you? - but then again, we're not in marketing. Maybe there is some vicarious, ersatz Japanese something that will inhabit your being during your stay. Maybe there's good karma in endorsing Dice-K now - we're writing early Sept. - while he's in the midst of a rather bad run. Show that you're not a front-runner! Book now!

15 Beacon St., 617- 760-1600 xvbeacon.com