The Gladstone Hotel

When we were planning to meet Steph in Toronto she kindly gave us a number of suggestions for accommodation in Toronto. We finally chose The Gladstone on Queen Street West. On our way there our taxi driver told us that it was very old but very nice.

The Gladstone.

It was Wednesday evening before we saw our room as it wasn't ready when we called to the hotel in the morning. Seemingly The Gladstone is recognised internationally as Canada's premier Art Hotel. It is a juxtaposition of old and new, historical landmark and contemporary art scene. It has 37 unique artist designed hotel rooms. Our room 412 was designed by Stephen Cruise and is called Ambulation.

I thought the room was very pretty. Notice the leaves between the lining and the curtain.

It's very nice and very simple - could be an idea for decorating a bedroom at home!








The hotel is also an art gallery and the Spring Art Exhibition was just starting - there were 2  receptions on Thursday evening - one in the Art Bar which had an exhibition in Picasso style of Picasso doing household chores and looking after the children - it was quite funny! The other reception was for works of quite a number of artists. It was really interesting (Jim had to sign that we would not touch the works of art when we were checking in) and we spent quite a lot of time going through the different rooms. Floor 2 was totally devoted to this exhibition and is obviously never used as hotel rooms. There were works of art on all the floors.

Teepee Light

These 3 were our favourites. All were much beyond our budget and we didn't touch them!








The Gladstone has a 105 year old lift which can only be used if there is a member of staff to operate it. It reminds me of the kind of lifts I used in Paris in the early 1970s. Seemingly there was a character called Hank whom they called The Cowboy, because of his love of Country and Western music, who used to perform there and who eventually got a job there operating the lift.

The Gladstone Cowboy Elevator.

Some of the characters operating the lift today are equally colorful!

As well as the art receptions on Thursday evening there was an African Music Festival, which we didn't attend, and a Blues session, which we did attend.

Singing the blues in The Gladstone. The guitarist was excellent and the singer was really good!

The Gladstone does a wonderful granola for breakfast!

Have just listened to The National's Alligator - it's a bit Leonard Cohenish.