Not sure where to start. I’m not really as cool as I like to think I am. And the Drake is a bit out of my league on the funkiness scale. With a photobooth in the lobby, a balloon chandelier, and 1970’s touches in the studio (‘crash pad’) rooms, this place was.. the bomb. On a cool scale? I felt 200%. The bathroom is incorporated into the room, kind of at the end of your bed. The staff have nose rings and tight plaid pants like the hip golfers in the PGA Tour.
In the neighbourhood of Queen West I found shopping like none other. Vintage shops, personalized cufflinks, bespoke men’s suits, organic t-shirts and vintage dresses. What more could a girl want?
The room reminded me of my dorm at Queen’s University, but with a minibar and a ton of kitch. Back at my alma mater, I was more Laura Ashley and Ralph Lauren than funk. And now I had good wine, great linens, a space-age coffeemaker and spiritual sculpture gardens outside the windows in the hall.
The General Store downstairs offered lots of mementos and the bar are was on-trend. My Toronto colleagues made the trek to meet me there and we had a great feed of nachos and wine. I was able to zip downtown on the streetcar in less than 15 minutes.
Since I visited last, they have added a modern wing. Same style. Same cool factor.
I just wish I were there during the Toronto International Film Festival – TIFF. Because if I were uber cool, this is where I’d hang.
