As we move into 2014, we can’t help but take the time to reflect and celebrate all the Gladstone goodness of 2013. And what better way than with a Top 10 list right?
10. CUTMR10
That’s right, 2013 marked the 10th year of our annual alternative design event CUTMR. As always, CUTMR10 was a great success. Full of inspiring design and of course, all of you! Just thinking about it gets us beyond excited for this year’s CUTMR11 exhibition (Jan 23-26, 2014).
9. Pride at the Gaystone
For the first time, we packed 10 days with 14 specially programed, pride-centric events. The results were sexy, political and proud. With World Pride on the horizon for 2014, things are only about to get gayer.
8. 1st Annual Gladstone Film Festival
As a nod to Toronto’s short film community, we were very excited to usher in this first time jurried Film Festival with. Offering a platform for emerging filmmakers to connect with the growing Toronto film community while gaining recognition and exposure, we’re excited to see what next year will bring to the short film screen.
7. REDRUM Halloween Party
Opening up 2 floors of the hotel, we creepily ushered in a REDRUM themed Halloween Party this year. For the first time, amidst tons of costumes, Daft Punk Tribute performing the best Daft Punk songs live, a hedge maze recreation, DJs, dancing and lots of other haunted happenings, we celebrated a truly spooky Halloween this year.
6. 12 Beers of Christmas: II
It was so fun last year, we decided to do it again in 2013. 12 of our favorite craft breweries and lots of friends with ugly Christmas sweaters, sampling beer and making merry. Stay tuned next year, this is definitely an annual thing.
5. New Gallant Bikes for Hotel Guests to Borrow
Yup, our friends at Gallant Bikes helped us out big time this year, and hooked us up with these 2 beautiful custom bikes for our hotel guests to ride around the city. Made locally in Toronto, we are happy to have cruised through 2013 in lots of style.
4. New Chef Mario Paz + New Menus
This year we also welcomed in Chef Mario Paz and his exciting new menus. With tons of creativity and a lot of love for the Gladstone, Paz’s menus and culinary energy are setting us up for a very delicious 2014.
3. New Surreal Gourmet Artist Designed Room by Bob Blumer
It’s not every day that one of our 37 artist designed hotel rooms gets a design overhaul. In fact, this is the first time it’s happened since the original artist designed rooms were launched in 2005! Under the vision and handywork of celebrity chef and hyper creative artist, Bob Blumer, we are still not sure if we’re dreaming when it comes to the Surreal Gourmet room.
2. Named in Fodor’s Top 100 Hotels
Truly one of our biggest accomplishments yet, this year we were ranked amongst the best hotels in the world by Fodor’s in the category Home Suite Home. Recognized as an “outstanding hotel that offers a one-of-a kind stay for guests, excellent service and style”–we’ll be working extra hard in 2014 to make sure this is always true for our guests.
1. Made Lots of New Friends + Continued to Share with Longtime Community and Cultural Supporters
Like: Patty Smith, Sandra Bernhard, Scott Speedman, Chuck Klosterman, Oliva Chow, David Cronenberg, Jiggly Caliente, Danko Jones, Sean Cullen,
Rob Ford,
Chris Locke, Katie Boland, Balint Zsako, Jonathan Hobin, Juliana Neufeld, Beth Lesser, Wedge Curatorial Projects, TINARS, Skin Tight Outta Sight, Great Canadian Burlesque, Pinky’s Nails, Toronto Blues Society, Shedoesthecity, Arhitext, Mammalians, Department of Unusual Certainties, Toronto Design Offsite, Akimbo, Gladstone Flea and of course–YOU!
Lemon Bucket Orkestra performing to a packed crowd at Nuit Blanche, 2013
In surmise, we feel so lucky to have spent such an exciting 2013 with you all! We are always humbled by the support and love from West Queen West and beyond and hope that 2014 will be just as happy and healthy as 2013.
See you in the New Year!
xo
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