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Gladstone Hotel Not 'Kinda Sketch', Has Great WiFi

Where: 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1J6

In response to last week's Annual WiFi Report, a tipster wrote us to tell us that the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto has a great free wireless network that worked pretty much all over the hotel.

Our reader also let us know that what we previously said about the hotel's neighborhood is not altogether accurate.

While this quote--"Gladstone is a bit outside the city (10 minutes or so from downtown Toronto) and the neighborhood is kinda sketch, however, there is a on-site Karaoke bar that should ease your worried mind."--is basically right, it leaves one with the wrong impression. The Gladstone is in the west end of the city, not outside of the city. The neighborhood is not "kinda sketch" (sorry to quibble) but indeed perfectly safe. It's located in the heart of one of the most expensive and desirable areas on the city.

In 1993 it was "kinda sketch".

We're not sure this view from the hotel qualifies as desirable but still the Gladstone moves up in our book for funky decor, a nearby karaoke bar and now, free WiFi.

Send us your hotel WiFi tips or comment on our Annual WiFi Report stories.

[Photo: Retired Photo Guy]

Related Stories:
· Gladstone: The Artist Designed Hotel [HotelChatter]
· Best WiFi Hotels 2007 [HotelChatter]

Toronto Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

The Gladstone's Shortcomings

Where: 1214 Queen St West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1J6

We've talked about Toronto's Gladstone Hotel before, but it's always interesting to see what the New York Times thinks of a place. They recently checked in and out of the boutique hotel whose rooms were all designed by different artists and thus have different themes. Among the art that adorns all the walls, other renovations were also made including flat-screen TVS and DVD players. There are a couple locally-loved bars in the hotel too, including one that features regular karaoke.

But where they added new, fun amenities, somehow it seems they or perhaps the artists that designed the rooms, forgot some relatively important additions. The Times reviewer stayed in the "Canadiana Room", a tribute to Canada--where there also was no alarm clock. Maybe Canadians wake up whenever they want?:

My Canadiana Room had an antler chandelier, pixilated forest wallpaper and a selection of second-hand Canadian novels in the credenza. Missing were a couple of basics: an alarm clock and a chair for the desk

It's a little odd that a desk chair didn't make it in to the room of a writer for the Times, but then again, this hotel is claiming only to be a unique boutique hotel and so maybe that's the point. Or maybe Canadians don't use desk chairs. We wouldn't put it past them.

Related Stories:
· Check In Check Out [New York Times]
· Gladstone Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]

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More Detes on the Artist Designed Hotel

Where: 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1J6

Since we last hit up the Gladstone Hotel, we learned about the many different suites within the hotel.

Now the Globe and Mail is reporting on some other features within this decidely anti-boutique hotel.

The hand-operated elevator is still in action, but we learn there is a room by a felt artist with "small, sensual undulations on the wall." (Huh?) There's also a room with hand-painted Chinoiserie paper with some characters wearing the CN Tower for a hat.

The head designer, Christina Zeidler, who's family owns the hotel, said boutique hotels have become standardized and that she was trying to create a living art culture at the Gladstone:

That's what we asked the artists and designers -- pushing the balance between what they wanted to do and allowing that they don't have to take over your life.... I'd like to think there's a movement away from chain hotels.

She also defined the hotel's target audience as anybody "looking to buck Starbucks, sameness and a globalized lifestyle checklist."

Sounds great! Oops, we just ran out of our half-caf, no-whip, grande skim mocha latte. Be right back!

Related Stories:
· Anything but Standard Rooms [Globe and Mail]
· Gladstone Hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]

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Gladstone: The Artist Designed Hotel

Where: 1214 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1J6

The folks at Gridskipper fill us in on Gladstone, a historic building cum artist designed hotel.

The building sports a rare iron and glass hand operated elevator, hard wood floors, high ceilings, and 37 out of the 51 rooms are designed by local artist.

Highlights include:

·   Teen Queen
A room with Tiger Beat pull outs all over the walls,

·   The Map Room
Invites visitors to explore the Gladstone neighbourhood by carving local cartography all around the room.

·   Lehtinen Lodger
A tribute to 1930's Canadian Modernism

·   Faux Naturell
"Room 304 feels like a woodsy retreat where lesbian separatist commune meets Storybook Gardens"

Gladstone is a bit outside the city (10 minutes or so from downtown Toronto) and the neighborhood is kinda sketch, however, there is a on-site Karaoke bar that should ease your worried mind.  

Related Stories:
·   Gladstone Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]
·   Toronto’s “Artist Designed” Gladstone [Gridskipper]