A little gem in the city

The summer has been far from normal for this social butterfly! As I sit at home I think of all the things I miss doing and visiting Toronto (only 40 km away) is one of them. I am pretty lucky that Toronto is not that far and there is so much to do there. But the time does not feel right to visit with some places still with restrictions or even closed.

A little gem that I am drawn to in Toronto is the Consort Bar at the King Edward Hotel. The hotel itself has a feel of nostalgia and history. Then as you walk through the lobby into the bar, you are welcomed by wood panelled walls and large portraits of what looks like British aristocratic women. The furniture is dark but looks expensive. Tall back leather chairs and royal blue velvet love seats. You look up to a coffered ceiling with elaborate red and gold chandeliers dimly lit. The bar too is made up of the same dark mahogany wood, with the various spirits that provide colour to the neatly lit shelves. I have often asked myself, is this how the rich live in their English country homes or should I say estates?

The bar is typically busy but not too loud, which is nice be it I am with my husband or a group of friends, we can at least chat while enjoying a beverage. If there is a lull in conversation, the large windows allow for a peak to what is going on in the city. From couples hand in hand out on a date, to a group of 20 somethings heading to a night club, or a family of tourists snapping pictures, there is never a dull moment at the Consort.

One of my hi-lites dates back to the spring of 2019, when the Toronto Raptors where in the NBA playoffs. Aside from the fact there was a buzz in the city, there was also buzz in the lobby hotel. Me, being the inquisitive one had to check it out! As I made my way to the ladies room as an excuse to check out the forming crowd, I did not have to look far but UP to see Shaquille O'Neil with his entourage. He was a guest at the hotel while also hosting for NBC Sports during the playoffs. Now this was a pretty cool experience, a cocktail with a celebrity siting!

Soon enough, I hope to get back into the city, find that perfect chair by the window with a dirty martini in hand, wondering who will I see today!