By Maria Russo
Two months ago, Anthony and I were invited to work on a film project in collaboration with Architectural Digest and Toronto Tourism. AD approached us to participate as the hosts of a small travel series featuring Toronto, Ottawa and Ontario.
It was a fun experience that gave us the opportunity to explore Toronto while getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it’s like to create a professional travel series.
We spent a day and a half filming in Toronto visiting popular attractions such as The Distillery District, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO):
Our schedule was incredibly hectic, so it was a lovely treat to end our days at the new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto located in the heart of Yorkville, only a short walk to chic shops, world class museums, and excellent restaurants and galleries.
The hotel is a sanctuary in the midst of a bustling city; light flooded into our spacious room through large floor-to-ceiling windows, making the cold, dreary weather seem inconsequential. The large soaking tub spoiled our tired bodies and plush beds ensured a solid night’s rest.
The stunning design felt Asian-inspired, reminding me of some of the luxury resorts we’ve stayed at in Bangkok, Bali and Singapore. The casual space at one of the hotel’s dining options, dbar, was elegant, yet laid back and the inventive cocktails took the edge off from long days of filming. Unfortunately, we only had time to order room service for some of our main meals, so we missed out on the French fare at Café Boulud, the hotel’s main dining option.
Since we normally stay at boutique properties, this was our first taste of The Four Seasons. We felt incredibly gracious to have had the opportunity to stay at such a tranquil resort during the film project. The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and attentive and the ambience more appealing. We hope to return again in the future.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Maria is the Co-Founder & Editor of The Culture-ist. She has worked in print and broadcast media at companies such as: MTV Networks, Harper’s Bazaar, Warner Bros. and WOR News Talk Radio. Her work has appeared on National Geographic, BBC America, The Huffington Post, People, Stylelist and AFAR among others. Maria is a philanthropy buff and avid traveler who loves natural wonders, cultural food experiences and finding the remaining places on earth left undisturbed. Follow Maria on Twitter @MariaCultureist
Photos: The Culture-ist Video Project/Four Seasons Toronto Hotel courtesy of The Four Seasons
