Since it’s opening in late-July 2022, the Ace Hotel Toronto has become a unexpected hotspot for Toronto’s underground nightlife.
Located near Camden and Brant, the hotel has hosted events alongside ISO Radio, Cold Pod, Jems Condom and Afrique Like Me to name a few. Kuruza’s Minzi Roberta also puts on an audio-visual experience called Dreamscape on the last Saturday of each month.
For emerging partygoers and those who’ve been in the scene for a while, the Ace Hotel Toronto has become a go-to for DJ sets, film screenings and hi-fi music.
That’s all thanks to Ace Hotel Toronto’s community markerting manager Michael Nyarkoh.
Nyarkoh has been a vital part of the arts and culture scene in Toronto and is know bringing in his ideas and knowledge to the Ace Hotel Toronto, Photo by Rhea Singh.
Nyarkoh’s connections with Toronto’s nightlife scene is extensive, having previously started collective Mother Made with some friends about 7 years ago.
“The ways I segment culture and cultural happenings it takes the [bookings], the music, the movies, the workshops around polyamorous relationships…the intimate moments to make something whole to me,” said Nyarkoh. “
Nyarkoh joined the Ace Hotel Toronto team just before the pandemic hit. His aim for the hotel is to showcase a range of programming that make use of different spaces within the hotel.
The most interesting of the spaces, Interspace, differs from the others in that it’s an open concept space that allows for events to be creative with their design and set-up. It has already been used for talks, guided drawing nights and dance parties.
The overall aim is to provide a space for a mix of people, to enjoy genre beyond one refined style. Photo courtesy of Cold Pod NYE party at Evangeline 2022.
“I’m working towards making space for BIPOC queer folks, marginalized people, that’s the core of what I do,” said Nyarkoh. “I want to work with people that believe in what this place can be.”
Once its doors finally opened in the summer of 2022, Nyarkoh’s first weekend event saw YOHOMO starting their threemonth residency ‘CAN I BE ME?‘ during Caribana on Friday, and Baby Blue, a DJ duo consisting of Young Tesh and Prince Josh kicking off their first Saturday.
“That weekend was wild…part of me was having this thought that it was going to be a wild night or be the deadest day ever,” said Nyarkoh. “People came, were excited, confused, making sense of the space.”
Nyarkoh hosted the first event under his direction in July 2022, and from then on has aimed to provide a diverse array of options for guests. Photo courtesy of Michael Nyarkoh.
This was the begining of over six months of events that would reintroduce the city to hotels hosting spaces for underground collectives, design talks, music releases, meditation guides and ballroom events to name a few.
“The beautiful thing about the Ace brand is that it allows for a variety of groups, and encourages as many people [to be a part of it],” said Nyarkho. “The hotel doubles as a hangout spot that also doubles as a party venue that also double as a wedding venue…it’s this interesting amalgamation of things.”
From music release parties to guided meditations, the options at the Ace Hotel Toronto seems endless, with many more to come in the future. Photo by Chinelo Yasin at MONEYPHONE event.
Previously, two distinct hotels hosted were known to host events in the city, the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone House.
While the former hosted event such as Beam Me Up! disco nights and School Night at the Drake Underground, the latter held events such as All 90s and Hide and Seek for Pride.
While the Drake Hotel still thrives, currently hosting Kris Lodu’s One Night Only every Thursday as well as concerts throughout the week, the Gladstone House has scaled back on its events post-lockdown.
When Gladstone House ceased all operation in March 2020, its planned reopening and new look kept people hopefull that the space would continue its past of being a nightlife staple. This didn’t happen.
Instead, events at the Gladstone House have mostly been stagnent since its reopening. Under Nyarkoh’s direction, the Ace Hotel has stepped in to provide an alternate venue.
The hotel has become a staple in current nightlife, offering paid and free events that are accessible to anyone interested. Photo courtesy of Michael Nyarkoh.
February events at the Ace Hotel include a focus on Black queer filmmakers such as the short term conversation series with Toronto queer festival Inside Out.
This weekend the hotel is hosting SHADES on Feb. 10. and Ace Afrique, Random Access and Cold Pod Cinema Club on Feb. 11.
