Return of the Intrepid Blogger

By Daniel Edward Craig

It’s me again! Did you miss me? Did you even notice I was gone? Don’t worry, I haven’t returned to my old job as general manager of Opus. I’ve been asked to do a Special Guest Star appearance on this blog. Apparently Katrina has been “busy”, but every time I walk past Glowbal I see her sipping wine on the patio.

[Note from Katrina: FUNNY, Dan. It’s more like guzzling bad coffee on Montreal-bound flights. Now if we’re talking patio-tippling, I believe there have been numerous sightings of an certain author…]

It’s been five looong months since I left Opus to finish my book, and, well, it’s been hell. If I ever questioned whether I loved my job before, I don’t anymore. Managing a hotel is not easy, but writing is ten times harder. Spending all that time with no one to talk to but an evil voice that keeps telling you you’re a fraud can play nasty tricks on your psyche. (That voice used to say the same thing when I was a hotel manager but there were more people around to drown it out).

The good news is, my third book is done and my second, Murder at Hotel Cinema, is out this month. Continuing with the hotel whodunit theme, this one is about the murder of a troubled celebrity at the opening party of a fashionable Hollywood hotel—that is not unlike Opus. When his prized employees become suspects, general manager Trevor Lambert struggles to protect them from the incriminating glare of the LAPD and the prying eyes of reporters, risking everything to expose the killer. Ooh scary! My launch takes place later this month—where else but Opus? After that I’ll be a free agent, so if you know anyone looking for someone to do very little work for lots of money, send them my way.

Truth is, I never fully severed ties with Opus. Not only do I drop in regularly to beg staff to tell me they still love me, but I’ve also done some project work, most recently having updated the Lifestyle Concierge, which will be up and running soon. On a recent visit I was thrilled to see a development proposal announcing plans for a 250-seat restaurant on Opus’s rooftop. Hot! I’m thinking of applying as a suntan lotion boy, but only if I can wear little white shorts and make enough tips to never have to write again. I was also happy to hear about the opening of Koko in Montreal, which I’m told was the party of the year—and no murders! So much for new writing material.

I used to shy away from commenting on the Vancouver hotel scene, but now that I’m a Special Guest Star with no real accountability, I thought I’d put out a few random Deep Hotel Thoughts:

1. Where are the guests going to come from?
It’s fantastic to see all the new hotels under development in Vancouver, but after the 2010 Olympics it’s going to be a fierce market. Only those who offer a superior product will thrive. Go Opus!

2. Does Vancouver need another Fairmont?
Not that Fairmont doesn’t run fantastic hotels, but with the 415-room Fairmont Pacific Rim scheduled to open in mid-2009 there will be four Fairmonts in Vancouver, plus one in Whistler and another in Victoria. Maybe too much of a good thing? I think Fairmont should give one back. We’ll take the new one.

3. Will Hotel Loden ever open?
I remember the drama when Opus was delayed by a few months and can certainly empathize with the opening team at Loden. By my calculation it’s about seventeen years behind schedule, but maybe it just feels that way. Let’s get a move on, builders, it’s lonely on the boutique front and Opus is looking forward to some friendly competition.

Well, that’s it for now. It’s been great reconnecting. Hopefully I’ll be invited back. If not, you can always visit me at www.danieledwardcraig.com. Until then, be cool, don’t forget to tip the maid, avoid hotel rooms with floral bedspreads, and remember to put on a bathrobe before you put that room service cart in the hallway—hotel room doors self-close.

Oh, and don’t forget to enter to win TV Week’s Sex in the City Weekend package, including two nights at Opus with breakfast and parking, spa treatments at Spruce, a collector Sex and the City DVD set and, la pièce de résistance, a night with me at Opus—but no sex, just cocktails and a signed copy of Murder at Hotel Cinema. Good luck!

Healthy drinking at Opus Hotel

I’m heading off on vacation for a couple of weeks, so inevitably my minds turned to cocktails.

Apparently, I can enjoy my holiday cocktail-ing guilt free now, according to Brad Stanton, Opus Vancouver’s beverage manager extraordinaire. Cocktails have turned healthy? He recently introduced me to the delightfully appealing concept of cocktails as healthy elixirs. Take a peek at Brad’s video where you’ll be introduced to his talent for concocting nutritious, delicious drinks. Next time you’re nursing a cold or fighting the flu, give yourself permission to pour yourself a stiff drink. Stanton’s orders.

Brad works his cocktail magic every Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. during Happy Hour at Elixir. Make sure you stop by.

For our Montreal friends, you'll be in on the healthy cocktail action soon. Brad's busy creating the cocktail menu at Koko Restaurant + Bar, opening May 10 in Montreal.

Speaking of Koko, make sure to keep checking our Koko Facebook page, as well as the Koko website, where we'll keep you up-to-date with the latest developments as we approach our grand opening.

As for the latest happenings in Vancouver - we have some fantastic events in store for you, including a new Live Art series starting on the last Thursday of every month. Keep up with all our events on the Opus Bar web site and the Opus Facebook page and as always, you can reach me with your comments here on my blog, and soon (very soon!) on my very own Facebook page.

Koko Restaurant + Bar Opens at Opus Hotel Montreal

Koko Restaurant Montreal Web Site



A dramatic silver and black backdrop and glittering chandeliers set the stage for Montreal's hottest new dining, drinking and socializing space. To set the mood, resident DJs spin with international talent to bring the latest electro-house rhythms from East and West.



In the dazzling Grand Salon, an electric green runway cuts a swath through the cloud-white room while turn-of-the-century muses painted on the ceiling contemplate the action from above. Draped in black velvet, the sumptuous Petit Salon in the building's historic section provides an intimate space for discrete encounters. Outside, the expansive terrace offers a sanctuary for basking in the afternoon sun or flirting in the moonlight.