What’s An Imaginary Hotel?

Imaginary Hotel Defined: Short Version.  1. an extended metaphor created by Patricia Christakos to showcase art and creativity, most of it her own; 2. an imaginary place designed to inspire and amuse travelers over a certain age. 3. something to say when people ask you where you work, acts as a conversation starter or ender. 4. a sketch book/ visual commonplace book/photography blog that helps the author remember and decide what she thinks at any given moment.  

Imaginary Hotel Defined: Long Version.The Half Century Mark Hotel was created in 2009 in celebration of three friends and their 50th birthdays. Said trio sought an activity worthy of such an important milestone. They considered various endeavors–from hiking high peaks, to seeking spiritual mediums–but couldn’t decide on the right venue. Finally one of the fifty-year-olds proposed a virtual retreat and The Half Century Mark Hotel was born. It soon became clear however that the Hotel was destined to be a sole proprietorship. For the Half Century Mark Hotel is truly Patricia’s story, a chronicle of her thoughts and experiences as she emerges as an artist and writer. The HCMH is designed as her personal memory theater, of sorts, illustrated and arranged to help her  to remember and reflect upon her life’s dreams and details, from the pedestrian (Susan’s Socks) to the ridiculous (Yoko Me). Note: As you wander through past Hotel history, you may notice that the site’s pronouns and the identity of the Hotel’s creator wanders–from “I”  (2009) to “we”  (2012) to “your concierge” (2016) to “Madame” (yet to be used). Don’t fret. All you need to know to experience the Half Century Mark Hotel is that its primary intent is to promote creative expression, contemplation and occasional delight. The author takes her responsibility seriously though her precise job description remains obscure and malleable. Perhaps you’ll stay awhile and maybe even create an imaginary Hotel of your own one day and then we will have an imaginary chain and all will be well with the world.