An Unreasonable Man Stops by The Chelsea

The unreaonable man writes: "I checked in and left my bag there a few minutes ago. The Chelsea is a place with “character”, and plenty of it...  That means, in Real Estate language, that it is a dump. But a dump with a lot of history... I was of course immediately suckered into taking not the $285 room, but the $325 apartment, oh and that is for two people, and that is per person… it’s a seller’s market."   Wow, am I reading this right?  $750.00 per night, plus tax, to stay at the Chelsea. Now let's see, for that amount of money you can stay at any of the following: Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton, The Lowell, The Carlyle, The Pierre, and Jumeirah Essex House. I hope at least they got the Britney Spears suite.
Where are you from?
My name is Michael Willems, and I am from Toronto, Canada. Actually, I am from Holland, grew up in Holland and the UK, have worked in 30 countries worldwide over the past 25 years, and am now Canadian. Not surprisingly considering that history, I consider myself a citizen of the world.
What do you do?
Two things. Well, many things: I do not derive my identity from just my job, thank God. Having said that, my day job is Chief Technology Officer of an international technology company. But my second life, my passion, is photography. I have been making photographs for several decades; now digitally. I am never without a heavy camera slung from my shoulder. I like expressing what I see around me and sharing it. See a few Chelsea pictures here: http://www.willems.ca/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=24
What inspired you to stay at the Hotel Chelsea?
Oh.. clearly, the history. The feeling of being in the presence of greats. But also, the artistic creative atmosphere.
Do you think the Hotel has a creative spirit?
God, yes! Only look at the hallways is enough to see that.
What's your favorite Hotel Chelsea Story?
All of them. My *least* favourite though is Sid Vicious
What's the best/worst thing that has happened to you at the Chelsea?
The best: checking in
The worst: checking out