Detroit bar before the show

[MarieM]

For you far westsiders -- The ramp from northbound Lodge to westbound I-94 is closed. If you want to stick to the Lodge, you'll either have to go past one mile to W. Grand Boulevard and do a turn around or go down to Jefferson from the Fox and do the Lodge/I-96/I-94 shuffle around old Tiger Stadium.

[disdat]

hi, i'm disdat who posted the topic "Detroit bar before the show" - and now, the night before the show, i'm returning to it. my friend and i are driving up from cincinnati, and the plan is (if we don't get lost forever on an I-75 detour tomorrow) to hit Bookies by maybe 3 or something, go to the Foxtown Grille at 5:15, and go to the Town Pump Tavern. on this one i'm following the crowd except for Bookies, which, like the Town Pump Tavern, is not to be missed because (according to someone who studies these things much more thoroughly than i do) a really good bar. have you heard that, for the 18th birthday of his godson, leonard cohen bought him a book on how to fix a martini? interesting, isn't it? anyway, bookies is at 1265 washington blvd, phone number there is 313.963.2589. i enjoyed reading all the posts. some of them were confusing. i wasn't sure what to do. but i know where i will be tomorrow night at 8 pm.

[ladydi]

Hi disdat,

You have come full circle! You started this thread which grew, and grew, and grew, and as you said became a little confusing at times! Sorry for that but looks like you have all the important details! Have a great time at Bookies and we look forward to meeting up with you either at the Foxtown Grille or the Fox! Keep an eye out for a lime green balloon Hopefully the restaurant won't chase me out! And we ALL know where we'll be at 8pm

See you soon....and thanks for having started the thread!

All the best,
Diana

ps..rain rain go away....

Marie...thanks for the update on the construction. I don't think that will ever be finished!

[Walsh75]

Ugh! Final forecast here from Fox 2 News Morning.

We will reach the high of 67 this morning. Then a cold front comes through with a chance of showers and T-Showers dropping the afternoon temp down to 55. Big the big story is the wind. They expected to be between 40-45mph. (Hold on to your hats). The night time low will be a cold 40.

The good news is, most of the rain is expected to stay north up in Oakland County so Detroit and Metro Airport Area for those coming in and out of town shouldn't be bothered too much.

[jamie2304]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to give a bit of advance warning that my train is delayed, suprise suprise, I might not make it to the grille tonight. All depends on when the train gets in, apologies in advance if I don't make it. Really sorry to be a pain.

Jamie

[hotm]

It was a pleasure to meet a few new friends from the forum on Saturday night - thanks for your warmth and hospitality, I really enjoyed meeting you. I wanted to let you know that something very exciting happened later on that weekend. I met Leonard, in the hotel where I (and he!) was staying.

It was Sunday morning and I was leaving for church when I saw Javier Mas checking out. I went up and chatted to him for a few minutes and walked with him out to the tour bus. It was all locked and no-one was around. Javier looked at his watch and realised he was 30 mins early. He drifted back into the building. At this point I made a decision. Probably LC was going to walk through that lobby in the next 30 mins and when he did I was going to be there. I went into the hotel coffee shop, bought some breakfast, had a chat with Neil Larson who was eating there, and then took my blueberry scone back into the lobby.

I had been sitting eating on my own for a couple of mins when Leonard walked through.He was by himself, wearing the same outfit as on stage the previous night, bootlace tie and all, with an AEG jacket over the top. He had his guitar strapped on his back. I walked up to him nervously and asked if I might say hello. He was warm and gracious. I was pretty nervous, actually. I asked, apologetically, if he was happy to sign, and he was. All I had was a business card. He signed the back of it - "To Steve, love Leonard Cohen." I gave him another. He took his glasses out of his pocket, read it carefully, and placed it in his pocket without comment. I then asked if he was happy for me to take a picture, and again he was lovely. He posed for a photo, and then suggested we get someone else to take one of the two of us together. I felt quite overawed but he was keen to put me at my ease. At this point someone else came along who then asked for photo and autograph. Again he obliged, and then bid us farewell - "Goodbye friends!" - and walked through the hotel door where everyone else was getting ready to board the tour bus.

I actually don't remember much of what was said. But I do remember asking him why he thought these shows were having such a powerful effect on people. He replied, "The spirit is with us. The spirit is with us." "I think that's true", I said

What a wonderful weekend! Now if I can ever work out how to get these photos off my phone I may even post them!

Stephen

[ladydi]

Hi Stephen,

How absolutely awesome! I am SO SO happy for you! What an experience to first of all meet Javier, then Neil, and finally Leonard! You've had the opportunity first-hand to witness the generosity and gentleness of Leonard.

"The spirit is with us..the spirit is with us". Oh yes it is friends!

It was such a pleasure to meet you on Saturday evening and I'm now looking forward to your photos!

All the best,
Diana

ps..when your photos are uploaded, or even if they're not, you might want to send the story of your meeting Leonard to Hydriot. In the Comments and Questions section, he has a thread with the stories of fan encounters with Leonard.

[lizzytysh]

Oh, that is absolutely perfect, Stephen ! I'm overjoyed with your good fortune. You handled it all so well and the spirit was with you, too. I remember back to some of our conversation and fit it in so easily to different places; and draw meaning from it. I'm happy for you .


~ Lizzy