Chicago

[A Brick in the Wall]

I got tickets for Chicago also...but I guess I made a mistake by taking the first seats I got, which are on the floor but 2/3 of the way back and kind of on the side. I had to sneak out of a meeting at work to get the tickets and so was scrambling and was terrified I'd not get any at all if I threw them back. Still, no complaints! I'm going to a Leonard Cohen show! I've been waiting too long to get hung up on the details.

I'd be interested in any meet-ups...my wife and I will be there!

Hopefully someone from Chicago will set something up.

I can tell you the hotels right in that area are $$$$$$.

BTW -- I think there are still tix available. I found main floor tickets for sale late this afternoon.

[marie paris]

My roommate and I just got 2nd row isle seats on the main floor.

I am almost crying.
This is the dream of a lifetime for me.
Leonard Cohen was the first thing I remember hearing as a 4 mnth old baby.
His work is the most treasured music I have ever heard.
I never thought this would be possible.

Anyway, the 5th is a Tuesday, we are trying to sort out where a meet up would be affordable and with easy parking as we are going to the show from the suburb of Riverside. I would love to have a pre-dinner party at my home--we live in a historic gorgeous landmark neighborhood, and I modestly restored the bottom half of an 1800's home, we have a huge long thru-drive that fits roughly 8-10 vehicles and the entire street is safe street parking as well. The metra luxury train is three blocks away (we walk it is gorgeous, the neighborhood where 'The Lakehouse' with Keanu Reeves was filmed), and we were going to train into the city and take a cab a few blocks to the venue. The Metra line is only a couple of dollars. So could host a short pre-party with drinks and snacks and then everyone could take the metra in together, share cabs to reduce the fare to the venue, and so forth. You can bring cocktails, wine bottles, picnic items etc on the metra line as well. All very affordable, safe, and aesthetically pleasing a trip (we are in Riverside proper). If anyone would like to do this, esp anyone from out of town, let us know. We can even host one couple for the night as long as you pay for your own meals and drinks. We have mostly period restored furniture in a non-smoking house with one cat. We could also organize a meet-up with a Facebook entry for our Chicago show?? Just a money saving idea that would be loads of fun.

-Phoenix Marie

[marie paris]

I forgot to add. I believe the pre-sale code is good until 10 pm.

I Just found main floor tickets up front for 100$ plus fees.

There are still great seats, just plug in any price and best available, don't specify.

Good luck!

PM

[marie paris]

Yes, I am a spastic 40-yr old, ha ha.

A little excited.

Just wanted to add that Monk's Pub is a lot more interesting than Miller's.

~PM

[A Brick in the Wall]

My roommate and I just got 2nd row isle seats on the main floor.

I am almost crying.
This is the dream of a lifetime for me.
Leonard Cohen was the first thing I remember hearing as a 4 mnth old baby.
His work is the most treasured music I have ever heard.
I never thought this would be possible.

Anyway, the 5th is a Tuesday, we are trying to sort out where a meet up would be affordable and with easy parking as we are going to the show from the suburb of Riverside. I would love to have a pre-dinner party at my home--we live in a historic gorgeous landmark neighborhood, and I modestly restored the bottom half of an 1800's home, we have a huge long thru-drive that fits roughly 8-10 vehicles and the entire street is safe street parking as well. The metra luxury train is three blocks away (we walk it is gorgeous, the neighborhood where 'The Lakehouse' with Keanu Reeves was filmed), and we were going to train into the city and take a cab a few blocks to the venue. The Metra line is only a couple of dollars. So could host a short pre-party with drinks and snacks and then everyone could take the metra in together, share cabs to reduce the fare to the venue, and so forth. You can bring cocktails, wine bottles, picnic items etc on the metra line as well. All very affordable, safe, and aesthetically pleasing a trip (we are in Riverside proper). If anyone would like to do this, esp anyone from out of town, let us know. We can even host one couple for the night as long as you pay for your own meals and drinks. We have mostly period restored furniture in a non-smoking house with one cat. We could also organize a meet-up with a Facebook entry for our Chicago show?? Just a money saving idea that would be loads of fun.

-Phoenix Marie

That's an incredibly generous offer that you have made to the group.

Our plans are still up in the air. We will be coming in from out of town but presently we are thinking of staying in town a couple days to hit some museums & the Art Institute.

We come to Chicago on business twice a year but it is always a rush job staying at the Holiday Inn at the Mart & running ourselves ragged at the Mart.

This would be a pleasure trip.

Steve

[LisaC]

My husband and I will coming to Chicago and would be interested in a pre/post meet up! I am so excited! This will be my birthday present! (Can't think of anything better!!)

As others have said - MANY, MANY THANKS to Jarkko and all who made this possible!

Counting the days......
Lisa

[marie paris]

Sounds like a good time, I used to come here for such weekends and would be pressed for time always, mostly deciding what handful out of a million things to do (and where to eat, a decision that can last a lifetime)! We live here now and still get our minds blown when facing the seemingly infinite possibilities of where to eat in the city.

We've been affected as have most people we know who work downtown have by the recent predominant economic paradigm in the US, so we're just offering to help out in our way. Clever ways to cut corners has become out mantra in the past 6 months. Chicago is not the most affordable city to visit in the US. ;0 We still manage to have fun in style, but we tend to do things with a much wiser eye on the budget, and it has actually brought us closer to people in ways we couldn't have imagined and created a lot more fun to wade through.

~PM

[A Brick in the Wall]

Sounds like a good time, I used to come here for such weekends and would be pressed for time always, mostly deciding what handful out of a million things to do (and where to eat, a decision that can last a lifetime)! We live here now and still get our minds blown when facing the seemingly infinite possibilities of where to eat in the city.

We've been affected as have most people we know who work downtown have by the recent predominant economic paradigm in the US, so we're just offering to help out in our way. Clever ways to cut corners has become out mantra in the past 6 months. Chicago is not the most affordable city to visit in the US. ;0 We still manage to have fun in style, but we tend to do things with a much wiser eye on the budget, and it has actually brought us closer to people in ways we couldn't have imagined and created a lot more fun to wade through.

~PM

I do understand.

We own our own business & it has felt the downturn. We have never laid off an employee in our 38 years of owning businesses but the employees know it is possible this time.

I checked the hotels close to the theater & the rates are $400.00 & up!

We can stay at the Holiday Inn much cheaper & it's less than a half mile from the theater.

We aren't rich - we're just aging hippies that never could work for someone else.

We owned a record store in the 70's & early 80's -- Leonard was important to us then & he never left the building.

I'll follow this thread with interest.

[wondercookie]

Hi All....I'm coming up from Florida, and would be interested in a meet up, post or pre. I decided on Chicago as I am leaving from Chicago for vacation in Germany on the 7th...so just changed my incoming flight....luckily the Germany trip was frequent flier miles and I'm staying with friends, or I wouldn't be doing all this.....anyhow, would love to meet some friends with whom to enjoy the concert. I have reservations at the Embassy Suite downtown....sorta cheap for Chicago..I guess...235 a night, on State St. about 6 blocks from the theater. If anyone finds less expensive, but still convenient location, please let me know and I'll keep an eye on the post for a meet up.
Thanks..

Alice, aka wondercookie

[A Brick in the Wall]

Hi All....I'm coming up from Florida, and would be interested in a meet up, post or pre. I decided on Chicago as I am leaving from Chicago for vacation in Germany on the 7th...so just changed my incoming flight....luckily the Germany trip was frequent flier miles and I'm staying with friends, or I wouldn't be doing all this.....anyhow, would love to meet some friends with whom to enjoy the concert. I have reservations at the Embassy Suite downtown....sorta cheap for Chicago..I guess...235 a night, on State St. about 6 blocks from the theater. If anyone finds less expensive, but still convenient location, please let me know and I'll keep an eye on the post for a meet up.
Thanks..

Alice, aka wondercookie

We booked there too -- We normally stay at the Holiday Inn at the Mart -- @ the same $$$.
It's about the same distance (@ 1/2 mile).

Rooms right by the theater are $350 & up.

I saw your post & decided to try a different spot this trip.

I'll watch to see if a meet-up is arranged. I can't believe there won't be one.

Maybe we'll share a cab!

[wondercookie]

Sharing a cab would be great! I've not been to Chicago, but have always wanted to go...so LC in Chicago seemed perfect. Good to know there will be fellow fans at the Embassy. I also checked out a place called "The Seneca", billed as a "boutique hotel", on E. Chestnut.....seemed very reasonable...rates from 155...but it's about 15 blocks total from the Theater...seemed a little far....are you familiar with that part of Chicago?

[A Brick in the Wall]

Sharing a cab would be great! I've not been to Chicago, but have always wanted to go...so LC in Chicago seemed perfect. Good to know there will be fellow fans at the Embassy. I also checked out a place called "The Seneca", billed as a "boutique hotel", on E. Chestnut.....seemed very reasonable...rates from 155...but it's about 15 blocks total from the Theater...seemed a little far....are you familiar with that part of Chicago?

No - I have not heard of it -- it looks pretty nice but I've booked the Embassy so I'll probably just give then a try.

We may have an option of getting the hotel shuttle to carry us around too....

I expect there will be others at the Embassy that are going to Leonard.

We -- my wife & I -- go to Chicago a couple times a year but it's always a fast business trip with no sight seeing or investigating of the area.

This time we plan to maybe do the Art Institute & a water taxi sight seeing trip on the next day -- with leaving the option open of sticking around an extra day for seeing some other places.

I'll give you an email address if you want to keep in further contact.

I think you can figure it out ----

stevef at greenoakantiques dot com

[wondercookie]

Hey...thanks Steve..I've just sent you a note....I'm sticking with the Embassy too......a good location for meeting up with other Cohen fans. Looking forward to meeting you and your wife,, and Marie Paris, silverbar.....one by one the guests come in.....

Since I don't know Chicago at all I'll be listening for the meet up place from those more in the know....

[Joe Way]

We got tickets also! I'm amazed at the courage of you folks who toss them back in hopes of getting better seats. I took the first ones offered. We had 2nd row in Kitchener so can't complain.

Marie Paris-I agree with Steve-incredibly generous offer. We haven't booked a hotel yet, but I suspect that we will stay somewhere close by. I also have tickets on Sunday for Minneapolis so it will be a quick turn-around. I wonder if they would have room for me on the tour bus!

Steve, I will send you an email so that we can keep in touch about where the meet-up will be. I'm not familiar with Monk's but it sounds good.

Joe

[Dan K.]

I would also be very interested in a pre-show meet up. They make the experience that much better.

I can't believe I'm actually going to see Leonard Cohen. My seat will be in the balcony, but it is near the front. I saw another show in almost the exact same seat, so I know it will be a good seat. The Chicago Theater will be a fantastic venue for Leonard and his style of music. I was worried he might play a large venue where the sound wouldn't be as good. I am very happy to say the least!