Kitchener/Hamilton Hotel/Gathering Places

[Joe Way]

Hi,
Anne & I will be in Kitchener and Hamilton for the concerts. Does anyone have any recommendations for hotels near the venues? Also, we are planning to get together with some friends prior to and/or after the concerts and would like any recommendations for good gathering places. Anyone else who is interested is invited as well-always great to meet new Cohen friends!

Joe

[ephemera1]

Hi Joe,

My wife and I are coming up on the 3rd of June for the concert that night. We"ll be driving in from the Chicago area. Have been a Cohen fan for the last 40 years. We're staying at Quality Hotel and Suites in Oakville.(just over $100 per night, we're splurging.) The hotel is about a mile from the theatre. I drove through Hamilton years ago, but don't remember much about the town.

Rupe

[Joe Way]

Hi Rupe,

Thanks so much for contacting us. For now, John from Buffalo and a couple who are traveling all the way from Australia are all planning to get together both before and after the concert-we'll have to find a place to meet up.

Thanks for the tip on the Quality Inn.

Looking forward to meeting you and your wife in Hamilton.

Joe

[dukestairwalker]

The nearest hotel to the Hamilton venue is the Sheraton ( less than a 5 minute walk away ). As far as meeting places go .....the best area is Hess Village which is also near the hotel. The street is all Pubs and restaurants with lots of outdoor patios & should be very busy by early June ( weather permitting ) I live in Hamilton but will be seeing Leonard in Toronto on June 6th....... as i bought tickets before the Hamilton dates were announced.

Hamilton is also only about an hours drive from Niagara Falls for those with a car. Hope you enjoy your stay in " the Hammer ". If you need more information etc. just let me know.

Duke

[Joe Way]

Duke,
Thanks much for the tips! Hope you have a great time in Toronto and can get together with some of the other folks from the forum there.

Joe

[justinburnett]

If there's some interest, we should have a meetup, perhaps of a musical variety. Driving in Hamilton is extremely confusing for the uninitiated (I go around), but Kitchener is very pleasant. Shouldn't be hard to pick a spot. Cambridge, which is right next to Kitchener, is where I live, and I know there are places here where we could sit and relax together.

[Joe Way]

Hi Rupe & Justin,

Sorry to have delayed this response, but hoped to have a meet-up venue picked. We will be staying in Kitchener at the Raddison on June 2nd for sure (we may arrive there on June 1st-which would give us time for a musical meet-up) and then we are staying at the Sheraton in Hamilton on June 3 & 4. Unless someone local can suggest some other venue-we can always meet at the bar at the hotels.

John, if you are watching this thread-I'll send you our cell number. I hope that we can get together with some folks.

Joe

[lisasays]

Hey, Joe;
My BF and I shall be motoring up from Virginia next weekend. Plan to arrive in Kitchener on Sun. PM. Should be rested enough by Mon. noon to venture out for a meetup, if you want to see 2 more smiling faces !! Write me back; thanks, Lisa.

[John K.]

John, if you are watching this thread-I'll send you our cell number. I hope that we can get together with some folks.

Hey Joe! I did get your PM as you know since I responded. I guess I was too busy debating with Marcel to see your post here. I look forward to seeing you (and everyone else that's around) next week. It's only one week away!

John K.

[zintman61]

Hi Joe,

My wife and I are coming up on the 3rd of June for the concert that night. We"ll be driving in from the Chicago area. Have been a Cohen fan for the last 40 years. We're staying at Quality Hotel and Suites in Oakville.(just over $100 per night, we're splurging.) The hotel is about a mile from the theatre. I drove through Hamilton years ago, but don't remember much about the town.

Rupe

I don't want to scare you but you are far more than one mile from the theatre in Hamilton if you are staying in Oakville...that goes for Kitchener as well.Especially if you get caught in commuter traffic...which can be hell in these areas around 4 pm onward.
Give yourself LOTS of time to get to the venue!

You might want to do some fast investigating and book something closer.

[Joe Way]

Hi Lisa,
I've sent you PM so won't repeat here.

Thanks, Zintman61 for the tips on traffic-we're staying at The Raddison in Kitchener and hoping that won't be too bad, but will get to the auditorium area early just in case. Does anyone know a good place to meet near the auditorium in Kitchener?

Thanks much,

Joe

[lisasays]

In Kitchener, there are 2 B&Bs located within walking distance (2 blocks or so!) of the venue: Claddagh House, with only 3 rooms but as of this morning 2 were available; and Frederick Street House which was a bit more posh, with an in-house spa. Don't know what's still open there. For the more budget conscious traveler, look into the (Conference Services) Summer Accommodations @ Wilfred Laurier University' unoccupied dorms, starting at $45.00/ night. It appears to be no more than a mile or two distant, in Waterloo; perhaps there is public transportation? Happy Motoring, everyone---- see you next week!

[Kenadian]

Well I guess I should have posted something sooner but here you go...see google map link below.

http://tinyurl.com/5bdzto

(A) DELTA KITCHENER-WATERLOO is just over $100 a night and is right downtown and a 7 minute walk to the Centre (Use promo code PZ15 or AA/CAA)
http://reservations.deltahotels.com

(B) The Walper Terrace is also right downtown and is a 6 minute walk ... $99/night and has a pub
http://www.walper.com

(C) The Centre in the Square has a restaurant/bar though it sin't cheap
http://www.artbar.ca/

(D) You like Greek food? 3 minutes from the venue.
http://threekretans.foodpages.ca/

(E) Peter Martin’s 20 King at 41 King St is finer dining.

(F) The Still Bar & Grill at 125 King St W. has pub food.

The Radisson (some people are staying there I think) has the Charcoal Steakhouse and Del Dente's ( http://www.charcoalsteakhouse.ca/charcoal.html ) right beside it, and is a 10 minute easy drive to the Centre.

Any more info I can help with. feel free to contact me... kenadian2001@yahoo.ca

Cheers,
Ken(adian)

[Joe Way]

Thank you so much, Ken-that was very helpful.

We've always had good luck having Greek food at our gatherings-how about anyone interested meeting up at Three Kretans at 5 PM on Monday before the Kitchener concert. If people let me know, I'll try to make a reservation. We're starting our trip on Saturday, but will still be able to check the forum on Saturday night.

Looking forward to a great time!

Joe

[pah811]

Hi all:
I'll driving from Northern NJ to Hamilton on the 3rd for the June 4 show. The day of the 4th, I'll be going to the Niagara Falls: if any of you want to join me, or meet there, I'd love the company (and being a tourist is always more fun in a group!). If anyone is planning a meet up either before or after the show, keep us posted... I can't wait to talk to people who are as excited as I am about seeing LC, instead of people who just look at me blankly when I say his name.
Post here or email me with any news or updates!
See you soon,
Pamela (pah811@aol.com)