Drinks in Vancouver, anyone...?

[linda_lakeside]

Hi all!!

Is there anyone out there who'd like to get together after the Vancouver concert (April 19) for a drink? I realize Sunday night is not the best time to try and get together but why not? We may not have this chance again. Imaginary Friend may also be interested. So, let's grab the opportunity to meet other Cohenites (outside of Britain ) and enjoy the rush of seeing Leonard. He may never pass this way again, which makes it a very special occasion.

I'd love to hear any ideas from anyone interested! C'mon, post your enthusiastic thoughts!!

Linda.

[margaret]

April 19th concert.

C'mon folks, there must be a few of you going to the Vancouver show willing to meet up with other Cohen fans

(Linda, just thought I'd bring this to the top for you. Hope it helps.
Margaret.)

[st theresa]

Hi Linda
But for a mountain range in between us, I would love to meet for drinks before the show. My show, however, will be in Calgary on the 26th. I will be with you in spirit. Have not seen any postings for the Calgary show either. As BBT mentioned, we Canadians are a reserved lot, with the wide spaces in between us.

[lizzytysh]

We don't have as wide of spaces, but for the most part, we seem a pretty reserved lot here in the U.S., too... comparatively. Not to worry, though, Linda. If it ends up with just or only you and Sheila, it won't be just and it won't be only, and your pre-show meet-up will be great .


~ Lizzy

[linda_lakeside]

Thanks guys. You're right, St. Theresa, but for a mountain range. Ha! I heard a politician from Ontario say that "Canada and British Columbia will..." like I say, B.C. is 'beside Canada'. But, SURELY there are some of you out there are taking in the Vancouver show!? I Know it! I was online as the pre-sales were being sold. Ah. Well. For those who've not been around the forum for long, take a lesson from that milky tea drinking lot over yon pond. They travel thousands of miles to meet with others. Lizzy too, is one who supports not just Leonard, but those that go to meet-ups and visit Hydra. Yes, Greece! Without a concert!

With you in spirit too, St.Theresa, it can't be anything but 'spiritual'.

See you all!

Linda.

[wittykat]

I would love to do it. In fact, it would be great to even organize some sort of a Cohen tribute night too!

[Heath]

Hi Linda. I won't be in Vancouver for drinks but I am very excited about talking to passionate Leonard Cohen fans for a story I'm working on. (I'm a writer with the Calgary Herald).
In my experience the really dedicated Cohen fans have an almost religious connection to the man and his music and I was hoping to get some of them to share their personal connections to Cohen for a feature I'm working on.

Is that something you'd be interested in participating in? If so, I'd love to interview you. I can be reached at hmccoy@theherald.canwest.com and at 403-235-7462.

Thanks.

Heath

[imaginary friend]

Hi Linda,

I posted this on your (duplicate) thread in the 'Other Gatherings' section, so I'm re-posting here

Yeah, I'm in for sure.

I think some of the Forum members from Victoria will be coming over, but now I can't find their threads, they're buried. Hopefully they'll see this one.

Looking forward to meeting you LL...

NEW NOTE TO LL:
I'm leaving work now (I'm at Hastings & Hornby), and will drive around the area and check the possible drink venues that are an easy walk from GM Place (incl. Sandman Inn). Once we decide, we can post name and address here, some people may decide to join us at the last mo....

[linda_lakeside]

Great news Sheila!
The tough thing is our stupid, ridiculous and childish liquor laws. Sunday night? We're going to have to meet before, or not at all, I guess, as after the show....'Sunday Night...Vancouver...'???? But it would be so great if we could organize 'something'. Yes~ I had to take my car thru air-care today, and I'm still scared by the 'atmosphere'. So, we have a few days, and if we can come up, any of us, a way to get together, SO GREAT! It warms my heart to even see the response.

We are not - out here in BC at least, generally considered a 'Cohen loving crowd' and I don't know why. Let's 'try', and that's all we can do. I rec'd an email from Ticketmaster, saying "important news re Cohen concert'. All the text had to say was that it will start 'promptly', and there's no opening act. So, for those of us on the pre-sale, I don't know how we can arrange it, but let's try. We won't get out until abut 11:30, I don't think. In the next couple of days, I'll see what I can come up with. I never did top up my cell. I hate walking around talking into my sleeves.

If nothing else, look for another forum member in the pre-sale crowd! Drop notes in the concession area. I so wish we had a 'group' of steadies, like those Brits do~ haha...

Linda.
It would be so cool, esp. if people are coming down for the concert. Even on the previous Sat. night??? Then we can get good and...ready?

[linda_lakeside]

I would love to do it. In fact, it would be great to even organize some sort of a Cohen tribute night too!

Awright, wittycat! Are you bringing the guacamole and doing the open mic as well? Cool! Only a couple of days left to go - high C isn't that far from ... 'C' is it?

[linda_lakeside]

Wittykat,

Sorry for the somewhat flip response to your suggestion of the Cohen Tribute night - I think it's a great idea. There 'ARE' a lot of Cohen fans out West here, but we just haven't met yet. If we Could get together, it would be wonderful if we could start something like the bangers and mash crowd - they are SO dedicated to getting together whenever they can - and wherever they can. We MUST have the same numbers, we've just not had the opportunity to 'connect'. Calgary does it. Every year around Leonard's b'day. Why not us? We're not far from each other, we've great musical talent out here, and I would so love to see something 'regular', or at least have one good blow out - then take it from there. If we can just get together and kick the ball around, it could be really fun. No one's getting any younger here, so why not grab the opportunity while it's here?

Let's try and find each other with this concert - Sheila is looking around, and even if there's only a few of us, those numbers could grow. It would be so cool! Love it! Why not????

Linda.

[imaginary friend]

Well, I did my little area reconnaissance trip last night, followed by phone calls this morning to check Sunday hours – Linda, you were right! Almost everywhere, (including Shark Club at the Sandman Inn) closes between 11:30 pm and midnight on Sunday.

There are several bars/lounges in Yaletown that are open until 1:00 am, but I don't consider that easy walking distance at that time of night... Gastown too, but the area is iffy...

However, I did find 2 pretty good places in easy walking distance that are both open until 1:00 am on Sundays:

Lucy Mae Brown
(they have a late night menu as well)
862 Richards Street (between Smythe & Robson Streets)
Vancouver (obviously)
604.899.9199
(About 6 short blocks from GM Place, 4 on Georgia (main drag), 2 on Richards)

and

Whineos
1017 Granville Street (between Nelson & Helmcken Streets
Vanc.
604.669.9463
(this one is a couple blocks further walk than the first one)

So what's the verdict? Is anyone up for midnight drinks on Sunday night? I am, and volunteering the hub as well!

I'll also be at GM Place early, so hope to meet some of you there too. I've decided to bring along a helium ballon that has 'www.leonardcohenforum.com' written on it. So please introduce yourselves, especially you Linda – if you don't, I'll make good on my threat to bellow: 'By the sea...etc.'

[linda_lakeside]

Good scouting Sheila!!! I lived out of Vancouver for 15 years, and when I returned about 2-3 years ago, I could not believe the change! I don't recognize the names of the places you mentioned, but count me in!!!! The closer one, the better (gives us more time). Yes, some of of the Gastown places are 'iffy', and the walk certainly is. Ha! A forum member was here just about the time I arrived back, and the garbage strike was on. She had to step over a dead rat. Ahem. Sorry, 'bout that! The rats are now gone - you know.

I love your enthusiasm - I will look for your balloon, and even if it's just you and me - it's a start. I'm so sure we'll have a bit of a Leonard 'buzz on' that a few drinks and maybe a bite will help settle our nerves.

OK. Lucy Mae Brown's sounds like a place that Leonard would approve of. Let's make it there. That will give us another few rounds for the boys (and girls).

Anyone want to join us??? Sheila has gone to a lot of trouble, and we'd be hurt if you didn't. And what the heck? A drink or two (maybe 3) doesn't hurt on an otherwise SPECTACULAR Sunday night!!!

Roll on Sunday Night!

Thanks Sheila - it's going to be great (esp. as I didn't make it to Montreal). I love it when Leonard comes to me!

See you Sunday - and any other punters that want to tag along~ hahaha... Hmmm...I'm not even sure what a 'punter' is, but I hear the term used by the mushy pea people.

Linda.

[wittykat]

No problem about the response! It would be lovely to organize. I know quite a few fans within my circle, and can arrange the music. I think that rather than a cult-like event, it should be a performance based event with a reception beforehand and afterwards. So it would look like this:

6:30pm - Pre-event drinks
7:00pm - Different local bands/musicians do their interpretations of Cohen songs (hosted by local media personality)
9:00pm - Reception with special guests

[linda_lakeside]

Wow. That looks like a very ambitious project. If we could pull it off, it would be very cool. So - come have drinks with us and tell us more... ???? I always felt the West was a little too laid back.

Hope to see you Sunday, and like I said, if not, keep in touch... I have to go out now.. Why? Because it's Friday and it's raining. Damn, it's a pattern.

Linda.