Your Event Committee comes to you with good news and then some even better news. Columbia has started taking our reservations for the Leonard Cohen Event. Please go to The Columbia Housing Request website. You may also contact them via email at conferencehousing@columbia.edu or by calling 212-854-2946, or in person at 125 Wallach Hall. Also read more about the housing by clicking this link

The Columbia administration offers now (after February 16) a printable confirmation which is generated when you submit the registration form. The organizing committee has checked earlier reservations and has confirmed them by email (if you made your reservation before February 16 but haven't heard from Joe Way please send email to him!)

On this site, you should fill out all of the pertinent personal information. Then there is a box labeled "Name of Conference" inside you can click on a dropdown feature and pick "Leonard Cohen Event" from the list to identify our event.

Next you will choose the arrival and departure dates, the number of nights will fill in automatically.

Next there is a box to choose between single or double (this is an indication of the number of people in the room as well as the number of beds). The next step is to choose which building is preferred Carman or Furnald. Most of the rooms that we have reserved are in Carman and the set up is favorable in that all rooms are grouped into two and share one bathroom. They will accept requests for Furnald but there the entire floor shares the bathrooms.

The really good news is that Columbia has decided not to raise their room rates for this summer. Therefore, as you see, a double is $80 and a single is $55. Once you have made your building selection there is a blank box to list the name of your roommate. Please fill this in.

You will note that the "Total Due" amount box is already filled in with the correct amount that you will be charged and it asks for a Master Card or Visa number. This is to add a guarantee to the reservation, but it will not be charged until you have arrived at Columbia and then you will have the option to pay by another method as well. Their guarantee policy is such that you can cancel up to two weeks prior to your scheduled arrival and you will not be charged at all. If you cancel within two weeks, you will be charged one night's charge on your credit card. If you don't cancel or if you cancel on the day of your arrival, you will be charged two nights.

If two unrelated people are sharing a room, they must settle the bill between them as Columbia does not have the capacity to split the billing between people. Columbia will not be responsible for finding anyone a roommate. Everyone needs to find there own, if desired.

As the rooms are set up in groups of two. If four people wish to share these adjoining accommodations, please list both rooms on one form and list the three additional names in the "Roommates" box. Again, only one bill will be prepared and this must be settled between the participants.

Columbia pre-assigns the rooms, the day before arrival so it will be difficult if not impossible to make these arrangements at check-in.

This site is a secure site, with 128 bit encryption so there is no danger of credit card information being compromised.

For more information about the floor plans at Carman and Furnald and the opportunity to take a virtual tour, click on this link

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Joe Way at or Elizabeth Bacon-Smith . Please list Cohen Event as the subject line in all emails to avoid getting accidentally deleted. They will do their best to answer your questions. You can also contact the Columbia Housing people directly by emailing at conferencehousing@columbia.edu.

Also note that many participants are going to take one or more extra days before and/or after the Event days. The committee will prepare some suggestions for tourist program in the NY area.

The dorms are completely non-smoking. The rooms are air-conditioned.

THE SOUTHGATE TOWER

We have now confirmed a block of rooms at the Southgate Tower, 371 7th Avenue, in Midtown Manhatten. They are offering a studio suite for $115.00 plus tax or a one bedroom suite for $150.00 plus tax. The accommodations are very nice and several of our Event Committee members stayed there for the Leonard Cohen tribute concert in Brooklyn last June.

The hotel is located about seven blocks south of Times Square across from Madison Square Garden and Pennsylvania Station. There is a direct subway connection up Broadway to Columbia and it is walking distance to the Chelsea Hotel. It is also one block from Macy's the largest department store in Manhatten.

For more information, go to the Southgate Tower website

To make a reservation, (from the United State and Canada), please call tollfree 866-233-4642 and tell the reservationist that you are part of the "Leonard Cohen Event" block of rooms. For our friends in Europe and elsewhere, reservations may be requested via email by sending it to: reservations@affinia.com. Please mention the group block name.

OTHER LODGING

The International House offers hotel suites at reduced price. There are presently (April 13) 6 guest rooms left at the I'House which hold 2-3 people each, and 3 suites which hold up to 5 people. The rates range from $115/night for the guest rooms and $125/night for the suites. Each additional person is $15/extra.

The Plaza Hotel , 768 Fifth Avenue, where Leonard met Suzanne, has agreed to extend a discount for those in the Leonard Cohen Event. The Plaza is world renowned as one of New York's finest and most luxurious hotels. However, if you call Karen at 212-546-5358 and mention our event, our members have been promised a discount. Where rooms normally run in excess of $319/night, Cohen attendees have been offered a group base rate of $289/night. New York's 13.65% hotel tax and $2.00 occupancy tax is extra!

The Chelsea Hotel may have several rooms available on a first come, first serve basis. Mention the Cohen Event as a discount has been promised. Please understand that the Chelsea is basically used now as an apartment house, although several rooms are still let out for rent.