Dear Beautiful Losers--

We are only slightly more than four months away until Leonard Cohen Fans from all over the world take Manhattan! The pace on the planning committee has been fast and furious. Much has happened and much more is in the works. Here's a short summary:

We learned last month that the Bottom Line Nightclub had lost its legal battle with NYU. However, throughout the past several weeks, negotiations between NYU and the Bottom Line continued. With the support of Sirious Radio, and with the support of artists such as Bruce Springsteen, there was much hope on the committee that things would work out for the Bottom Line. Last week we learned for certain that the Bottom Line was closed for good.

Sometimes, however, things happen for a reason. This seems to be the case for the New York Event! The organizing committee is excited to announce that it has contracted with New York City's premiere and most hip avant garde music venue, the Knitting Factory, to host our Friday night opening show. The Knitting Factory is located on Leonard Street in the TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal Street) section of Manhattan. "New York" magazine calls The Knitting Factory one of the "world's most influential music spots" and the "best live-music club in New York." The "Wall Street Journal" called the Knitting Factory "the center of an international music movement...with its feet on the Street." "Billboard Magazine" labeled the Knitting Factory "the world capital of new music."

Its website is located at knittingfactory.com. Recent performers at the Knitting Factory include Lou Reed, John Mayer and of course, our own headliner, and former Cohen band member, Ms. Perla Battalla. Without question, it is a fitting Leonard Cohen venue!

We expect to print more about the Knitting Factory in the coming days. However, we wanted to run with this update immediately. However, it bears noting that TriBeCa is presently to emerging music in New York, what Greenwich Village was to New York in the 60's and 70's. What a very cool neighborhood to kick off our Event in grande style. We can't wait!

Our plans for the Friday night are exciting. Let us tell you about what's on tap! First, the Knitting Factory has pledged to petition New York City to honor our Event by renaming "Leonard Street" for the June 11, 2004 weekend to Leonard Cohen Street.

We are planning an opening VIP dinner ($25.00 per person, not included in the registration fee) at the Knitting Factory, buffet style, consisting of Leonard's favorite foods, and of course, favorite drink, the Red Needle Cohen historians may recall that it was the Red Needle (a tequila and cranberry concoction) that Cohen Band members grooved too while recording The Future. Listening to Always on The Future CD, you can almost taste the Red Needles on the lips of Cohen's "midnight choir." The Cohen inspired buffet dinner will have several special culinary contributions of Turner Broadcasting Networks chef celebrity, Claude Mann of Dinner and a Movie. More will be posted shortly about registration for the VIP dinner buffet.

Following the VIP dinner the festivities get rolling. The committee is planning a special music/slide show introduction to the Cohen Weekend. Then John Bergeron takes the stage to perform many of the Cohen Covers from his CD, In the House of Mystery. Next, Cohen Band mate, Perla Battalla, takes the stage to perform many songs from her soon to be released CD of Leonard Cohen Covers. Perla, of course, toured the world with Leonard during the I'm Your Man and The Future tours.

Perla Batalla

John Bergeron

We expect other special guests too! However, because of the confusion caused by the Bottom Line's legal troubles, and the need to first pin down our Friday night venue, we have not been able to yet finalize contracts with a number of other Cohen notables who will also perform on Friday night. We hope to make announcements soon. Rest assured, however, that the wine and song will flow well into the wee hours of the Manhattan night and morning at the Knitting Factory. Also, we plan open mic time at the Knitting Factory. Imagine performing on a world stage where notables such as Lou Reed performed recently!

Even if you party late, the Committee has provided great hotel options. Columbia's residence halls will likely be the choice de jour for those Cohenites who want to take the party home. Also, the International House, and the Chelsea Hotel have limited availability at reasonable rates. For those who wish a mid-town hotel, the Southgate Towers has provided our group with discounts. And for those who wish five star accommodations, the Plaza Hotel, where Leonard met Suzanne, is providing a substantial discount. More on accommodations is linked on the left side of this page under "Lodging."

Don't sleep too late on Saturday! A Cohen walking tour is being planned. Major sites will include Greenwich Village, Columbia University and the Chelsea Hotel. Also, for those who like to ride in style, there will be a NY Cohen influenced bus tour. The Committee is negotiating to rent a coach bus to drive through NY mixing in famous tourist locations with famous Cohen stops. More will be printed on this in the near future. There will also be links to the traditional "hop on, hop off" commercial tour buses provided to this site shortly, for those of you who wish a more in depth tour of New York City.

Also in the plans is a Leonard Cohen Scavenger Hunt in Greenwich Village. Imagine teams, each led by a guide, competitively poking and racing through Greenwich Village looking for Folk Singer artifacts of the 1960's and 1970's! Find a Leonard Picture from the 1970's and get points and prizes!

Saturday and Sunday's programs move to Davis Hall on the Campus of Columbia University's International House. That's right, our weekend venue is in the same dormitory where Leonard Cohen lived while attending Columbia University . International House is located between two New York landmarks, the Riverside Church and Grant’s Tomb, and is only a few blocks from the heart of Columbia’s central quad. (Imagine sitting in the same halls where Leonard Cohen, Allan Ginsberg and Jack Kerouc discussed philosophy and created poetry and prose about social reform.)

Of course, we have all of the staples of past Cohen Events, including open mic time every night, a poetry jam session, Cohen lectures, song and book discussions, Cohen films and Cohen Art shows! Also, we are investigating a chartered evening cruise around Manhattan's Hudson River by boat. More will be posted shortly.

There's so much more to tell you. But the Committee thinks that you now have a better sense of what's been happening!

Now there are a few things that you need to do:

First, for those of you who have delayed registration, wait no longer. There are only 50 registration spaces left! Once those are taken, the Event will be closed to new registrants. So register now if you haven't already.

Second, for those of you who've already registered, but paid only the initial deposit, on March 1, 2004, your final payment is due! Check out the "Registration and Payment" link on the left side of this page.

Third, the VIP Cohen Buffet on Friday night is limited to 150 guests. A great buffet menu is promised. The cost is $25.00 per person. Tickets will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. For those of you interested, get a head start and register now to show you won't be sold out.

How to reserve and pay for the opening night buffet at the Knitting Factory Please go to the credit card page and fill in all fields, just as when you first registered. Write the names of all who will participate with you, and include the words "Payment for Dinners" in the "Comments" box. (The price of the dinner is 21 euros when paid by credit card). Remember that only those who are already registered for the event can reserve the dinner, and that it is limited to 150. Email confirmation will be sent within a day after your payment!

Very truly yours,

Geoff Gompers,
Event Chairman