Can You Hear Me Now?

Thursday morning when I woke up (Feb. 24th, we are back in Montreal now), Lynn was already back from an early morning class and brought fresh Montreal bagels with her for breakfast! So we had yummy bagels before getting dressed to head over to Fairview Mall in Pointe Claire… Emma was getting new clothes! We didn’t have a lot of time because Lynn had to be back at work that afternoon, so we just hit a couple stores. Emma found a few great things to buy and I got myself a pink sweater that was on sale, too good to pass up! On the way home we went through Tim Horton’s Drive Thru ’cause we were really short on time. Back home Emma and I ate while Lynn whizzed around getting ready to leave for work again.

Emma and I got ready for our big night out and she packed a bag (and I re-packed whatever I had messed up in less than 24 hours), and we called a cab to be at Emma’s sister-in-law’s work by 4:45. Trish was kind enough to offer us a ride to the hotel downtown, saving me at least a $50 cab fare. She was very sweet and friendly, and amazingly everything fit in her car, too. Seeing my walker, she asked me if I had ever been to the hotel we were staying at, and when I said no, she warned me that it was on a very steep road. St. Dominique slopes at an approximately 180° angle (give or take). Crazy! I treaded very carefully from the road to the door every time… if it had been icy on the sidewalk, I would have been a goner!

We checked into the hotel and got settled. Room 111. Remember my fabulous trip to Toronto?? That hotel room was #111 as well. I took that as a very good sign. We had the front desk call us a cab to take us to La Sala Rosa, a Spanish Restaurant/live music venue where Live Tour Artists were holding a showcase featuring a number of their artists. We were there for, of course, the Polyjesters. We arrived at the easy-to-miss door along St. Laurent and walked up the first set of stairs which led to the restaurant portion. There, at the bar, were the members of the PJ’s. Sheldon saw us first and came over to say hi and get hugs. Emma and I managed to squeeze in at the bar next to the band and asked for menus so we could eat supper before the show. Emma conducted an interview with the band for an article she was working on for journalism class, and I found my attention focusing on the oh so very cute bartender. I ate my sandwich and salad (it was about the only thing I understood on the menu) and chatted with everyone a bit. Then it was time to head upstairs for the big show. Emma hadn’t touched her food because she was busy getting the goods for her article, so she wrapped the sandwich in a napkin and took it up with her. The line was pretty long, down the stairs, giving me time to contemplate that perhaps I didn’t tip the bartender enough and should I go back and give him a couple more bucks? (I mean, he deserved it for looking so good and smiling at me and stuff). I decided against it though, as the line up started moving fast. We were on the guest list (thanks to my favourite LTA agent, Dana ) which saved us $30, but it didn’t save us seats! The room was packed. I managed to find one chair in the back row and put my coat on it and used that whenever I couldn’t stand anymore.

The night of entertainment was fantastic! I remember when inquiring about this show months ago, Dana told me there would be seven bands performing that night. Well, they added to the line-up a little since then. Most of it I really enjoyed, and our MC Al Simmons was very funny. There was everyone from the award-winning blues singer Sue Foley to Canadian Folk legend Valdy. April Verch and her fiddle playing/celtic dance routine was mighty impressive. Oh lookie, I found the schedule:

7:30 - Angela Desveaux
8:00 - David Francey
8:30 - April Verch
9:00 - Polyjesters
9:30 - Lynn Miles
10:00 - Harry Manx
10:30 - Sue Foley
11:00 - Valdy
11:30 - The Marc Atkinson Trio
12:00 - The Bills

The Polyjesters were, naturally, the best of the night. I think after them I would have to say the Marc Atkinson Trio knocked my socks off! They are also members of The Bills, a great act that closed the night. You can learn more about the artists that were there at the Live Tour Artists website.

I was standing over by the door when Tim Tamashiro, the PJ’s manager and great jazz crooner, arrived. I didn’t expect to see him there too! He said he decided last minute to fly out. He brought with him a new PJ’s promotional item - official Polyjesters tightie whities!! I so wanted to get a pair (to give to Emma, of course) but Tim insisted they were for industry professionals only. I saw him give a pair to this one man, and later on I actually found myself approaching a complete stranger and asking, “can I see your tightie whities?”

Of course I had to make sure I was standing right beside Emma when the Polyjesters were up, I had to watch her experience this!! Yaaaaaaaaaaaay Emma got to see them perform (and meet them!) after so many months of being crazy about them and anticipating this night. She had a blast. By the way, Emma has her story up in her blog that includes pictures and experiences from that weekend, so make sure you read that too, I’m going to try not to double up on pictures and be too repetitive as I tell it from my point of view! Hers can be read RIGHT HERE. (Edited to say she removed that article, I’ll link it if she adds another)

I forgot my camera at the hotel so it was up to Emma to capture the moments. She took a few pictures of me with various people but I forgot to get one with Sheldon. Ahhh well, Emma got the best one with him anyway

Me and Agent Dana Kirby

Me and Matt

Me and Rob

Me and Jason

Thanks to Jason and Dana for buying me drinks! Emma drank coke and at one point (I think someone must have bumped into her) her can spilled on the floor (and her coat). Good ‘ol Rob mopped it up with napkins and quickly made his way into Emma’s heart as her “new favourite!” The Valleau brothers have spent a lot of time in Montreal and even lived there for awhile, so they had a few friends come out, including one very pretty girl who was actually named “Sunshine”. During this stay there, Jason and Sheldon spent some time in the studio singing on the Susie Arioli Band’s next album and I was sooooo hoping Susie would be there to see them too, but she wasn’t.

So the night ended a little later than we had expected! Everyone was heading out so Emma and I wandered down stairs to the restaurant where I asked the dreamy bartender to please call us a cab. He said sure and asked my name and when I told him, he started serenading me with Richie Valens “Oh, Donna, oh, Donna…” ::meltmeltmelt:: Then he said “I bet you get that all the time” and I sighed and said, “yes, yes I do, but never from someone quite as good looking as you…” Rrrrowrr!!! ::cutecutecute!!!::

Our cab arrived just as the Polyjesters were getting into their van parked across the street, so we waved our goodbyes and headed back to the hotel, high from the PJ luvin’. And starving. Since our high class hotel didn’t have a restaurant/room service, I decided to try my luck at calling for my first Montreal pizza delivery. Anything familiar (read: Pizza Hut) was closed at that hour, but I lucked out with my first try by checking the yellow pages, guessing what addresses were close and who would still be open. Pepperoni pizza in your pyjamas, mmhmm, this is livin’ it up!

Friday to follow soon…