InfiniteGreen

Happy to help. Did the link save ok? If not, (or if it expires, I don't really know how these things work exactly), all you have to do is go to Google maps and click "Find businesses" and then type in hotels in the "what" box and 421 N 7th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123 in the "where" box. Hope I get to meet you, too!

Here is a google map of the area around Electric Factory with the nearest hotels: http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=wl . It is in satellite view to give you a good idea of the street layout, but feel free to change the view to map if you find it difficult to view. Does your husband want to sightsee a bit or does he just need a TV to watch for the evening? If he likes movies, there are some great Ritz (independent) movie theaters around the Society Hill/Old City area. Hotel prices are usually cheaper near the Philadelphia airport or back right on the other side of the bridge in New Jersey, but if you haven't seen Philly's historical sites (and you have the time) you may want to spend a little more and stay at a hotel in Center City Philadelphia. I am just rambling right now, so just feel free to ask me any specific/general questions you might have about hotel locations/neighborhoods, etc. and I'll try to help.

I got our tickets too! My friend urged me to wait and get tickets at the box office to avoid the service fees, but I just could not sit at work and worry about not getting Mika tickets... I am so excited for the 31st! If you still need help, I might be able to help you since I live in the city. (This could be good if you need help with locations, but not so good since I personally never stay in a hotel here!) Just let me know!

The weather reports are looking very ominous... http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/governor-and-mayor-assail-mta-as-transit-officials-gird-for-more-rain/index.html?hp Possibly even flash floods. This weather is going to be just awful for Mika's health. I do hope that they decide to have Mika perform inside their studio instead and then of course let all of the MFCers with their "special" shirts inside the studio too! Please have a wonderful time, but be careful.

I agree! There would be no other way I would torture myself with this show. I just wish I knew whether he is going to perform again or not... I don't think this was one of his best performances, but still for a lot of people who have never seen him before, it is not a bad introduction. Of course, in my opinion, his "not best" is so much better than most other artists' best.

I was looking at Mika's myspace page and he has the itunes (the "first") version of the "Big Girl" video linked to his page. If the "second" more edited version (the one that babs put on youtube from TV) is the official version I would think that he would have that link on his myspace page. Does anyone know anything about this?

He has such an infectious laugh! I keep watching your video over and over and laughing... Thank you so much for posting it, raphawelle!

Thanks for posting, bonjour! I REALLY like this new version. Everything seems brighter and more lively than the first version, while still maintaining the organic feel. It's amazing what a little editing can do... Maybe the other version was released to meet a deadline?

I remembered reading an article posted here from the Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2007230503,00.html , that Mika wanted to duet with Beth Ditto at Glastonbury. Does anyone know if that happened or is going to happen?

This is a great list! Can you see Mika skipping around in dungarees ala Dexy's Midnight Runners? It is so funny that you put "Red Red Wine" here, because I hadn't heard that song in a while, but I literally just heard it about 2 hours ago when I was walking past the Hard Rock Cafe and when I heard it I thought to myself that Mika could really do the song justice!

I already mentioned this in some other thread, but I think Mika should come to Philadelphia! We have A LOT of colleges here and I know if he comes back to the US in September when classes are back in session, there are a lot of students (and other people too) who would sell out his show. His album was sold out from our local university bookstore for weeks...

I agree...sweat is sweet!

I noticed them, too. The layout of the theater was a bit odd, but it was nice that his family could have a good place to watch him from.

Thanks for the info about Luke. We'll cross our fingers that that clock starts ticking again soon!

MIKA was fabulous last night. This was my first time seeing him and hopefully it won't be my last! He is the most amazing performer I have ever seen live and to think he is only just starting his career! I felt like he was holding nothing back and gave us everything he had during his performance. My husband and I took the train up from Philadelphia and were shocked (I'm not sure why...) when we got to the Nokia around 5:45, the line right in front of the theater was closed off and the rest of the line started around the corner! Well, we got in line and waited. People passing by were asking us what the line was for and we told them; some people knew him and others looked at us questioningly. While I was waiting in line, I realized that there were drug deals going on around me! The girl behind me in line bought something from this guy loitering around the line and I heard her say, "Now I'll really enjoy the show!" I have no idea what it was exactly, but I saw her swallow it and it made me really sad that she didn't think Mika was amazing enough and she needed something more. This might have contributed to some of the unruly and rude behavior from some people in the crowd... GET HIGH ON MIKA! Sara B., the opening act, had a nice voice and did a memorable cover of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes", but all in all I found her music dull and generic. I thought it was sweet that she kept introducing her band. After a short break, a group of break dancers bounded onto the stage. They were clearly good at what they do, but the bass from their music was so loud (ok, I know I'm old!) that my ears hurt. I found this part kind of surreal especially immediately after they left the stage, there was another short break and "Love Train" started playing over the sound system. When Mika and his terrific band members entered the stage, everything was suddenly right with the evening. So many people have already given great accounts of Mika's NYC performance so I won't recount everything. Every song was fantastic, but my favorite performances of the night were Stuck in the Middle, Love Today, Sweet Dreams (my husband feels that the song was written for Mika to sing!), and, of course, Lollipop. Before singing Grace Kelly, Mika told us that he used Grace Kelly's name in the song because his granny loved her. He also mentioned that his granny loves Oprah so maybe that will be a future song. Then he said that his granny was in the audience watching him! She must have been so proud of him! Another thing he mentioned, was that in DC, a Big Girl shoved? Mikey a little too hard and he almost went into the crowd? I think that was what I heard from where I was, but it would be great if someone there could verify this. Also, I think it was during My Interpretation, I saw Luke playing a guitar and not the keyboard. I didn't know that Luke played the guitar. Was I seeing things? Without a doubt, Mika was FABULOUS! I didn't get to hang around to try to meet Mika because we had to meet a friend that we were going to stay with before it got too late, but I am so glad that some of you were lucky enough to meet him! (Did anyone get to find out if he was feeling better and recovering from his chest infection? I don't see how anyone could perform that well with a chest infection!) I didn't get pictures, but thank you so much for sharing all of your lovely pics and videos. It is wonderful to relive last night's Mika magic! I would definitely go up to NYC to see Mika next time he comes, but I think he should think about coming to Philadelphia when he returns to the States...We have a lot of fans here too, Mika!

I just heard Cheap Trick's 'I Want You To Want Me' on the radio. You could argue that the message is similar to 'Love Today', but I would still love to hear Mika do a cover of that one. Also, I think Yaz is pretty much split up by now, but it would be great to hear Mika sing some of their songs (esp. from Upstairs at Erics) with Alison Moyet.

Hi, neighbors! My husband and I are going to go to the concert in New York in June. Since we're pretty much stuck in the middle between DC and NYC, thought it would be better to do the Friday concert so we don't have to wake up so early for work the next day. (If Mika wasn't going to be in NY, then of course, we'd---or at least I would---lose a couple hours of sleep and go to DC for the Wed? show.) If I could, I would go to both!

It's amazing! There is not one song that I ever feel like skipping over; they're all just so good!

Hi, Here is my Mika testimonial: My husband first heard Grace Kelly in April through someone's posting on a sports newsgroup and thought it was great. I had been feeling kind of down at the time and he wanted to cheer me up so he bought me LICM and as most of you know here there is just something about Mika's music that lifts your spirits. I've been hooked (and happy) ever since... So nice to join this happy little nook of the universe filled with Mika love!