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Originally Posted by Ruined 2,Nov 27 2007, 04:29 PM
And most recently, at a NHRA race in Reading, PA, a group of friends and I lured John Force (Funny Car Driver and the winningest NHRA driver of all time) over to our table by buying him a beer. He hung out with us all night and was just a blast. Later that same weekend we ended up drinking and having a burn-out contest in the hotel parking lot with Jeg and Troy Coughlin, also drivers (Pro Stock). Misty talked Troy right out of the shirt he was wearing. She's such a flirt.
Phil
That is so cool.
When I was with Bell Helmets I had the opportunity to meet several Motorsports legends including Shirley Muldowney http://www.muldowney.com/bio1.html
Zabar's was always a good place to run into celebrities. We saw a few, but the closest contact we had was being in line in front of Susan Sarandon. We lived downtown and didn't get to Zabar's that often.
We'd run into Woody Allen and Andy Warhol in and around Union Square park from time to time.
Years and years ago, I bumped into Dustin Hoffman in the wee small hours of the night. We'd been in Central Park for a concert, and he and his crew were shooting a movie on location. He didn't say much, as a matter of fact he just sort of scowled.
I took a cartoon course at the New School in the mid 1970s which was taught by Leonard Maltin (the now well known movie critic). He was an interesting person and a bit of a character. I offered to trade him my Charlie Tuna watch for his official Bulwinkle fan club membership card but he turned me down. It really was a fun course and I really think a lot of that had to do with the way Maltin taught it and his personality.
Liz and I lived in a loft for many years. Cynthia Gregory (the prima ballerina for the American Ballet Company) and her then husband John Hemminger (a rock musician who played second guitar behind Tim Hardin and others lived a few floors up. We didn't know who they were at first so we treated them like everyday people. They really liked that and the four of us became great friends. We used to visit each other's lofts in the evening and spend hours playing Astroids. We'd weekend with them in Woodstock and eventually bought our own weekend house there. John Hemminger died a few years later, Cynthia remarried and moved away and we lost touch, but for those few years that we lived in the same loft building we were good friends.
In the years that I spent in the clothing business I met many of the big name designers. I met some of them before they were big names.
I'm sure we bumped into others in the years that we spent in New York City, but I can't think of them right now.
Finally, I know and work with the artist Kamil Kubic.
In early December 2006, our NYC friend got us tix for a 'behind the scenes' tour on the TODAY show @ Rockefeller Center. I thought it would be a 'group' thing, but it was only us Lester Holt, the weekend host, was very gracious and took us around to the different parts of the set....inside and out
Originally Posted by TheToon,Nov 27 2007, 07:36 PM
I bump into politicians quite a bit, mostly work related. I attended a lunch where Clinton sat 2 tables over from me when he was Prez. At the same event, Ted Kennedy was at the next table. Knew Mike & Kitty Dukakis on a first name basis. Had dinner one night with former Senator Paul Tsongas when he was running for President. Met Madeleine Albright many, many times before she entered government.
Last year I attended 2 small events that Kennedy was at, and was invited to ride with him from one to the other. No, he wasn't driving.
And finally, I was at a non-profit dinner in Boston and ran into Big Pussy from the Sopranos at the bar so I bought him a drink. Next trip to the bar I glanced at the guy on my left that I was shoulder to shoulder with and it was Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. When I looked the other way I realized I was standing between him and Joe Perry from his band. We chatted a bit waiting for our drinks. No alcohol for either of them.
Bruce, you've got yourself connections...wonder if anyone you know could get me a special license plate....
Originally Posted by CitadelBlue,Nov 27 2007, 08:59 PM
PICTURES PEOPLE ... the proofs are in the PICTURES .......
My previous post about the legendary people that I met happened in the early 70's to the mid 80's when cameras where film based. Not like today where one can take digital photo's and delete the one's that they do not like. Or take a photo with their phone.
In retrospect: I wish that I had photos of me with the people that I had mentioned.
11-27-2007, 03:52 PM
Lester Holt, the weekend host, was very gracious and took us around to the different parts of the set....inside and out 
