A few years ago we were at the airport on Maui going LAX. All the passengers in the lounge were wearing hawaiian type clothes, shorts, tshirts, etc. We were one of the last to board when a tall, elegant black man swept up to the gate wearing all black with a black silk overcoat billowing behind him. I knew that face, but it took me half to flight to realize it was Chubby Checker.

April 29, 2001 at Nobu NYC:
Peter Jennings, Mick Jagger and Jeri Hall, the rapper Q-Tip (someone else told me this one but maybe they were kidding), Donny Osmond

But all that doesn't compare with the food at Nobu. HEAVEN!

I recently met the Fodors Censor at a party. He was a very frustrated person with no sense of humor and he just kept complaining that he hadn't had any sex in years. I politely suggested that he just go somewhere and spank the monkey and with that he flew into a rage and set the place on fire. Talk about a jerk!

Being from NY, there's probably not a year that goes by that there is not at least a celebrity siting, and often find there is one at the Broadway play we're at, dining at the table next to us or passing us in the street. On L.I., it is not unusual to see a soap opera star at a local store. My personal celeb. experiences are:
The Russian Tea Room 10 years ago -- we were there for a daughter's 16th birthday. Two tables away, Rosemary Clooney sang Happy Birthday to someone at her table, and it was a special birthday rememberence for us. Eleven years ago, another daughter qualified for a Zone swim meet by her performance at a local qualifying meet, but I wouldn't take a picture because her 'timer' was a soap Opera star, and she was there sans make up, and I felt it was an invasion of her privacy. The third experience was while a daughter was at college, as a freshman, when she made coffee the wrong way for Chris O'Donnell, and he graciously offered to pay for another because he couldn't drink it that way.

On a flight to NY with WCW pro wrestlers Hulk Hogan & others. Very rude & obnoxious to flight attendants.

Just a week ago, I checked into the Golden Nugget behind the band members & roadies for Trick Pony. Keith was a lot skinnier than he looks on TV.

Sat next to Dusty Rhodes at Denny's counter outside of airport in Jacksonville, FL.

Rented a car in OKC that was driven by a roadie for Charlie Daniels band - I found a drivers license in the car & returned it, then when I took the car back I was asked for my address & was mailed 2 tickets to any of their concerts as a thank you. Very cool.

Went to the Freebird Cafe in Jacksonville, FL & sat at table next to members of Lynryd Skynryd.

Rode double-decker bus in London with members of Vixen.

Walked out in front of & was almost run over by WWF roadie bus at truck stop in Kingman, AZ. Driver & roadies were very nice about it & offered to buy me a cup of coffee even though it was my fault.

What is it about my magnetism to wrestlers & rednecks? LOL

I saw Harrison Ford at the Park restaurant in NYC, on the stairs up to the VIP section. He was much shorter in person than I would have thought.

I also saw Clint Eastwood in Sun Valley Idaho. He was very tall!

Recent "meetings" in Manhattan:

Conan O'Brien-ate dinner at small restaurant on Broadway the night of September 11th- sat near him and a female companion

Rosie O'Donnell- was in the same theater to see the movie "Spy Games" in Loew's Theater on Broadway

Dr. Ruth-VERY short, outside of Loew's theater walking with a young boy taller than her (he might have been 8 years old!) lol

I love New York City-no one seems to bother celebrities when they are out and about on their own personal time.

Jon Travolta about 14 years ago eating in a Japanese restaurant with Marilou Henner--his then-girlfriend. Asked him for an autograph and he was sooo nice (very cute back then too!) Since we had the booth right next to theirs, we eavesdropped and, boy, was Marilou Henner as dumb as a doorknob!

Sat next to John Travolta at Tavern on the Green in 1989. (Pre-comeback). Few years ago sat behind Steve Forbes on a commercial flight from Newark to San Francisco. Very nice bought everyone on the planeride a movie. John Bon Jovi & band. Actually went to same HS as one of the band members. The HS woodshop teacher used to make the bands guitars in the early days. My husband has met many more as he helps a friend out who handles the talent for all of the NY shows, MTV awards, Espys, Diva's etc.. He met Kevin Bacon, Dylan McDermott, Carmen Electra, Al Pacino (actually was in the same green room w/him, no-one really went up to him) James Gandolfini, Claudia Schifer, David Cone, and others which I cannot even remember.

Years ago, I worked at an office where celebs would come by for interviews, but my desk was usually out of their paths. One day I was pulling some papers out from a low desk drawer and saw a pair of cowboy boots walk up, I was still looking down, when he asked where the mens room was, I was a little annoyed, then looked up into Robert Redford's face. I stuttered around and was almost speechless, but I managed to point the way. He was very gracious and waited for me to regain my voice.

Another time a very obnoxious Waylon Jennings kept running past my desk on his way to the men's room.

Just saw Michael Jackson shopping at Laredo (expensive glass/porcelain showroom) in Beverly Hills. He was wearing a huge coat (it was 74 degrees out), pants 4 inches too short and white socks. He was very small (5'8" and thin), quiet, and seemed self-conscious.

Poor guy. When his back was turned one of the employees took a photo of him (without flash) from behind!

I live near Sun Valley, Idaho and often drive up for the afternoon. I have seen Jamie Lee Curtis at the Sun Valley Ice Rink watching her girls skate, Bruce Willis driving, Michael Keaton in a coffee shop and Tom Hanks shopping downtown.
Also saw ex-PBS cook Jeff Smith in Seattle years ago...

We seem to always see celebrities when traveling. Here are two stories:

Sitting at a sidewalk cafe in Paris, musing "we haven't seen anyone famous on this trip!" At that exact second, Buck Henry came walking around the corner with a baseball cap on.

Last year during spring break in a tiny, sand floored restaurant in Mexico, I turned to the table next to, and told my boys, look there's a boy with a parrot on his head. We all looked, then realized that we were right next to Jessica Lange, her husband Sam Shepard, and their children. Then, we were leaving London after our Christmas holiday, and Sam Shepard and the kids were in front of us in line at the airport. The young man who is one of my son's age, looked at us kind of funny. I hoped they didn't think we were following them!

Anyway, all three times, they were simply gracious and low-key people.

I ran into Huggy Bear in 1979 at the Pantheon in Rome.

Boy, Tony Danza sure gets around! I saw him outside Universal Studios in LA in 1980, along with Dennis Weaver, Katherine Helmond, Loretta Swit, Earl Holliman, the guy who played Ray on Dallas (whose name escapes me now), and Cesar Romero (!). They were all picketing the studio that day as part of the actors' strike on at the time. As I recall, Cesar Romero was the nicest and classiest of the bunch. Later in that vacation, we went to a taping of the Mike Douglas Show, and I shook hands with John Schneider when he came up into the audience. I thought I was doing pretty well, until I saw him kissing the girls in the next aisle!! While in Britain in 1986, we went to a garden party on the grounds of the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh. I had a spot right near the front as various royals did their "walkabouts." I saw Prince Philip, Princess Anne, the Queen (wearing mustard yellow--not her colour), the Princess of Wales (I remember her lovely earrings), and Prince Charles. Charles stopped right in front of me and wondered aloud if anyone had come from a great distance. I of course had (being from Toronto), but was too overwhelmed by the situation to speak, because I was afraid I would burst into tears. So the chap standing behind me spoke up (he was from about 60 miles away) and HRH and he conversed over my shoulder.

Worked serving cocktails years ago at a resort frequented by celebrities in Montecito, CA. One of my co-workers actually saved the stars' drinking glasses, labeled them with their names and pathetically displayed them on a shelf in her apartment. Some of my more memorable encounters waiting tables: Mick and Bianca Jagger (fought during the entire meal), Clint Eastwood, (Huge tip) Paul Newman (Oh, those EYES!), Walter Cronkite (had a short conversation with him about my brother who was in Vietnam at the time), Farrah Fawcett & Kate Jackson (when they were appearing in Charlie's Angels), Barbra Streisand (very condescending and had staff running ragged during her stay). The night John Travolta walked in, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Saturday Night Fever had just been released and he was the hottest thing goin'. Despite his fame, he took the time to ask me my name and say a few words and also complimented us on the service when he left. I probably could have SOLD his glass to my co-worker.

Shook Princess Di's hand as well as her sons (Wills and Harry) in Niagara Falls Canada in Oct 1991. An experience I'll never forget.

ttt

Was at Joe Allen's restaurant in NYC a few years back at a business dinner. About halfway through dinner I stopped mid-sentence because I was staring right at Al Pacino at the next table over. He was with Beverly D'Angelo, Johnny Depp, John McEnroe and David Spade. What a combination! David Spade could hardly walk to the men's room he was so drunk. I then realized at the table behind them was Nathan Lane and Victor Garber. I was going to approach Al Pacino's table when we were leaving just to say I was a big fan, but I was intercepted by the maitre d' who said he'd like to be left alone. Just as well, by then we had kept ordering more wine just so we could stay longer and watch so I'm sure I was in no position to speak eloquently.

At our hotel bar after dinner (by then I was just having water!), we saw David Spade again, even more drunk and now alone.

Sat a few rows behind Michael Bolton and his daughters a while back at the movies on Father's Day. When I realized he was there I paid no attention to the movie and can't even remember what was playing!

- Andre Agassi at a college bar in Baton Rouge, LA (pre-Brooke)
- Martin Sheen + wife, Emilio Estevez and a kid in the old Austin airport
- Willie Nelson and George Strait at a golf tournament in Austin
-Courtney Love at a restaurant in Little Italy, NYC
- Peyton Manning waiting for his girlfriend (wife?) at the elevator bank at the Marriott Marquis NYC
- Sen. Fred Thompson and Lorrie Morgan when they were dating - hopping into a town car outside of DC National.