Dining next to a celebrity...

I was at the Olive Garden on Lamar, probably like 8 when I was in college, and the Undertaker and his wife were seated right next to us. It was right after he had gotten his wifes name tattooed on his neck, because I remember it being very fresh. I didnt say anything until they were up and leaving, which happened to be at the same time we were leaving, but I had too, I couldn't miss that opportunity.
 
Sat next to Roger Staubach on a flight once. We chatted some.

About 15 years ago, Had dinner one night at a table next to where Robert Redford was eating. Nobody in our group bothered him, but he noticed us glancing at him occasionally and as he was leaving he came over and said hello. Seemed like a cool guy.
 
Saw Darren Woodson at Pot Belly a couple of days ago. There was kind of that weird moment of recognition where I figured out who he was, and he knew that I knew who he was, but that was the end of it. I had the same experience w/ VY a few years ago after a game at Pappasitos. I just don't see a point in going and beating them down with some blabbering fan-talk.

On the other hand, a lady in my office had a funny (in retrospect) experience at a restaurant in LA w/ Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Apparently my co-worker ran into a lady they were eating with in the restroom. That lady told her that they didn't mind the attention and would have no problem taking a picture together. So, later on just before they are ready to pay the check, my co-worker (and her husband) walk over to MD and CZJ and tell them they are big fans and could they please snap a picture together. Douglas, somewhat annoyed, told her that they were just trying to enjoy a quiet dinner and that a picture was out of the question. The co-worker looked over at the lady who had told her it would be ok but didn't get any help. Since they hadn't paid, my co-worker had to do the walk of shame back over to her table until they could quickly pay and leave.
 
I went to Atlanta a few years ago for my mom's birthday. We were eating at Pappadeaux's, and seated next to a man that looked very much like Denzel Washington. We argued back and forth whether or not it was him, when I exclaimed rather loudly, "That's not Denzel!!" At which point he turned and said "Yes, I am." I was duly mortified, but he was very nice, gave my mom his autograph, and wished her a happy birthday.
 
I think while they are eating if you make eye contact a tacit nod and thumbs up gives them silent notice you recognize them but respect their privacy while eating. When they have finished their meal you may ask for an autograph, but I definitely leave them to eat in peace.
 
thats funny that the undertaker is brought b/c i SWEAR i saw him at 24 hour fitness wm cannon. by teh way, was he cool when you talked to him?
 
Got a couple:

My favorite was in 1980. We were in Ninfa's in Houston and my alcoholic grandmother confronted George Bush. Called him a jackass etc. Surprised she was not shot or arrested but this was before Reagan was shot and I think they just figured she was hammered. I vaguely remember this, but do recall being rushed out of there very quickly by the secret service.

Ran into Sandra Bullock at that Plant Nursery on Bee Caves. She was asking the lady about banana trees as I was looking for an oak. She looked like **** that AM and I did not recognize her until my told me who it was. I did not talk to her.

Seen Mack 2x. Both times at restaurants where he was being seated and my party was sitting down. Both times I said "Hi coach". The most recent time we were in that restaurant, "7" that is now closed. He came to our table, shook everyone's hand and asked how the fish was. I then said, "pretty good, want to try a piece". My wife was mortified.

Saw Rick Barnes coming into the original Maudie's as I was standing out in the lot waiting for a table. I saw him walk up and said" hey there is Rick Barnes.....Hi rick barmes!" He shook my hand and chated a bit about basketball while his wife put his name on the list. AWESOME GUY


Saw that guy from Wings, Thomas Haden Church in Louie's 106. Did not bother him.


The wife actually has a pic with Dennis Quaid when he was shooting for the Alamo. He was kind of annoyed to take it, but she has a crush on him.
LeslieandDennis-1.jpg
 
Have seen a number of the Spurs players dining around town, here in San Antonio. I never bother them, or allow my sons to approach them. However, one time David Robinson was having lunch at Mencius, and there were just about 20-25 other people in the restaurant at the time. The owner went around to each table and stated that if everyone would let Mr. Robinson have his lunch without being interrupted, he would be happy to sign autographs and speak with people after he finished. Everyone did. When he finished, he very patiently and pleasantly spent between 20-30 minutes talking to anyone that wanted to approach his table. Very nice guy.

This wasn't at a restaurant, but one night my mom (68 year old, short little grey haired lady) was in HEB, buying a couple of things. She's in the checkout line, and Manu Ginobili comes up to the same checkout, with his wife and another guy. He puts his groceries on the belt, and then leans over and plants a kiss on his wife's cheek. My mom looks up at him and says, "do I get a kiss, too?". He laughs, and then leans over and kisses my mom on the cheek. I don't think she washed her face for a week.
smile.gif
 
I forgot about the time we sat front row for Tom Jones at the Majestic in San Antonio. After the show, we hustled over to Paesano's hoping they'd still be open. We were met at the door by the owner and he said "sure, come on in." We were the only people in there. About 10 minutes later, in walks Tom Jones himself and sat down and ate with the owner. After we finished dinner and as we were walking out, Tom thanked us for coming to the show and we left without bugging him for autographs. Tom Jones is a man.
 
Sat across the aisle from Jeff van Gundy with his family on a flight to OKC. Handed him some napkins when his youngest kid spilled something, didn't say anything again until we were all standing up waiting for the folks in the aisle in front to clear...a simple "good luck this season, Coach" from me. He said thanks and asked me why a Longhorn was going to OKC...nice little convo about UT and OU connections. Nice guy. He made a point to come up to me at baggage claim to shake my hand and introduced himself to my dad. I thought it was pretty cool that he was riding the SWA cattle call, too.

Rode an elevator with Goldie Hawn. I didn't recognize her, but after she got off my mom was pretty visibly star struck "Oh my God, that was Goldie Hawn!" Maybe it's a generational thing. Mom didn't say anything to her.

Also, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Jim Baker (former Sec of State, etc.). Terrifically nice guy, and brilliant, I don't care which way politically you lean. One guy came up to him before the food came and he was pleasant to them, and one guy wanted to shake his hand on the way out of the restaurant -- no big deal to him -- I asked and he just said it came with the territory. He brought and signed a dollar bill for me (#90 of the first batch of his printed)...one of my favorite possessions.
 
I don't think I could see Jeffrey Tambor out in public and not say something to him. Either a short, "Hey, now!" or just get a quick autograph and then say, "That was a freebie," or "I have Pop-pop in the attic."
 
Several years ago, I was out in Hawaii visiting my brother. After hanging out on Waikiki, we went over to Duke's for lunch and drinks and get a table outside close to the pool. Next to us, in the corner, is a very large table with a party of about 10 people. Upon further review, I realize that it's Bruce Willis and Demi Moore with the kids. post-divorce, pre-Ashton. Apparently Bruce was on Oahu filming a movie at that time. There was another lady there who looked like Demi's sister, a couple nannies, and a grandmother figure whom I presumed to be Bruce's mom. Bruce is a good-looking guy but smaller in stature and muscle than he appears on the screen. Demi really is/was that pretty in person. We left them alone.
 
That could've been their daughter, she's a dead ringer for Demi.


My friend saw Bruce at a random east side bar. I mean, really random bar.
 
Here are a couple of random ones...

Back in 1998, I was in Birmingham, UK for a company meeting. We were all in the hotel lobby bar hanging out before the evening's events were about to start when an older gentleman came up to me and asked me for matches since I was smoking a cigar. I gave him my matches and we chatted for a while until he excused himself and left. One of my colleagues came up and asked me, "do you know who that was?" and I said that I didn't. "That's Jackie Charlton - he's a national hero." I had no clue...The Link

Around 1995, I rode in an elevator with Hakeem. He was headed to the Saudi embassy and, dude, the guy was a freakin' giant!
 
I was at Fonda San Miguel about a decade ago and this nice little ole lady was being assisted to her chair by this perfect posture and emaculately groomed athletic black guy in a suit and tie and earpiece ... duh, I finally realized it was Lady Bird and her Secret Service detail.
 
I was with a group of guys at a batchelor party and as we walked into Sugars we saw Hollywood Henderson getting a table dance.

We all just gave him the thumbs up as we walked by. After a while he came over to our table and talked for a while. He was VERY cool.
 
Before Saturday I would've answered with "no, I let them dine in peace." Then during a drunken bachelor party bar crawl I see Dave ATtell outside the comedy cellar here in the west village. Now, that's all well and good since he's a celeb but pretty much everyone I know has a long running joke that I look a lot like him. My curse.

So the 10 of us drunken idiots pile into the somewhat nice restaurant above the comedy cellar and proceed to the bar where we ask to get a picture with him. He obliges...nice enough. I say "apparently I look like you." He doesn't say a word, and goes back to drinking his drink at the bar.

All said -- I don't think we bothered him too much, but I'm sure it was an annoyance.
 
Saw Richard Simmons in the LA airport...and I left him WAAY the hell alone. BTW, he's as fruity in person as he is on TV. There is no acting, he's a total fruitcake.

Luke Wilson at Mi Cocina Highland Park Village. I didn't say anything but EVERY single girl with fake tits stood about 5 feet away from the table hoping he'd talk to them. All in all, there were about 50 chicks who took a shot at 5 minutes of fame.
 
While in Prague, stood next to Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan, back when they were together. It was at the "torture museum," with all kinds of heinous midieval devices...go figure. Manson had on his usual all black, white face and sunglasses inside so they were fairly obvious, but no one bothered them. What tipped me off from the start though, was their HUGE black bodyguard. Not only was the dude ginormous, but there are no black people in Prague, so you knew something was up...
 
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