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I took my daughter to Barnes & Noble to see Bob McGrath from Sesame Street perform a small show. When he realized that Laura is special-needs, he warmed up to her and began to sing directly to her. He sat with her and made her feel like she was the only person there. He could not have been nicer. Her smile wrapped around her face—she was so delighted.
When the show … Read more »
It happened in the late '70s, when I was in transition from bright Oxford bags to black skintight jeans and my hair had turned scarlet at the sight of the new band in town, the Sex Pistols. I was staggering in downtown Glasgow with my best boy of the time, Sandy, who had Sid Vicious hair and eyes black with liner and who cut a figure that I was a … Read more »
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I opted for a mastectomy and reconstruction. After one of many surgeries, my husband and I went to Fangoria Weekend of Horrors in Burbank, California. We had gold circle front-row, center-stage seats, ten feet away from the actors, directors, and writers.
I felt self-conscious about my breasts, but put on a T-shirt that celebrated my survivorship. I took my seat for the Wrong … Read more »
Strolling down Park Avenue on a beautiful spring day in the mid-1970s, I was really enjoying the sunshine and the rhythm of my stride. I had some free time, so I let myself move with the flow of pedestrian traffic, observing the parade of humankind coming toward me. Everything seemed very fine. It was good to be alive.
I started to notice people looking toward me, occasionally waving or nodding as … Read more »
Sometime in the mid-'90s, my cousin Carlos, my friend Jimmy, and I went to watch Pauly Shore perform at the Comedy Store. He was going to be recording for a live comedy CD that would be released in the near future.
Jimmy claimed to know one of the producers of the show and said that the producers had placed him on the list to get in. When we arrived, we gave … Read more »
Harry Chapin on the Long Island Rail Road. Me, the conductor on the train. A hot summer day. No AC in Harry's car.
So he tied the door between the cars open with his shirt. How embarrassing for the LIRR and for me!
Miami Steve Van Zandt’s mom was my 8th-grade geography teacher. I’m telling you this only because it figures into the time we surprised Bruce Springsteen skipping down Holland Rd. in Middletown, NJ. Holland Rd. was where the Van Zandts and, for a time, the E Street Band all lived.
I first saw Bruce when I was 12 years old. It was 1966, and Driftwood Beach Club held concerts on Sunday … Read more »
There was Joni Mitchell, and here was my wife, close to tears.
For years, she had loved the lady. Now the poet priestess was one table away at a mostly empty eatery on another hot 'n' hazy day in the San Fernando Valley. My wife approached, clutching at her heart, lavishing praise on The Hissing of Summer Lawns.
Touched, Joni Mitchell inquired about our son, who was scrawling away with an orange … Read more »
My daughter and I went to a health expo. This was a great event for a lot of people. I did not realize entertainers were scheduled to arrivie after everyone had time to take in all the booths. My daughter knew, but didn't share this with me, since she wanted me to be surprised.
I decided to run to the rest room before the time I thought we would leave. I … Read more »
I passed Jim Jarmusch once near the Bowery Whole Foods in Manhattan. He was rockin' that crazy Eraserhead hairdo and drawing hard on a cigarette. He was taller than I'd thought he was and wearing a signature patterned button-down shirt, looking real cool, even though it was damn hot.
I had been walking for about an hour in that heat, and I did not look cool. I was dirty and sweaty … Read more »
Years ago, I worked in the cosmetics department of a local department store in St. Louis. At the time, I was (and I still am) a big fan of the musical group Yes.
One rather boring late afternoon, I was watching the clock tick on toward quiting time. There were no customers, and I was in a hurry to get the day over. At some point, I glanced up to see … Read more »
I sauntered confidently up to him as he sat in the kitchen, staring downward at the old console television. He looked powerful and dark, with an air about him that suggested, "All who approach, beware."
His tattoos were of the road-weary variety, etched emphatically into his skin with more conviction than usual. He was a walking revolution. With my hands in my pockets and a smile on my face, I coolly … Read more »
Several years ago, when Elizabeth Taylor was married to Sen. John Warner, my daughter and I joined many others that lined the street to see the violet-eyed beauty take part in a local parade. She was in a motorcade that one of the telephone companies had provided for the participants. She floated down one of our boulevards, not letting any of her fans down.
I was bowled over by her … Read more »
I had never been to a rock concert before my freshman year in college. I wasn't the social type in high school, and my activities revolved more around going to sports events. But the opportunity to see Rod Stewart and the Faces—just months before Ron Wood left for the Rolling Stones—brought me out.
I ended up near the stage, taking pictures and moving to the music, when I saw a very … Read more »
I was furious at my boyfriend for getting me to the airport too late to catch my plane, so I sent him back home and settled in to wait until the next flight. As I walked through the almost deserted airport, I heard a familiar, distinctive voice.
I looked to the side, where there was a small lunch counter. There sat Steven Wright on a counter stool, chatting with the waitress. … Read more »
As a teenager, I was a big Duran Duran fan.
A few months ago, after an interview, I walked crosstown in Manhattan in the 50s. As I was crossing Broadway, I saw a tall, slender guy with spiky blond hair and bright green pants carrying a large Build-A-Bear bag, with a smaller Henri Bendel bag inside. He looked slightly confused. It was Simon Le Bon!
He was walking with a petite woman, … Read more »
When I was about 15 years old, I stood on Fifth Ave. in New York opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral, waiting to meet up with two friends coming in from New Jersey. We were going to see the Matthew Broderick movie Ladyhawke. While I was waiting, I saw George Michael and Andrew Ridgely of Wham! walk by me, and I froze in excitement.
When my friends showed up soon after, I told … Read more »
So I was managing a fine-dining restaurant in the ever-picturesque Oxford, Mississippi. Archie was in town for his alma mater's LSU game. The restaurant had a much-over-capacity bar crowd above the dining room.
One of my "carders" was a darling band member—saxophone, as I recall. About 20 years old, he was, dark brown eyes and a heart of gold. I strolled down to check on him, as he was too … Read more »
Granted, this is a story from another time. It was 1979, the first real trip to Las Vegas. My wife of eight months and I flew up on Hughes Airwest from Phoenix. Me being a budding high roller, we stayed at Caesars Palace, in a suite partially paid for by the house.
I had been there a few times with my father-in-law, who was a true gambler. His trick was to … Read more »
I have always had a poor memory for names, and my memory for faces, which is better, is often failed by dislocation: wrong person, wrong place.
And so it was that I was walking one gray day down Old Compton St. in London's Soho district — for perfectly legitimate reasons, I might add, for those of a salacious turn of mind (you know who you are) — when I saw … Read more »
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