Celebrity Sightings, In Three Parts

Part I
A certain critically-acclaimed actor lives right around the corner from us. I see him often and my usual reaction is, "Oh...there he is." You know in magazines like US and In Touch how they have those sections called "Stars: They're Just Like Us"? It's usually a picture of someone like Je*nifer Garner coming out of the grocery store with a caption that says, "They even go shopping for food." "They even pay the meter." "They even scratch their ass." "They even pick up hookers." And so on. Well, anyway, that's what it's like when I see this guy. He even goes to Banana Republic. He even crosses the street. He even wears glasses.

So last week I saw him even walking down the main street here. No big whoop. Until two moms saw him too and giddily decided to whirl their strollers around so fast their kids probably got whiplash and chase him down the street. I watched in awe because a. they looked pretty ridiculous and b. what the hell were they going to do once they caught up with him? He wound up crossing to the other side of the street and outpacing them and then he even went into his apartment building. Stars! They really are just like us.

Part II
Last Friday I got to meet a bunch of cyber celebs. I've come to know them electronically in the last year or so, and they were every bit as delightful in real life as they are on their blogs. The afternoon guest starred (in order of appearance): this borough's own Brooklyn Mama and the dazzling Ping; Karen, mom-to-be of Maya; Figlet, who is waiting way too long for the delicious LSP to come home so she and H. can start up the romance of a lifetime; Amy, who just might be her traveling partner since she's soon on her way to bring home little Z; and Amy, who is another super-hip mom-to-be and joined us all the way from the West Coast; and Robin, whom I've met before and her sweet daughter Amelia. Amelia could teach H. a thing or two about not making a mess at the table.

After lunch we strolled on over to Magnolia Bakery where I bought four cupcakes. Later that night, I even ate one without apology.

Part III
Last night, I met Tommy Himself and Brian LastStop out at Joe's Pub for the Liz Phair show. I haven't really liked Liz Phair since her second album or so, but Tommy Himself is a big fan and I agreed to go. She was actually quite good last night, and I think the acoustic setting did her right. She played a few new songs which I liked--if they're indicative of the rest of her forthcoming album, I'll no doubt take a give it a fair (no pun intended) shot. But wait!  That's not my sighting.

So we're sitting there waiting for the show to start in this really intimate venue when in walks Zach Braff and sits down at the banquette in front of us. We were thisclose. I was nose breathing on him, people. You see a lot of famous folk in NYC, but this was particularly grand as I think Scrubs is the funniest show on TV right now. Anyway, the opening act went on and apparently ZB loved him. Stars! They're just like us! They even say "Woo-hoo!" at rock shows!

Comments

[Figlet]

Not only do I not know who anyone in the music business is anymore (Ok, I know who Liz Phair is), I don't know any of these actors. And I do watch Scrubs but I never pay attention to the actors' names. So which one is Zach Braff or should I just go off and Google him? I'm the girl who's lived in New York for 16 years and can only recall seeing Lou Reed. I know there were others but I can't remember who. I suck.

[Brooklyn Mama]

I see a couple of character actors who live in Park Slope on a relatively regular basis. And I once blogged about the celebs whose kids I taught. And Figlet's friends Lou and Laurie, of course.

[Jo]

ZACH BRAFF?! I love him. Scrubs is my absolute favourite TV at the moment but can you believe I still haven't seen Garden State? Shame on me. If you see him again, tell him "sorry" from me and I'll be hiring it soon.

[Brian]

Zack Braff: he even sits in mouse-infested booths! (albeit unwittingly) Ah, to be a celebrity...

[Amy/grrlTravels]

Ack! I love ZB. I wouldn't have approached him or said anything, but I would have wanted to. After all, I'm not a cool New Yorker. Celeb sitings are rare in southern NJ.