Post by owlcroft on Jun 29, 2008 13:43:33 GMT -5
We had the mezzanine reserved at Barney's which supposedly holds a maximum of 50 people. Wooden walls and floor, with pool tables and video games scattered around, a few small tables and chairs, and forty-'leven television screens showing sports. And one waitress. Who went above and beyond the call of duty Thursday night.
The crew started arriving right on the dot of 6:30 and Danny had been
there for a while for the auction dinner. We all moved upstairs and
started ordering appetizers and drinks and started the stunt reel
Cheri had made to amuse and entertain the guests. More and more
people arrived over the next hour and eventually we had (at a guess; it was impossible to count the heaving masses) at least a capacity crowd. It was beastly hot up there and the cold drinks were very welcome.
You've probably seen the list of folks we expected to attend, but a
very late addition was Jonathan Banks, who is just a total sweetheart
and was very touched by Brian's star and the whole idea of a
get-together afterward. He told a couple of Brian stories and even
got a little teary at one point. Sweet, sweet guy and the source of
more hugs.
There were three reasons for the reunion, from my point of view, and I
think it was successful in all three. All the fans got to see "the
judge's favorite restaurant", they got to meet and mingle with the
cast and crew, and the show's alumni got back together again. I can't
tell you how it made me feel to see the alums swapping memories and
contact info, laughing together and sharing some pizza, having a few
beverages and remembering good times. I lost track of the number of
people who told me they hadn't seen some of the others in over twenty
years and treasured this opportunity to get back in touch.
Many photos were taken, many stories were told, many hugs and kisses
were exchanged (and you people who told Danny good-bye twice just for
extra "close, personal contact" took unfair advantage! Because I
didn't think of doing the same thing!) and a good time was certainly
had by all.
It was hot, it was noisy, and it was incredibly special.
The crew started arriving right on the dot of 6:30 and Danny had been
there for a while for the auction dinner. We all moved upstairs and
started ordering appetizers and drinks and started the stunt reel
Cheri had made to amuse and entertain the guests. More and more
people arrived over the next hour and eventually we had (at a guess; it was impossible to count the heaving masses) at least a capacity crowd. It was beastly hot up there and the cold drinks were very welcome.
You've probably seen the list of folks we expected to attend, but a
very late addition was Jonathan Banks, who is just a total sweetheart
and was very touched by Brian's star and the whole idea of a
get-together afterward. He told a couple of Brian stories and even
got a little teary at one point. Sweet, sweet guy and the source of
more hugs.
There were three reasons for the reunion, from my point of view, and I
think it was successful in all three. All the fans got to see "the
judge's favorite restaurant", they got to meet and mingle with the
cast and crew, and the show's alumni got back together again. I can't
tell you how it made me feel to see the alums swapping memories and
contact info, laughing together and sharing some pizza, having a few
beverages and remembering good times. I lost track of the number of
people who told me they hadn't seen some of the others in over twenty
years and treasured this opportunity to get back in touch.
Many photos were taken, many stories were told, many hugs and kisses
were exchanged (and you people who told Danny good-bye twice just for
extra "close, personal contact" took unfair advantage! Because I
didn't think of doing the same thing!) and a good time was certainly
had by all.
It was hot, it was noisy, and it was incredibly special.