when i first moved to nyc, i was so excited about bumping into celebrities on the street. almost four years later, i'm trying to be more nonchalant when it happens - although running into certain celebs still make me giddy and send my texting fingers a-flutter.
it was in conversation with a friend the other day that i realized i've seen my fair share - and even forgotten! just for fun, we decided to list out the celebrities sightings i've had here - in no particular order (i've purposely left out "art world celebrities" - that's a list in and of itself for another time):
jake gyllenhaal, 14th st subway stop - literally ran into him. i was heading out of the turnstile, and he had just come in and was putting something in his wallet. we both looked up at the last second, made eye contact and stepped aside of each other.
matthew mcconaughey, someplace in tribeca? soho? - accompanied my friend who works in fashion media to a launch party for camila alves' new line at macy's when lo and behold, her hunky hubby showed up to support. matthew was close enough for me to pinch his bum. which i didn't.
kate mckinnon, times square - she stopped by a temporary storefront art installation i had project managed (my first project at times square!) and happened to be manning that day. i casually said hi and tried not to spazz out as i offered to answer any questions she had about the installation.
david schwimmer, chelsea - i was manning a booth at pulse art fair with my colleague when "ross" showed up. we chatted with him about our artworks and totally played it cool. turns out his wife is a british photographer who was being featured at the art fair.
williem dafoe, union square - opening night for "moonrise kingdom." packed movie theater. williem was trying to get my friend to move a seat over to make room for him and his companion. we turned him down - that seat was for my friend's wife so we had to say no to williem.
bobby moynihan, upright citizens brigade, chelsea - a friend and i saw him perform as part of "asssscat3000", by far the best improv show series at upright citizens brigade. afterwards, we saw him on the corner smoking a cigarette and complimented him on the show, nonchalantly.
seth meyers, rockefeller center - stepped out of the subway train and found myself walking behind mr. meyers up the stairs and then next to him down the corridor at rockefeller concourse. he was texting on his phone and didn't look up, so we just walked side-by-side in silence.
judah friedlander, rockefeller center - "30 rock" often shot on-site at rockefeller center and i saw judah with his signature baseball cap one night after work.
taye diggs, subway (somewhere between lower manhattan and times square) - this guy got on the train and sat down directly across from me in a fairly empty car. i remember thinking, "that's one attractive man," and then realized he looked a lot like taye diggs. he had shorts and a muscle shirt on so i mentally took note of his unique tattoos to double check later. he kept to himself - kept fiddling with his watch and his bag, and as more folks got on the subway, he pulled his hat down so his brim covered his face.
tyson beckford, times square - "People" magazine held an activation event for "sexiest man alive" in times square and even though adam levine was the one on the cover, tyson was the lovely gentleman at the activation event promoting the magazine and taking photos with fans.
ryan seacrest x 2, times square - new year's eve 2014: walked by ryan seacrest doing his thing on camera while i was working NYE. new year's eve 2015: working NYE again and walked by ryan AND got pushed to the side by him and his entourage as they hurried by.
ricky gervais, rockefeller center - coming back from lunch, walked by him as he was standing on a corner chatting with a friend. saw on his twitter later that he was in the neighborhood shopping for a new guitar.
lenny kravitz, double decker bus in chinatown - having just finished lunch with friends in town, said good bye, turned the corner and there was lenny singing and gyrating on the roof of a double decker bus stopped at a red light. as you will.
taylor swift, times square - working NYE and asked to stop and wait at a barricade. why? oh, because taylor was on her way to the stage and was rushed by me with her entourage.
yo-yo ma, boston :) - this was not in nyc but by far my favorite sighting. two wonderfully talented musician friends got hitched last year in boston, and the husband plays in the silk road ensemble with mr. ma. not only did yo-yo perform at their wedding, but he played a special song penned by the husband for the occasion. as a bridesmaid, it was the one and only time that i will ever share a stage with yo-yo.
cups of coffee: 2
mood: relaxing
