Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin
It was a beautiful weekend here in New England. Devin came home on Saturday night, we had a nice dinner with her and watched a movie. We just enjoyed the outdoors and our animals. Let’s see, what else? Oh yes, there was one other thing – Denis and I crashed Tony Bennett’s birthday party.
Sunday night,Tony Bennett performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in honor of his 85th birthday. When Denis first heard about the performance, he immediately bought us tickets, as we’re both huge Tony Bennett fans. We’ve seen him perform a few times and have met him and Denis knows his whole life story, which is fascinating. So we drove in Sunday afternoon, taking two cars, as Denis had a meeting in the city yesterday, and I’m on ambulance night duty this week. We met at Lincoln Center, right at the fountain, which was very romantic. Having a rendezvous made it feel like a real date. We had great seats, three rows from the front and just a few moments after we sat down a lovely woman came rushing down the aisle and introduced herself to us. She works for Tony Bennett. Tony had heard we were there, she informed us and would like us to join him and his wife Susan and some friends for dinner after the show. ”Alec Baldwin is hosting and Elton John and a bunch of others will be there.”
It was kind of like that moment in the movie Annie Hall, when Paul Simon approaches Alvie and Annie and asks them if they want to come over to his place after the show. “Just mellow, Jack and and Angelica will be there,” Paul said, or something like that, referring, of course, to Jack Nicholson and Angelica Huston. Annie really wanted to go, but Alvie said, “Remember, we have that …thing?” But we didn’t say anything like that, we just grinned stupidly at her and said, “Really? Tony Bennett wants us to come to his birthday party?” She explained that it was a big party, a fundraiser for Mr. Bennett’s amazing charity, EXPLORING THE ARTS . Denis was wearing a blazer and jeans, I was wearing a really weird outfit – a sort of t-shirt dress that you should really only wear to the beach and a leather jacket and tights and boots. I looked like an old biker or something. I hadn’t even washed my hair, but she said we looked fine, so we both gushed, simultaneously, “SURE!” and she told us where to go after the show and wrote down a table number.
How was the party? Well, I sat next to Robert De Niro and Richard Gere. But if you want to know more, you should really tune into the lastest HASH HAGS show, which we recorded yesterday, with special guest Wade Rouse, the author of I’m Not The Biggest Bitch in This Relationship, which is an anthology of very funny dog essays.
Yes, we’ve started up with a new season of our hit NPR show Hash Hags. In this one episode, we talk about dogs, I actually sing, Julie Klam reveals the name of the huge celebrity who is starring in the book trailer for her new book Love at First Bark, Laura Zigman talks, as always in her sexy bedroom voice, and I gossip about the celebrities at the dinner party and reveal the REAL reason we were not at the Emmy Awards on Sunday. So why not tune in or download the show for the car or the gym? It’s here.
Let’s see…Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Alec Baldwin, Elton John, Robert DeNiro, Richard Gere, and the Learys. So, anybody REALLY famous there??
(Sounds like it was a fun time!)
I forgot to mention Bill Clinton, Katie Couric, Regis, Nancy Pelosi, Mario Cuomo…
Ooooh! How fun!!!!
How exciting! Love Tony Bennett…saw him a few years ago. That is an awesome story!
Just listened to the radio show. Excellent topic and the voicework, sound and genre, such a pleasure to listen to!
Thanks Tammy!
Meeting at the fountain, how romantic! I once met a penpal there, but he wound up being a dud. Thank goodness Cher redeemed the fountain as the ultimate date night meeting spot in “Moonstruck”.
Dressing like a biker chic!? Ann, if I had your body and your husband, I would definitely step it up a bit! But you are so beautiful and self deprecating, I’m sure you looked just fine. You could probably wear a trash bag and wind up on the best dressed list! LOL
You’re just too nice!
I saw Tony Bennet once, at a festival concert in DC in 1995 (the hsfestial) featured acts like Primus, Hole, Bush and The Ramones in their umpteenth millionth farewell tour…. and in the middle of the show, out comes Tony Bennet to do a surprise set, and lemme just tell you… the mosh pit (which I was in) went INSANE!!!! I never thought I’d be lucky enough to see Tony Bennet live… I sure never thought I’d be moshing to it either!
Good for you! I like that you still go out on “dates” with hubby.
So romantic! Oh, and I think Bill Clinton is probably a totally charming guy. I don’t care who he has or “hasn’t” had sex with.
oooh, aislinn – right there with you!
I’d unabashedly flirt with him.
Yeah, but would you wear a blue dress.
Good question. Probably not. I don’t look good in blue. Plus, that color dress tends to stain a lot, and I’d most likely end up throwing it in the back of my closet and never wear it again.
Agreed!
They asked 100 women if they would ever have sex with Bill Clinton. 96% of them said Never. . . . .again! LOL
Wow, what an evening! Sounds like it was fabulous and I’m sure you both looked great. Tony Bennett is one of a kind.
And we all know you said you were on ambulance duty, but you really rushed back to Zidane, right?
The last celebs we had dinner with were Bev and Mark. =)
KC, you most certainly did have dinner with two celebs.
Spontaneity and serendipity – two ingredients for a healthy and happy marriage! And if you saw the Jersey clip online, you really didn’t miss much at the Emmys. Love your writing btw.
I find you amazing. I do not know where you find time to fit all the things you do into your day and still keep going.
Officially, unabashedly, jealous.
“Denis wore a blazer”. I thought how nice, finally he doesn’t wear that dang leather jacket, and then I read you wore one! To go into the city to a Tony Bennett concert! Ann, I don’t think you realize the position in the celebrity world that you hold. Most of the time you can dress like a “country girl”, but there are times when you should dress like a “city girl”.
She did dress like a “city girl”, a perfect outfit for a Tony Bennett concert!
It really wasn’t my best look. Kind of wish I had a photo to prove it, but glad I don’t.
there’s a photo on the ETA website…..you look great!
For my money, Ann, you and Denis can dress any damn way you please. ‘Nuff said.
Oh who has a better life than you Ann! Your blog makes us drool with envy. You little name dropper you!
Sounds like a great party–and Hash Hags was fun!
Oh Ann, your life is so spectacular! You make us all drool with envy. What a little name dropper you are!
Did you read the article about Tony and Lady Gaga in the Sept. 19 issue of the New Yorker?
No. But I have wondered why anyone would call herself “Gaga.”
I know. She doesn’t do a thing for me, but I guess there is a segment of the younger population that really digs her.
I’m 63 and I think Lady GaGa is one of the most talented performers around. I love her music, and think she is very interesting. Elton John thinks pretty highly of her–she’s his son’s godmother.
oh how I love Tony Bennett! have seen him live in concert and his voice is truly amazing…..sounds like a fun evening and Hash Hags was too funny…..can’t remember the author’s name but he definitely should have used you three to contribute to his book
That’s so exciting! What a terrific surprise for you both!!!
What a hoot!
How exciting Ann. By the way, I really like your darkened tresses. I love going on date nights with my husband and meeting up somewhere – there is just such a sense of anticipation and adventure. Glad you had a sparkling evening.
Just listened to Hash Hags and must confuss I also have a major hair obession. Loved the show, fun to listen to. Thanks for posting the link on the blog. Requesting a fall picture from MP. I think its time.
Sorry for the spelling error.
It just is amazing how diverse and fabulous life can be! An evening with Tony Bennett swoon…..
Good thing you didn’t get a call from the fire department at home! Although it would have been interesting for everyone there to see you have to leave to go save someone!!
Just finished listening to Hash Hags. It was such a fun segment, so easy and free flowing. I enjoyed it very much. Will definitely run out and buy the book also. Love that 50% goes to the Humane Society.
I would’ve been awed to be in Whoopie Goldberg’s company. In a time of second generation brat packs, and the first generation of super-skinny celebrities choosing augmentations & other surgical alterations, Whoopie was owning her body, her hair, her voice. I was an awkward, freckled, red-haired drama nerd/poetry geek and Whoopie made it all right to be who I was, nothing more or less. Oh, and Rachael Ray was there; I love her activism to end hunger & her championing of pit bull rescue, awareness & education about the breed. She’s her own woman too, that RR, in an industry where that’s really tough to be.
I wonder, Ann, what women did you admire when you were younger? Thank you for telling us about Exploring The Arts, that kind of organization – young people + the arts – absolutely thrills me. You & Denis look fab in the photo; I’ve observed you two are always leaning towards one another in pictures. I notice because someone pointed out to me that Gary & I do the same. Is there anything in life better than going through it with someone you know will always be leaning in your direction?
So much for the raving about Tony Bennett. I am really tired of “famous” people making really outrageous comments such as he recently did about the USA was at fault for 9/11, and think they get away with it with just an “apology”.
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_18947938
Debbie, I agree that it can be annoying when celebs mouth off about their political views, which are often quite uninformed. But I think, also, we must consider that many have used their “platform,” as a public figure, to draw attention to national issues as Bennett did when he marched for civil rights with Rev. Martin Luther King. I liked Bennett’s statement on Facebook in which he attempted to clarify his remarks about 9/11. Tony Bennett has fought in a war and I consider his opinion regarding war quite valid.
He said:
“My life experiences – ranging from the Battle of the Bulge to marching with Martin Luther King – made me a lifelong humanist and pacifist, and reinforced my belief that violence begets violence and that war is the lowest form of human behaviour.”
totally agree, ann. well put!
I’m with Tony.
My oh my! Could you even breathe?? Richard Gere?? Aside from the cool celebs, what a great cause. How fun! Tony Bennett is getting way up there in age, so to see him sing would be such a delight. Actually, you and Denis each showing up alone and meeting up sounds like the best part. Isn’t it great that even after all of these years your hubby is probably the sexiest guy you’ve ever known? Hope you had a blast
Ann, that is a great experience. Tony Bennet AND Aretha Franklin!? I wouldn’t mind sitting next to Robert De Niro, he was a force of nature (hurricane) in “Raging Bull.”
I am so mad/frustrated my hands are shaking. I am leaving for NYC soon. I was researching the history of NY, the background of all the great monuments. I also kept in mind that I have systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly referred to as lupus since I was fifteen. While I experience little symtoms, one of them is a whopper. I am so ridiculously sensitive to UV light, far more than the average person with SLE. I carry around a parasol especially made for people with this conditions or something similar. I can’t wait in long, long lines without it or other sunprotective clothing – not unless i want to fry my own face and run a high fever. I checked with the various famous monuments and they will not allow me to take it inside, it is considered a weapon! I have long learned to deal with my medical issues but this is so unfair! I have an illness so I can’t go where other people can?! I asked if I can please leave the parasol at the front desk, hence not resolving the issue. I was told this is not allowed. I have never cried over having a chronic illness at 15 but right now I feel like it. I claimed my idea is fair and I will take it to the Supreme Court if I must. No shitting around. I was then told I can get a letter from my Rheumatologist confirming I am telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. He has agreed. Sorry this has been so long.
Gloria
Gloria, that is AWFUL! They should really allow you to check the parasol. Are canes and crutches seen as weapons?
Gloria, sorry for your troubles; that’s so unfair. Until the American’s with Disabilities Act catches up to protecting everyone’s civil rights, thought I’d share these with you: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_sporting-goods?_encoding=UTF8&node=3375251&field-brandtextbin=NASKA
They have really saved me. I take various amounts of steroids depending upon where I am MS-wise & the sun might as well be poison ivy the way my skin reacts. You can roll them off & pop them in your purse or pocket when you go inside, then slip them back on when you head back out. I know it’s not a perfect solution, but they do really help – cool in the heat, warm in the cold, too.
Gloria, so sorry to hear of your situation. Me being the New York skeptic that I am, I fear that once you get to the places you want to visit, you might be turned away, even with your letter. Have you thought of a very wide brimmed hat,made for the purpose of protection from the sun? I know someone who is ultra-sensitive to the sun, and thats what she does. Hope this does not ruin your trip. Good luck.
Ann, Maureen
Thank you for your responses. I think I will become more informed with the ADA Act to see what my options are. I hate the ideas of lawyers and courts but I feel this is discrimatory.
Gloria
Nah, this won’t ruin my trip. There are too many places for me to have fun in NYC.
Gloria
Loved the podcast until it cut out just as Ann started telling her story about the party. Where else can I find a working link?
Cece, so sorry that the link didn’t work. If you go to iTunes and search Hash Hags, you’ll find it there. You can download it for free. Thanks for listening.
Wow what a lovely life you have. Tony Bennett..he’s nothing short than amazing.. He has a new cd out singing with various other artists. He’s amazing. I love him as one fellow Italian to another. That must have been amazing being in the company of such famous actors as De Niro..amazing. The gorgeous pictures of Italy. Lovely life indeed and I’m happy to hear about your new novel coming out. I can’t wait to read it. It sounds amazing. Denis really made a great name for himself..and you sure have as well as an excellent writer.. He mentioned Tony Bennett in his show.. he had tickets in the 6th Season and boom they were torn up by Janet.. lol. He puts a great deal of his life into his characters.. I love it. Great people and your animals are so precious.. Love that dog. The one with that face that has such expression. He should be in movies and commercials.. He’s a winner..
I meant prescious.. my spelling.. excuse please..I’m writing at 4 am..lol
Okay I am tired.. It was the right spelling the first time.. excuse me all.. lol. Time to hit the hay..