Classic Gawker Stalker: Natalie Portman, Potty Mouth and a Bad Tipper
Sightings are sent in by readers and then posted to our Gawker Stalker Maps, where they are then available for any deranged fans who are otherwise hiding in the bushes outside their beloved's apartment building. This is our occasional, old-school compilation of some of our favorites. Send your sightings to tips@gawker.com.
In this traditional edition of the Stalk: Natalie Portman, Andy Samberg, Seth Meyers, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman about to get Botox, Willem Dafoe, Maggie Gyllenhaal, MK Olsen and Mischa Barton, Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett, Michael Imperioli, Julia Roberts, Paul Rudd, Robin Williams, Adriana Lima, Heath Ledger, Paul Giamatti, Michael Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jimmy Fallon, Katie Couric, Andy Rooney and Hideki Matsui, Rudolph Giuliani, Sigourney Weaver, Jessica Lange, Chelsea Clinton, Jon Stewart, Selma Hayek, Sarah Jessica Parker, Helena Christensen, Kieran Culkin and Anna Paquin, Tori Spelling, Regis Philbin, Thurston Moore, Ann Curry, Janet Jackson, David Cross, Jennifer Lopez, Janeane Garafolo, Josh Lucas, Jerry Seinfeld, Matthew Perry, Sidney Pollack, Jerry Springer, Carey Elwes and Rob Reiner, and Tina Louise.
At Blue & Gold on 7th St. and 1st Avenue on Saturday night, April 1. Natalie Portman showed up and actually stayed for a few hours. People, of course, started texting their friends that a celeb was there, and the bar grew more and more congested. My friend sees a scruffy guy in glasses and goes, "Some smelly scrubby just came in and went straight for Natalie, who does he think he is?" Turns out it was Andy Samberg. Seth Meyers came in too to hang out, very cute and very nice, remembered my name from a previous random meeting. Talked to our favorite bartendress, turns out Natalie didn't tip for any of her drinks and neither did her other hipster friends that surrounded her all night. And beers are only $3 anyway. Cheapy cheap cheap.
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were having brunch this morning (April 2) in a cozy booth in the back of Sarabeth's on the upper west side. They were holding hands on top of the table. They both had omelets; he had oatmeal, and they split pancakes and a fruit salad.
5:30 pm on March 29th, I saw Nicole Kidman going to Dr. Wexler's office at 145 East 32nd street. She looked surprisingly young, despite the fact that she was going to the Botox-doc. Also, tall.
Hello, I wanted to report a celebrity quadruple sighting I experienced last night (wed 3/29) at the obnoxiously long and fairly boring Drawing Restraint showing (feat. Bjork & Matthew Barney) @ the IFC theatre on 3rd St and 6th Ave. We saw Matthew Barney himself having a coffee with several of his minions in the theatre cafe, then saw Willem Dafoe come out of the theatre from the showing before ours. Then when we went inside to sit down, after every stinkin' seat was filled with hipster doofuses, and in walks Maggie Gylenhaal looking for somewhere for her and her entourage to sit. They milled around a bit went and got a manager (presumably to kick some plebes out of some seats). Then they left.
I was at boudoir last night....a little lame till I spotted MK Olsen and Mischa Barton. MK was so cute hanging out with her friends, chilling on the couch. Mischa was on her way out of the club, she looked irritated. Richie Rich was there too. He looked fabulous—such a friendly guy.
Guess who I saw AGAIN on 6th avenue and Sterling place with her baby? Brooklyn's own Hedda Gabler, aka Cate Blanchett. At first her head was down and I noticed her by her crimped-looking ultra-pale blonde hair. She had on a black military-style coat and serious shoes and I thought, wow, someone in Park Slope has got her shit awfully together for an 8AM walk with the stroller. Baby Roman (?) was toddling over to a tree in his little waffle-weave brown and blue one-piece baby suit. Then she lifted her head and it was Oh My God, La Blanchett: white, white skin, red lipstick, and a seeeuuuupah-deuuupah Aussie accent serving up a Park Slope mommy ultimatum to the kid: "Laahst chahnce: ahh you walking with me or gitting behck in the pram?!" I was too scared to loiter and see if baby Roman chose her way or the highway.
I saw Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett at Bubby's for my birthday lunch with co-workers. We all agreed that she didn't seem as "voluptuous" in person as she is described in the press. Granted she does have curves, but she has a small frame...She's rather Jessica Simpson-esque. She was wearing a short sleeved sea-foam sweater and two headbands on her pony-tailed head. One was in brown leather while the other was a neon green bra strap headband reminiscent of the late-90's. Josh has longish, scraggly hair and was wearing an army green hat. As a) they were sitting down and b) I was trying to play it cool, I couldn't see their bottom halves or what they were eating. All I know is that they were definitely much better company than the twenty or so beings under the age of 2 who were also eating there.
Monday, March 27th was walking down 32nd in Korea town with my parents when I noticed Michael Imperioli had just walked by us. since my dad is a big fan of the show, I decided to casually mention to him "Hey, that guy that just passed us was in the Sopranos." my dad immediately stopped in his tracks and shouted out "WHERE?" After I pointed to the guy in the leather jacket that was walking away, he sprinted towards him down the street. Mortified I started speed walking down the street and hid in a corner, leaving my poor mom standing by herself clueless as to whom to follow. After the extreme initial embarrassment subsided I peeked out into the street and saw my dad triumphantly walking towards me saying, "I ran to him and slapped him on the back and said HEY HOW ARE YOU?" to which "Christopher" stunned, could only reply by saying "HEY. HOW ARE YOU?" What a nice guy.
Tomato throwers be damned, I just saw Julia Roberts with a body guard walking on 45th near the theater where Three Days of Rain is showing. Homegirl needs some sun—she is pale. Also saw Paul Rudd.
I saw Robin Williams at Nobu 57 on Saturday night. I was telling the hostess I was there for my reservation when he walked by me, said excuse me, and smiled. He was very polite and a lot cuter than I expected. He was alone and walked to the bar and spoke with a bunch of girls (clearly tourists) at the bar. He then mysteriously walked away towards the table. Also at Nobu 57 was Colin Farrell. I thought I saw him walk in but he was wearing a top hot so I thought maybe it wasn't because I didn't understand why he would want to draw that attention to himself. I walked by his booth where he was face down in the food, barely noticing his red-haired companion who was on her cell phone. He was cute but could have gone unnoticed if not for the top hat.
Adriana Lima in the lobby of the Time Warner Center around 11:45 this morning...she sort of wandered around the lobby on her phone and then went down into Whole Foods. Gorgeous as one might expect, jeans, tee, huuuuge sunglasses. She took them off when she came inside and her eyes were dazzling. I think I have a bit of a girl crush.
Heath Ledger. 3/29/2006. Lombardi's Pizza. 32 Spring St. 8pm. Sat down with 2 friends, in the booth right next to me. No Michelle and baby Matilda. Ordered a sausage pizza. Looks like he likes the sausage, not just in the movies. (I'm sorry, bad joke).
Saw Paul Giamatti, yesterday Wednesday, the 29th of March on the corner of 38th and 3rd walking North. Looked exactly as you would imagine, with the large frames and all, yet no one seemed to notice him. Adorable and taller than (at least I) imagined he would be.
Spotted Michael Moore at the Walter Reade Theater wearing his patented fat slob couture. He was there for "Eleven Men Out", the Icelandic "Brokeback Mountain", but with soccer instead of sheep. I'm not sure why Moore went to this, unless he's about to pull a Jann Wenner.
Spotted Phillip Seymour Hoffman (looking more disheveled than a Thai hooker after Fleet Week) sitting al fresco while having lunch at Le Singe Vert with four male counterparts. He was eating a burger and drinking a coke while the rest of his party consumed shocking amounts of pink champagne (presumably toasting Barbra Streisand's announcement of her forthcoming tour).
I just saw Jimmy Fallon at Paragon Sports, asking a salesperson about rowing machines. The best one-word descriptor would be 'splotchy'.
I saw the back of Katie Couric's head at Gramercy Tavern the other night. Her haircut is very sensible.
Saw Andy Rooney eating sushi with Yankee slugger Hideki Matsui at Ennju, along with a translator and someone who seemed like a 60 Minutes producer. Couldn't hear what they were saying, but it sounded like they were having a good time.
Just saw Mr. Rudolph Giuliani, not really a celeb...but how many people can say they've been Time's person of the year? He was walking south on 6th ave near 50th street....close to the Fox/Newscorps building. He had his whole super smile thing going, greeting all the tourists while his adviser/sidekick looked a little angry at the ooggling.
I was in the elevator with Sigourney Weaver this morning @ 11:00 AM in the Brill Building (1619 Broadway), NYC. I believe she was going to work on voiceovers for a movie she is working on.
Saw Jessica Lange on LaGuardia Place & W. 3rd Street. She was wearing large "don't look at me" sunglasses, talking on her cell phone, and walking a beautiful dog. She looked great—totally unmade up and au natural.
Tuesday March 28 Saw Chelsea Clinton on 48th and Madison heading South at about 9am. She looked in a hurry and had beautiful blue eyes. Wearing all black, she fit in, no one really noticed her.
Friday March 31 Saw everyone's favorite Oscar host Jon Stewart making a left from 50th Street to go north on 11th Ave. He looked super hot with perfect grey sideburns. Was driving a small black SUV—I think it was a Lexus.
Just saw Selma Hayek coming out of The Gansevoort. She was speaking Spanish and sporting some jeans that did not flatter her (big) booty!
Spotted a luminous Helena Christiansen walking down Hudson Street yesterday (Saturday, April 1). Aside from the whole ethereal beauty thing, she looks so natural and normal walking down the street all by herself. Not a flying Blackberry to be seen! How can you not fall instantly in love with someone like that?
Saw SJP heading west across 10th street (crossing Sixth Ave.) carting a Jefferson's Market bag in each hand. She was wearing cropped jeans, ballet flats, and a multi-colored blouse beneath a dark bracelet-sleeve jacket with a peter pan collar. Head down, wild hair (brown with blond tips), and dark glasses. Shorter and curvier than I expected, and talking to herself — very endearing.
Sunday, 8:30pm. Walking hand in hand outside the Corner Bistro, young celebrity couple Kieran Culkin and Anna Paquin. Had no idea these two were canoodling.
Tori Spelling looking fabulous and making out with some dude at Cipriani's on Broadway, between Spring and Broome. She looked awesome, and seemed to be accompanied by a few friends. She was asking to be gawker stalked, by her outside seating and her position facing the street.
4:59pm Regis Philbin and possibly a niece (unsure) were leaving Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop in Brooklyn. I noticed a large black stretch coming off the 278 as I walked up front street. When I made it to water St (one way) there was the same stretch h limo double parked where Regis and niese had entered. I was right next door doing laundry.
Ran into (almost literally) Thurston Moore in a tiny noise record store called Hospital Productions that is in the basement of a reggae record store on 3rd between 1st and 2nd Aves. He was on his hands and knees looking at the bottom row of tapes and looked like he a picked out a couple hundred bucks worth of CDs and vinyl. It was surprising to see someone so famous down on all fours in a shop accessible only via ladder. I didn't know the Sonic Youth front man was into the noise/black metal scene. Learn something new every day.
Sat next to Ann Curry and a very tall man while eating dinner at Pure Food & Wine on Irving Pl. tonight from 9-10pm. Didn't know it was her until she was stopped on the way out by an overzealous, ass-kissing fan. She seemed very nice and relaxed.
I was on 35th and Park when Janet Jackson walked by. I never would have noticed but she was this tiny little person flanked by two huge bodyguards. She looks good! Looks like she's lost the weight.
David Cross (though i guess it could have been the impersonator) today (4/1) at 5:30ish in union square (14th and union square east). He was walking west and talking on a cell phone, wearing a really unfortunate ensemble, the crowning glory of which was an awful green patterned baseball cap. There was also some weird deal going on with his facial hair. But i love him anyway.
Hey, I'm in New York and i just saw j.lo and 2 fat bodyguards and maybe a friend (no so as sexy as J.lo) come out of Hugo Boss in at the Time Warner Center.
I saw Janeane Garafolo withdrawing money from the Chase ATM at 9th and University around 10pm on April 2nd. She was wearing here signature glasses with horrible green plaid pajama bottoms and untamed hair.
I saw Josh Lucas on Essex and Canal on Saturday at 3 PM it looked like he had just been working out or running and was heading west on Canal. He is just as hot in person as on film. Very nice eyes.
On Monday, I saw Jerry Seinfeld wearing a baseball cap and walking and talking with an unidentified friend. He is a lot taller, "buffer", and younger-looking than I imagined or than I'd expect for a 50+ guy.
3/29, 5:30pm, 37th and Fifth Avenue: Imagine a frat boy in his late 30s with all the money in the world and no one to answer to. You'd come up with Matthew Perry, who was strolling Fifth Avenue in a man-boob highlighting sweater, unshaven and slightly bewildered-looking. No one noticed him.
I'm probably reporting this way too late to satisfy the new Insta-Stalker deadlines, but I spotted director Sidney Pollack last night (March 28th) at Il Postino restaurant on E. 49th Street. He wore a leather bomber jacket and jeans, and sat at a table drinking wine, reading a script and occasionally chatting on his cell phone. Later he went to the bar and chatted up the comely hostess and (female) bartender for quite a while.
Just got home after running into Jerry Springer! I spotted him with two very attractive females by the little guard house at the Dakota Apartment building next to Central Park. Although nervous, I approached him and asked if he would mind if I got a picture. He was very kind and agreed. He was taller than I thought he would be. Jerry said that he was checking out the John Lennon assassination site. He was nice enough to give me a quick history of it. The meeting only lasted about two minutes but I was blown away by his kindness. I never did ask him who the two ladies were.
Saw Carey Elwes and Rob Reiner lunching together at Nobu the other day. Not surprised to see Rob around, but Carey caught me off-guard. A little research ties these two together in the tongue-in-cheek adventure movie Princess Bride, but that was 20 years ago as of next year.
I saw Tina Louise (Ginger from Gilligan's Island) looking rail-thin, but also great for her age, and dressed in clothes that would only be appropriate for a 15-year-old. She was shopping at Gigantic's 75%-off sale and needing a lot of attention from the lone salesperson. I didn't place her until I heard her deep, sexy Ginger-voice.