Woody Allen’s Gift for me © 2022

Elaine’s, the celebrity hang-out is gone, today, as are many Manhattan spots…It was an Italian Restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Elaine, its ever-present owner/hostess, was beloved by her celebrity followers.

Elaine was not beautiful or a glamour doll, she was plain, heavy -set and wore thick glasses. Plain, ordinary but worshipped by her gang of artists, actors and writers. Perhaps a la Gertrude Stein?

She never said 3 words to us nor acknowledged our presence…after all my party were just customers. We were handled by her “guys”, staff.

One room to the left front of the always crowded bar, was reserved for “her friends” …famous people who wanted to be private…not with the ordinary people.

One evening I spotted Woody Allen with Mia Farrow…not in the secluded room, but in the main dining room. I noticed him slouched low in his seat. He & Mia didn’t even look at one another, a very skinny, pale pair…almost staring in space.

Well, even being a non -star -struck blasé New Yorker… never-the-less, I got so excited to see Woody Allen. This was 1980’s at the high point of his success. I stepped out of character to gently, meekly, approach him…something I’ve never done before, because don’t forget…” I’m a blasé New Yorker”!

Knock me over!

He, the introverted Woody Allen extended his hand to me…an unheard-of thing, I’ve heard.

Little Ole Me!

Want to know what his hand felt like…a limp, clammy, bony …lox!

Got it!