That’s Gold Jerry, Gold.
First blog post.
First trip to Europe.
First time meeting a true celebrity before 6am: Steve Hytner, aka Kenny Bania from Seinfeld.
THE SCENE:
Starbucks at the Philadelphia airport. Approximately 5:50am.
MY MOOD:
Groggy, nervous, thirsty.
With my mind focused on Americano’s, and whether or not my new carry on will, in fact, fit in the overhead compartment, imagine my surprise and delight when I glance towards the end of the coffee bar to see a familiar face.
Kenny Bania. The one. The only. the unforgettable. The man who forced me to admit that soup is not actually a meal.
Now, from this zoomed in and a blurry vantage point I’m still thinking there’s a decent shot that it’s not actually him. Does he look older? Yes. Wiser? Definitely. So, I place my order and sidle on over to the end of the bar for a closer look.
STARBUCKS + GOOGLE = INSTANT MAGIC
As you may know, Starbucks (in an effort to be more like your “neighborhood coffee shop”) started writing names on their cups a while back—and this morning was no exception.
Reaching the end of the bar, I glance over in maybe-Kenny-Bania’s direction. And there it was. A name. On his cup. In perfectly sloppy black Sharpie ink: Steve.
Seconds later, Google confirms my most profound suspicions.
And now, I have a decision to make. It’s one that you may have faced if you have also been in the presence of a celebrity. To say something, or not to say something?
In the past, I have just left well enough alone. Well, mostly alone.
In fact, the only time I’ve actually felt the need to receive some sort of acknowledgment from a celebrity was in the presence of another Seinfeld hero. The man behind the man. The man in the cape. Larry David. In this instance, it was at The Bazaar by José Andrés in LA, when a good friend returned from the bathroom and said: “That Seinfeld guy is in the dining room over there.”
Me: Jerry Seinfeld?!?!
Him: No
Me: Jason Alexander?!
Him: No
Me: Michael Richards?!
Him: No. You know, the sport coat guy.
Me: LARRY DAVID?!?!?!
Him: Yeah, that’s the one.
Me: I’ll be right back.
I then make my way in the direction of my comedic hero, with no plan in place other than the uncontrollable urge to just be in the room with greatness. Coming around the corner I see him. Sitting there in his glasses and sport coat, the Larry David uniform.
Frozen. I just stand there in my heels and favorite off-the-shoulder green dress staring at Larry. Moments later he glances my direction. We lock eyes. I wave. He waves. It was magic.
But I digress. This morning, I decide to once again be a woman of action. After maybe-Kenny-Bania finishes fixing his coffee, he walks my way I stop him.
Me: “Excuse me, and I don’t mean to bother you, but are you Kenny Bania?”
Steve aka Kenny Bania: “Yes, yes I am. You can call me Steve”
Me: “Well, it’s an honor, sir”
Steve aka Kenny Bania: *reaches his hand out* “Hahaha, well thank you. What’s your name?”
Me: *shakes the hand of the man who believes we should call it Roundtine* “Mandy”
Steve aka Kenny Bania: “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You have a safe flight, Mandy.”
Me: “You, too Steve!”
Steve starts to walk away, and everyone left in the general vicinity looks confused. Looks at me. Looks back in his direction.
“Kenny Bania, ladies, and gentlemen.”
Next stop: Charlotte, NC / Rome.
