Faces You May Recognize

In my earlier days I seldom travelled without a camera. Nowadays my cellphone camera is always nearby.

So back to the “older times”. While attending trade shows, expos, concerts, sports games and other events I’ve had the opportunity to photograph “famous” people sometimes with a press pass and sometimes as a bystander.

My collection of faces have grown over the years.

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Jackson Browne, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI	Tony Bennett, Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Johnny Mathis, Soaring Eagle Casino 2012 – Mt Pleasant, MI
Al Downing, pitcher Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY	Aretha Franklin, DeVos Performance Hall 2017 – Grand Rapids, MI	Art Buchwald, American Booksellers Association Conference – Washington DC
President Barack Obama, Campaigning 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Barbra Streisand, United Center 2006 – Chicago, IL	Barry Keane, drummer Gordon Lightfoot band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI
BB King, DeVos Performance Hall 2007 – Grand Rapids, MI	Ben Taylor, James Taylor band DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Billy Davis Jr, Fifth Dimension Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI
Bobby Baun, Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square 1966 – Garden New York	Brian Watson, Detroit Red Wings practice 1965 – St Clair Shores, MI	Burt Bachrach, Ballys Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV
Carter Lancaster, lead guitar Gordon Lightfoot Band 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Christie McVie, member Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Area 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Chris Wragge, news anchor 2008 – New York, NY
Senator Debbie Stabenow, parade campaigning 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Dionne Warwick, Little River Casino 2013 – Manistee, MI	Donald Fagen, member Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Arts Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI
Elston Howard, catcher at Yankee Stadium 1966 – New York, NY	Erica Hill, news commentator 2010 – New York, NY	Eric Clapton, Van Andel Arena 2006 – Grand Rapids, MI
Fifth Dimension, Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Florence Henderson, American Booksellers Association Conference 2011 – New York, NY	Florence LaRue, member Fifth Dimension at Univ Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI
Four Tops, NRHS Concert 1966 – New Rochelle, NY	Frankie Valli, Aladdin Casino 2004 – Las Vegas, NV	Garrison Keilor, American Booksellers Association Conference 2008 – New York, NY
George Armstrong, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	President Gerald Ford, campaigning 1976 – Grand Rapids, MI	Glen Campbell, Michigan State Fair 1970 – Detroit, MI
Gordie Howe, right wing Detroit Red Wings practice 1966 – St Clair Shores, MI	Gordon Lightfoot, DeVos Performance Hall 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI	Graham Edge, drummer Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI
Harrison Ford, actor at Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI	Ira Joe Fisher, broadcaster 2008 – New York, NY	James Taylor, Van Andel Arena 2021 – Grand Rapids, MI
Jim Neilson, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	John Lodge, bass Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	John McFee, Doobie Brothers Meijer Garden 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Justin Hayward, lead guitar Moody Blues Meijer Gardens 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Lil’ Ed, blues Rosa Park Circle 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Maggie Rodriquez, broadcast anchor 2010 – New York, NY
Marcel Pronovost, defenseman Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Marilyn McCoo, Fifth Dimension Univ of Michigan Stadium 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Mark Douhit, saxaphone improvisation – Grand Rapids, MI
Michael McDonald, Meijer Gardens 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI	Michael Richards, near Greenwich Village 2010 – New York, NY	Mick Fleetwood, drummer Fleetwood Mac Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Mike Heffernan, keyboards Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Moe Rocca, humorist near Central Park 2010 – New York, NY	Muhammad Ali, aboard airline flight – Los Angeles, CA
Neil Diamond, Van Andel Arena 2008 – Grand Rapids, MI	Neil Sedaka, American Bookseller Association Conference 2010 – New York, NY	Pat Simmons, Doobie Brothers Meijer Gardens 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI
Patty Wagstaff, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show – Oshkosh, WI	Paul Anka, Computer Electronics Show – Las Vegas, NV	Pete Rose, Caesars Palace 2008 – Las Vegas, NV
Pete Stemkowski, center Toronto Maple Leafs Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	PeteTownsend, guitarist The Who Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI	Richard Daley, Mayor at graduation ceremony 2011 – Chicago, IL
President Richard Nixon & Pat Nixon, campaigning 1971 – New Rochelle, NY	Rick Haynes, bass Gordon Lightfoot Band DeVos Performance Hall 2014 – Grand Rapids, MI	Governor Rick Snyder, at graduation ceremony 2013 – Grand Rapids, MI
Rodney Charters, cinematographer at National Association of Broadcasters Show 2010 – Los Angeles, CA	Rod Seiling, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Roger Daltrey, The Who at Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
Ron Townsend, member Fifth Dimension at Univ of Michigan 1970 – Ann Arbor, MI	Sean Tucker, aerobatics pilot Oshkosh Air Show 2008 – Oshkosh, WI	Sigfried Fischbacher, Sigfried and Roy at Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV
Stephanie Izard, Iron Chef at Girl and the Goat 2012 – Chicago, IL	Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Terry Clements, lead guitar for Gordon Lightfoot Band at Orleans Casino 2009 – Las Vegas, NV
Tim Horton, defenseman for Toronto Maple Leafs at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Tom Johnston, Doobie Brothers at Meijer Gardens 2015- Grand Rapids, MI	Representative Vern Ehlers, campaigning in parade 2009 – Grand Rapids, MI
Vic Hatfield, left wing for NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Walter Becker, guitar for Steely Dan at Interlochen Performance Art Center 2014 – Interlochen, MI	Wayne Newton, at Aladdin Casino – Las Vegas, NV
William F Buckley Jr, political commentator and journalist at Univ of Michigan 1969 – Ann Arbor, MI	Willie Nelson, street concert 2011 – Grand Rapid, MI	Willie Mays, Shea Stadium 1965 – New York, NY
Kate Markowitz, with James Taylor Band at DeVos Performance Hall 2011 – Grand Rapids, MI	Wolfgang Puck, Chinois Restaurant 2008 – Santa Monica, CA	Arnold McCuller, with James Taylor Band at Van Andel Arena 2021, Grand Rapids, MI
Whoppi Goldberg, following Broadway performance – New York, NY	Reggie Flemming, defenseman NY Rangers Madison Square Garden 1966 – New York, NY	Governor John Engler, British Airways dedication at Western Michigan University 1988 – Battle Creek, MI
Christopher Cross, Soaring Eagle Casino 2022 – Mt Pleasant, MI	Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac at Van Andel Arena 2015 – Grand Rapids, MI	Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, 2019 at local Grand Rapids restaurant

Eating During Covid

For a year now, we’ve all been dealing with the Covid pandemic. This deadly virus has affected almost all of our activities – work, school, travel, shopping – just about everything. To combat this disease, we’ve been asked to change our habits. As a result businesses had to drastically change their operations or close altogether to comply with government mandated health rules. Being involved with restaurants, I’ve watched closely as the food service industry has responded to forced dining limits or closures. In many localities, on-premise dining was prohibited so many restaurants started or increased take-out and/or delivery service. Some places allowed outdoor patio dining as long as the establishment’s seating arrangement allowed for social distancing. As the weather turned colder, the popularity of outdoor dining dropped so restauranteurs looked for other ways to keep customers coming back. Below you can see some of the clever ways that are used to keep winter outdoor dining safe and warmer.
These transparent igloos are spaced about ten feet from one another. Seating capacity is limited by local rules. Each has its own lighting and space heaters to keep patrons comfortable.
This tent has a slightly higher profile. Again the seating capacity is determined by local rules.
This classic delivery truck has been converted into a luxury, private winter dining area. The inside was cheerfully decorated for the Christmas holiday.
With snow outdoors, the small space heater keeps the interior warm. Patrons continue to wear their outdoor clothing but are protected from the elements as they dine.
The greenhouse structure and the ice fishing tent are other ways that restaurants have tried to accommodate customers during the cold weather.

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We’re hearing that this pandemic will most likely be with us until Fall 2021. But until the warmer months arrive, many restaurants will continue to look for innovative ways to keep customers coming back.
 

 

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I’ve been a wine lover for some years now. And I’ve had the good fortune to have been treated to and enjoyed some very wonderful wines with close friends.

The trouble is that I’m not real good about remembering all of the great tasting wines that I’ve pleasured – at least not off the top of my head. At first this was troublesome for me as I struggled to recall the names and vintages. I often jotted the wine info on the back of a paper napkin and collected them in the pocket of my suit coat. Then I’d forget about the wine tasting notes until the next time I wore that suit and stuck my hand in the pocket.
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