Star sighting

Well, I had lunch with actor Ted Danson Wednesday at Cantina Laredo. (Famous for his role in "Cheers," he is making "Mad Money" here.)

No matter that he was two booths ahead of me and lunch partners Dixey Thornton and Harvey Anne Leimbrook. It was the first time any of us had actually spotted a "star" out and about. (Although I had interviewed Danson at a Robinson Film Center party earlier in May.)

He slipped in, sat with his back to us, had lunch, talked on the cell and was on his way. (He drives a navy blue sporty Nissan SUV.)

He has dined at the Cantina three days in a row, but has been in four times and always by himself. He doesn’t eat meat, so always orders something simple like a garden salad with black beans.

And, I was impressed that no one bothered him, but let him eat his lunch in peace.

He is also a fan of Columbia Cafe and Sunshine Health Food Store.

I wonder if he has tried Earthereal. It is a quaint vegetarian spot on Line Avenue where a lot of trendies stop by for veggie sandwiches, salads or the daily special — always prepared with the freshest of ingredients. My menu fave: Earthereal’s gazpacho.

... Actors Samuel Jackson, Ed Harris and Andy Dick have also stopped the Cantina.

The stars are out tonight

Starry connections are getting hotter and hotter.

Shreveport clothing designer Jane Ryder e-mails that she was mentioned in InStyle online.

The caption of a photo of Kevin Costner and Bruce Willis included a quote by actress Megan Brown who is in "Mr. Brooks," in which Costner stars. (And, all of you remember, of course, that the movie was filmed here.).


The caption described Brown as a "Jane Ryder-clad Brown."


Ryder said she designed the gown that Brown wore to the Los Angeles premiere of "Mr. Brooks" at Grauman’s Chinese Theater May 22. (And, as you can imagine, she was thrilled to be mentioned.)


"It was a Grecian-inspired, gold silk charmeuse sheath that hung off the shoulders and draped the figure," wrote Ryder. "The dress was personally chosen by Brown to complement her vibrant red hair and ivory skin tone."

Ryder shared more news: "I am also on the payroll at 'Mad Money' as their seamstress at the present time."

... Shreveporter Kay Redstone — the subject of a winter feature in The Times about her collection of vintage designer clothes — is serving as a stand-in for actress Diane Keaton who is here filming "Mad Money." And, they usually have lunch together on the set. "Catered, cafeteria style in the tent," said Redstone.

"She is so nice," said Redstone, chatting Friday at the Demoiselle Club Debutante Summer Announcement Party.

Although Redstone didn't give the exact age, she said that she and Keaton were born exactly 25 days apart in January. (I won't tell dear Kay and Diane, but since I am the same vintage as you all, I have some idea!!)


Redstone also, of course, sees Katie Holmes on the set. "She is beautiful."


But standing-in may not be as glamorus as you imagine. "It is dawn to dusk," said Redstone, who admires those in the movies for their stamina.

Redstone has also been influential in introducing Queen Latifah and others to work by Coushatta native/self-taught artist Robert Miller. (A Times story said his works reflect a rapidly vanishing way of life in rural Louisiana. That might be picking cotton, washing, gathering eggs or portrayals of baptisms in a river or lake.)

Music to the ears

Shreveport Symphony Guild prez Marilyn King was just home from the hospital when the doorbell rang one afternoon.

It was Shreveport Symphony Orchestra conductor Michael Butterman come to call.

He was at the market and ran into someone who told him King had been in the hospital and was home.

The visit stretched to an hour and a half.

When Butterman — who was expected at dinner at someone’s home — got up to leave, he suddenly remembered something.

"I have ice cream in the car!" he exclaimed.

King told the story and it drew quite a laugh while introducing Butterman Thursday at the Shreveport Symphony Guild May Day Celebration at University Club.

Thursday was also the 10th wedding anniversary of Butterman and his wife, violinist Jennifer Carsillo Butterman, who was also at the luncheon.

King was re-elected Guild president, with Elizabeth Keene going in as first vice president and Carol Zaffater, second vice president.

Also in the spotlight: Linda Pedro, who took home the Eleanor Colquitt Volunteer of the Year Award, and Millie Marquess, who received the Pauline Lewis Award, given to the volunteer whose work is considered vital for the growth of the Encore Shop.

Star watch

Actress Margaret Avery dropped by Absolutely Abigail’s last week.


She was a quiet shopper and no one knew who she was until she checked out.

She bought a dress and ordered a jacket to be shipped to California.

"She said she was going to wear it to a yacht party," said Ab Ab owner Donna Phillips.

The call for 250 Humphrey Yogarts came to Audrey Pope at Counter Culture May 17, three hours before the customer wanted it delivered!

The "customer" was actress Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise. They wanted the Humphreys delivered to the set of "Mad Money," said East Kings store manager Audrey Pope.

She hustled.

Instead of preparing 250 individual Humphreys, Pope took 250 large cups and filled them two-thirds full with yogurt. She then provided traditional Humphrey fixings — honey, yogurt and three kinds of fruit. "Katie specifically wanted blueberries, strawberries and bananas," said Pope
But she added non-traditional Humphrey mixings like coconut, pecans and chocolate chips.

Counter Culture owner Jan Middleton and her daughter Madeline Middleton accompanied Pope.

"We met Katie and Tom and Suri who came over to the table. They thanked us for coming out. They told us how much they loved our yogurt and said they wished they had one in California," said Pope.

Pope spotted both Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton, but neither tried a Humphrey.

Pope isn’t sure how the stars found out about Counter Culture, but for some time, someone had been ordering lot of yogurt and toppings on the side.

"Katie’s assistant called and said she had been calling for the to-go orders and that Katie wanted Humphreys for 250 people," said Pope.

Because it was so easy, the job inspired Pope to start marketing "Humphrey Parties" for people.

So how many Humphreys do they sell a year? "About 39,000. We have already sold 100 and will probably sell 20 more before the day is over today. It is our No. 1 seller," answered Pope.

I certainly buy my share. I love Humphreys, too!

Any other fans out there? Tell me why.


... When "The Great Debaters" cast and crew drove away from Gilliam Saturday after filming all day, they said they will return. In July.




Any more star sightings out there? Send them our way. Pictures, too.

A cake for a groom

Lesley Lynn and Jeremy Johnson cut his peanut butter and chocolate cake adorned with peaks symbolic of 14 footers the groom has climbed in Colorado. The cake stand was the back of a vintage jeep. At the bottom of it were rocks labeled with the name of the mountain and its height.

When the bride and groom left, guests tossed an unusual recipe of grain and herbs.

A poster explaining what they are said: "There is a native American ritual that tells us the earth takes care of us and gives us harvests of grain for bread and herbs for health, wholeness and sweet savor. This ritual reminds us to to give back the seeds of harvest to feed the earth’s creatures or to take root and return back once again in harvest."

The herbs: marjoram for joy.

Sage: long life.

Lavender: deep devotion.

Rosemary: sweet omen which conveys affections and remembrance all of your days.

"We offer these seeds and herbs with a prayer of blessings to you."

Going to the chapel

Bride Lesley Lynn’s paternal grandparents Margaret and Bruce Lynn make their way to wedding festivities in a golf cart.

A place to sit

The vintage pews from Greater Mount Nebo Baptist Church, Vivian, were arranged under a pecan tree at Lynn Farms, Gilliam, and served as the seating for guests attending the wedding of Lesley Lynn of Prescott, Ariz., and Jeremy Johnson.

They were special to Lynn because church pastor the Rev. Jimmie Carroll grew up on the farm.

"He is 10 days older than Dad (Bruce Lynn Jr.) and they were friends growing up," said Lynn.

The magnolia snippets were clipped from trees on the lawn and arranged on the pews by Lynn, her mom, Jane D. Watts, and her aunt, Pamela Broesamle, who also grew up on the farm.

Katie's in the news again

Shreveport and Katie Holmes are in the news again.

This week’s edition of People gave Katie a half-page under "Katie The Caterer."

Calling her "Katie Holmes, snack queen?" the article said that in Shreveport, La., she has been bringing treats to the "Mad Money" set.
They’ve included ice crean from Cold Stone Creamery, cupcakes from Julie Anne’s and deep dish pizza ordered from a Chicago pizzeria, but baked locally.

Oh, yes, and there is a photo of Katie with Suri taken on May 11.

Star sightings? Send ‘em our way.

What to wear!

Demoiselle Club ball chair Cathy Campbell kicked off the summer debutante season Wednesday with a Calendar Brunch at Southern Trace.

It honored the 2007 debutantes, most of whom attended with their moms.

The debs are Ginny Broyles, Amanda Clemons, Lillian Comegys, Morgan Davis, Catherine Dorroh, Tallie Flournoy, Caroline Frierson, Marilyn Gautreau, Emily Lunn, Kate Querbes, Alex Rhodes, Amy Updegraff and Werner Viser.

But, I’ve gotta tell you that what got my attention was the "dress explanation."

Now we all know that "black tie" means black tie and nothing else.

What about "dressy casual," "summer casual" and just plain ole "casual." Well, it is all spelled out on the calendar list.

A look:

"Cocktail": Suit, coat and tie for men, calf/length party dresses for women.

"Dressy casual." Coat and tie for men, church quality, dressy dresses, sundresses, pantsuits for women — also known as "clubhouse" and "chic."

"Summer casual." Think J Crew. Seersucker pants, dresses, skirts, sundresses, Bermuda shorts with polo shirts tucked in, cropped pants, short skirts.

"Casual." Think Gap, Old Navy. T-shirts tucked into cute shorts or skirts, cropped pants, khakis, sundresses, flats.

Now you know! And I do too!

Let the season begin!!

Tom, Katie and Suri in the park

Members of the girls softball team hanging out with Tom Cruise earlier this month at Betty Virginia Park are Emily Batte (left), Janie Hooper, Ellie Marcotte, Madeline Greenleaf, Isabelle Watkins, Katie Cordone and Peyton Brooks.

And, this is not the photo that ran in In Touch magazine, emphasized Kay Batte, mom of Emily and team coach.

"This was taken by April Greenleaf, one of our parents," said Batte. "What’s funny is that there really wasn’t anyone else in the park because of the rain. Some of the girls do remember a lady walking up at the last minute taking a picture. I guess she ... sold our picture."

The group was, of course, shocked, but excited to be in a national magazine. However. "We don’t want Tom and Katie to think we sold them out," wrote Batte.

And, here is the rest of the story.

The softball team was practicing in the rain when Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise and baby Suri appeared.

They borrowed a softball for Suri to play with and watched practice for about 10 minutes.

"They thanked us for the ball and wished us luck on our game," said Batte.

The kids didn’t even know who the "famous people" were!

As they left, Batte jogged over and asked if they would sign an autograph.

The couple did better than that.

Both actors signed a softball for each child, talked to them about sports and sports they played when they were growing up.

"They squatted in the middle of my girls and put Suri between them. They talked to the girls about Suri and let them play with her," said Batte.

The parents who witnessed it all were impressed with the way Holmes and Cruise took time with group.

"They seemed to be in no hurry and were very genuine," said Batte.

Their actions dispelled other stories they had read about the two.

"They spent a total of about 25 minutes with us. We took one picture with Tom before we all left. He high-fived my girls, wished them luck on their game, shook my hand and told us it was nice to meet us ... We were all very impressed."

Celebrities! Celebrities!

Like a lot of us, actor Ted Danson — starring in "Mad Money" being filmed here — fights high cholesterol and watches his diet he said during the Robinson Film Center benefit, "An Evening Under the Stars," Friday at Bill Robinson’s South Highlands home.

"Matthew Linn at Columbia Cafe takes care of me. I hang out at Columbia Cafe for grilled fish and vegetables. I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner," said Danson.

"I fix him mainly fish and vegetables," said Linn, who chatted Saturday at CORK Wine Festival.

Those veggies are likely to be asparagus, squash, acorn squash or eggplant.
And for breakfast? How about egg white omelet with veggies.

Danson said he has also had a good meal at Bella Fresca and has eaten at Sunshine Health Food Store. "I eat there and go shopping," he said.

He is also grateful to Linn for lining him up with a bed and breakfast on Fairfield.

Danson was directed to Columbia Cafe at the airport when he arrived here. He told Linn he wasn’t happy were he was staying and would he help him find another spot. Linn helped him out.

What’s up with Tom and Katie?

..."Tom and Katie’s Small-town getaway!" says the caption above a photo in In Touch Weekly.

And that "small town" would be? Shreveport! The caption headlines a photo of Tom Cruise posing with a young girls’ softball team at Betty Virginia Park on May 1. It is on page 59 in the May 21 edition of In Touch.

Cruise is here with wife Katie Holmes, who is filming "Mad Money," and their baby, Suri, 13 months. "We like it here. I lived in Kentucky when I was younger, so I’m used to the heat. It brings back good memories," was Cruise’s quote in the mag. The caption also said that Suri was taking baby steps in the grass and that Tom asked for a suggestion for a local restaurant.

... Locals Candy Welch and Sparkle Marshall ran into Cruise when serving as extras on "Mad Money." Coming through with Suri dressed in a flowered frock, he spoke to everyone.

They also visited with Queen Latifah on the set.

And had their photos taken with a smiling Diane Keaton.

Extras! Extras!

Andy and Mary Frances Querbes and daughter Caroline served as extras on "Mad Money" when their home was used for filming part of the movie. Diane Keaton was in the scene shot over and over.

"Diane Keaton gravitated to Caroline and talked to her," said Mary Frances

Party patter

Last night, I helped Cynthia-Hightower Jenkins celebrate her birthday and met the new Louisiana Tech football coach.
.
Hightower-Jenkins invited pals to toast her special day — she is not saying which one — with martinis at the Petroleum Club.

To set the scene, she wore silk pants dancing with prints of martini glasses and even shoes with a martini glass on each toe.

Shreveport treasure Freddie Pearson played the piano and bartender Michael Jeter served martinis.

We were driving, so sipped water, but guests could order apple, cherry and lemon martinis, vodka martinis with olives, vdirty martini with an olive or a Gibson.

The secret to making the perfect martini?

"Just the right amount of everything!" answered Jeter.

Tech football coach Derek Dooley and wife Dr. Allison Dooley — she is an ob-gyn — were guests of honor at a party at the Spring Lake area home of Dr. Billy and Linda Bundrick.

Derek comes to Tech from Miami where he was an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.

When Derek introduced his wife, he said that one coed stopped by his office to introduce herself and started talking about how thrilled she was that they were here and how devastated she was when they left Baton rouge. (Where they once lived.)

He was feeling very special.

At the end of the conversation, the coed added, "Your wife was my doctor and I haven’t found a doctor I liked since!" (Allison plans to practice part-time.)

Louisiana Tech president Dan Reneau was among those meeting and greeting — and then making a pitch for money to help fund sporting plans in the work.

On the road again

I took the road less traveled today.

Yes, on assignment to the country to visit two country cottage gardens on Lake Kepler near Jamestown.

Off Interstate-20, I headed south on Highway 154 as it wound its way through Gibsland and historic Mount Lebanon.

It is a good, well-marked highway, though curvey as it winds its way through pine and some hardwood forests.

And, even though you probably shouldn’t refer to the area as "remote," in some ways it is.

We hear so often about urban sprawl. Yet ... there are places — and this is one of them — where you pass no store, not even a little country one. (After I went through Gibsland and on to shores of Kepler, for probably 35 miles, there was not one place to stop.)

And, in a high-tech world, my cell phone couldn’t pick up a signal in this neck of the words. (I suppose that if I had a flat or car trouble, at some point someone would start looking for me, but I certainly could not have called for help.)

I loved every minute of the journey.

Some highlights: The sprawling Mount Lebanon Cemetery with its elaborate gate and an array of tombstones spread down a country hillside. (What stories lie here?) ... A stunning, very large, old red barn with a tin roof at the intersection of Highways 154 and 793, where Pleasant Hill CME Church is a crossroads landmark.

I was bemused by the sign "Beware PH" posted on a hardscrabble spread high on a bluff above the highway. Who in the world should I "beware" of? Curious though I was, I did not stop to inquire.

And I was enchanted by the well-executed, hand-made, metal cutout sign pointing the way to "St. Rest Church" — down yet another road less traveled. (Whoever made it is an artist in his/her own way.)

Do you have any country road stories? I’d love to hear them.

Morning meetings

I’ve been hanging today with the new owner/chef of Guillaumes’ Signature Creole Restaurant and with the Shreveport Opera Guild — or, as of this morning, Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild.

Shreveport native Chef Saul Williams III chatted over coffee. He once interned under Dean Faring at Dallas' The Mansion on Turtle Creek.

He grandly opens Guillaumes’ Friday at Best Western Chateau Suites. It is across from The Times building and we will be glad to have it in our neck of the woods.

He told us that he will offer lunch, dinner and, hear this, a Sunday brunch. The eatery will be open every day but Monday. (The morning breakfast, where I used to have coffee every morning with Lane Crockett, is still open and a hang out for the John Mannos and Art Carmody and assorted other early morning risers.)

Anyway, the lunch menu includes: salads; po-boys with Creole fries, pasta.
Dinner includes gumbos, main courses and pasta.

The sides include, for the vegetarians in the crowd, Mardi Gras corn, asparagus, broccoli and green beans.

And, for brunch? Mimosas, fresh fruit with fresh mint, strawberry cream cheese-stuffed French toast, Eggs Benedict and regular breakfast fare. I cannot wait to try it all.

Specialties: Crawfish bread; signature Andouille and Grilled Chicken Fredo and gumbo.

Dinner will be candlelit and on Friday and Saturday nights, there will be a live jazz band.

Williams, who grew up in Shreveport, is the son of Saul Williams, of Shreveport, and Hattie Williams, of Kansas City, Mo. He attended Caddo Magnet High School.

...Then, there was lunch with Shreveport Opera Guild who voted to change its name to Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild at its annual meeting and spring luncheon at Ristorante Giuseppe's.

The big news: The Guild presented $100,000 to Shreveport Opera, money raised at Les Boutiques de Noel.

Libby Siskron presided and also took home the Eugenie Somdal Memorial Award. Melinda Kent, who brought Christopher Radko here for Les Boutique de Noel, received the Beverly Sills Award.

Congrats to new president Nena Flourony, who will sally forth as the president, and 2007 Les Boutiques chair Jennifer Beason.

Multimillionaire

What does it feel like to be a $280 milliionaire?

It is a question I posed to affable James Davison Friday at the Biomedical Engineering Building Dedication Program at Louisiana Tech.

This laid-back felllow laughed.

"I don’t feel any different. I am just part of a team," said Davison.

In case you hadn’t read about it, The Genesis Energy of Houston recently bought Davison Transport companies of Ruston for $560 million. The Davison family will receive $280 million in cash and about 13.5 million shares of stock, giving the family a 50 percent ownership in the company. (Davison isn’a regular truck driver, but he said, "I did drive a truck in college.")

But on Friday, James Davison was just part of the VIP crowd on the dais with Tech President Dan Reneau dedicating this building, long a dream of Reneau.

Winfred Sibille of Sunset, member of the Board of Supervisors, has a real vested interest in the building and the program for he has two granddaughters who are biomedical engineering program students and National Merit Scholars.

They are Rebecca Currier of Baton Rouge, and Michelle Sibille of Lafayette.

New potatoes! Snap Beans! Tomatoes!

If new potatoes are coming in, the snap beans aren’t far behind at Ed Lester Farms, Cabin Point Plantation, Coushatta.

That is the news from Ed and Lisa Lester.

I chatted with the two April 27 at the Plantation Ball.

They were there for the presentation of son Thomas L. Lester, an event that must have brought back many memories for the two were presented themselves at the 1979 ball. Son Jay Lester was also there.

Several years ago, I did a story on Ed Lester farms at the foot of the Red River Bridge for a Sunday Living section front. It is one of my all-time favorite stories. We love that stand.

Ed III worked on the ambience of the market over the years, even researching those famous farm stands in the Hamptons where the rich and famous buy fresh produce every morning. (Lester is pretty glittery himself. When he and his farm buddies head for the hunting fields, he takes a gourmet prime rib to sup upon.)

"We dress it up. I am a stickler for it being clean and neat," Lester told us at that time.

The family raises over 50 kinds of fruits and vegetables, according to their Web site: edlester farms.com.


Everything they sell is raised on the land.


Through the season — they close down Aug. 1 — they peddle Southern favorites, such as eggplant, tomatoes, collards, beets, peaches, white peaches and Armistead sweet onions.


There is also basil, Italian snaps, purple hull peas and figs.


"We will open in mid_may with new potatoes," said Lester.


And whatever else is ripe.

All grown close to home.

So long!

Everyone got all emotional Wednesday night at the home of Dr. Anil Nanda, head of the LSU Health Sciences Center Neurosurgery Department and wife Laura Nanda.

But, then it was a bittersweet event that honored two chief residents who have finished their training in the LSU Health Sciences Center Neurosurgery Department and are heading out on their own. The two are the first residents who have gone through the entire program.

It was time to say goodbye.

The event also honored Dr. Volker K.H. Sonntag, professor of clinical surgery at the University of Arizona, an expert in spine surgery, who was here for the Mary Louise & Ben Levy Jr. Visiting Professorship in Neurosurgery. (He spoke on "Complex Spine Reconstruction" at the school earlier in the day.)

He had some words of wisdom for the other honorees — wisdom applicable to anyone, really.

Anyway, Dr. Anthony Sin fought back the tears as he talked about his father and his mother who died last year. "She would loved to have been here," said Sin.

"Thank all of you," he said, humbly. "Nurses ... all have been with us on this trip. You are very, very special."

He immigrated to the United States from Seoul with his parents when he was 13 and in the eighth grade.

It wasn’t always easy. "I worked hard," he said, in a later interview.

He leaves here for the University of Tennessee at Memphis where he will take a Spine Fellowship.

Dr. Jorge Gonzalez-Cruz lamented the passing of a physician in San Antonio who had meant a great deal to him as a young doctor. He will set up practice in Altoona, Pa.

Sonntag’s words of advice: "Never be too proud to ask for help ... We are never above this."

Neurosurgery operations are long and it is good to step aside, have someone else step in and they may say, "I probably would use this approach. They are looking at it clearly and objectively."

Advice, we think that would apply to all of us.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Share it with us.

Plantation Ball a hit

Darrell and Anna Folse (left), Gilliam planter Danny Logan and wife Karen Logan were among veteran Plantation Ball attendees tooling around Scottish Rite Temple April 27.

That is where the Plantation Club presented its largest group of high school seniors.

Lots of interesting program notes on the presentees.

Love "Dogwood" and "Half Moon," names for plantations founded by Austin Franklin Akin and Dr. Margaret Akin, great-grandparents of Michael Thomas Montoya Jr.

(Margaret was a general practitioner here and my doctor all my life until she died. She was among the first female physicians who practiced here. But power women apparently were common in Montoya’s family. His great-great-grandmother Callie Akin was the first woman allowed to vote in Claiborne Parish, a right bestowed because in 1897, there was a need for a vote regarding fencing versus free range cattle grazing, according to Montoya’s biography.)

Another whimsical plantation name — Angel Point in Bossier Parish, part of the biography of Anna K. Whittington.

Elisabeth L. Long lays claim to a famous public official. Her forebears include U.S. Sen. Huey Long and his wife.

I spotted Dot Oden in the crowd and she said she was there to see two granddaughters being presented — Anne K. Oden and Rebecca L. Evans.

A couple of Friersons were also in the mix. They are Jennifer G. Frierson and Allen N. Frierson. Frierson ancestors settle in Frierson in the 1840s after traveling westward by covered wagon from Monck’s Corner in Berkeley County, S.C., said Allen’s biography in the program.

Elizabeth R. Haynie is a National Merit Scholar and Jacquelyn A. Kenney is a member of the varsity Lady Flyers Basketball Team, while Peter N. Maxwell is a three-year letterman on the Captain Shreve High School varsity football team.

And Rebecca K. Nichols holds title to two queenships — homecoming and prom at Captain Shreve.

Paul L. Schuetze/The Times