tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post7289549544933533126..comments2023-03-25T23:35:40.708-04:00Comments on Son of Bold Venture: LAST CALL AT ELAINE'S, ft. KEVIN VAN VALKENBURGChris Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08647622187515165082noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-55271422812850653752011-06-01T13:15:33.961-04:002011-06-01T13:15:33.961-04:00Bravos! A simply wonderful post.Bravos! A simply wonderful post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-63071433589832335582011-05-30T16:05:27.298-04:002011-05-30T16:05:27.298-04:00Great work, Kevin.Great work, Kevin.Denis P. Gormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13895224533111461700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-81391113301901003322011-05-27T21:42:07.684-04:002011-05-27T21:42:07.684-04:00I've had a copy of Brian McDonald's book t...I've had a copy of Brian McDonald's book titled Last Call at Elaine's sitting on a bookshelf behind my desk for months. Tonight seems to be the right time to finish it.Kent Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834261948994921554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-86840225867675618322011-05-27T17:18:50.646-04:002011-05-27T17:18:50.646-04:00Amazing.Amazing.Ty Schalterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07228238666916939672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-83041958841486719462011-05-27T11:57:39.246-04:002011-05-27T11:57:39.246-04:00Very cool story, Kevin.
I have one of my own. I&...Very cool story, Kevin. <br /><br />I have one of my own. I'll make it brief; this seems like an appropriate place to mention it, after I've lurked here and enjoyed reading the posts.<br /><br />The first time I was there was with Wright, too. He was working at the Times-Picayune and I was still in college. My two other friends, Seth (who was already working for ESPN) and Evan, were with us. I'd gone to New York because I was planning to move there after graduation, and was trying to land a job. Wright finagled a table by the front glass window; it was packed. I'm not sure how he did it. We were very young and sat there and stared at the old writers for a while, watched Elaine move slowly around the room. Someone came up with the idea that we should take my disposable camera and ask Neil Leifer, the great photographer, who had taken so many timeless pictures, to snap one of us with that shitty little camera while we stood outside. It would be a joke, but a also a metaphor. <br /><br />So we waited on him, outside in front of that window. He was sitting at a table with George Plimpton and some other lions inside, drinking. He never came out. George Plimpton finally did. So we pretended not to know who he was and held out the disposable camera and asked him if he would mind taking our pic. <br /><br />And he did.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16197805201813482590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-20370202224635273452011-05-27T11:03:28.502-04:002011-05-27T11:03:28.502-04:00Just phenomenal.Just phenomenal.david.andriesenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15145034742821472835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-5149960618731603012011-05-27T10:22:45.621-04:002011-05-27T10:22:45.621-04:00Absolutely beautiful.Absolutely beautiful.Nicholas Murrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16385394997462726091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-74333286228190444042011-05-27T09:32:01.719-04:002011-05-27T09:32:01.719-04:00Pass the tissues!Pass the tissues!Rondihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14478501077452112837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-43302844412827979522011-05-27T09:25:02.346-04:002011-05-27T09:25:02.346-04:00Never got to go to Elaine's. Now, I really wis...Never got to go to Elaine's. Now, I really wish I had. <br /><br />Great stuff, Mr. Van Valkenburg. And thanks, Chris, for posting this.Brandon Sneedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09027272820587773919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-52424098409931035772011-05-27T01:01:29.128-04:002011-05-27T01:01:29.128-04:00Thanks. I missed Missoula for a long time after I ...Thanks. I missed Missoula for a long time after I left. Then one day I realized it was the relationships that I really missed. I cried. You just took me back to that day. Places are just places; it's the people who make them something special.Buckaroo Photohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07807561591850167702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-21373718003297618822011-05-27T00:40:44.362-04:002011-05-27T00:40:44.362-04:00Seriously. What is this salty discharge coming out...Seriously. What is this salty discharge coming out of my eyes? Great Kevin -- No doubt in my mind that was a legendary night and Elaine's will be dearly missed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16921881183020411787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-48036118849687260242011-05-27T00:36:23.323-04:002011-05-27T00:36:23.323-04:00Kevin, I've been waiting to hear this story si...Kevin, I've been waiting to hear this story since the first time you mentioned it. It was more than worth the wait. The scene of you sitting in that bar, contemplating whether to go in, is perfect, as I think everyone has been in a similar position at some point - even the legends you were nervous about meeting.<br /><br />Now, how about your thoughts on Mike Brown...<br /><br />There's a classic story by George Plimpton that people would enjoy. I don't think it's online anywhere but it is in the New York Magazine book that came out a few years ago with their best stories. He took a guy who won some contest to Elaine's for a night on the town.Shawn Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17793191424034185309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-48845044806405469242011-05-26T23:42:35.414-04:002011-05-26T23:42:35.414-04:00Wow. That was sensational. Thanks for sharing, Kev...Wow. That was sensational. Thanks for sharing, Kevin. Now I'm mad I never went to Elaine's.michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04999428195611723304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-78958701090828822852011-05-26T23:36:41.837-04:002011-05-26T23:36:41.837-04:00Kevin, I don't think anybody who read your rec...Kevin, I don't think anybody who read your recap of the night would argue that you belonged at that table.<br /><br />I think I speak for all Scotts near and far when I say having that opportunity to be drinking with those legends, hearing their stories, would be like going to the movies with Scorsese or cussing with Bob Knight. It would be perfection.<br /><br />This might sound a little too kiss-assy (just pretend that's a word, folks, and move along), but on a smaller scale, the way Kevin felt that night is how I feel when I read this blog. We get to chat up Chris and share the comments section with Scott Raab, Gene Weingarten, Mr. Charlie Pierce, etc. For most of us, it's the closest we're going to come to rubbing elbows with legends. Really, it's as good as it gets for those of us not on an esteemed masthead.<br /><br />Twelve years ago or so, when I was younger, hungrier, I e-mailed a handful of my favorite writers, wanting to pick their brains. As a huge fan of The Sporting News growing up, I was thrilled when Dave Kindred e-mailed me back. His advice was great, but the thrill was more "Holy shit, Dave Kindred now knows my name!"<br /><br />It's the same thrill I get with this place, this bastion of words and truths.Scott Wardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04175091922587733193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-23293714081234887882011-05-26T22:14:07.742-04:002011-05-26T22:14:07.742-04:00Damn fine work by KVV. Damn fine.Damn fine work by KVV. Damn fine.Jeremy Peppashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12314336002958779993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-42769154177046869512011-05-26T21:58:51.722-04:002011-05-26T21:58:51.722-04:00What cmkearns said.What cmkearns said.Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393762900860106243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-52742436698041494482011-05-26T21:16:25.250-04:002011-05-26T21:16:25.250-04:00Jesus.Jesus.cmkearnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12919949169104207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-7908064832692174052011-05-26T20:55:25.871-04:002011-05-26T20:55:25.871-04:00Nice read.Nice read.The Incredible Kulkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14898676218737906790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-28034228955520325762011-05-26T20:54:20.946-04:002011-05-26T20:54:20.946-04:00Great, great story. Bravo.Great, great story. Bravo.Wild Wild Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00713183508522412747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-60628467534038523702011-05-26T20:35:59.988-04:002011-05-26T20:35:59.988-04:00Beautiful, KVV. I've been waiting for one of t...Beautiful, KVV. I've been waiting for one of the Full Brothers to share that night with us. As Deb said ... thanks.Lorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13781207731857737849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151727960891442164.post-86668669165588191942011-05-26T20:32:16.269-04:002011-05-26T20:32:16.269-04:00Thank you. That's all I have to say.Thank you. That's all I have to say.Deborahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14472642988957172149noreply@blogger.com