We want to share your encounters with celebrities
Journalists have an obvious advantage regarding meeting famous people, comes with the territory.
It’s considered kind of cheesy when a reporter requests an autograph or photo with a celebrity.
Thirty years as a reporter/columnist produced less than such photos.
Two photos, one while working and another off duty remain personal favorites.
In June 2004, boxing icon Mike Tyson visited Trenton to secure a license to fight in New Jersey.
We received a call that Tyson had stopped for lunch inside a restaurant on East State St., directly across from City Hall.
Laura Pelner, a Trentonian reporter, quickly agreed to ride shotgun.
Tyson sat in a booth and offered an invitation for us to join him. We talked for about 30 minutes.
Tyson proved interesting, except for a couple attempts of hitting on Pelner.
Yes, we got a photo. It’s Iron Mike Tyson, badass boxing legend.
My only other encounter with Tyson involved that fateful June 1988 fight in Atlantic City when he knocked out Michael Spinks in the first round.
My assignment for the Trenton Times had me writing a sidebar as Rosemarie Ross, one of the best ever boxing writers, penned the main story.
We attended a Donald Trump party after the fight, which included roundtable dinner guest Don King.
A second photo involved rock and roll legend, Eddie and Alex Van Halen.
It’s March 2012. I’m living with friend, Mark Granville in Florence, several months before a move back to Trenton.
Phone rings.
“L.A., “Granville said. “Do you know some music group called The Van Halens.”
Funny. Right? He tells me the brothers of the famous Van Halen have arrived at New Life Christian Center on Prospect St. in Trenton.
Headed back to Trenton in just a smidgeon more time than Eddie Van Halen needs to rifle through “Eruption”.
No sugar, honey, ice tea. Alexander Arthur “Alex” Van Halen and Edward Lodewijk Van Halen were seated in the front row.
Turned out NLCC member Thomas Liszewski’s daughter, Janie, married Eddie.
The brothers had visited to support a NLCC aspiring dancer.
Photo? Uh, yeah. Probably not the best venue to sing Van Halen’s “Runnin’ With the Devil” but a great night and photo.
So, here’s the deal. Thousands of Trentonian readers must have a photo with a celebrity.
Want to start a weekly segment called “Brush with Celebrity.”
Send your photo with a small amount of info to laparker@trentonian.com and let us publish your story.