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Theyre fun to look at!
He looks like hes having a good time!
Its a lot of pictures of the same trash can!
Im grateful for how quickly you responded to my email.
You see how important this story is.Well, Im taking a little R&R.
Im up in Napa Valley.
Im just looking at my computer to do some work before I disconnect.
Well, I appreciate you taking the time.
So tell me about Mel Brooks coming to your restaurant.Im super-fond of Mel Brooks.
Ive known him as a guest of the restaurant for … how many years?
I knew Michael Gruskoff, who producedYoung Frankensteinwith Mel Brooks, andPaul Mazurskythrough his daughter Jill.
That was really cool of them.
And they went every Friday, without doubt, until COVID.
Im going to guess its been close to almost 20 years when they started coming to Porta Via.
I hope Im not missing anybody.
They have a standing reservation at 1.
But Mel has not arrived yet.
And obviously Alan passed away and Richard passed away, so the group has changed.
So Mel hasnt been back since before COVID?Correct.
I would love to see him, because he was always generous and kind and easygoing.
Its charming.[Laughs.]
He liked the attention!
When the tourist buses would drive by, he would wave at them.
So he wasnt shy, for sure.
The trash can is missing Mels presence on Fridays.
And by the way, it wouldnt be just one or two people.
I mean, we didnt time it, but it was not like 30 seconds.
He was generous with his time.
It wasnt a bother to him.
Its probably similar to Comic Con: He impacted so many peoples lives with all these characters.
Some other people will roll in, jump at a table, and just have a peaceful lunch.
He sits outside front and center.
Thats great that even with such a long career he still likes the fan love.And then hes super-vibrant.
They did aYoung Frankensteinanniversary event, and he invited me.
Hes a nice guy, bottom line.
and I mistakenly sent over a dessert with a candle.
He wasnothappy about that.
I learned my lesson about presenting Mel Brooks with a birthday candle.
Those guys were an inseparable crew.
