Today marks only the third time I’ve had a two-part interview on the site. The reason for today’s two-parter is because Hollywood actor Fred Melamed had so many interesting things to say about his life that breaking our almost four-hour dinner into two segments is the only way I can…
Updating With Strangers
A new two-part interview starts this Friday, but until then here’s a quick wrap-up of some updates about a few of the 75 strangers I’ve interviewed since starting the site in 2008: — Quirky musician Lorraine Bowen has a ringtone out of her hit “The Crumble Song” made infamous thanks…
Interview 75: The Restaurateur
The Musso & Frank Grill is a Hollywood landmark. Since 1919, the restaurant has catered to more television, music and movie stars than current proprietor Mark Echeverria can count — not that he names names. The venue prides itself on being a low-key place for celebrities to visit, free from…
Interview 74: A Meal In Milan
During my recent trip to Italy, I had a night alone in Milan. That meant I was looking for a stranger to dine with me. I posted an ad online asking if anyone would join me, and waited. Thankfully, along came Federico Leidi for a meal at a decades-old restaurant…
She’s Good At Cooking Crumble
The mistress of melody Lorraine Bowen is finally getting the recognition she deserves! Lorraine, a delightfully outgoing woman, is a singer-songwriter from England whose hits take on unusual topics. She’s written ballads about waiting in a queue at a post office, or opining about the mysteries of what burger meat…
The Primary Instinct
Stephen Tobolowsky is a great actor, and an equally great storyteller. He’s getting ready to promote his upcoming film The Primary Instinct, a Kickstarter-funded “concert” movie featuring him telling his unique brand of anecdotes. Nothing else. Just Stephen, a camera, and his stories. And I already know it’s going to…
Interview 73: Dating In DC
After four years and almost 100 first dates, Craig Schattner is still single. So he decided to try and answer the question of whether the inability to find a long-term girlfriend stems from a problem with him, or with the District of Columbia where he lives. Craig — an experience…
The Trip To Italy
Just back from a trip to Italy (insert joke here about arms being tired). As expected, the food was great in the three places I visited: Milan, Lake Garda, and Venice. Below is a picture of the very first meal I had in the country, a pizza at the fantastic…
Visiting The Lincolns
April 14-15 marks the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. But you probably know that factoid, so what’s the connection between that tragedy and Dining With Strangers? Back in February…
Interview 72: In Christy’s Shoes
Jacki Barnett never intended to be a fashionable fundraiser. But after her best friend Christy passed away from brain cancer at age 33, Jacki and two other friends launched a fashion-focused charitable organization in Christy’s honor. In Christy’s Shoes hosts shoe fashion shows to raise money that the group then…