It was Man vs. Food Saturday at the Cozy Dog Drive Inn in Springfield.

The Travel Channel's Adam Richman was in town to profile three restaurants for his show. He visited Darcy's Pint on Friday, The Cozy Dog Drive Inn on Saturday, and Joe Roger's Chili Parlor today. At each stop, Richman profiled and sampled the restaurant's trademark dishes (Darcy's Pint-horseshoe; Cozy Dog-cozy dog and home cut fries with vinegar; and Joe Roger's-five alarm chili).

During a break in learning how to prepare cozy dogs, Richman signed an 8 x 10 and posed for this shot. The Springfield feature is set to air in approximately eight weeks.

And that's the way it is . . . Walter Cronkite, CBS News, goodnight. The legendary news anchor died today at age 92.

This photograph was taken following a fund-raising event in New York City on May 15, 2006. As Mr. Cronkite was leaving the event, I asked him to pose for a photograph. I don't think he heard me, so as I continued to walk with him, I asked again. He heard me this time and stopped for just a second so I could snap this shot. This was my second time to meet Mr. Cronkite. I first met him following a St. Louis Speaker Series appearance in 2001. There, he signed a copy of his book, A Reporter's Life, for me. I asked for a photo then, but he politely declined as he was in a hurry to get back to his hotel to catch the end of a Yankees World Series game.

The Tony Awards were tonight in New York, and here are your winners for best leading actor and actress in a play:

Marcia Gay Harden in God of Carnage
and

Geoffrey Rush in Exit the King.

Both were generous with their time following their plays last month in New York. Marcia likes to ride her bicycle to the theater as I spotted her several different days either arriving or departing. And, I got both the same night, about 15 minutes apart. How's that for ironic?

I have several updates . . . so here it goes:

I was saddened to learn of the death of actor David Carradine this past week. I met Carradine last year in Peoria, Illinois, as he was in town promoting one of his movies for the new Hallmark HD Channel. He signed several 8 x 10s from his Kung Fu days and Kill Bill DVDs and inserts. He signed each with his name and then drew a "ying/yang" symbol. And, he posed for the above photo, not once, but twice, as the first shot was a little out of focus.

Singer Frankie Valli stopped by the Sangamon Auditorium on the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield this past Wednesday for a sold out show. As Vallie emerged from the venue after his sound check, I asked him for a photo. He sort of looked around and told me to make it very fast. As his driver fumbled to get the door to his town car open, I then asked him to sign a CD, but Valli looked ahead and ignored my request. I asked again as he returned in the town car moments before the show. His first words as he opened the car door, "I can't sign anything now, I'm late for the show." I asked if he do it afterwards, and he nodded his head yes. Almost an hour after the show's end, he emerged from the stage door tunnel. About 15 fans were still waiting. He signed my CD and two 8 x 10s, although he didn't have much to say.

Here's more from my recent New York trip:

I want to rock and roll all night and party every day with . . . Gene Simmons. The fire-breathing, blood-spitting bassist and vocalist of the rock band KISS was in New York May 15 to promote the new season of his A&E television program, Gene Simmons: Family Jewels. Simmons stopped to chat briefly and pose for this shot as he waited for his limo to arrive. Simmons was accompanied by his partner, former Playboy model and actress Shannon Tweed.

Just as soon as Simmons got into his limo, 80's rapper MC Hammer arrived at the front door looking for his ride. Hammer was a willing singer and took this shot with me. He's slated to have his own reality show later this year on the network.

Actor Benjamin Bratt was also promoting his series for A&E called The Cleaner. Even though his publicist was trying to get him through the lobby of the building and on to another appearance, Bratt stopped to take photos with a group of fans.

I returned last Friday from an 8-day trip to New York City with just over 100 new photographs. Here are some of the highlights from the trip:

On May 12, I made the trip downtown to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex. Yoko Ono was appearing at one of several events to promote the display: John Lennon-The New York City Years. As she arrived in her Mercedes V12 sedan, her "people" quickly let us know she would not have time to sign autographs on her way into the event. Nevertheless, I asked if I could wait and she nodded, "yes," as she passed by me. About an hour later, she emerged and said, "You are still waiting for me?" Upon that statement she walked over to me and signed an 8x10 photo and posed with me for the above shot.

Any Star Trek fans out there? Here I am with the new Spock and Kirk at an event May 9. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto agreed to pose for this shot after signing an 8 x 10 for me.

Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush is currently starring with Susan Sarandon on Broadway in the play, Exit the King. Rush, best known for his role as Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, couldn't have been nicer. This Australian actor really enjoys interacting with his fans. Rush signed several photos and took this photograph with me following an evening performance of the play.

I had not one, but two encounters with Academy Award winning director Ron Howard. Howard was in town to promote his latest movie, Angels and Demons. This shot is after the Colbert Report taping. Earlier in the day, Howard signed several photos and posed following his appearance on Good Morning America. Ron is one of Hollywood's definite good guys as he signed and posed at nearly all his promotional stops.

Finally, here's the legendary Jane Fonda. Fonda currently stars with Colin Hanks on Broadway in 33 Variations. This shot was taken following a weekend matinee performance of the play. In addition to signing playbills, Fonda was good about signing other items from her career. And, she always has her dog, Leah, along side.

It's time to catch-up . . . so here it goes.
On Friday night, I made the cross-state trip to the University of Illinois Willard Airport in Savoy, Illinois, to catch-up with actor Matt Dillon as he arrived for his appearance the next day at Ebertfest in Champaign. Dillon was the second passenger off the plane. I greeted him as he exited the escalator, and for a moment, I believe he thought I was his driver. I asked for a photo and he obliged. As my friend, Mark, asked for a photo, Dillon replied, "OK, let's just do this." He posed for Mark and then signed one item for each of us. It was clear that it was a "one" autograph night for Dillon. As he was signing my 8 x 10 from Crash, I tried to chat with him about his running and his favorite places to run in Manhattan. Unfortunately, he didn't feel much like talking.

On April 17, Legendary singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson stopped by the Bottleneck Blues Bar at the Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri. And, thanks to my friend, Mark, we got to see his show for free.

Following his 90-minute set, Kristofferson reappeared in the Bar to meet fans who attended the show (you had to have that magical “hand stamp”). He was in a great mood as he chatted up fans, signed autographs, and took photographs.

A few weeks earlier, I was expecting a quick down and back trip to Lambert St. Louis International Airport to meet Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. However, it turned into an extra couple of hours in the terminal as their flight was delayed almost two hours. Upon arrival, I walked with them and several other collectors as the duo made their way to baggage claim. Mandy was accommodating as he posed for this photograph and signed an 8 x 10. Patti, on the other hand, just wouldn't take a photograph. She said she had no makeup and her hair was a mess. It didn't look that way to me. She just wouldn't budge. This made the fourth time I've tried for the photo. Maybe next time? Nevertheless, Patti did sign an 8 x 10 for the collection.

Finally, on March 28, Richard Dreyfuss was about a mile from my home. He was appearing, along with Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, at a special Lincoln Bicenntennial program at Illinois College. Following the program, both signed autographs and posed for photos with just about everyone who wanted the opportunity. Dreyfuss signed a photo of us taken two years earlier at a Shakespeare Festival private reception in St. Louis. He had a little trouble recalling the event, but he liked the photo and joked "well, at least we both look good." Holzer, meanwhile, took a liking to the photograph too. Afterwards, he signed an 8 x 10 shot for me and posed for the picture below. He then said, "Now, you'll have to find me next year so I can sign OUR photo."