Restaurant Impossible Chef Robert Irvine was possible this evening at the Caseyville Cafe in Caseyville, Illinois. Irvine and his crew were in town to transform yet another failing restaurant in two days and with $10,000.

Irvine posed and signed a couple of 8x10s in the bar after taping the closing segment for the Food Network show. And, he posed for pictures with just about everyone else in the bar as he finished a couple of Coronas.

 
Here's the show's builder Tom Bury following the taping. Another good guy. Even invited me to have a beer with him.

Remember the Lexus SUV you see Chef Irvine driving in each episode? It was parked right by the front door.

Here is actress Carrie Fisher upon her arrival in St. Louis last night for an appearance later today at the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. After taking her dog, Harvey, outside the terminal for a potty break, Fisher returned to pose and sign for those waiting.

Fisher, best know for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars trilogy, is promoting her newest book, Shokaholic, at the Festival. Read a great article about Fisher and mom, Debbie Reynolds, here in today's St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Here's Jackson Browne after his October 23 concert at Sangamon Auditorium in Springfield. He got a kick out of my Naked Ride Home crew shirt. And, he actually played the song tonight. Played LOTS of other obscure stuff. Awesome jam on Take It Easy for encore. Don't ask him to sign anything, though. His tour manager says if he signs autographs "he just ends up looking at his hands all the time." OK.

Here's Cal and Rob of the techno, hip-hop, pop duo Time Flies following their show last night at the Bruner Fitness Center on the campus of Illinois College here in Jacksonville. Their debut album, The Scotch Tape, was released last fall. Only 24 hours after its release, the album soared to #8 on the iTunes overall chart and #2 on the iTunes Pop chart. The guys took a few minutes to pose, sign some photos and tour posters, and chat about their music. Special thanks to Alex for the hook-up.


A week ago, I had the privilege of meeting former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin in St. Louis. He was in town for the NFL Network's coverage of the Rams game the following evening. He posed for this shot as he arrived at his hotel.


About an hour later, I caught up with Kris Allen, winner of season 8 of American Idol, following his concert at Off Broadway. Allen signed a couple of 8x10s and posed for this photograph. Amazing that there were only about 50 people at the show.

Here's Grammy-award winning rock guitarist, songwriter, and producer, Steve Vai, following his show at The Pageant in St. Louis, MO September 29. Vai, who got his start at a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa and later had stints in the David Lee Roth Band and in Whitesnake, took plenty of time to visit with fans, take photos, and sign autographs. When he's not playing guitar or writing music, Vai is an avid beekeeper.


The following afternoon was the Beardstown, IL Fall Fun Festival and this shot with Grammy-award winning country artist "Spiffy" Joe Diffie. Diffie stopped for this shot as he exited his tour bus right before show time. Following his hour set, he took time to sign some 8x10s for the collection.

Here's Tony LaRussa, manager of the 2011 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, yesterday at Left Bank Books in St. Louis. The future Hall of Fame manager was signing copies of his new book, "One Last Strike."

Grammy-award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Buddy Guy was in concert this past Friday night in St. Charles, Missouri. The legendary blues guitarist stopped for this photo and to sign an 8x10 as he departed his hotel for the show. Guy, a pioneer of the Chicago blues sound, is considered to be an influence on such other guitar legends as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Guy has a special award later this year; he's a Kennedy Center honoree in Washington on December 2.


While waiting for Guy, I was lucky to spot singer/composer Neil Sedaka as he arrived at the hotel after dinner. Sedaka was in town a day early in preparation for his concert on Saturday night at Lindenwood University. Sedaka posed for this shot after chatting for a moment. He was planning to catch the set by Guy's opening act, Johnny Lang. Sedaka has written or co-written over 500 songs in his 50 plus year career in music. His number one hits include Calendar Girl, Bad Blood, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, and Laughter in the Rain.


I wrapped up the evening with a trip downtown to the Old Rock House and this photograph with Colin Hay, lead vocalist for the Australian band, Men at Work. Hay performed an acoustic set as part of the venue's Listening Room Series. He signed autographs and posed for fans following the concert.