May 30, 2007

"This is like an ad for Sundance. This is our dream. It's happening."

Exclaimed, not sarcastically, just now, by someone who works at Caffe 608 at the Sundance Cinemas in Madison, on seeing 5 of the 7 tables along the wall each occupied by one person working on a computer.

ADDED: So Robert Redford swooped in to check out his enterprise, but that was at 9 p.m. You can see from the time stamp here that I missed him by 6 hours. Various local media people were invited to meet him at the Bistro, but not Madison's most popular blogger, who keeps blogging about the place. Either they're not savvy about the power of blogging, or they are and know I might say just about anything about Redford if I got to see him close up.

MORE: Pics.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

I thought that was you sitting next to me... how scary is it to communicate primarily with the person sitting next to you at the cafe via comments on your blog?

Ann Althouse said...

derplau: Well, this is too funny, considering that post itself was about how everyone in the place was sitting alone and no one was talking to anyone!

I'm Full of Soup said...

Don't forget to be generous to your waiters and bartenders!

Unless they automatically add 20% gratuity to every party of one with laptop.

Bob said...

Do laptops buy tickets? They'd better start, if the place wants to stay in business.

MadisonMan said...

Were you there when Robert Redford was there?

James M said...

Next time you drive through Utah, you really should stop by Redford's Sundance resort. It is gorgeous and his restaurants there are excellent.

Peter Hoh said...

Ann, if I were in PR, I would advise an already-famous client to stay away from you. There's no telling what you'd write, and that makes you unsafe, from a PR perspective.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

He is the handsomest darned saddle bag I've ever seen.

What is the significance of the number 608 on the theater's name?

TJ said...

I'm sure they're terrified of what you might say about Robert Redford. Yeah, go with that.

"Madison's most popular blogger"? That's a cute title you've given yourself. Is that anything like being Des Moines' most popular morning DJ? The movie theater has made a grave error in snubbing you. I expect they'll shut their doors before summer's end.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Never mind! [slapping forehead]. It's the area code of the theater.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Can't wait for Sundance 336!

Kenneth Burns said...

A call to the publicist might've gotten you an invite.

Bissage said...

Hmmm, . . ., Sundance, . . ., Sundance, . . .

Wait a minute. I get it.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! It was a movie. And Robert Redford was an actor. And he played the Sundance Kid.

So he used the name Sundance. I never thought of that before.

Cool!

You know, I'll bet there's one or two Butch Cinemas in Madison.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Yeah Ann you do speak your mind. That makes you too unpredicatble and "off message" for your average lib to have around.

Ann Althouse = very loose cannon :)

MadisonMan said...

I expect they'll shut their doors before summer's end.

Imagine the a/c bill if they didn't!

Jericho said...

I think it is safe to say they aren't savvy about blogging. Dane101 interviewed Sundance Cinema President Bert Manzari before any of the traditional media in town and still hasn't been invited to anything.

So it goes.

Thanks for the link!

Ryan said...

Ruth: 608 is the area code in Madison.

And what a fawning piece that is in the Wisconsin State Journal. Yuck.

Ann Althouse said...

Trevor: I could have said Wisconsin's most popular blogger. When are you going to appreciate my modesty?

Unknown said...

As someone who has seen him in person somewhat recently (full admission: fleetingly, by chance) I can say that those pics flatter him.

Cyrus Pinkerton said...

I thought Uncle Jimbo was Madison's most popular blogger.

Speaking of which, this is a good reason why he deserves the title:

Uncle Jimbo explains why Valerie Plame should be in prison

George M. Spencer said...

Redford is how old?

a) 59
b) 75
c) 70
e) 63

70.

Should have let himself age naturally like Paul Newman.....

Unknown said...

Oh... so they're happy because a new business is doing well. Now I get it.

As for Redford, in his eyes you are a Conservative Great Satan, I'm sure--these filmmakers had their first rejection from Sundance with their documentary that took the position the Iraq war is good for Kurdistan.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Sidebar topic: Nice new profile photo. Your aygray ortsspay abray is owingshay.

Ann Althouse said...

Ruth: That's a tank top. It's the style these days. Quite intentional.

Peter: "Ann, if I were in PR, I would advise an already-famous client to stay away from you."

I would too.

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Professor A: Tanks.

Saul said...

my next door neighbor was invited to see Redford. He begged to let his wife come, who said she would kill him if she didn't get to go. she was in seventh heaven all day, and was happier than her wedding day.

sorry you didn't get invited. i think it is all part of misperception of althouse. maybe al gore can write his next book on that.

Ann Althouse said...

Saul: So you think it was the perception of my political leaning? That's tied to the PR issue: I'm certainly inclined to see the project as intended to make money and not humanitarian, as I think he wants to be seen. I've written that.

Cyrus Pinkerton said...

Ann wrote:

So you think it was the perception of my political leaning?


Do you think he's confused you with Ann Coulter?

What about the more likely possibility that he doesn't know that you exist?

Ann Althouse said...

Cyrus: I doubt that Redford himself made up the guest list. But, anyway, if you Google the name of the theater, my blog comes up maybe 4th -- before any local MSM.

Cyrus Pinkerton said...

Ann,

But the local MSM surely has a greater Madison readership than your blog.

In any case, you shouldn't feel slighted. I didn't get invited either and I'm taking it remarkably well.

If I ever open a theater in Madison, you can bet Redford won't get an invitation, but I'll have the best two seats in the house reserved for you and Uncle Jimbo.