Seeing Stars
Hollywood movie stars are larger than life in our culture and sighting one can be as if a dream archetype has bled through into everyday life. We wake up from such a dream encounter and want to report, ‘I just saw a giant, a unicorn, or maybe Drew Barrymore.’ Yes, it’s true, and it was completely close-up and unexpected.
We drove from our hostel in Santa Monica to Hollywood Hills to fulfill my fantasy of visiting my longtime, dear blog friend Naomi Caryl. Naomi is a free thinker and an artist who has worked throughout her life as a nightclub singer, a stage and TV actor, a playwright and composer.
On a tip from one of Naomi’s past blog posts, we decided to eat lunch at the Musso and Frank Grill, one the oldest restaurants in Hollywood, before heading up the hill. Known to be frequented by “ the locals,” the restaurant is old school charming with traditional maitre’d and waiters. We felt like we had stepped into the past where Hollywood notables hobnobbed in booths. It was pricey, so we ordered omelets and I headed for the bathroom to freshen up, which is where I found myself within three feet of Drew Barrymore. She was washing her hands at the sink. I was waiting for a stall when I saw her clearly through the bathroom mirror. We looked right at each other and I could tell she could tell she had been spotted. “I think I’ve seen you before,” I said tongue-in-cheek. She played along, “Oh, have you?” It all happened so fast, and I would have felt dumb about my comment if she hadn’t have added “have a nice day” as she left.
On the way up the hill, we stopped at a wishing tree, a kind of social art that some unknown artist had erected. It sparkled with sequins in the afternoon sun and the paper wishes waved in the breeze from the decorated branches where they hung. Joe and I each tied a personal wish on a branch (and one for Naomi who has been having a challenging year losing loved ones and experiencing some health set-backs). Before leaving we read others’ wishes for good health, environmental justice and for Obama to be re-elected in 2012.
Visiting Naomi and hearing her stories of working in the business gave some personal context to life in Hollywood. But it was the personal connections we shared about life and family that proved to be the most meaningful to me. Living in Hollywood in the 60’s Naomi participated in cutting edge new forms of psychoanalytical therapies, such as primal therapy and group therapy, which Joe (as a counselor) and I found so interesting to hear about.
I felt delighted to be like one of Naomi’s “Ladies who Lunch” (which she often posts about), as we enjoyed tea and desserts. While peering over her deck onto a panoramic view of LA, I realized how uneasy I am of heights. It was such a treat to experience her art-filled home come to life after seeing it online for so many years.
Before we left she gifted us with a CD of the Theater West production of Spoon River Anthology, which played in LA and on Broadway and in which Naomi had written and performed songs for. We smiled and felt blessed as we listened to her beautiful voice on the ride up Mulholland Drive to see the sunset and LA lit-up at night. The view was like something out of the movies.
Post notes: Watch a video clip of Hollywood Boulevard HERE. More photos HERE.
February 12th, 2012 9:41 pm
It was such a lovely visit for me, dear Colleen & Joe….Because I’ve been reading your blog since I began blogging 6 plus years ago—I already felt we were old friends…..!
I’m so happy you went to Musso’s AND, that you got to see a “movie star”….And, I love all the pictures, except the one I’m in….Good Heavens I am FAT!!! And, old…..lol!
I hope you will share more of your Los Angeles experience with us—-Soooo happy you got to see The Hollywood Sign, and Los Angeles in the evening can look like a Jewel Box….I know that Freeway very very well…..!
I love the picture of you with Tinker Bell’s “star”…..Perfect, really. And, thank you for the Wish you made for me on that wonderful Wishing Tree…..!
February 13th, 2012 5:25 am
Naomi is quite the lady (of the Hills). I’m glad that you visited her. I don’t read your blog all the time but when I do I noticed she does always comment.
I’m glad your trip is such fun too.
BTW, you mentioned Drew Barrymore in the star picture; well when Molly gets married it’ll be at Linden Place. The Barrymore family is connected to the Colt family of whom the mansion belonged (just a bit of trivia: http://savingsandloan.tripod.com/linden.htm ).
February 13th, 2012 8:44 am
LOVE this entry! I am so glad you got to see someone famous and your friend……who I feel I know because I read her blog too at times after she comments on yours. What a trip!!! xo
PS The snow never amounted to anything here in Massachusetts.
February 13th, 2012 10:00 am
This is cool. What a wonderful day! I thought you handled your encounter with stardom perfectly!
February 13th, 2012 2:28 pm
Oh, Colleen, this is great!! I love Drew Barrymore. And, I read Naomi’s blog daily. So many great stories she has!! Enjoy.
February 13th, 2012 5:00 pm
as i read through your CA postings i was reminded of all the riches you find in life because you are open to your world, do not sit in judgment of others, and live within a flexible framework. it is a shame some people choose otherwise – their loss. you reap such remarkable benefits as you move through life. i enjoyed seeing CA through your eyes and was left ready to make another excursion to LA myself. we haven’t been to LA in about 5 years, and it is a city filled with a myriad of stimulating opportunities. we visit san francisco more often. winter is the perfect time for us to get away from the rainy weather and head to sunny southern CA, and right now that is quite appealing! thanks for sharing so much of your trip with us, colleen. sounds like you and joe had a fabulous vacation and that he enjoyed the work he did while there. i liked his video about breathing – the in and out of life – the ebb and flow in all things.
February 15th, 2012 1:00 pm
Colleen,
Wow….to many – based on your rich and beautiful writing…you are like a Hollywood star!! We should have a star just for you!! xoxo
February 15th, 2012 1:34 pm
Driving to LA for you, Sky, is like us driving to Florida. California is such a big state. I had been to San Francisco and further north into Oregon but this was my first time in southern CA.
Every day has been a five star one!
February 15th, 2012 1:49 pm
Colleen, it’s so wonderful you got to visit with Naomi! And the pictures…sigh…so nice!
February 15th, 2012 1:58 pm
Seeing Naomi was the highlight of the trip forever etched in my mind now. It was a fantasy before it was a reality.
February 16th, 2012 1:01 am
[…] actress, singer and blogger Naomi Caryl and my brief face-to-face exchange with Drew Barrymore HERE. What you didn’t know is that I was completely fooled by a wax statue of Morgan Freeman and we […]
February 16th, 2012 10:25 pm
Love the ‘conversation’ you shared with Ms. Barrymore. How exciting!
The river of lights on the highway leaving LA reminded me of Chicago… LA looks like it goes on forever. Big city life is so different from our every day life out in the country. Nice to get away and nice to come home. 🙂
Glad you guys had a great time and glad you’re back! 🙂
February 16th, 2012 10:36 pm
I hate looking at roads like that from a distance and I’m glad I didn’t have to drive!
February 19th, 2012 10:47 am
I am so jealous I cannot stand myself! And at the same time delighted that you two got to meet in real time. What a thrill it must have been when you guys came face to face. I love your photos and stories from your trip. 🙂
February 19th, 2012 12:36 pm
I still have to pinch myself that it happened. It was a fantasy of mine for a long time to visit Naomi. I knew you would appreciate it and I suspect you may visit her too someday!
March 16th, 2012 4:12 pm
[…] The photo to the right, which was taken during our trip to southern California and Hollywood, was the image that caused me to say in previous 13 Thursday: A long haired surfer in a wet suit is […]
April 25th, 2012 11:23 pm
[…] Naomi (who I recently visited in Hollywood) sang on Dick Clark’s Bandstand! She also had parts in past TV shows, like a bank manager in […]
July 10th, 2012 8:05 am
I will try hard not to be jealous of your meeting Naomi and seeing Drew…lol Naomi has long been on my bucket list!!
January 4th, 2013 10:46 am
[…] February – Hollywood movie stars are larger than life in our culture and sighting one can be as if a dream archetype has bled through into everyday life. We wake up from such a dream encounter and want to report, ‘I just saw a giant, a unicorn, or maybe Drew Barrymore.’ Yes, it’s true, and it was completely close-up and unexpected. […]
February 13th, 2013 7:08 pm
[…] Monica, after driving to Hollywood the day before to visit blogger Naomi. On the way to blogger Naomi’s we passed the hotel where Whitney Houston died. We didn’t know for sure but wondered when we saw a […]
September 29th, 2014 11:38 am
[…] Hollywood Stars photos HERE. Photos of Venice Beach […]
October 4th, 2014 1:08 pm
[…] We had a special reason for visiting the Hirshhorn, which also encompasses sprawling grounds and a Sculpture Garden of masterpieces. For years I had been reading Naomi Caryl’s blog, Here in the Hills and her posts of the Hirshhorn opening, among other topics and accounts of her life, growing up and as a performer/artist in Hollywood. Naomi, who Joe and I were blessed to visit in 2012, is the daughter of Joseph Hirshhorn, whose donations of collected art led to the museum being built. Check out scenes from our visit with Naomi in “Seeing Stars” HERE. […]
July 20th, 2018 10:07 am
Naomi and I both were at Theatre West although suspect at different times and both did Janov’s Primal Therapy also at different times. I did meet Janov however and helped him with his “musical”, the one Carrie Fisher’s sister was in. Would love to connect with her. I lived in LA, Hollywood Hills, West Hollywood for about 15 years off and on. You really get used to the celebrity sightings everywhere but it is always a kick. Love your blog, Colleen.
July 21st, 2018 10:47 am
Josephine, maybe you could leave a message on Naomi’s blog. She is not active now but may be checking it at times. http://sitteninthehills64.blogspot.com/
Thanks for reading. I wasn’t able to play your preview to Silence of the Bees but googled it to learn more. Gunther Hauk of Spinkenard Farm/Honeybee Sanctuary lives here in Floyd and we’ve all been educated on the colony collapse problem. http://looseleafnotes.com/2014/09/a-sanctuary-for-honey-bees/
July 21st, 2018 1:38 pm
That’s a documentary…not my film. I did not know about it when I wrote my play THE Silence of Bees which became a metaphor for the collapse of the American family and frustrated ambition. http://www.thesilenceofbees.com was a filmed prologue of the play. Thanks for the info on Naomi’s blog, Colleen. xo
November 18th, 2022 3:36 pm
Sadly, Naomi Caryl Hirshhorn passed away July 30, 2022 at the age of 91. She was born June 27, 1931. https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/sherman-oaks-ca/naomi-caryl-aka-hirshhorn-10881044
November 18th, 2022 9:50 pm
Thank you for letting me know, Paul. Sounds like she died right around the same time I was googling her name wondering and having a feeling like this. She was a such a dear. I feel fortunate to have met her online and in person.