You'd think at my age I'd have no real reason to start a game of cat and mouse. And under normal conditions that is true, but when you combine Amanda and Diania's celebrity savvy + clever ways of finding free stuff, you may understand why I followed Lily Allen for a few blocks, felt mildly dirty for doing so, but ultimately reaped very tangible rewards.
This all started on Wednesday afternoon with Diania's tip-off that Lily uses her Twitter account to plant three sets of tickets to her concerts a few hours before she takes the stage. Text message clues allow fans to trace her steps and collect the loot.
We were all sitting around the office shooting some...vitamin water, when the first clue came in. Diania had to pick up her bebe, so Amanda and I responded like EMT pros and headed to the Gateway, hoping to hit every green light, and giving us a fair chance as our office is only located two blocks away. Long story short, Amanda jumped out of my car, ran across the street and ultimately made a fool out of herself (with a cliffhanger in her nose, I later pointed out) rushing into Applebee's frantically asking for Erik, only to be told someone beat us. Meanwhile, I found an awesome street parking spot, so I rushed in, hoping to get in on the potential fan photo opp.
I will admit, there was a brief moment of discouragement when Amanda and I rendezvoused outside. It happens in every epic movie, and it was indeed part of our plot. Just then, a fairy approached us, obviously waiting for Lily to finish her Applebee's dinner so that he may also stalk her. We figured strength in numbers (thought Amanda and I branched off for a brief discussion to ensure we would have to ultimately take him down should there only be two provided tickets).
Lily finally exits Applebee's, we freeze and wait for her to pass, and she begins walking north toward the TRAX station. Purchasing her ticket and determining which way she's going, we three hop in the car following the train. YES, she stops at Temple Square (we had been there earlier that day due to a misunderstood Twitter tip-off). So we quickly find a parking space and enter the grounds (where Amanda immediately proceeds to utter a choice swear word, but she can elaborate if she wants).
Some more casual following ensues, we are the predators to Lily's prey, and eventually she and her male friend step into The Tabernacle, where a performance rehearsal is taking shape. I'm not Mormon, but it felt awkward and a bit wrong waiting in street clothes for what we were certain was Lily's second hiding place. We did our best to make small-talk with the little old usher ladies who perhaps thought we were seeking spiritual refuge. Luckily, Amanda's much more tenacious than I am in these matters, so she's intently staring at Lily's back a few rows ahead. Finally, the clue comes in:
"I'm at c 22 upon temple square, I think, I've found jesus come join if you dare."
Our strategy has paid off. Needless to say Amanda retrieves the VIP tickets within about 15 seconds. We sit down at the pew and have a brief hushed chat with Lily, who's nice enough but not terribly involved in the conversation. But we do manage to get a cell phone capture with the pint-sized singer:
After a misplaced quick circle jump and squeal, we exited the grounds and went our separate ways to get ready for the concert. Diania was able to join us, so the three of us had a bangin' good time (literally lots of ass-bopping), thanks in part to two Long Islands each. We were the toast of some surrounding attendees, who couldn't believe our fortuitous story and the photographic evidence to prove it.
After the house lights go up, we head over to figure out what this VIP business gets us. Only two of us are allowed in, but Amanda, ever the resourceful one, manages to sneak in about 10 minutes later to the hangout beneath the stage (announcing it very loudly in front of the guard who originally wouldn't let her in, but to no consequence). Lily finally enters but isn't the greatest crowd-worker, so we head into the leapord-print-encased lounge.
Lily didn't have impressive SNACKS; just empty liquor bottles (not gonna point the finger), some Heineken and a ginger beer (the latter of which I sprung for). Also, Diania took a whole lemon off the craft service table. It seemed sensible at the time.
That Temple grounds exchange ended up being our last interaction with Mizz Allen, but who else can honestly say they met Lily while conducting a scavenger hunt at Temple Square? Anyone?
Didn't think so.
1 comment:
I didn't take the lemon off the table it was handed to me by your fairy. I guess we could call him The Lemon Fairy.
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