Dinner Party Guest List--Any Ten People Who Ever Lived

I'd go with Ifill, Baldwin, Horne, Neuwirth and m-a-y-b-e Spike Lee and Garofalo if they didn't dominate the conversation? Baldwin would be sensational. Where would Kareem and Erving put their legs under the table?

Just for you cav, have fun on your date -



I can tell, she wants you

Lil' Kim - uh...what can I say - "That's class?"

Naw, more like - that's ass.

snood--

Bebe Neuwirth? Would you divulge your reason/s? Curious.

I can't remember if I have ten, think maybe nine. Hmm, Gwen Ifill, I like her, but I think I'll add Michele McQueen instead.

If you're thinking about the gal who sits around the table on Sunday morning's This Week, I don't think her last name's McQueen, but I like her alot, too. I was going to name her before Ifill, didn't because I wan't sure of her name.

Nothing complicated... I think she's an underrated, intelligent actress, and I think she's sexy - maybe nice to look at and talk to over coffee, that's all.

I just looked it up. I don't watch tv much any more, but used to faithfully watch Washington Week in Review..and it turns out, she was Michele McQueen then...I checked google, and found a link that she is Michele McQueen Martin. Lost it, will go try to find it again.

Weird, can't find that again. But her last name may have changed. I did find her listed as Michele McQueen in this SF Chronicla article, about half way down the column. http://chronicle.com/free/2003/05/2003052004n.htm

And here it is - http://www.kff.org/content/2000/3048/BiosFINAL.PDF

Snood, Care to tell us why you chose your guests? You've got some major minds, some major talent, some major athletes, and some major talkers.

And Lil Kim in one of her more conservative outfits. Have fun, Cav. BillW is right. You can tell just be looking at her that she wants you.

Osso, I'm enjoying your weaning and selection process.

OK, now, I am going to go find my guests in the garden and see if they are talking to each other; will come back with a list.

Marcus Aurelius
Benvenuto Cellini
Goethe
Mark Twain
John McPhee
William Trevor

knock out Alexander VI

Lucrezia Borgia
Fanny Kemble Butler
Mary Taylor Simeti
Jane Kramer
Michelle McQueen Martin

These people are in the garden and I have to give one male a mission that will involve missing dinner.

I should explain that I have a revisionist view of Lucrezia, having read a biography on her by Rosalind Bernier. On Fanny Kemble, I found another link that I like better than the first one, this one makes more sense re her diary, which my ex read very thoroughly -
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1569.html

On the men, I am partial to Marcus and to Benvenuto, since they made me understand that history, years ago, wasn't so far away from me, now.
Goethe, he is the one I might send to the spas in California, but no, no, he should talk with Jane.

And Mary Taylor Simeti should talk with William Trevor. Lucrezia and Benvenuto. John McPhee. Maybe I will send him to some towns on the San Andreas Fault, to pick up some good cheese.

Okay, I'm adding to my list with another top ten.

Gustav Puccini ~ because I adore his music and would love to pick his brain to find out where he gets his inspiration.

Lucille Ball ~ I'd just love to have time with her. One of my favourite snap-shots is that of my Mom at 22 years old ~ except for the red hair, Mom could have replaced her easily. And I thought Lucy was a knockout.

Katherine Mahoney ~ my paternal grandmother. Yeah I knew her, but, I'd love to have known her when she was a young girl.

Bob ~ of 'Bobs Barricades' ~ this guy must be rolling in the money, but what I really want to ask him is how he feels being basically the only company out there to provide road-blocks, warning signs, etc. (Even if he isn't the only company ~ he's got the market.)

Charles Schultz. I haven't read one comic strip since he passed away. (Please don't question it.....I just don't enjoy the comics anymore.)

Robin Williams ~ another one whom I'd just love to pick his brain. And I'd also look forward to laughing hysterically. He cracks me up.

All the members of Metallica. Just to spend time with them.

Danny Kaye ~ I may not remember all of them, but have seen every single movie he was involved in.

Lou Abbott ~ need I say more? What an adorable little fall-guy!

Nostradamis.

HI Rae

Yer killin me, dys!

Acutally, Lil Kim looks a bit like my cousin's girlfriend, but more feminine.

John Steinbeck
Cleopatra
Oscar Wilde
Atilla the Hun
Genghis Khan
Sophia Loren
Winston Churchill
Dorothy Parker
Adolph Hitler
Bill Perdidik (taxi driver from Cleveland)


My reason for this group... Steinbeck, Wilde, Parker, and Churchill for stimulating conversation; Cleopatra because I've always been curious as to what she looked like; Sophia Loren for some eye candy, Atilla the Hun and Genghis Khan to take care of Hitler; Bill Perdidik in case I get too drunk and need a ride home.

In answer to Roberta's query:

Spike Lee
He has a unique perspective on American Life that comes out in his art. I'd be interested in hearing what he thinks about a variety of issues.

Gwen Ifill (journalist)
She is a consummate tv newsperson, who can hold her own in confrontational discussions with the most entrenched individuals, but always with class and grace. I'd just like to get to know her better.

James Baldwin
I had never read anything like the things Baldwin wrote, and I read them at an impressionable time in my life, and it affected me. I fancy myself a fairly good essayist, and would just like to try to absorb some of his genius.

Lena Horne
"the Horn"! She is simply one of the most beautiful women I ever saw in show business. She had to be a kind of tough no one who never went through the 40's and 50's as a mullato would understand, and she maintained her nobility and beauty through it all. It would be an honor to talk to her.

Anita Baker (singer)
Again, class. Anita Baker sang about love and sensuality, hurt and need, and made me get warm fuzzies. A beautiful, sensuous black woman. No hidden agenda for me there - just would appreciate being close enough to her long enough for dinner.

Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith from Frasier)
I've covered her already, but I was taken in by Bebe when I saw her dance some sultry number from some broadway show.

Julius Erving
A childhood and eary adulthood idol. Everyone wanted to be "like Dr J", long before they wanted to "be like Mike". And no sports star anywhere at anytime ever carried himself with such poise - Cool? Dr J was cool incarnate to me, and that wasn't measured in "bling bling", but in intelligence, ability and confidence. I'd like to hear what he thinks about some "superstars" today.

Kareem Abdul-Jabaar
I perfected my "skyhook" shot from just watching Kareem. there are only a handful of people I'd ask for an autograph, and he's one of them His autobiography "Giant Steps" was a revalation to me - his experiences idolizing, then becoming disenchanted with, Wilt; his days as a UCLA student when there were still hippies and black panthers...

Janeane Garafolo (comedian/actress)
this broad is smart, funny, and attractive (to me). I'd love to sit and talk politics with her - I bet I'd laugh, and learn.

Marina Sirtis (the telepath from Next Generation)
Strictly eye-candy. No deep motivations here, other than a prediliction for a certain body type, and bone structure.

I'm late coming to play this game. Many of my choices would be seconds of others. Ossobuco, I second McPhee and Goethe. Great choices. Snood, I'll take Spike Lee at my table and James Baldwin. Do you think they'd get along with Toni Morrison, who might be on my list?

A few have mentioned Vaclav Havel (LibertyD was one of them.) He's a must, as our philosopher-king. I'm with Heeven on Robin Williams to make us laugh and cry. Gautam, it will be okay to have Mahatma Ghandi. He won't eat much, and, from what we read, he won't be leaving the table for a "quickie." JoeNation, Pete Seeger is a requirement at any great table, and jjorge, I'm with you on Barbara Jordan. However, I disagree with RaggedyAggie on Rudi Nureyev. He would sulk unless he was the center of attention.

One of Dlowan's guests would be Mo Moylan (I think it's Moylan) Northern Ireland politician. She is a marvelous talker and could charm the birds out of the trees. Of course, if we start on the Irish -- men and women -- the table must expand beyond ten. For dinner table conversation and wit and stories, they're hard to beat.

Back later with my own list. (SweetC, my table at the cottage seats four, so we'll have to eat at the local.)