Around mid-March I decided to hit up NYC for the first time in 2025. There was a Peter Wolf book signing I could go to before entering NYC and Big Event was also taking place in Long Island. To boot, I needed quite a few people from the "easy" show spots. Most notably Calista Flockhart, a huge want of mine who has never done anything in all recent memories.
Sadly, I heard people have not been seeing her, so I kept my hopes low for that one. But even if I didn't get Calista there was still a lot to be had.
Day 1
This begins with the Peter Wolf book signing at Bookends in New Jersey. This was probably the most miserable book signing ever. He wasn't really trying to do photo ops but I barely managed to get a valid shot. After this I enter NYC and go to my first spot of the evening. My targets here are actor Tobias Segal from the John Wick movies and actor Victor Williams.
Wait for it to let out and I get both Tobias and Victor off the bat. These would officially be my first NYC photo ops of 2025. I actually didn't know I got Tobias because he had a beard and in all the photos I saw of him (including the show program) he had no beard. But when I asked people where he is they pointed to him.
Next spot I have 2 main objectives. A Bill Burr photo op and an upgrade with Kieran Culkin. Unfortunately this was a bust because Bill Burr garaged out because he had a show in Brooklyn and Kieran Culkin was explicitly saying no photo ops. I got Michael McKean and Bob Odenkirk but I already had them. This ended evening.
Peter Wolf
Full list of Day 1 photo ops
Day 2
I woke up after about 10-12 hours of sleep. Just before I left for Bookends the prior day I was having sex so I guess between that and driving to NJ and NYC with combo hunting added to all that it really drained me. I wash up and start my day for actor Levon Hawke. When I finally saw him he was nice as can be. Told him I met his sister and father and he said "you have the whole family". I said no because his mother denied me and she needs to be nicer. He laughed. I also got an update with Billy Crudup and an update with Ella Beatty and I told her I met her parents.
Next spot I go for George Clooney's show but not for Clooney. At that time he wasn't really trying to do ops and I have a good op from long ago so I didn't really need it. Plus I heard he wasn't doing merch. This spot is a success as I get Michael Nathanson (fresh, The Punisher), Paul Gross (fresh, Due South), Christopher Denham (fresh, Billions), Greg Stuhr, Fran Kranz, Joe Forbrich, Glenn Fleshler (fresh, The Joker), Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner, Ivan Kolesnikov, and Eric Dean Seaton. Then I went to one last spot and I got actress Sarah Snook. As I went back to my car I drove to Long Island to sleep close to Big Event.
Full list of Day 2 photo ops
Day 3
First stop is of the day is Big Event, my first con of 2025. I got NWA wrestler Mike George, Nitro girl AC Jazz, Lash LeRoux of WCW fame, and of course Japanese wrestler Hiroyoshi Tenzan. Even a signed trading card from him for $5, unheard of in this day and age. As a bonus I also got a free photo op with Sonya DeVille's wife Toni Cassano. Indy wrestler Cable Jones was walking around and I got him as well.
Back to NYC and I wait for Milo Manheim. Him and Elizabeth Gillies say they are not greeting the crowd between shows. When the crowd leaves Milo goes out for a walk and I get a photo op. Already have 4 photos with Elizabeth Gillies. For the next spot my main goal is actor Dan Amboyer. Wait it out and get actress Elizabeth A Davis and then Dan who is nice as can be.
Now I have to decide if I hit up a spot with 5 actresses most of them fresh or try for Calista Flockhart. I decide to stay put where I am and try for the 5 actresses. As the show lets out and the crowd wait all of Alyah Chanelle Scott, Kathryn Gallagher, Kristine Froseth, Julia Lester, and Havana Rose Liu stop for everyone. Most of those are fresh names for me.
Head back to the Milo/Elizabeth show since my car is parked there. I see them both doing it for a line of people. I try to get a dual shot and also to upgrade my Milo shot without tinted glasses and he goes "we already got you" even though I only met him earlier. SMH. This ended my evening.
Hiroyoshi Tenzan
Kristine Froseth
Full list of Day 3 photo ops
Day 4
This would be my final day in NYC for this round. It was supposed to rain but somehow I skirted the rain. I start at a spot for legendary soap actress Susan Lucci. She arrives and I ask for the op. She is nice. There were other actresses but I had them. So I left the spot.
Now here is my setting. It's the afternoon, all the shows that day are in matinee so any tries would be in between shows. I have to decide if I am taking my chance at Calista Flockhart (which I was planning to do in the evening). On a whim I decide what the hell let's give the Calista show a try.
I enter after it lets out and I immediately see Christian Slater in the lobby being his friendly self. I get an updated photo and 2 autographs on a show program. I also get actor Jeb Kreager. At this point I am not hopeful for anything but lo and behold I see Calista coming with a mask. I was floored. I beg for an op and ask if she can remove the mask. She claims to have a cold and wants her distant. I get a distant shot. A little disappointing but better than nothing. Then I see her taking the mask off and taking better ops so I try and ask for another and she does it. SCORE! I also get her to sign the 2 show programs. It appeared I got lucky cause she seemed to be greeting a specific entourage. That's probably why she came out.
I then see actor Cooper Hoffman not looking like he wants to stop and using the fake cell phone trick. I try to ask for the op and he says when he gets back. So I wait downstairs and when he comes back I get the photo op.
At this point I have to decide if I want to try another show in the evening or head out. I decide to simply leave the city early while ahead.
Calista Flockhart
Susan Lucci
Full list of Day 4 photo ops
Autographs obtained
