Meryl Streep in Maplewood!

Talk about livening up a humdrum Monday. The always awesome Joy Yagid was there to capture the moment on film.

Who remembers when Streep was here shooting "One True Thing" in the Village, way back in '97? THAT was pretty darn exciting.

http://villagegreennj.com/arts/photos-meryl-streep-comes-back-maplewood/

Meryl Streep, aka the world’s greatest living actress, was in the audience at Maplewood Library to hear her long-time collaborator and friend, costume designer Ann Roth speak at the closing event of the Maplewood Ideas Festival.
...

It’s not the first time Streep has graced Maplewood with her presence. Longtime residents might recall that the film “One True Thing,” co-starring Renee Zellweger, had several scenes shot in Maplewood Village in 1997.

That's amazing. Great surprise for all those in attendance, I'll bet!

Why I love Meryl Streep... Because she is so down to earth. Seeing her in her day to day life living like real people. We have the same shape, hair style and clothes! Maybe I am not such a loser.
https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11070898_10153173965962579_5295034637439160789_n.jpg?oh=2539740aa9f19da00c9a6cf26ffd2e2f&oe=55743FF4

A very cool and unexpected finish to the 2nd annual Maplewood Ideas Festival http://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/maplewood-ideas-festival-2015/, which brought a host of esteemed speakers and presenters to our town, including author Paul Auster, architects Richard Meier and Peter Eisenman, and Pres. of the Nat'l Urban League Marc Morial, among others.

Kudos to Maplewood Library Director Sarah Lester and the fantastic library staff for making this happen. Can't wait to see what they do next year!

Wow! Now that would have a been a celeb sighting worth seeing. One classy lady.

My only one regret is that this series is so poorly advertised. For the past two years they have had wonderful presenters, but almost no marketing. There has to be someone in this town that can jump on the bandwagon and pump these series up.

CHS was packed for the architects as was Memorial Hall at the library for Ann Roth.
Both of these were so very special..thanks to Sarah Lester and all of the library staff who worked on the series .

It was a class act ...for all of the events ....a very pleasant series with such a human personal touch !

justmelaura said:

Why I love Meryl Streep... Because she is so down to earth. Seeing her in her day to day life living like real people. We have the same shape, hair style and clothes! Maybe I am not such a loser.
https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11070898_10153173965962579_5295034637439160789_n.jpg?oh=2539740aa9f19da00c9a6cf26ffd2e2f&oe=55743FF4

Meryl's lush salad leaves a lot to be desired, so there's that. ;-)

mrincredible said:

justmelaura said:

Why I love Meryl Streep... Because she is so down to earth. Seeing her in her day to day life living like real people. We have the same shape, hair style and clothes! Maybe I am not such a loser.
https://scontent-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/11070898_10153173965962579_5295034637439160789_n.jpg?oh=2539740aa9f19da00c9a6cf26ffd2e2f&oe=55743FF4

Meryl's lush salad leaves a lot to be desired, so there's that. ;-)

Laura and Dan's cooking is awesome, but I've read a number of times that Meryl is no slouch in the kitchen either. I guess Laura has more in common with Meryl than she knew!

did she take the train from Summit or drive over?

hankzona said:

did she take the train from Summit or drive over?

Neither (strictly speaking).

cmaynard said:

Who remembers when Streep was here shooting "One True Thing" in the Village, way back in '97? THAT was pretty darn exciting.

I remember! My brother and I were extras in the town Halloween festival scene

One of the strangest days of my life.

My youngest daughter's 14th birthday Oct 23rd 1998. I came home from work and my wife at the time says... "Two things. You need to go to Baskin Robbins in the Village and pick up the cake and also I want a divorce and I want you to move out as soon as possible."

I drove to the village in a daze to find that it had been all decked out like some Halloween fair with rides and movie trucks parked for blocks everywhere.

I had to park all the way up Highland I think and walk down to 31 Flavors.
I paid for the cake and exited the store with it in my arms. There was a ferris wheel right in front of the store.
I looked up and in one of the cars high up sat Meryl Streep with some kind of babushka on her head and another actress, I guess between takes and she was bored or whatever and made direct eye contact with me. We just kind of stared at each other for a few seconds which seemed longer.

I thought, how weird is this. My life has just been pulled out from under me and now Meryl Streep and I are staring at each other.

Of course, as is often the case in situations like this, life had much better things in store for me! (:

There are always lessons to be learned in life and stories like yours.

Thank you.

btw, Sarah Lester ROCKS!!!

Having no idea about the filming of One True Thing, I parked at Ricalton Square to do some errands on Maplewood Avenue including dropping off tapes at the video store (now Coda I think). It was a cloudy day. As I headed in that direction from the post office, I saw adults and children dressed in Halloween costumes briskly walking toward one of the side streets (turns out food was set up there) and a giant ferris wheel on Baker Street. I thought I had entered the Twilight Zone. A police officer filled me in on what was happening and said the stores were open so I could proceed with my visit to the video store. Once inside the video store, we were told we could not leave the store because they were filming MS just outside the entrance. After a few minutes we were released! I remember the premier in Maplewood Theater and it was fun to see familiar faces on screen. And as they ran the credits at the end of the movie, all of the choir members were mentioned by name which was quite wonderful.

Anyway, congrats to Maplewood Ideas Festival.

That ideas festival sounds awesome. Agree they need some ideas (pun intended) on how to market it. Never heard a peep about it.

I had the opposite experience with the Ideas Festival promotion. It was everywhere I looked and I felt it was mocking me as I was too booked in my child sherpa duties to attend any but one event. Posters were all over town. Also, simply "liking" the library on FB will get you info in your feed. If you are not on FB, you can get updates by signing up at their e-newsletter on the website: http://www.maplewoodlibrary.org/

And yes, Sarah rocks

I went to Maplewood Public Library on Facebook and there is practically nothing there and only 5 likes.

This is the first that I have heard about the Festival!

Nevermind. On Facebook it's Maplewood Memorial Library

There were several key scenes in the bar on Boyden across from the Quick Check (in Union), including at lest one outside shot, but instead of the bar taking advantage of its claim to fame, it was sold and renovated garishly beyond recognition.

Irks me every time I drive past.

Love Meryl Streep! Heard an interview with her recently. When she went on one of her first auditions, the guy told her sorry, you're not attractive enough to make it in Hollywood. Thank God she didn't listen to that arbiter of acting talent.

paulsurovell said:

There were several key scenes in the bar on Boyden across from the Quick Check (in Union), including at lest one outside shot, but instead of the bar taking advantage of its claim to fame, it was sold and renovated garishly beyond recognition.

Irks me every time I drive past.

Boyden? Do you mean Burnett?

Was it called Liberty Tavern?

@mlj I actually worked at the video store in high school, and I was working that day! I remember it so well, how exciting it was. As a teenager I was so excited about seeing Renee Zellweger (who at the time was a pretty big deal) but now I'd certainly more appreciate seeing Meryl. What a treat for everyone on Monday!

Everybody should look at the first page of MOL. All events are kept up-to-date. Also I always click at the very top where it says local links. That's where I access library and also order my books.

mlj said:

Was it called Liberty Tavern?

Jim's North End (at the time)

mlj said:

Was it called Liberty Tavern?

The idea of that place being called "garish" has me laughing out loud.

Ms. Streep was born in Summit, but graduated High School in Bernardsville. Don't know when her family was in B'ville, or even if she ever lived in Summit.