Ditka Opened, but Robin Laid an Egg

It’s 1989 in Chicago and my wife, Carrie and I are nurturing young careers urban-style, working hard & partying hard as they say. My younger brother, Charlie had moved out of my parents house, out of Indiana, and into our pad (for a short time (fingers-crossed)) to see if he could make it in Chi-Town. He was a young bird out of the nest and barely getting by, but he learned and he learned fast. Within a couple of months he had redesigned his life, career and found a very talented graphic artist, Jeff, who was making good money doing creative work for Chicago downtown restaurant businesses. This is how the story makes the connection with Mike Ditka, but I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

Charlie had moved in with Jeff and settled into a wonderful flat that perfectly served their lifestyle, with restaurants, theater, and watering holes all within walking distance. As time passed, I learned more and more about Jeff and his talents. He was an amazing artist with a craft that was well sought after. He was gathering big clients and had huge promises. He had done work for some of the biggest Italian families in Chicago who hosted some of the best dining destinations one could find. He scored work with Disney, Rainforest Café, NBC & others.

Oh, and Mike Ditka found him.

Jeff was someone that first surprised me then intrigued me and later I found myself enamored. He had a heart larger then the Grinch at the end of the cartoon and looked at life in a way that both educated me and made me grow up a little faster then.

One day, we learned that Jeff had gotten the Ditka contract to do all of the graphic work for Mike’s new restaurant on Chestnut Street just off of the magic mile, Michigan Avenue. Charlie & Jeff reached out to us because they had secured a table for six, with our dear friends Mark & Pete, and they wanted us to be sitting at it with them. How can we say no? We couldn’t. “We will be there” We would drive in and meet them at their apartment. A quick cab ride and we were at the new restaurant. The street outside of the restaurant was swarming because a Mike Ditka restaurant opening was a Damn-Big-Deal in Chicago. We were dropped off and suddenly on foot in front of a new restaurant packed, really packed, with people trying to get in. Jeff said, “Follow Me!” and he turned away from the crowd. He knew how to get in.

We were inside the restaurant and within minutes standing right in front of the man himself, Mike Ditka. He could not have been more humbly appreciative for the work Jeff had done for him. And Jeff had brought it in on schedule. Well that was Jeff. He was a hard worker. We exchanged a wonderful conversation with Mike until he had to excuse himself. A head waiter guided Jeff and his table partners to a very nice corner table where the six of us could see everything. I was not only impressed, I was in over my head with excitement and celebrity spotting. There were Chicago Bears everywhere!!!

My brother Charlie lifted his table napkin and showed me the silverware. Jeff had done the artwork on the silverware. Just then Jeff said, “Dinner isn’t coming for a while, why don’t we make our way upstairs to the cigar bar. There will be some celebrities up there for sure.” Why not. So we were up and off to the second floor. When we entered the space, the plume of rich, exotic cigar aromas filled the room. We were drawn in. It was packed, packed with Bears. Don’t ask me their names, but I knew a lot of their faces.

Next thing I know we were in the midst of the Bear smoke-cloud and socializing with everyone. I had to pinch myself. There was a magical electricity in the air. Shoulder to shoulder with sport figures and a few movie stars.

Then it happened…

My wife, Carrie, and I were listening in on some big name local Chicagoans from the press when we were bumped into from behind. It was Chris O’Donnell, famous at that time for his role as Robin in the current Batman movie. Carrie’s coat (fur coat) slipped off her shoulders and fell to the floor. As I looked up from the coat I was met with a stare between Chris and my wife. Nobody moved. My wife expected chivalry and Chris suspected an over zealous fan was plotting against him. So the beautiful coat lay there.

“A gentleman would pick up my coat” Carrie declared. “You bumped into me, you pick it up”, Chris replied coldly. Not a very gentlemanly thing to say at all. The coat lay there. “You are very RUDE!” Carrie responded. I began to reach down and pick up the coat. Carrie put her arm out preventing me from doing so. Chris turned to his friend and said, “Come on, let’s get out of here” and left. Carrie was livid. I picked up the coat and dusted it off. It was a very beautiful lynx fur coat.

To this day we are not allowed to watch any Chris O’Donnell movies which suits me just fine.

---

To get email notifications when I publish new stories, just enter your email address below and click “Subscribe”. It’s that easy!

#hemphillsongcom
#michaelhemphillstories
#michaelhemphillsongs
#songwritersofinstagram
#songwritersoffacebook
#findmeonspotify