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Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
The event of the year? A ‘diva' bookstore cat's 10th birthday party
The cupcakes were ordered, the decorations were up and the children were buzzing. After months of preparation, the employees at Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose were all set for their biggest event of the year: Pippi Longstocking, the resident cat at the country's oldest children's bookstore, was turning 10 years old. The only hitch? The guest of honor was sound asleep on the ledge above the store's front door. Once Upon a Time's owner Maureen Palacios envied the slumbering cat. 'I didn't get any sleep last night,' Palacios said as she flitted about, making last-minute space adjustments to accommodate an expected 100 guests — almost double last year's attendance. At her past parties, Pippi always descended from her perch in time for the birthday festivities. But during this go-round Sunday, Palacios was in full panic mode as the cat cut it closer than ever. Pippi, a dilute calico-tabby mix, took up residence at Once Upon a Time in 2015. Her feline predecessor, Kitty Mama, was a difficult act to follow, Palacios said. 'I've had cats my whole life,' the bookstore owner said, 'and none of my cats would ever make the cut to come and be nice and gentle and all that, [but] that's how Kitty Mama was.' After Kitty Mama died, Palacios worried she'd never replace her. But after consulting with Pasadena Humane, which promised to put its finest behaviorists on the job, her fears were assuaged. The shelter offered a few options, but once Palacios laid eyes on Pippi, it didn't even feel like making a choice. 'She was 9 months old and just literally calm and sweet and not skittish whatsoever,' Palacios said. She was perfect. On any given weekday, the refrain 'Where's Pippi?' will be recited a dozen times over by Once Upon a Time's pint-size visitors. When business is slow enough, the cat will give guests a tour of the shop or even a book recommendation. Pippi is the bookstore's employee of the month every month, although recently another employee suggested they instead give the accolade to a dog, 'because Pippi's been bad.' Naughty behavior notwithstanding, Pippi is a fan favorite who has essentially become synonymous with Once Upon a Time. 'She's a bit of an institution here,' said Laura Festen, a longtime bookstore patron and local teacher. Festen said the store for her is like a second home, and 'a cat just makes any home a better place.' Drew Daywalt, author of the bestselling children's book 'The Day the Crayons Quit,' added that as independent bookstores fight to stay alive, a bookstore pet is not only a way to warm up the space, but also a tool for drawing business. 'I think Maureen is a genius for having a kitty cat birthday party, because, look!' Daywalt said, gesturing to the crowd of party attendees who couldn't help but bump elbows as they moved about the store. Most of the afternoon, both the store's checkout lines were open. In the hour before Pippi's party, children scoured the room on a scavenger hunt to find nine Pippis, donning disguises from a Dodgers jersey to a 1920s flapper dress. Some parents tagged along, while others hugged the bookshelves lining the room. All the while, Pippi savored her beauty sleep, and Palacios contemplated grabbing a contingency ladder to retrieve her. At 2 p.m. on the dot, Palacios officially welcomed the guests, packed into the bookstore like sardines, and prepared for her classic party kick-off: story time (cat-themed, of course). But before she could begin her dramatic reading, Pippi — 'diva' that she is, in Palacios' words — stole the show. Rising from her slumber, the cat leaped down to the checkout counter, where she posed as if for a royal portrait. As a chorus of 'Pippi!' erupted across the room, children sitting criss-cross applesauce on the floor hopped up onto their knees to get a peek. The more emboldened made for the checkout counter, hoping to pet the cat. Palacios herself cheered at the sight of the birthday girl. But once her delight settled into relief, she gently bade the young ones to return to their seats. 'We are going to let Pippi do her thing,' Palacios told the children. 'She is the star.' As the bookstore owner carried on with her reading of Brendan Wenzel's 'They All Saw a Cat,' most of the children behaved, while a few strays near the front inched closer and closer to Pippi. One of them kept her eyes glued to Palacios as she reached sneakily for the cat's speckled fur. After story time, select party guests presented their submissions to the writing contest prompt: 'What does Pippi do at night in the bookstore?' One guest posited that the cat intercepted meat deliveries to nearby restaurants, while another suggested she attended a local underground 'catsquerade.' Megheti Feghali, 6, chronicled in a homemade picture book Pippi's epic journey to reunite with her cat mother. 'Pippi saw a castle,' Palacios narrated as Feghali's story drew to a close, 'but she didn't know what a castle is.' 'The end,' Feghali delivered her punch line as she read the story for a smaller group a while later. As she closed her hand-stapled five-page manuscript, the young author chuckled to herself. 'She's a little comedian,' Feghali's mother, Tsoleen Feghali, said. The Tujunga residents are regulars at the bookstore. On the days Pippi is asleep upon their arrival, Megheti Feghali begs her mother to stay until the cat wakes up. When the 6-year-old heard about Pippi's birthday party, her mother said, 'She wanted to be a part of it.' At last, the time came to sing 'Happy Birthday.' Indifferent to the serenade in her honor, Pippi celebrated by wolfing down her tuna cake, which had been special-ordered from Andersen's Pet Shop across the street and literally presented to the cat on a silver platter. Then, as swiftly as she'd arrived, Pippi scaled the bookshelves and resumed her post above the door. In the end, Jessica Palacios, Maureen Palacios' daughter and manager of Once Upon a Time, estimated the party had drawn more than 150 attendees, from loyal Pippi fans to passersby who wondered, 'What did we walk into?' Whoever they were and however old, both Palacios women said it warmed their hearts to see so many people in their beloved bookstore. If throwing cat birthday parties is what it takes to keep them coming, Maureen Palacios said she's perfectly OK with that.
Perth Now
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Brad Pitt caused chaos with first attempt at method acting
Brad Pitt's first attempt at method acting caused chaos thanks to his "diabolical" flatulence. The F1 star - who is known for his frequent scenes in which he eats on screen - recalled how one of the first jobs he booked required him to eat a plate of beans after days of his character being without food, and so he tucked in with gusto. However, "something hit" Brad after the fourth take, much to the horror of everyone on the small set. He recalled to Jason and Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast: 'We're shooting in this little tiny cafe. It's full of the crew, so there's about 60 people in there. It's hot. You can't breathe. "My character hadn't eaten for days, and he gets his big plate of beans, first plate of beans and bacon. And I was all like, Method, you know? "I was like, yeah, I'm going to do this right. I just powered down this plate of beans. Take two, do the same thing. Take three, I do the same thing. On four, I do the same thing. "Then oh no. Something hit me. 'There was nothing I could do. I was stuck in this chair. 'And nature took its course. Then there was nothing. I went, oh, great. I got away with that one. And then suddenly the entire crew… The most diabolical something… something descended on the crew in the whole room and they fled the cafe.' The 61-year-old actor's breakthrough role came in 1991's Thelma and Louise and he admitted he was initially starstruck by his co-stars Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon. Asked if he had ever been starstruck, he told the brothers: 'When I first met Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, I was. Yeah. Igot over it quickly, though.' Brad previously praised Geena for looking after him during their sex scene in the film. She said: 'Geena [Davis] was so sweet and kind and delicate. That love scene, I think, went on for two days of shooting. She took care of me.' And after winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Geena admitted she always knew her co-star was "super talented". She told People magazine in 2020: 'He just has 'it.' I could tell when he was auditioning that he was super talented. 'He has done so many incredible things over the years. I don't think that it is unusual for him to be honoured. He really is the 'star' of the moment, which is fabulous, and it is just great to see.'
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Virginia Madsen pays tribute after brother Michael Madsen dies at 67
Actress Virginia Madsen paid a heartfelt tribute to her brother, actor Michael Madsen, following his death at age 67 on July 3. The Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill star was found unresponsive at his Malibu home, with his death believed to be from natural causes, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Virginia shared an emotional Instagram post Thursday, remembering Michael not as a Hollywood icon, but as a deeply human, complex, and loving family member. 'He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw,' she wrote. 'I'll miss the boy he was before the legend. I miss my big brother.' Tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry. Jennifer Tilly, Lauren Holly, and James Gunn were among those who expressed their condolences. Michael Madsen gained fame for his frequent collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, beginning with his iconic role as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs. He appeared in Kill Bill, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and was once considered for the role of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction. At the time of his passing, Madsen was actively working on several independent film projects and preparing to release a book of poetry titled Tears for My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. He is survived by his wife, DeAnna Morgan, and five children, including actor Christian Madsen. Michael previously opened up about the 2022 death of his son Hudson, who was also the godson of Tarantino. Madsen's family plans to announce a celebration of his life at a later date.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who was Michael Madsen? Reservoir Dogs actor dies at 67 after heartbreak of son's suicide and collapse of 28-year-long marriage
Michael Madsen, known for portraying gritty, tough-edged characters in Hollywood, died at the age of 67 on Thursday morning. According to his manager Ron Smith, the actor passed away at his home in Malibu, California, from cardiac arrest. Authorities responded to a 911 call and found him unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at 08:25 a.m. local time (15:25 GMT). Madsen, whose on-screen presence became iconic in films directed by Quentin Tarantino, leaves behind a complex legacy in both film and family life. Hollywood career spanning four decades Madsen became a household name after his role as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs, where his character stunned viewers in a notorious scene involving a police officer. His career continued with appearances in Kill Bill: Vol. 2, The Hateful Eight, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Across film and television, Madsen frequently portrayed both enforcers of the law—like sheriffs and detectives—and those operating outside it, including hitmen and gangsters. He also lent his voice to major video game titles such as Grand Theft Auto III and the Dishonored series. Family, marriages, and personal struggles Born in Chicago in September 1957, Madsen came from a working-class background. His father was a Navy veteran and later a firefighter, while his mother worked as a filmmaker. He was the older brother of Virginia Madsen, who gained acclaim for her role in Sideways, which earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Madsen was married three times. His first marriage was to Georganne LaPiere (half-sister of Cher), followed by a second marriage to Jeannine Bisignano. In 1996, he married DeAnna Madsen. Their marriage ended in 2024 after 28 years, shortly after the death of their son Hudson in 2022. According to People Magazine, the actor cited 'irreconcilable differences' in the divorce documents. Children and legacy Michael Madsen was the father of six children. With his second wife, Jeannine Bisignano, he had two sons, Christian and Max. Christian Madsen followed his father into acting, with roles in Divergent, Prism, Palo Alto, and Jack Squared. With his third wife DeAnna, Madsen had three sons—Luke, Kalvin, and Hudson. Hudson died by suicide at the age of 26. Madsen also had a daughter, Jessica, with Dana Mechling. Virginia Madsen remembered her brother in a statement to Variety: 'He was thunder and velvet. Mischief wrapped in tenderness. A poet disguised as an outlaw… tempered by love that left its mark.' Michael Madsen's career, marked by complex characters and a distinctive presence, left a lasting mark on Hollywood and his family.
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Hollywood star Michael Madsen dies at home aged 67
It is believed his death is from natural causes after suffering a cardiac arrest and no foul play is suspected. The 67-year-old was best known for roles in various Quentin Tarantino films including playing Mr Blonde in Reservoir Dogs as well as having parts in Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. His career started in 1982 and he was still appearing in TV and film right up until his death. His final role was in upcoming American superhero film Legend of the White Dragon. Read More As well as his acting career, he also starred in video games including Grand Theft Auto III and Mob of the Dead. A statement from his publicist to NBC News said: 'In the last two years Michael Madsen has been doing some incredible work with independent film including upcoming feature films "Resurrection Road, "Concessions" and "Cookbook for Southern Housewives," and was really looking forward to this next chapter in his life. "Michael was also preparing to release a new book called "Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems. "Michael Madsen was one of Hollywood's most iconic actors, who will be missed by many.'
