Harold Ramis sightings

I thought it might be nice to share reminiscences of seeing Harold Ramis in restaurants, since he lived here (Highland Park I think?). I have one occasion to share that brings back a small but warm memory.

It was about ten years ago, in that restaurant on Happ Rd. in Northfield that's been a number of places, none lasting long as far as I know. (It's the place that at one point was MK North. But at the time of this sighting, I don't remember whether it was MK North or the place before that.)

Anyway, Harold Ramis was at a round table of eight with three generations of family. (He and his wife representing the middle generation.) I recognized him immediately, having been a fan since the early seventies when I first encountered his genius at Second City and said to myself, "This guy is going places." I tried not to glance over too often, but it was clear from every time I did glance that this was a good family. All three generations seemed happy to be with each other, and Ramis was happy to be with them. You could just sense, if you didn't have the sense of it already, that this was a good man.

Hi,

I never saw Harold Ramis outside of a movie theater or television screen.

I heard he was often seen walking near his office in Highland Park. It wasn't unusual to find him having a morning coffee at Einstein Coffee Shop at the corner of Central and Sheridan, which has long since closed. I knew his production company was across from the Highland Park Theater (perhaps gone forever).

Once I hosted a program with Joan Nathan speaking on Jewish culinary traditions. When she learned I was from Highland Park, she inquired if I knew Harold Ramis. I explained his offices were near my home, though I had never encountered him. Based on my tissue thin knowledge, she wrote him a note inviting him to join her at Charlie Trotters the very next day. She handed it over asking me to drop it off at his office.

After dropping my nieces off at school the next day, I parked the car in the general vicinity of where his office may be. I walked up to each building with office suites reading their directories for any clue to his office. I saw one that seemed to fit, 'Ocean Productions.'

I knocked on the door, before trying the handle to find it locked. A man opened the door just enough to expose his face, though not enough to see beyond. I inquired if this was where Harold Ramis had his offices, because I had a note from Joan Nathan inviting him to lunch. He affirmed and took my note, then bid good-bye.

While people know I have my one- or two-degrees of separation from some notable people. I like to think I was one door-width away from Harold Ramis.

***

Mike G met Harold Ramis when he filmed The Ice Harvest up in Waukegan. Mike's buddy authored the book the film was based on. Now that is pretty cool!

Regards,

We saw him at Ravinia a few times, wandering around with family and friends.

riddlemay wrote:I thought it might be nice to share reminiscences of seeing Harold Ramis in restaurants, since he lived here (Highland Park I think?)

Not to be picky - Glencoe. Anyway, I saw him several years ago at the PetSmart in Northbrook.