Rumors swirled online all weekend of Gaga sightings at various spots around town: a west Omaha fish joint, a downtown a pizza parlor, a low-key Benson bar.
Gaga was in town celebrating the holidays with boyfriend Luc Carl, who is originally from Springfield, Neb., where his parents still live.
Geoff Hammond, manager of Absolutely Fresh Seafood Market at 120th and Pacific Streets, had Gaga as a customer but didn't think much of it.
Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, walked into the business just after 12:50 p.m. Christmas Eve in chic denim threads, high heels and black shades. She picked up some fresh fish and scallops.
“Sweet lady,” Hammond, 62, said. “She didn't look like she was from here. She looked like a New Yorker.”
A man in the store asked her if she was Lady Gaga, but she shook her head “no.”
Andrew Tatreau was also in the fish market that day to pick up shrimp for Christmas Eve dinner with his mother. He had impeccable timing.
“I looked across the counter and saw this blonde girl with big shades,” he said. “I had to take a second look before realizing it was Lady Gaga.”
Tatreau used to live in New York City and had seen Gaga at parties and nightclubs.
“But it was New York. You expected that,” he said “I didn't expect to see her on Christmas Eve at a seafood place in Omaha, Nebraska. That just doesn't happen.”
But Hammond wouldn't have known he had a pop superstar as a customer.
He glanced at the name on her credit card. No Gaga there. As Hammond handed her credit card back, he noticed her fingernails, which had little shoes on each nail. He held her hand for a moment, admiring the design.
When asked how it felt holding the hand of a multi-platinum rock star, he joked, “I don't know.... I'd like to know how she feels about holding my hand.”
Just before leaving the fish market, Gaga confessed, “I didn't tell the truth. I am Lady Gaga.” After she stepped out of the shop, Hammond did a little Internet research on the singer. He found that the star's given name matched the name on the credit card receipt.
Hammond's sighting was just one of many over the holiday weekend.
The singer laid low with her boyfriend and his family on Christmas Day. But Sunday and Monday were a different matter.
At about 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Gaga and her boyfriend joined friends for cocktails at the Sydney Bar at 5918 Maple St. The Benson bar had a sparse crowd that night.
Jamie Massey, one of the bar owners, dropped in to check on inventory. Most everyone, including Massey, was in chill mode when Gaga and Carl walked in the bar.
It was no big deal to Massey — Gaga was just Luc's girl. Massey and Carl have known each other for years. They both played in bands at the old 49er on Dodge Street.
The couple had stopped in at the Sydney for a few cocktails before the Little Brazil concert at the Waiting Room and Lounge, just a few doors away.
Omahan Taron Ballard noticed Gaga's outfit, a black high-cut leotard, fishnet stockings with a huge hole on her upper thigh, a cropped black leather jacket, knee-high stiletto boots and a choker with large gems.
“She had giant bling around her neck” said Ballard, 28. “She looked like Lady Gaga.”
Ballard said the couple stayed at the bar for about an hour.
At one point, Gaga played “Roxanne” by the Police on the jukebox, singing as she walked away. Mikaela Olson asked to have her photograph taken with the star but was turned away.
When Carl left for a bathroom break, Gaga ran over to Olson's table and told her “let's take a quick one.”
“I was shocked,” said Olson, 24. “She was so nice. She started talking to us and was hanging out at my table.”
The couple moved on to the Waiting Room for the concert but were there for only 10 to 15 minutes before the place was swamped with fans.
The Waiting Room became so packed that Gaga and Carl had to leave. People began to mob the couple as they headed for the exit.
On Monday, Gaga was spotted at Goodnights, a downtown pizza restaurant across the street from the new T.D. Ameritrade stadium. She was also said to be at Papio Bowl with friends. The bowling alley closed to the public so the celebrity could bowl in privacy and later reopened for open family bowling.
On Monday night, Gaga was spotted at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs. The “Poker Face” singer wasn't playing poker, though — her game of choice was blackjack in the high-limit room.
Source: http://www.omaha.com/article/20101228/NEWS01/712289928/-1#omaha-goes-gaga-over-gaga
No comments:
Post a Comment