Earlier this yr, Mr. Petrsoric, 78, was working alone round 10 p.m. when 60 or so folks filed in after Broadway exhibits let loose. He discovered himself going again into machine mode, a peaceful beacon of cocktail effectivity. Matthew Broderick occurred to be sitting on the bar, watching with admiration. He expressed his amazement, which Mr. Petrsoric subtly acknowledged, with a hand positioned gently to his coronary heart. Whereas he appreciated the accolade, he offers the identical well mannered remedy to the star-struck as to stars like Mr. Broderick, in addition to forged members, administrators, producers, lyricists and composers from close by productions.
When a youthful bartender recounted to Joe the listing of celebrities who flooded the Sardi’s premiere social gathering for Wes Anderson’s newest movie, “Asteroid Metropolis” — Margot Robbie, Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, Uma Thurman, Ethan Hawke, Maya Hawke, Tom Hanks, Invoice Murray, Adrien Brody, Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum, Jason Schwartzman — Mr. Petrsoric merely shrugged.
“I’m not that loopy about celebrities,” he stated. “To me, everyone is human, not gods.” A few years in the past, watching Lucille Ball within the restaurant, her storied profession over, taught him one thing about fame. “She hated to be outdated,” he stated. “She was not joyful. It’s received to be very troublesome while you’re that common. It goes to your mind, and then you definitely see it’s not eternally and also you’ve received to return right down to earth.”
Making an attempt to squeeze tales from Mr. Petrsoric whereas he’s on obligation not often bears fruit. He’s as watchful as an owl, swiveling his head, his brown eyes alert to any motion, somebody signaling for a examine or one other spherical. He perks up at acquainted faces.
