Johnny during his final performance of “Human,”
his iconic program for 2014.
Please click for stunning full-size image.
Exclusive photo © David Keyser.
So on this final day of 2014, a year which I personally have been ready to escort firmly to the door since about April, and thus I have spent the last eight months or so muttering as I wake every day to find yet more 2014 glaring balefully at me: “Oh. You’re still here...,” I am pleased to present the photos that I should have posted like three months ago but could never pull together since because 2014.
But here they are at last, and they are awesome: a fab double post of skating photos from Johnny’s final “Human” performance at An Evening With Champions, plus post-show meet-n-greet photos that people have been politely asking for since the moment they were taken. So while 2014 sucked on a grand scale for many people in my life, at least we’re going out on a high note here in this little corner of the web! [Note to self: lock the door behind that asshole 2014 and pray it never comes back disguised as some other number...]
But first: don’t forget to tune in TONIGHT to see Johnny and Tara on NBC’s A Toast to 2014! Yes, I already mentioned this above, but how often do we get the chance to spend part of New Year’s Eve with Johnny? Just look at this wonderful silliness here, and then set those DVRs so you don’t miss a moment. Because if there’s anyone I want to wrap this year up in a big glittery bow and send it on its way with a graceful kick of his sharpened skate blade, it would be Johnny.
And also: thank you all for visiting this space throughout the year. From Sochi to Snow King, it’s been an amazing journey with Johnny, and I’m so happy to share it all with you. Wishing everyone a fabulous New Year’s Eve celebration! See you in 2015!
Human.
An Evening With Champions 2014, Boston.
See the first part of this beautiful exclusive series here.
Meet-n-Greet!
An Evening With Champions 2014, Boston.
I loved everything about this show, but I especially loved attending it with so many friends whom I’ve met through Johnny fandom. And now at last we have some photos to commemorate our fantastic evening together!
This meet-n-greet happened immediately after the show concluded, at another Harvard University building just a short walk from the rink. Though technically a room had been set aside for the skaters to greet the guests, Johnny was swarmed the moment he arrived at the top of the stairs and set foot on the outdoor balcony leading to the room. So most of these photos were taken outside in the dark, and mostly without any flash. And yet in nearly all of them, Johnny is surrounded by light—partly from other people’s flashes, partly through Davey’s skill as a determinedly flash-resistant photographer.
Johnny issued a New Year challenge on Twitter earlier this week:
Johnny Weir on Twitter
For 2015, I dare you to keep your chin up and be beamingly happy no matter what comes your way or evils needing to be removed, BE HAPPY!😬
I think these pics completely made of happy should get us all off to a good start. :D
Please click any photo for the full-size image, as always.
He’s here!
And he’s immediately deluged—under the
watchful eye of security—with people of all ages
who are absolutely thrilled to meet him.
Every fan receives Johnny’s complete and unwavering
attention during their visit with him.
Young skaters have slipped through the crowd
and gathered around him for photos and autographs...
...and they always want him to sign their skates!
This young fan’s smile says it all.
With my dear friend and beloved video ninja,
the amazing Jenn Kittler, without whom this blog would often
be left unattended in a corner, bedraggled and chainsmoking
and in desperate need of new material....
Jenn explains to Johnny that she has brought
ALL THE THINGS for him to sign for fans
who could not be there.
He gets to work right away.
No one argues with Jenn.
With another dear friend, Karen Weeks,
who has beautiful flowers for Johnny!
Sharing a laugh with Sinikka Grant,
who later showered us with incredible picspam
from Johnny’s visit to Albany.
A hug for Rachel Machinton, author of the guest post
that accompanied Sinikka’s Albany photos.
(Not only does every fan get Johnny’s undivided attention,
you can even whisper secrets in his ear.)
I’m horrified that I’m cluttering up this photo,
but thrilled to be on hand to introduce my Twitter friend
Olivia Reis and her wife Melissa to Johnny.
It’s their first time meeting him...
...so they chat while Johnny, suddenly illuminated
by a thousand flashes going off at once,
autographs a copy of Welcome to My World for them...
...and then Davey gets a really really great shot
of the three of them! (Which Olivia and Melissa have only
waited forever to see. Sorry! But yay here it is!)
With Karen’s friend, the lovely Katherine Knorr Uschmann...
...and with Karen’s mom, Mary Sue Weeks,
who is a blast to hang out with.
Anastasia Pryanikova’s adorable daughter Lexi
waits patiently for a new autograph. At the age of nine,
she’s an old hand at these meet-n-greet things,
having met Johnny many times.
Lexi, Johnny, and Anastasia.
With the amazing Machiko, who came from Japan for the show.
Davey and I had a wonderful time with Machiko-san!
Another East Coast friend, Erin Zahradnik,
meets Johnny for the first time, bouquet in hand.
Erin and Johnny.
Twitter friend Maleah Gustafson is another happy first-timer.
Autographing photos for Maleah.
Johnny with two of the Harvard student organizers
of the event, both of whom were amazingly kind, funny, and
helpful—although Patrick (on the right), despite Johnny’s insistence,
cannot get his duckface game together.
There we go!
The line is still going strong...
...and Johnny is gracious and kind and
completely unhurried with every single person.
Saying goodbye to Machiko.
And one more:
possibly my favorite shot of the evening.
possibly my favorite shot of the evening.
Bonus Round:
Pics With Patti!
Yes, of course everyone wants a picture with the incredible Patti Weir! And she was kind enough to oblige!
Even Aunt Diane posed with Patti!
Patti with Rachel...
...Sinikka...
...Melissa and Olivia...
...Erin...
...Maleah...
...Jenn and me...
...and Machiko. ♥
Aaaaand when it’s my turn, oops, no flash.
But I love this pic almost as much as I adore this woman.
Patti, you are my hero!
Postscript.
Saturday’s meet-n-greet was extremely crowded, and between managing photo ops and shepherding people to make sure the first-timers made it through the line, I suddenly found myself at the end of the evening saying goodbye to Johnny without having gotten a photo. But that was totally OK, because Davey and I had been lucky enough to attend the Friday show and meet-n-greet also, which was less overflowing with people, and thus we found a moment to make this photo happen:
Johnny, thank you always for your time, your patience, your kindness,
your extraordinary gifts on the ice and your willingness to work so hard
to share those gifts and yourself with the world, and your amazing,
tremendously inspiring ability to get back up, stronger than ever,
no matter how life tries to knock you down.
1 comment:
Amen to bidding good riddance to 2014!
Thank you, Binky for always keeping this bedraggled-by-life fan updated with everything Johnny! I am thrilled to see the photos of him with all the friends I missed, having not been able to attend the Evening with Champions show.
Have a great New Year's, Binky,Family Binky, Johnny and all you gorgeous fans...I wish you all success, happiness & most of all, GOOD HEALTH! Buh-bye, 2014!!!
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