Where everybody knows Chelsea's name

Hey, TMZ ... are you ready for me???
I just finished my first shift as a celebrity photog/reporter, covering "the wedding of the year," the union of former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky in Rhinebeck.

My biggest celebrity "get" of the day: former "Cheers" star Ted Danson and his Academy Award-winning wife, Mary Steenburgen, who I've been a fan of since I first saw her in Ron Howard's 1989 comedy, "Parenthood."

Yes, after almost being trampled by media from all over the world as we walked down the street with the former Sam Malone and the mother from "Elf" (seen here), I was able to snap the picture above when they spoke to us before the ceremony.

But that was only part of the fun we had in Rhinebeck!

After that, I braved the hundred or so spectators (media and locals alike) surrounding Gigi Trattoria — yes, the very restaurant where former President Bill Clinton ate yesterday — where actress Kate Capshaw dined earlier, and where designer Vera Wang and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright were eating ... presumably at separate tables, with separate checks. Having soon tired of the pack mentality, I wandered into the parking lot, where Vera, who designed Chelsea's dress, soon followed. Looking for her car, she turned around and I was able to snap this picture. (Feel free to click here to see more of my pics from the day, which I diligently tweeted as part of the Poughkeepsie Journal's coverage.)

And if you thought the media were stalking the Clintons and their guests, then think of me as stalking the stalkers. (That's with tongue firmly planted in cheek, btw.)

Since my main assignment was to write about the media coverage on the big day, I took in all the sights and sounds on Route 9 — everything from this "Insider" reporter outside Gigi's, as well as watching "Entertainment Tonight's" Diane Dimond tape her pieces across from the Beekman Arms, to talking to "Extra" special correspondent Lauren Sivan for tomorrow's story; I even quoted Ted and Mary in my story. (How many chances does a sports reporter get to talk to such famous thespians?! I'll tell you: not many.)

Not that it was all roses, as I got blown off by a certain network news correspondent, whose name and show will not be mentioned here, when I asked her for a quick comment about covering the wedding.
Indeed, as this picture demonstrates, the wedding was at least the story of the summer here in the Hudson Valley.

That being said, I can't imagine what it's like in L.A., chasing down stars like Lindsay Lohan and Angelina Jolie. But for at least one day in our backyard, I had a fun time!