From Garden Place to the Rose Garden?
Former President Bill Clinton stopped by actor Gabriel Byrne’s Garden Place home last Thursday to raise money for his wife’s White House bid.
The usually quiet street was briefly filled with rock-fan-like screams as the former leader of the free world got out of his black limo and shook a few hands before bounding up the front stoop to press the monied palms inside.
“Before he pulled up, it was a Garden Place scene — we were all sitting on the stoop, having wine and hors d’oeuvres,” said Renee Auriema, a neighbor of the “Usual Suspects” star. “Then the black cars pulled up.”
Parents rushed towards the former Commander-in-Chief — donning a spiffy green tie for the Irish-American fundraiser — to get autographs and pictures of Clinton posing with their kids.
“I got a picture with my two daughters,” said Valerie Frankel. “It’ll be something I treasure for the rest of my life.”
Days later, the block still lingered with the aura of Clinton.
“He is quite a celebrity still,” said Land Grant, who lives on the block with the Tony- and Oscar-nominated actor. “[Byrne’s house] is always useful for someone with that type of profile.”
