First Date Broadway & New York

A couple of weeks ago I got back from a family holiday to New York City. It was a really fun and exciting trip with a few celebrity spotting's and one autographed piece.

Top Row (L-R): Blake Hammond, Kristoffer Cucsick, Krysta Rodriquez
Bottom: Zachary Levi, Sara Chase, Bryce Ryness, Kate Loprest 

We went and saw First Date on Broadway, featuring Zachary Levi known best as the title character on the TV series Chuck and Krysta Rodriquez, who was in the second season of Smash (one of my favourite shows). I had read on tripadvisor that the cast regularly came out to do stage door signings, so I decided to try it out! After the show we went to the stage door (which was already barricaded off) and gathered around the barricades. Soon later the five supporting actors came out, Blake Hammond, Sara Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Bryce Ryness and Kate Loprest. Then we hear the opening to 'Blurred Lines' start playing and Zachary and Krysta come out for a 'dance party.' I got Zachary's signature first and then Krysta's and also got pictures with both! If you are in New York, go see this show. I've seen many of Broadway shows, and I have to say this is one of the best if not the best out there. It's simple, hilarious and cheap ($35!). Go see it!

Not an autograph success, but while in town we were also able to randomly catch a Law & Order taping on the steps of the NY Court House. SVU is one of my favourite shows on TV, so we sat and watched the process before they wrapped up after about an hour. We saw, but were not able to get close to, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Ice T and Raúl Esparza. My mom also noticed that Cybill Shepherd was a guest star and she was able to get a picture with her. Supposedly Ms. Shepherd is/was a big star, but all I know her from is from a guest spot on 8 Simple Rules.

Maybe not celebrity status, but we also went on a tour of Radio City Music Hall, and while we were there America's Got Talent was rehearsing for their upcoming week. For a guy from Canada who doesn't see sets and people that are on TV all the time it was really cool. We got to see 3 or 4 acts rehearse and also saw the stage, X's and all, although we weren't allowed to take any pictures of the stage, or contestants.

Again for any questions or advice regarding my TTM (addresses etc.) or In person attempts, please feel free to contact me at ttmautographs@live.com.

Until Next Time!

Wow a Year Goes Fast!

Well last time I posted was just over a year ago, and what I promised never did happen. First problem was the NHL lockout. I had written letters to all the Jets players and they were totally out of date when the lockout ended and I hadn't printed out my pictures either since the lockout looked imminent when summer was over. So this year I hopefully will be able to get all the Jets sent out by Christmas time. Some will be difficult as they have moved over seas, but I'm gonna try and get everyone.

My Team Canada project is almost dead, given some thought into getting the final pieces in person, but that means missing school or work most of the time. And plus a new Team Canada will be in place in 2014.

I've also given some thought into sending away to some more music artists, movie and TV stars. I also attended a UFC event this summer and had a great time, so I've been thinking of sending to a few of my favourite fighters, as they seem to be great with fan mail!

For any questions, I have changed my email to ttmautographs@live.com. I've already had a few questions for addresses and advice and if you're new to this feel free to ask!

Until Next Time!

Update

So, it has been a while since I last posted something on here, that's mostly because I haven't added new autographs to the collection since the last post, which is pretty lame. I have come to realize that I still have not posted my final two additions to the Team Canada project from last Fall. I've come to terms that I will most probably not be getting the remaining 3 (Niedermayer, Keith & Doughty) I still have out in the mail as the last one I sent out was in April 2011.

However, I have come up with a new project, since the Jets have returned to Winnipeg, I thought how great would it be to have an autograph of  every single player to play in the uniform, since it won't be too hard except the first year. With those, I will send TTM, but I will also make extras for local autograph sessions should they come up and the player has not responded yet. So come training camp, there will be over 40 TTM's out there waiting to return, so stay tuned!

I have also given thought to getting in person 'graphs from away teams, and maybe complete the Canada set in person, who knows? If you're not keeping track I think I have 14/23 left to go. One who has retired but works for a team (Niedermayer; not sure if he travels though), one I have no idea what team he'll be on next year (Luongo), one I hear is impossible (Crosby) and 6 who do not play in Winnipeg this season (Getzlaf, Perry, Marleau, Morrow, Doughty and Richards). So it definitely won't get finished this year, if ever. 

If everything goes according to plan, and I get my stuff ready come training camp, expect a lot of posts in the future, if your a Jets fan make sure you subscribe or follow this site regularly as it's going to be pretty exciting, as long as the CBA is completed in time.

For any questions on getting autographs in person, through the mail (TTM) feel free to email me questions to ckulasautos@live.ca or post comments below.

Thanks Again,

ckulas

Evander Kane

The seasons about to start and my first autograph is from one of the stars of the Winnipeg Jets 2.0. Unfortunately I had class during the autograph signing in Winnipeg, but my brother got a sig for me. Kane and a lot of the new Jets have been coming into town early and the excitement has been growing more and more for the October 9th Home Opener. Hopefully with an NHL team in town now, I'll be able to get a lot of the Jets autos and hopefully finish up my Team Canada project. Stay tuned for more once training camp and the season starts!!
Thanks,
ckulas

Rick Nash

Today was a HUGE Success date with three envelopes in the mailbox. The mass amount of autographs is probably due to the recent Canada Post strike, which cut off mail for about two weeks. In one of the envelopes was a picture from Columbus Blue Jackets star Rick Nash. This brings my total to 7/23 Team Canada Players. Picture was sent to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sent On: January 10, 2011
Received: June 6, 2011
Sent: Letter, Custom 8X10 and SASE
Still got five Team Canada requests still out there so hopefully there will be more coming back!
Thanks Again,
ckulas

Dan Boyle

Today was a HUGE Success date with three envelopes in the mailbox. The mass amount of autographs is probably due to the recent Canada Post strike, which cut off mail for about two weeks. The three envelopes included two Team Canada success'! This one is from Dan Boyle of the San Jose Sharks. This picture brings me up to 6/23 of the entire 2010 Team Canada. Picture was sent to the San Jose Sharks.
Sent On: April 1, 2011
Received: June 6, 2011
Sent: Letter, Custom 8X10, SASE
Thanks Again,
ckulas

Jimmy Howard

Today was a HUGE Success date with three envelopes in the mailbox. The mass amount of autographs is probably due to the recent Canada Post strike, which cut off mail for about two weeks. One of the success' was Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard. Howard is the former goaltender of the Red Wings AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins, which the hometown Manitoba Moose had many rivalry games against. Having seats four rows behind the goaltender Hoooowwwaaaarrrd chants and stare downs during radio commercial breaks (while Mr. Howard would have some water) were really fun. I was dissapointed yet really excited when he moved up to the NHL, I hope he leads the Wings to some great seasons ahead.
Sent On: April 1, 2011
Received: June 6, 2011
Sent: Letter, (2) Custom 5x7, SASE
Thanks,
ckulas

Dany Heatley

As predicted another Team Canada picture has made is back, this time, it is the San Jose Sharks skillful player Dany Heatley. This brings my total to 5/23 players (still making progress).
Sent On: October 13, 2010
Received: June 11, 2011
Sent: Letter, Custom 8X10, SASE
Keep checking the blog for more updates with the Team Canada Project.
Thanks for stopping by,
ckulas

Chris Jericho

Today brought a very exciting picture in the mail! Chris Jericho has been my favourite wrestler for as long as I can remember. I'm also very excited as he personalized the picture which I asked him to do in my letter. I also somewhat decorated the front of the envelope with Winnipeg Jets logo, which I believe Chris was a fan of, except with a few photoshop tools turned it into Winnipeg (is) Jericho (which he says every time he is in town). Chris is from my hometown, which is why he is my favourite and is now somewhat retired from wrestling. He has two great books on his journey to the top as well which are bestsellers. This picture was sent to the Dancing With the Stars address, as Chris was a contestant this past season.
Sent: April 1, 2011
Received: June 10, 2011
Sent: Letter, WWE Promo, SASE
Thanks,
ckulas

Eric Staal

Team Canada Project is expected to pick up some steam soon as teams are now being eliminated from the play-offs and entering the off-season. This is 4/23 players on Team Canada 2010 so I'm very excited. Eric Staal is a great player with the Carolina Hurricanes already winning a Cup and Gold Medal. Picture was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sent On: October 13, 2010
Received: May 18, 2011
Sent: Letter, Custon 8X10 and SASE
With the off-season approaching with more and more players, expect to see some more Team Canada players being posted!
Thanks for stopping by,
ckulas

Eric Fehr

Eric Fehr plays for the Washington Capitals and is from Winkler, so he is a local boy. The picture above was sent by Mr. Fehr, along with a picture I sent (below) and my original letter, which explained that the picture I had sent had been bent when he got it, he also thanked me for my encouraging letter.

Sent On: April 1, 2011
Received: May 5, 2011
Sent: Letter, Custom 8X10 and SASE
Thanks for checking out the blog!
ckulas

Bob Barker

Got a great response from the greatest game show host ever, Bob Barker. I grew up watching Mr. Barker and thought his autograph would be a great addition to my collection. As fate would have it I just finished his autobiography, Priceless Memory, the day I got it back. If you are a fan of Barker, his book is really good, and you may want to check it out, (I got mine on sale for $6.00, regularly $30). Here is the details:

Sent On: April 1, 2011

Received: May 2, 2011

Sent: LOR, SASE, a Custom 8X10.

Unfortunately, Mr. Barker did not sign my custom 8x10 that I had sent, but signed and personlised his own picture and sent the other one back unsigned, but regardless a GREAT success.

Thanks for checking this site out,

ckulas

Brett Hull

Today brought one of the many pictures I sent away while away on vaction in the States, to save money on international postage. Brett Hull is a Hockey Hall of Famer, his dad another Hall of Famer, played here for the Jets and Brett and his siblings lived here for some of their childhood. Picture was sent to a home address.

Sent On: April 1, 2011

Received: April 14, 2011

Sent: Letter, Custom 8x10 and a SASE

Thanks again for checking out my autograph blog. Check back soon, as I have at least 15 requests out, and with the NHL season ending, I'm sure I'll get some back soon.

ckulas

Chris Pronger

So after a VERY long drought, today finally brought my thrid 2010 Team Canada picture. It is Chris Pronger, who is currently injured, so I assume he is catching up on some fan mail. Pronger is a great D-Man and is currently playing on the NHL's Flyers. He was even so nice to personalize it to me like I asked. What a great guy. Pictures were sent to the Flyers

Sent On: January 10, 2011

Received: March 16, 2011

Sent: Letter, Custom 8x10 & SASE

Thanks again for checking out my 'blog,' will be sending out more pics and letters soon, so check back soon.

ckulas

Shea Weber

This is my first TTM sucess for my Team Canada Project. It took less than a month, which is pretty exciting. Weber is a great player and is currently the captain of the Nashville Predators. Sent On: October 11, 2010 Received: November 9, 2010 Sent: Letter, This Custom 8X10 Picture & a SASE. Thanks for checking out my blog. Hope there are more Team Canada successes to report soon! ckulas

Jonathan Toews

Got this one in person at my second Superstar Summer Showdown at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Jonathan Toews is a new 'hero' here in Winnipeg, after winning the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy and Olympic Gold Medal. He now has a community centre and a lake named after him. I made this picture on a photoshop program. I also made a similar one for every member of the 2010 Olympic team and will send them out in the mail during training camp. I will post what I get back here! Supertar Summer Showdown is a charity event put on by the Believe in the Goal Foundation, to help kids through cancer. To learn more, go to Believe in the Goal.com

Travis Zajac

Got this one in person at my second Superstar Summer Showdown at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Zajac is a starting forward for the New Jersey Devils. I didn't make this picture, but I did add the name and Devils logo. Don't know why but he signed it sideways, oh well, staill a great picture.

Supertar Summer Showdown is a charity event put on by the Believe in the Goal Foundation, to help kids through cancer. To learn more, go to
Believe in the Goal.com

Colton Orr

Got this one in person at my second Superstar Summer Showdown at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Orr is the tough guy on the Toronto Maple Leafs and racked up the second most penalty minutes in the league last year, with 235.
I didn't make this picture as I did with others, but did add the name and TML logo. This is a 5x7 instaed of 8x10 due to the sizing of the picture. The whole name got cut off in the scanning process for some reason.

Supertar Summer Showdown is a charity event put on by the Believe in the Goal Foundation, to help kids through cancer. To learn more, go to
Believe in the Goal.com

Darren Helm

Got this one in person at my second Superstar Summer Showdown at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Helm plays for the Detroit Red Wings and was a member of the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions. As I'm trying to do with all my pictures, I made this in photoshop. When Helm saw this pic, he looked at it weird and then asked where I found it. I told him I made it and he said "Sick!" and showed Nigel Dawes next to him. I told Dawes I made one for him too and Helm said he had to see it. Pretty cool experience. Supertar Summer Showdown is a charity event put on by the Believe in the Goal Foundation, to help kids through cancer. To learn more, go to Believe in the Goal.com

Nigel Dawes

Got this one in person at my second Superstar Summer Showdown at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg. Nigel has gone through a few teams over the past years, starting with the NY Rangers, Phoenix Coyotes and now he is with the Calgary Flames. As I'm trying to do with all my pictures, I made this photo in photoshop. Darren Helm and Dawes were beside eachother while signing and both seemed very impressed with the pictures I made. Supertar Summer Showdown is a charity event put on by the Believe in the Goal Foundation, to help kids through cancer. To learn more, go to Believe in the Goal.com