by Rivkela Brodsky
Daily Lobo
Their first real date was a three-hour brunch at Flying Star Cafe.
Kate Livingston, an associate dean at the Anderson Schools of Management and her husband Charles Ewing, a UNM alumnus, hit it off that day in 1998.
"We spent three hours together hogging one of their tables," she said. "We just talked and talked and talked."
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After that, they spent another three hours at an art festival.
Their six-year anniversary is in April.
Livingston said Flying Star is still part of their lives.
She entered her love story in Flying Star's Share the Love Valentine's Day contest.
People can enter their stories at five Flying Star locations.
There are 41 entries on the Web site and 30 to 40 more to put on the site as of Monday, said co-owner Jean Bernstein.
Flying Star owners Jean and Mark Bernstein started dating at Hippo ice cream and coffee shop on Harvard Drive in 1975.
Mark was dating Jean's roommate. But on the second date, he showed up at the roommate's door and she was not there.
But Jean was.
They continued to go on dates to Hippo, and that's where they came up with the idea of Flying Star. The original Flying Star in Nob Hill on Central Avenue opened in 1987.
Over the years, Bernstein said people have approached her and told her stories about the role Flying Star has played in their lives.
"People come up and tell me the darnedest things," she said.
And not just love stories. She has heard stories about a mother and daughter who came in for years who had a special table. She's heard stories about employees who have helped out customers going through hard times.
"People live their lives here," Bernstein said.
She said Flying Star is really just a backdrop to people's lives, but it's a place that fosters relationships because it's laid-back.
"It's been about whatever people want. It takes on whatever community we're in," she said. "It does its own thing."
People can enter their stories until noon today at each Flying Star location. Five winners will be picked. Winners will get an assortment of desserts for two from Flying Star.
Livingston said Flying Star was a big moment for them, and she hopes her story wins.
"If so, we'll be eating a lot of pastries," she said.
