Angelica Huston's black bob swings back and forth, keeping time with the click of her heels on the sidewalk. As the Oscar-winning actress passes, she throws us a warm but impish smile and then fades into the nighttime air. Her departure cheers the crowd, which has been waiting in the...

"You're gonna get us killed!" I thought.

The door on my parents' beige '99 Chevy Lumina had just slammed, a dull thud ringing through the crisp December sky. Eddie and I were heading into the Salt Lick, a barbeque joint legendary for its tender pork ribs, sage-filled sausage, and pit-smoked...