While watching his pennies, Rainman also makes it rain Champagne

These are tight times for everybody, as proven by a report of Dustin Hoffman watching his money at the Walker Art Center.

The Oscar winner was in the metro over the weekend -- but may be gone by the time you read this -- for a visit with his grandchildren Gus, 4, and Daisy, 2.

"He was shopping in the gift shop with family (?)," wrote e-mailer "Kjessia," who added, "I was impressed to hear him ask how much something was."

Hoffman's daughter Jenna moved to the Twin Cities in the spring with her kids and husband, Seamus Culligan. Culligan's mom, Molly Culligan, confirmed that Hoffman was at the Walker, where she believes he and family members had lunch Sunday.

On Saturday night, the Hoffman party had dinner at the Red Stag Supperclub in northeast Minneapolis. A newly engaged couple was there celebrating and Hoffman sent over a bottle of Champagne, another e-mailer told me.

Shortly after a September column item written here, Molly Culligan called to tell me that this was Hoffman's first trip to the metro. In that item I made reference to some information on the Web about another visit Hoffman made to the Twin Cities. That previous visit never happened, she said.

Where did the PB&J go? WCCO-TV morning anchor Angela Davis felt an overwhelming urge Friday to deliver a "peanut butter and jelly sandwich" to her husband, Duchesne Drew, a newsroom manager at the Strib.

"You know, I'm just being a supportive wife. What's happening? Is Santa here today, perhaps?" Davis joked, no peanut butter or jelly sandwich in hand. When one of my co-workers, Colleen Coles, came over and said something unintelligible, because she was so excited, about, I think, where Davis' husband was, the anchor said, "Just tell him I'll wait by the bus." That would have been the big old "Seven Pounds" bus with Smith's face on it that was parked outside. "What's going on today, y'all having a holiday party?" Davis continued to play dumb, as you'll see at startribune.com/video. Upon dropping the pretense, Davis said, "Did y'all see him?"

I had seen him twice already, and the second time he gave me a fist bump.

When Davis arrived at the Strib, her WCCO colleague Darcy Pohland was already here, with photographer Brad Kopp. Kopp told Davis she could hold the mike during the Smith interview, and she did so.

WCCO-TV news director Scott Libin told me interviewing Smith was just what Pohland needed. "She had a blast. I don't think she would mind me telling you she had a difficult week, stories about tragedy and death. She richly deserved a break. Let me just say I pity the fool who stood between her and that story."

Noooo, Libin was not calling Davis a fool. The ND believes Davis tipped off Pohland that Smith was going to be at the Strib, and "Angela formed a fast partnership with Darcy on that and I heard her [Davis] very assertively volunteer to cover any other door that might be involved at Star Tribune. When Angela wants to help out a colleague, I'm not going to stand in the way."

The question was why people seem to love him so much. Smith answered Davis' question with a joke about his ears. The underlying reason people connect with this movie star is that he's comfortable with himself and his celebrity. He also makes real connections with his fans -- as USA Today's profile Monday noted, "When he talks, he makes eye contact."

It'll be interesting to see the Minnesota figures on "Seven Pounds" when it opens Friday.