Russell Crowe’s appearance at the Batavia Public Library Tuesday caused quite the frenzy Tuesday.

Just ask Whitney Garwood, a barista that was working when Crowe ordered a tuna salad sandwich. Crowe bought the sandwich and a decaf latte from the 10 South Coffeehouse, located next to the library’s main entrance.

“I saw it was Russell Crowe,” said Garwood, who spoke with Batavia Patch as her shift ended Tuesday. “It was kind of a shock because I wasn’t expecting to see any celebrities in our shop. But it was pretty cool.”

Crowe is part of the cast for Man of Steel, the new Superman movie that's currently filming in Plano, Sugar Grove and other locations. It's unclear whether Crowe, in the role of Superman's father Jor-El, is actually in the area to film scenes.

In a picture posted publicly on Facebook, Crowe is seen wearing workout clothes and sleeveless gloves during his meal on the Batavia Public Library patio. He and two other men arrived on bicycles, according to library staff.

Garwood had just started her shift at 1 p.m. She figures Crowe arrived about 10 or 15 minutes later.

Garwood was in the back and was called up when a man ordered a sandwich. She had to walk past the man on her way to the sandwich counter. That’s when she noticed it was Crowe.

“He had an Australian accent,” she said. “He sounded like he normally does in movies and such.”

Garwood figures he was on the patio outside the coffeehouse for about 30 minutes. She did not keep an eye on him because she had other work to do. When she got another chance to look by 2 p.m., he was gone.

Library Sneaks a Peek

A half-hour was more than enough time for word to spread that Crowe was in the building—or on the patio, rather.

A patron went down to the library’s lower level and told someone in Youth Services there was someone who looked like Crowe outside.

Youth Services then contacted Michele Martzel, the library's promotional services coordinator, about the sighting. Martzel went to get Library Director George Scheetz to investigate.

Once they went outside and saw the man, they had no doubt it was actually Crowe.

"I was a little flabbergasted and dumbfounded," Martzel said.

Martzel and Scheetz did not want to bother Crowe, but they were not going to let the opportunity pass to see if a celebrity was outside the library.

Other library employees and patrons felt the same way. A group of about seven of them watched Crowe from the small indoor area of the coffeehouse.

Crowe Rides Fox River Trail, Eats Gluten Free

Although Scheetz does not recall seeing a bicycle near Crowe at the library, other clues have started to emerge about the actor's rides.

The following message was sent out on Crowe's verified Twitter account at about 5 p.m. Wednesday:

"Fox river trail gets top marks St,Charles is very pretty,saw Elgin,Dundee,Algonquin thanks to the thousands responsible for the trail"

The actor also tweeted this morning that he went through Geneva yesterday and called it a nice place. He has mentioned his workout routines consist of walking, bike riding, movement with weights and more.

Crowe even responds to questions about his diet. On Tuesday, he sent out messages that said he eats 2000 calories a day, including beverages. Items include gluten-free food, water and "decaf iced non-fat coffee."

He appeared to be sticking to the diet in Batavia. A close-up of the picture (attached near the top of the story) on the patio shows his tuna sandwich was on lettuce. A drink that looks to be an iced latte is also partially in the photo.

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To read our other full report on Crowe's Batavia stop, click here.