Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2006 > November
November 2006
Pets on a plane
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The federal government says that dozens of animals have been killed and injured in flights in the United States over the past 16 months. Do you have a story about the hazards of traveling with your pets?
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Tupac CDs: tribute or travesty?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There have been at least a half-dozen new releases credited to rapper Tupac Shakur since his 1996 death.
The latest (due out Tuesday) is “Pac’s Life,” which is even more notable for appearances by Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, T.I., Keyshia Cole, Ashanti and several more.
The CD reignites a familiar debate: Are the posthumous releases just a money-making scheme or an ongoing tribute to Tupac’s legacy?
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Beer and wine sales on Sunday?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia retailers want the General Assembly to consider giving stores the opportunity to sell beer and wine on Sundays. Is the state well overdue in making the change? Or, should such sales remain off-limits on Sunday?
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Share your aquarium-going tips
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Are you a Georgia Aquarium junkie? Help out your fellow man this holiday season by sharing your tips for a stress-free visit to the aquarium, which is sure to be busy this time of year.
When’s the best time to visit? What do you suggest for the visitor who only has an hour to spare? What’s your favorite part?
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Bring back the draft?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Americans would have to sign up for a new military draft after turning 18 under a bill that Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, says he will introduce next year. What do you think? Should the draft be reinstated? Would you have your teen sign up?
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Adoptions gone wrong
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At least nine couples have come forward claiming that a Canton adoption consultant promised them the same baby allegedly offered to at least five other families. What experiences have you had with an adoption that has gone wrong?
BET winners circle: Who’s missing?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Award shows almost always fail to reward an artist who seems destined to win a trophy (Grammy, anyone?). The first BET Hip-Hop Awards, which were broadcast Wednesday night, were no different. Who was the most blatant omission from the show’s winners’ circle?
- Female MCs
- Ludacris
- OutKast
- Kanye West
‘Dancing with the Stars’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emmitt Smith beat out actor Mario Lopez for the ‘Dancing’ title Wednesday night. What did you think of the final performances?
Cellphones and driving
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A DeKalb County lawmaker wants to make it illegal for 16- and 17-year-olds to use a cellphone while driving. Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur) also wants Georgians to be charged with “driving while distracted” if they are talking on a phone and get in a wreck. Is this a good idea? How much of a danger are people who use cellphones while driving?
Tunnel for Ga. 400?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A new traffic study suggests that Ga. 400 be extended with a double-decked tunnel southward to help ease traffic congestion. It would be one of several tunnels in the proposal, which also includes a slew of new metro roads and $25 billion worth of highway toll lanes.
Are these good ideas? Are you willing to dig into your wallet to help pay for new projects? And what about tunnels?
Tribute to Gerald Levert
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone, Johnny Gill and Angela Winbush plan to pay musical tribute to R&B singer Gerald Levert Nov. 17 at a public ceremony at the Cleveland Music Hall.
LeVert, 40, died Nov. 10 of a heart attack. The recording artist of two decades was the son of Eddie Levert of the legendary R&B group the O’Jays. And his father and his brother, Sean, are expected to perform a duet.
Levert’s publicist also announced that Levert had completed a new CD before his death, due in stores in February of next year. Levert was also completing a book with his father and author Lyah LeFlore titled “I Got Your Back,” about fatherhood and different relationships.
Tributes will continue Nov. 18 in Atlanta at “Wanda Smith & Friends” at the Atlanta Civic Center. Levert was scheduled to appear at the sold-out comedy show put on by V-103’s Smith, a longtime friend and fan.
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US Airways bids for Delta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
US Airways wants to buy Delta once the Atlanta-based airline emerges from bankruptcy protection. (Read story)
What’s your reaction to the news?
Would this be a good deal for Delta?
Should Delta fend off the hostile bid?
Where were you when Luke and Laura married?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
People cut school, blew off work and their lives in general on Nov. 16, 1981, to be among the 30 million people who tuned in to watch Luke Spencer marry Laura Webber on “General Hospital” in the middle of the afternoon.
In the age before VCRs and TiVos were in every home, you either watched it when the network aired it or you missed out. There were no encore airings on SoapNet back then. Even Laura’s portrayer Genie Francis was shocked by her moment in the pop culture spotlight: She told the AJC: “For 25 years now, people have stopped me to say, ‘I stayed home from work’ or ‘I cut classes to see you get married’ As a mom now, I don’t know how I feel about that!”
So how did you celebrate the wedding of daytime’s most notorious couple?
If you missed the first wedding, will you tune in to catch the show on Thursday?
Who should win the ‘Dancing with the Stars’ finale
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s down to the wire! “Dancing with the Stars” finale is on, and who do you think should win? Emmitt Smith or Mario Lopez?
Parties all night
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As Saturday became Sunday morning, music fans continued to party throughout the city at pre-BET Hip-Hop Awards parties.
A fierce winter wind chilled attendees wearing skin-baring outfits outside Jermaine Dupri’s bash at Mason Murer Fine Art gallery in Midtown.
A series of black-tablecloth-draped police barricades helped to keep crowds organized.
The large fro logo of Dupri’s So So Def Recordings label was beamed onto the outside gallery wall. Valets dodged puddles and wet leaves as they hustled to park cars and help attendees inside.
Among those on the exclusive A-list guest list: Dupri, his girlfriend Janet Jackson and rising So So Def recording artist Young Capone.
A little past 2 a.m., across town at Compound nightclub, Diddy partied with producer Dallas Austin and former NSync member J.C. Chasez. The nightclub was hosting a birthday party for Q100 DJ Jeff Dauler.
During an interview this fall at the radio station, Diddy surprised Dauler by offering his house in the Hamptons for the weekend to the DJ and his wife Jessica. They gladly accepted.
Early Sunday morning, Dauler sent over a bottle of tequila to Diddy. The rapper wasn’t drinking, however.
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Hip-hop, Takeover style
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There is hip-hop as the general populace perceives, all misogynistic and disrespectful. And then there is hip-hop at the Def Jam Takeover that V-103 put on Saturday night at Center Stage on West Peachtree Street.
Opening act Kinfolk actually started before the scheduled time on the ticket. The majority of the capacity audience was female. The chairman of a worldwide company — Island Def Jam’s Antonio “L.A.” Reid — hung out on stage in a hooded sweatshirt, jeans and crisp Timberland boots.
And fellow rappers and singers were in the audience, (Busta Rhymes, J-Bo of Youngbloodz, D.J. Quik and Scar) on the side of the stage (George Clinton) or downstairs in the Remy Martin VIP lounge (Too Short and Fabolous), cheering on performers, Rick Ross, Ghostface Killah, Young Jeezy and Ludacris.
“I’m coming to get drunk. I’m coming to smoke weed. And all of that other grown folks [expletive],” Rhymes said when V-103’s Greg Street called him onstage.
Call that a public service reminder of what the general public expected.
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T.I.: More awards shows should come to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In a packed dressing room at Philips Arena, Atlanta rapper T.I. prepared for his concert and talked about what hosting the BET Hip-Hop Awards means to Atlanta.
“It is great having the BET Awards here,” said T.I. also known as Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. “A lot more award shows should think about coming to Atlanta. We have done a lot for music.”
T.I., who performed before a full crowd Saturday night after the Hawks-Seattle game, said he is looking forward to the awards show Sunday and maybe winning some honors there.
“But it’s not all about winning,” said T.I. “I am just happy to be here making music. And I happy all this is coming to Atlanta.”
At Hawks game: Lil Jon, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Rick Ross and more
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Celebrities in town for the hip-hop weekend thronged to Philips Arena on Saturday night for the Hawks game against Seattle.
Atlanta rappers T.I. and Bow Wow were there, along with Young Dro and Big Country. Also in the house were Miami rapper Rick Ross and Ronnie DeVoe, a member of New Edition.
Atlanta rapper-producer Lil Jon was seated courtside, sporting a baseball cap and large diamond studded chain. A large scream went up when the local artist was announced.
The attendance at the game was announced at 19,309. The SuperSonics won 113-112 in overtime.
Seated near Lil Jon and Ross was rocker Travis Barker. Barker is known for playing the drums for band Blink 182 and also his MTV reality show. Though Barker was featured in a recent rap video by Atlanta group OutKast, it was unclear if the tattoed and mohawk wearing rocker was in town for the BET Hip-Hop Awards.
Some fans in attendance at the Hawks and SuperSonics game came to watch the stars.
And not the stars on the basketball court.
“I thought this might be a better place to get close to my favorite rappers,” said Josh Jamison, who said he came to Atlanta from New York this weekend for the BET awards. “I been looking around at the people here as much as I’ve been looking at the court. Lil Jon is sitting close to me.”
The announcers recognized Keisha Knight Pulliam during the second quarter of the game. On the scoreboard there was a huge picture of Knight Pulliam when she played adorable little Rudy Huxtable on the hit sitcom “The Cosby Show.”
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Traffic no big deal
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Things were not exactly hopping on Atlanta’s streets Saturday evening as Atlanta’s star-studded convergence of BET Hip-Hop Awards and sporting events got under way.
There was little evidence of a large arriving crowd on Atlanta’s intown streets. Most car tags listed metro counties. Atlanta police reported no serious traffic problems by 8:50 p.m.
Just a few cars were parked outside Justin’s, the restaurant owned by music mogle Sean “Diddy” Combs. Justin’s often is a destination for taste makers when they visit Atlanta.
Workers were busy setting up for Jermain Dupri’s party Saturday night at the Mason Murer Fine Art gallery on Armour Drive. The gallery is in a warehouse district and many utility poles on Armour Drive were covered with posters advertising So So Def, Dupri’s recording company.
Atlantic Station, which is gaining a reputation as a cruising ground on weekends, had routine traffic. The Atlantic Station Market, an open air market where the works of local artisans are features, attracted a steady but slight crowd.
Just about the only unusual crowd on Peachtree Street was at the restaurant Gladys Knight and Ron Winans Chicken & Waffles.
A few Atlanta police officers on motorcycles were parked out front, next to about three sport utility vehicles with dark windows, suggesting someone important was nearby. Atlanta’s police department offers a security program for dignitaries.
Also on the cruising front will be Fox Theatre, where the BET Hip-Hop Awards Show will be taped on Sunday to air on Wednesday on the cable network.
Planned BET festivities aren’t limited to the city. Other far-flung locations include Decatur’s Chocolate nightclub and Club Nocturnal on Lawrenceville Highway, so watch out for possible traffic congestion.
BET awards participants, goers and starwatchers are expected to pile into popular shopping, dining and party haunts around town. Add to them sports fans who converged on Philips Arena for Saturday night’s game between the Hawks and Seattle SuperSonics, featuring a post-game concert by Atlanta hip-hop star T.I, and for the Falcons 1 p.m. Sunday battle with the Cleveland Browns at the Georgia Dome.
Peachtree Street and other major arteries also could be the scene of traffic hassles as partiers and cruisers make their way around town.
The show will result in some street closings today and Sunday. As if that isn’t enough, there’s also major road work, especially on Ga. 400, to navigate during what could prove to be one of hottest party weekends of the year.
Expect possible traffic headaches downtown around those major venues as well as Underground, South DeKalb Mall, Atlantic Station, Lenox Mall and Phipps Plaza and Buckhead Village, the scenes of high-profile appearances and parties given by music celebs, such as Dupri, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Nelly and Bobby Valentino.
Hip-Hop bops into the Fox
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One day before the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards was to be taped, Atlantans were all over the Fox Theatre on Saturday.
Onstage, Atlanta’s own million-selling rappers Ludacris and Young Jeezy were rehearsing their performance of the single “Grew Up a Screw Up”; the set opened with an old-school Chevelle driven onstage and ended with pyrotechnics.
In the audience was none other than former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young. “I knew [Atlanta hip-hop groups] OutKast and Goodie Mob when they were in high school, but not by their stage names,” said Young, adding that he could not be at the Sunday show because he’s going to Washington for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial groundbreaking.
“I understand hip-hop is a billion-dollar business in Georgia, so I think I need to understand it. And I’m glad BET thought of us.”
BET’s president of entertainment, Reginald Hudlin, seemed happy, too.
“I’m ecstatic about the reception this city has given us,” he said. “I came straight from the airport here. People are nice.”
As the rehearsal continued, Young’s wife seemed to call at a very appropriate moment, asking him to come home a little early.
She must have sensed the next performance was near: Young Jeezy’s solo set — complete with 10 dancers, three poles and an overhead sign that read “Jeezy City.”
Apparently, the set was a nod to another notable Atlanta adult nightspot — Magic City.
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About to take center stage
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
V-103 is into the weekend’s partying in a big way.
At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, about 20 people were gathered outside Center Stage, 1374 West Peachtree St., in anticipation of V-103 Def Jam Takeover, with Ludacris and Young Jeezy on the bill.
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Atlantic Station awaits party
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The party must be getting started much later tonight.
Downtown’s Atlantic Station, thought to be a cruising destination for those in town for the BET Hip-Hop Awards, was a pretty quiet place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
A few streets are blocked by metal barricades, but there was little traffic. Posters of singers Yung Joc and Press Play were hanging from poles at 17th Street and West Peachtree Street, a gateway into the Atlantic Station.
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Flying into town no problem
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The skies were crummy Saturday night but no significant flight delays were being reported at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
That means anyone flying into Atlanta Saturday night for the festivities, and those planning to meet them at the airport, can expect to arrive on time at the parties.
The Federal Aviation Authority reported that arrivals were delayed an average of 15 minutes or less.
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K-Fed wants custody
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pop singer Britney Spears’ soon-to-be-ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is seeking sole custody of their two children. Read the story here.
We’ve watched the couple’s highs and lows, from Spears’ gum-smacking, mascara-streaking interview with Matt Lauer to Federline’s recent CD release, which critics (and the general public) have panned. Who do you think should get custody? Spears, whose parenting skills have come under repeated attack, or Federline, who is asking for spousal support from Spears but also has two other young children to support?
Rumsfeld resigns
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The day after the Democratic victory in congressional elections, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has resigned his post. What do you think this means? Will it mean substantive changes in the war in Iraq — a change in strategy and tactics, or even a decision to bring the troops home sooner? Tell us how you feel about the resignation and how you think the country will be changed.
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Britney Spears and celebrity marriages
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CNN is reporting that pop singer Britney Spears has filed for divorce from Kevin Federline.
It’s not a huge surprise to those who follow celebrity news, but the headline did spark many comments about the frailty of celebrity marriage. There are numerous examples of star marriages (Whitney and Bobby, for instance) that crumple under the scrutiny.
What do you think it’s like to live life, including your personal life, in the spotlight? (And how long did you think Britney and K-Fed would last?)
Carrie Underwood and the CMAs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some random thoughts, opinions and observations from my day in Nashville covering the CMAs…
Carrie Underwood’s acceptance speech for best female vocalist was the defining moment of these CMAs. I knew as soon as she gave it that it would be re-played over and over. Sure enough, as soon as I exited the building I heard it re-played outside as I was heading to my car.
Speaking of Underwood, her shining moment was a less than stellar one for another nominee, Faith Hill. If you were watching the show, you saw her reaction when Underwood was named best female vocalist (if you didn’t, you can catch it online at YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyZRiEJnIag). According to USA Today, a rep from Hill’s management said the singer was joking. What a convincing jokester! With that hateful expression and exquisite eye-roll, she could have fooled me.
What do you think? Add your comments below.
Josh Turner gave my favorite performance of the night. The guy’s voice is unbelievable, an echo of Johnny Cash. And his performance was somehow both understated and magnetic.
If you ever need to change into a tuxedo in the bathroom of a barbecue restaurant, you could do worse than to stumble into Jack’s, a cue joint on Broadway in downtown Nashville. After eating two decent sandwiches, I took my duffel bag into the men’s room and emerged looking like James Bond.
Here’s how the red carpet works. The celebs make an entrance and people cheer. Then, if you’re a working journalist, you stand still and let the celebrities come to you. Or, more accurately, you let their publicists come to you — they present you with little information sheets to brief you on the lesser celebs just before they arrive. (You’re expected to know who the big stars are, and the big stars may very well blow you off.) Then the celebrities (in this case mostly country singers) come by and you notice how much makeup they’re wearing and you ask them a couple of questions and try to guess whether they’ve rehearsed the answer. If you want to throw them off, you can ask something like “What are you reading?” I asked two different people, Gretchen Wilson and Kris Kristofferson, this question on the red carpet and they both replied exactly the same way — “What am I READING?” Eventually, they each coughed up an answer. Curious? Keep your eye on our Sunday Arts & Books section.
Big Kenny of the duo Big & Rich wore a small “Save Darfur” pin on his blue velvet blazer.
Cowboy Troy’s belt buckle was roughly the size of a flat-screen television.
I thought I heard Ronnie Dunn’s voice quiver when he was reading Keith Urban’s acceptance letter. I found this honest moment quite moving.
Carrie beats Sugarland for CMA’s Horizon Award
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NASHVILLE — On a rainy night in Nashville, this year’s CMA Awards show seemed like a massive party for two — Brooks & Dunn. The duo hosted, performed and won four of the six awards it was nominated for, including song, single and vocal duo of the year.
The other stage hog was former “American Idol” Carrie Underwood, who nabbed the award for female vocalist of the year. She gave an emotional speech, calling it the best night of her life. She also beat out Atlanta’s own duo, Sugarland, for the Horizon Award.
The crowd, which was relatively tame throughout the night and only occasionally excited, gave a loud cheer and standing ovation when Keith Urban was tapped for male vocalist of the year. Urban, who recently checked into a rehab facility, didn’t make it to the show. In a letter, he said, “I’m pained not being with you tonight. … I’m looking forward to coming home.”
After a year’s hiatus in New York City, the 40th annual CMAs returned to Music City. The show took place downtown at the Gaylord Entertainment Center (formerly Nashville Arena), home to the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators.
On the red carpet, recording artist Rockie Lynne discussed the awards moving from New York back to Music City.
“Nashville, the whole city is about the event. I think we were very welcomed in New York. It was a wonderful event and everybody welcomed us with open arms. But Nashville being home of country music for so long, it’s such a beautiful feeling.”
The venue — and the unapologetic contradictions of “country music’s biggest night” — made for some interesting juxtapositions.
On one hand, Underwood arrived wearing a dress that she said was worth about $850,000 (reportedly custom-made with nearly 800 Kwiat diamonds). On the other hand, Brad Paisley performed in jeans and a cowboy hat.
On the arena’s concourse, it seemed like it could have been any other night — the concession stands were open and the industrial-size ketchup and mustard tubs were out. Inside the house, though, at least four cameras flew over the audience and people scurried up and down the aisles during commercial breaks.
In a world flooded with awards shows, one might think the CMAs would blur with all of the others. The performances took place on two stages, allowing sets to change on one while a performance took place on another. Atlanta’s own Sugarland graced one of those stages early in the night, playing “Settlin,’” the first song from the duo’s new album “Enjoy the Ride,” which is in stores today .
On the red carpet before the show, singer Alan Jackson said, “The CMAs have always been … the one that you’re always the proudest about winning. … I’m a country music singer, and this is the country music awards.” (By the way, face to face, Jackson is taller than a redwood).
Country Music Awards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Did you read our critics’ picks for the Country Music Awards? If not, click here to read them.
What do you think? What other country singers or bands deserve the recognition?
Who’s best for business?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Which of the three gubernatorial candidates do you think would be best for business in Georgia, and why?
