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Magician Blaine materializes at Buckhead birthday party
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Michele Slepian pulled off quite a trick over the weekend for her husband Eric’s surprise 40th-birthday party at Pricci. When the Peachtree City attorney turned up at the Buckhead restaurant, 35 of his closest friends — and New York magician David Blaine — were waiting. “He told me a long time ago that he wanted David Blaine at his 40th-birthday party,” Michele Slepian told us Monday. “He’s a big fan.” And since Blaine doesn’t normally do private parties, getting him to materialize in Atlanta was a challenge for Slepian. “Let’s just say I was persuasive!” she said. Eventually, a contract with Blaine was brokered.
Guests report that Blaine stayed all evening at the bash, performed card tricks and signed autographs. “Eric was completely shocked,” said Michele. Here’s hoping that an even bigger shock isn’t awaiting the birthday boy when the credit card statement arrives this month.
Thai-lovers take note: Tamarind will return
For the past week, hungry Thai food enthusiasts have arrived at Tamarind in Midtown for lunch or dinner only to find it dark.
In an effort to quell a citywide panic, we rang co-owner Charlie Niyomkul on Monday to find out what’s going on. It turns out that the much beloved 9-year-old eatery at 80 14th St. finally has become a victim of that long-dreaded expansion of the 14th Street bridge.
“There was really nothing left to do,” Niyomkul explained Monday. This fall, Tamarind, long considered by local foodies as arguably the finest Thai restaurant in town, will relocate a few blocks away at Colony Square at 14th and Peachtree streets. Tamarind will reside in the former Corner Bakery space that more recently has been the locale of three snake-bitten Tom Catherall restaurant concepts.
The space will be renamed Tamarind Spice Market, but Niyomkul reassures Buzz that the original concept and attention to quality will remain.
And the upside? None of us will ever again have to park in that sketchy gas station lot across 14th Street from the old parking-impaired location and pray that our car isn’t being towed — or worse.
“I honestly don’t know how we were able to keep our customers with all that,” Niyomkul conceded, laughing. “We appreciate our customers’ loyalty so much through all that.”
When the new Tamarind debuts in November, with a flashy interior by Bill Johnson Studios, valet parking and an adjacent garage will be available for its customers. In the interim, if you’re going through Thai withdrawal, Niyomkul humbly suggests you pop into Nan at 130 Spring St. — his family’s other popular dining destination.
Falcons fashionably fitted
It’s probably a given to assume that the two dozen Atlanta Falcons players who’ll strut the catwalk at the fourth annual “Wash ‘N Wear Fashion Show” to benefit the Warrick Dunn Foundation will get to keep their duds. Last week, the Falcons and coach Jim Mora turned up to be measured for their custom-made attire for the Oct. 9 gala at King Plow Arts Center downtown. The athletes will be sporting the latest from designers such as 7 for All Mankind jeans and shirts by LUI-B or RyanKenny. The evening will benefit Dunn’s charity that assists first-time single mother homeowners.
A spy at the measuring session (albeit one with a tape measure) reports that some of the brawnier players have 29-inch thighs.
Tickets to the event range from $125 for individual seats to $1,000 for VIP access and a pre-show cocktail party with Falcons Keith Brooking, Rod Coleman, Alge Crumpler, Brian Finneran, DeAngelo Hall, Patrick Kerney, Kevin Mathis, Allen Rossum, Matt Schaub, D.J. Shockley, Michael Vick, Roddy White, Warrick Dunn and coach Mora. For more info: www.warrickdunn
foundation.org.
Celebrity docket
Diddy’s been dissed in the U.K. Atlanta restaurateur Sean “Diddy” Combs is Diddy no more — at least across the pond.
The musician and entertainment mogul has agreed to drop the “Diddy” name as part of an out-of-court legal settlement with London-based music producer Richard “Diddy” Dearlove, the law firm representing Dearlove said Monday.
Solicitors Jens Hills & Co. said Combs had agreed to “rebrand his commercial activities” in Britain and would “no longer be able to trade in the U.K. as ‘Diddy.’ ” Combs’ lawyer, Nigel Calvert, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Dearlove launched a lawsuit for unfair competition, claiming that the name change had caused confusion. The case had been due to go to the High Court next month.
“I started getting e-mails from Puerto Rican girls asking if they could be in my video, and people were asking me to look at their clothing line,” Dearlove was quoted as saying by The Guardian newspaper.
Combs agreed to pay Dearlove’s costs, as well as “significant” damages, Dearlove’s lawyer said.
“It doesn’t matter how big people become,” he said. “This is my name. I’ve been successful too. I’m not a global megastar, but what I do is valid.”
Celebrity birthdays
Country singer George Jones is 75. Actress Linda Gray is 66. Singer Ben Folds is 40. Singer Liam Gallagher of Oasis is 34. Actor Paul Walker (“The Fast and the Furious”) is 33. Country singer Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland is 32. Actor Benjamin McKenzie (“The O.C.”) is 28. Singer Ruben Studdard is 28.
Contributing: news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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By jonny
September 12, 2006 7:26 AM | Link to this
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September 12, 2006 7:26 AM | Link to this
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