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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 11
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Ski claims Shout, other clubs discourage black clientele
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Having covered the BET Hip-Hop Awards parties here last fall, Buzz did much head-nodding when V-103 morning man Frank Ski went on-air Wednesday morning to criticize nightspots in the city that try and discourage a predominantly African-American clientele on certain nights.
The odd thing? Ski happened to be on the airwaves of Q100’s “The Bert Show” when he lobbed the audio grenade.
Using Shout in Midtown as an example, Ski criticized clubs and restaurants that charge higher cover charges, change the DJ playlist and request outrageous parking fees when “black folk” start turning up en masse.
“When Vision closed, their Friday night crowd started going to Shout,” Ski told Buzz on Wednesday. “This happens all over the city. It’s not necessarily the black clientele, per se, but it’s the perception of having a black clientele that businesses try and avoid. If they get labeled as a ‘black establishment,’ then they’re afraid the white folk will be scared to come in.”
Ski and co-host Wanda Smith appeared briefly on Q100 on Wednesday to help promote the two stations’ MLK Day eve Unity Party at Lotus Lounge, set for Sunday night where the two radio audiences will hopefully hang together.
Moments after Ski hung up, David Abes, director of operations for Here to Serve Restaurants, Shout’s parent company, phoned into Q100 to challenge Ski’s claims.
“We cater to everybody,” Abes said. “We want an eclectic crowd and we play every genre of music. We’re throwing a party every night. I’m surprised that Frank would make a comment like that, especially since he called me last week on my cellphone to make a reservation at Shout.”
Ski told Buzz that he did indeed make the reservation. “A lot of times I’ll have celebrities and notable folks who want to go out, and I make the reservations for the group,” Ski explained.
For the record, there is no cover charge at Sunday night’s gathering at Lotus Lounge.
Ski will be among the folks in the DJ booth.
Cash for Whitney?
There’s a possibility that Whitney Houston’s company Nippy Inc. could see a check from the court-ordered public auction of her former stuff Tuesday.
Reps at A.J. Willner Auctions — the Irvington, N.J. company that sold off Houston’s white leather throne, Dolce & Gabbana sequined tiger-print skirt and other cast-off items — told Buzz on Wednesday that the sale raised “just under $200,000.” According to lawyers for the warehouse that took Houston’s company to court over unpaid rental fees, Nippy had an outstanding bill of between $150,000 and $200,000.
The former Alpharetta resident could feasibly see a check large enough for at least a couple of replacement black velvet bustiers. …
An Austin mystery
Since Atlanta power attorney Joel Katz was presented directly in front of us on the red carpet for a pre-Grammy party, Buzz couldn’t pass up yet another opportunity to inquire about one of his famous clients. No, not the late James Brown nor the current “American Idol” finalist-turned-Broadway star Diana DeGarmo.
No, it’s the one who was convicted of drug possession in Dubai last summer and quickly pardoned.
So where was Grammy winner Dallas Austin on this big musical night in Atlanta, we asked. “Dallas is actually in Los Angeles delivering a movie,” Katz responded Tuesday night.
About Austin’s own personal adventure? Katz smiled and replied, “No comment.”
Then, before he made his way inside Tiffany & Co. for the local chapter of the Recording Academy’s celebration, still smiling, he added: “I just happen to be going to Dubai on Friday.”
And why would that be Mr. Katz? “No comment.”
Kudos for Beltline
Handing the city of Atlanta an award for the Beltline project this week seems a bit like congratulating a college student just for signing up for that advanced calculus course. Still, the bold, albeit glacially paced and boulder-riddled, excursion in urban renewal is set for kudos tonight in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit Partners for Livable Communities has selected Atlanta’s ambitious project as one of nine recipients at the Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit dinner.
Presented by Governing magazine publisher Peter Harkness, the award recognizes the Beltline project as “one of the most dynamic urban strategic investments in America,” according to Partners for Livable Communities president Bob McNulty. We’re going to assume that when determining to bestow our fair city with a national livability award, PLC reps did not seek the input from jaywalking visiting British historians… .
Sick bay
Expect to see Bree in bed later this season on “Desperate Housewives.” Her portrayer, Marcia Cross, who is expecting twins in April with husband, Tom Mahoney, has been put on bed rest, her spokeswoman said Wednesday.
“This is a precautionary measure only,” publicist Heidi Slan said in an e-mail.
Producers have decided to move production at the end of this week to the actress’ Los Angeles home for two days, according to a story posted on TV Guide’s Web site.
Cross, whose character isn’t pregnant, had planned to film only two more shows following the Feb. 11 episode because it was becoming too difficult to hide her pregnancy,
TV Guide reported Wednesday.
Quote of the day
“That poor pathetic man.” — Barbara Walters, referring to Donald Trump’s latest pot-stirring letter on Wednesday’s episode of the highly-rated ABC soap “The View.” Walters and co-host Rosie O’Donnell then high-fived each other.
Today’s birthdays
Actor Rod Taylor is 77. Country singer Naomi Judd is 61. Actress Kim Coles (“Living Single”) is 45. Singer Mary J. Blige is 36. Actress Amanda Peet (“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”) is 35.
Contributing: Sonia Murray and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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