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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 15
Monday, October 15, 2007
Fonda project gets ultimate house gift
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s always tasteful to take along a hostess gift when you attend a party. But Jane Fonda, founder of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, couldn’t tote what CDM International CEO Christian Michael de Medici brought to the “Blue 2 Do” fund-raiser at Midtown’s Blue Med Spa over the weekend.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist presented the two-time Oscar winner with the keys to a new house.
The structure will be used for G-CAPP’s ambitious new Doula Project, which will pair an experienced birth attendant with pregnant girls. The doulas will assist during the birth and supply necessary emotional and social support to their charges before and after the birth.
More than 300 invited guests turned out for the tented occasion, which served as the second birthday for the popular Midtown spa run by John Stupka.
Upstairs, taking a brief break from the gaggle of guests, Fonda — with her favorite pooch Tulea napping in her lap — filled Buzz in.
“It’s so crucial for these girls to have that support system,” Fonda said. “It’s important to give them information, but they also need to know that they’re loved.”
Fonda then introduced us to de Medici, a self-professed former “circuit boy and trust fund baby” who gifted the house to the nonprofit.
“When 9/11 happened, it served as a wakeup call for me,” said de Medici. “Suddenly, I realized that life is not gifted to anyone. I was tired of writing checks. I wanted to get more involved. Because of things I’ve gone through in my own life, Jane Fonda’s work and G-CAPP’s work is very important to me.”
Not your mama’s bacon recipes
It’s Porky’s nightmare, and a bacon lover’s delight. For the next two nights, Tennessee bacon master Allan Benton’s famed smokehouse creations get star treatment at two Atlanta restaurants. Benton will be in the house for both meals, taking a break from producing the country hams and bacons that have won praise this year from Gourmet and Saveur magazines and AJC dining critic Meridith Ford.
At Repast, chef/owner Joe Truex plans a four-course, $45 menu Wednesday night that includes panini with Benton’s country ham, figs, mascarpone and Maytag blue cheese; pan-fried pork cutlet with bacon, capers and dried cherries; and bacon, date and almond ice cream.
Truex usually focuses on wine for the monthly dinners, but wanted to spotlight Benton’s pork this time.
“Who doesn’t love bacon?” Truex asked Monday. “When the mailman delivers his invoices, I can smell the smoke on the envelope. That’s cool.”
At Food 101 in Morningside, chef Ron Eyester will offer a seven-course menu of Benton’s best on Tuesday for $52. Among the courses: potato stuffed with bacon, balsamic roasted mushrooms and trout caviar; chicken and country ham wellington with potato puree and tomato-pork jus; and (see if you can spot the pork here) strawberry and fennel turnover with arugula ice cream.
To reserve: Repast, 404-870-8707; for Food 101, 404-347-9747.
And about that pork in the turnover? Praise the lard and pass the pastry.
Young Georgians get dose of reality
Georgians are keeping us deeply entertained on both CBS reality shows “Kid Nation” and “Survivor.”
“Kid Nation,” which opened to mucho controversy but has been a disappointing ratings performer, has seven Georgians among the 40 participants.
Two have been standouts — haughty beauty queen 10-year-old Taylor of Sylvester and delightfully quirky 11-year-old Jared of Dunwoody.
Taylor’s critics have accused her of being stubborn and lazy. Taylor, already known for spitting out the phrase “Deal with it!” doesn’t seem to care.
“As the upper class, we don’t really have to work to get our paychecks. We can laze around all day!” she said. After being bumped down to cook level after her yellow team came in third on a challenge, she said: “If you don’t like our food, you can starve yourselves.”
While shirking dishwashing duties and drinking root beer instead at the saloon, Taylor said: “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care!”
Jared is a quote machine. “I am not the kind of person who does the cheering stuff,” he proclaimed last week. “I meditate.”
Meanwhile, over on “Survivor,” opinionated Atlanta teacher Sherea Lloyd has survived four rounds of eliminations unscathed although she was considered for ouster this past Thursday. Her problem? She doesn’t work much in camp and saves her energy for the challenges, where she has done fairly well.
Her petty arguments with tiresome model Dave Cruser made for good TV but didn’t endear her to the tribe. Fortunately, the rest of her team found Dave more irritating and voted him off. — Rodney Ho contributed to this article
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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Fonda’s project for teen moms gets a house
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s always tasteful to take along a hostess gift when you attend a party. But Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention founder Jane Fonda couldn’t handily tote what CDM International CEO Christian Michael de Medici brought to the “Blue 2 Do” fund-raiser at Blue Med Spa in Midtown over the weekend.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist presented the two-time Oscar winner with the keys to a new house.
The structure will be used for G-CAPP’s ambitious new Doula Project, which will pair an experienced birth attendant with pregnant girls. The doulas will assist during the birth, but also supplies necessary emotional and social support to their charges before and after the birth.
More than 300 invited guests turned out for the tented occasion, which also served as the second birthday for the popular Midtown spa run by John Stupka.
Upstairs, taking a brief break from the gaggle of guests who all brought $100 gift cards to help furnish G-CAPP’s latest acquisition, Fonda — with her favorite pooch Tulea napping in her lap — filled us in on the project.
“It’s so crucial for these girls to have that support system,” Fonda told Buzz. “It’s important to give them information but they also need to know that they’re loved.”
Fonda then introduced us to de Medici, a self-professed former “circuit boy and trust fund baby” who gifted the house to the nonprofit.
“When 9/11 happened, it served as a wake up call for me,” said de Medici. “Suddenly, I realized that life is not gifted to anyone. I was tired of writing checks. I wanted to get more involved. Because of things I’ve gone through in my own life, Jane Fonda’s work and G-CAPP’s work is very important to me.”
Later, on stage downstairs as the actress-activist introduced two of the doulas who will be working with G-CAPP, you could have heard a bead of condensation inch down a glass of chardonnay as Fonda spoke emotionally and passionately about the program.
“You’re 16, you’re alone, you’re pregnant and you have no one,” Fonda told the crowd. “You’ve got to go to the hospital for the first time and you’re terrified. The doulas are there to help and to love.”
Fonda also stressed the importance of teaching breast-feeding.
Joked Jane as daughter Vanessa Vadim stood in the back, smiling: “My daughter is here tonight. She breast-fed for three years! That bonding is so important. And the mothers realize that this isn’t just a puddle of poop and pee and trouble in her arms. This is something that needs love.”
As she surveyed the crowd, an emotional Fonda blinked back tears as she told the assembled: “I can’t tell you how moved I am for the wonderful community that has been created for us here in Atlanta.”
While we were at the party, we also managed to secure details on Fonda’s elaborate 70th birthday plans here in December. Look for the full scoop in Wednesday’s Buzz.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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