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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 26
Monday, November 26, 2007
Hannah tickets could be had for peanuts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is your small fry still in a sulk over your inability to score those impossible-to-get tickets for the Hannah Montana concert Wednesday night at the Gwinnett Arena? The solution may be as easy as dropping by the Publix on Haynes Bridge Road in Alpharetta Tuesday.
What’s more, there’s an opportunity to teach your mopey moppet about helping the truly less fortunate this holiday season.
After their producer Will Gara somehow secured four tickets to the long sold-out show, the B98.5 FM morning team of Kelly & Alpha came up with Tuesday’s daylong Can-nah Montana food drive.
Listeners who stop by the aforementioned Publix from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today with at least one nonperishable food item will be automatically registered to win the set of four tickets when the winner is announced Wednesday morning.
“I’d love to be able to tell you it was one of those great writer’s room moments with Buddy, Sally and Rob Petrie [from “The Dick Van Dyke Show”] or that my agricultural economics degree from Virginia Tech had something to do with it,” joked Alpha Trivette Monday. “But the truth is, we were doing a canned food drive and Can-nah Montana just made perfect sense. It’s a good cause and we hope folks will come out.”
Given the enthusiastic response from listeners, Gara has no idea what he’ll be facing as he does a live remote this morning from the Publix as frantic fans of Miley Cyrus show up.
“It could be nice and orderly or it could be a nightmare,” a guarded Gara told Buzz. All food donated will go to Publix’s “Food For Sharing” drive that benefits the Feed the Hungry program in metro Atlanta.
On Wednesday night, meanwhile, the station will sponsor a party for parents at the Loafing Leprechaun on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth near Gwinnett Arena.
Explained Gara: “Through the years, I’ve noticed lots of parents who drop off their kids at a show and then wait for them for hours in the car. This way, at least they’ll be able to get something to eat.”
Overscene
“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Eric Dane and his actress wife Rebecca Gayheart sipping coffee and hot cocoa at Atlantic Station’s Lobby at Twelve.
Pop star and part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson shopping for ski clothes at Rocky Mountain Sports in Sandy Springs. Citing the “Why Did I Get Married?” actress’ preference for privacy, store reps would only confirm the sighting when we got all nosy and rang the store for details Monday.
R&B singer and Broadway actress Toni Braxton dining with about 25 friends and family at Uncle Julio’s Casa Grande in Buckhead.
Tyler Perry among ‘Top Entertainers’
Jackson is a bit less private when it comes to raving about her Atlanta director Tyler Perry in the new “The Top 25 Entertainers” issue of Entertainment Weekly now on newsstands. The writer-actor is named as one of the mag’s “Most Buzzed About” celebs on the list. Said Jackson in EW: “He’s a wonderful writer. He knows what his audience wants. It’s just a God-given thing.” When “Why Did I Get Married?” made $21.4 million this year, opening opposite less successful fare by George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg, Perry captured the attention of more than just his core fans. Writes EW’s Tim Stack: Now that the Atlanta-based mogul has gotten Hollywood’s attention, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes a true industry giant.”
You’ll recall that Peachtree Road resident Elton John first raved to us about Amy Winehouse back in February. The singer continues to cautiously praise the troubled “Rehab” vocalist in the issue. Says Sir Elton in EW: “I’ve seen her live and she is the real deal, although she sometimes can be hit-and-miss, depending on how out of it she is. It’s like [the late] Nina Simone and Van Morrison: You don’t know what you’re going to get. You don’t know if it’s going to be a little off or if it’s going to be electrifying. The only thing that’s going to stop Amy is herself.”
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor James Avery (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”) is 59. TV personality Bill Nye (above, “Bill Nye the Science Guy”) is 52. Actor William Fichtner (“Prison Break”) is 51. Actress Robin Givens is 43. Actor Michael Vartan (“Big Shots”) is 39. Rapper Twista is 35. Actor Jaleel White (“Family Matters”) is 31.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Because that’s what they’re for!”
—“Grey’s Anatomy” actress Chandra Wilson, on why she continues to clip coupons (the actress on the hit show still does her own grocery shopping) on “The View” Monday
Contributing: 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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Bartender serves up positive vibe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buzz understands you can be the best, most convivial gastropub this side of the Thames River, but without a staff that exudes personality, charm and character, pub could easily turn into flub.
Bartender Joshua Buggs at Tap in Midtown epitomizes outstanding customer service to the point where we’d go back just to let him whip up another one of his savvy cocktail creations.
When Buzz and our companion Shawn Joyner dropped by Tap on Saturday for booze and a bite, we’d already heard of the place’s reputation as a cool spot to congregate for cold beer and conversation. Yet it’s always nice to have someone serve you who really enjoys what they do.
“The most important thing is service with a smile,” Buggs says. “Any negative aura is going to bring somebody down. You have to be happy to be here.”
Buggs, who’s been with Tap since it opened in the spring at 1180 Peachtree St., says he enjoys serving customers drinks they’re not used to. In his arsenal are such diddies as the Polluted Tapwater (fresh mashed berries, ginger beer and choice of gin, tequila, rum or vodka), the Astro Pop (four Stoli vodkas, sour mix, Sprite, blue curacao and grenadine) and, our favorite, the Grateful Dead (Long Island Iced Tea, but mixes in blue curacao and Chambord). All definitely worth a try.
And what grand, masterful recipe does this Purveyor of the Pour like to whip up for himself?
“I enjoy Sapphire gin and tonic.”
Fire closes Tower II
When Buzz turned to the Sunday morning news and saw a brief report that the popular gay Atlanta nightspot Tower II had caught fire Saturday, we sprung into action for more information.
It may take four or five weeks for fire officials to determine the cause, said a distraught Angela Ballew, owner of the predominantly African-American venue that has seen such celebs as Kelly Price, local hip-hop artist Ms. B, Jeffrey Osborne, Divinity (Beyonce’s bass player) and Frenchie of “American Idol” fame make appearances.
“But we’re glad it happened in the morning and that no one got hurt.”
Ballew says the fire started about 8:30 or 9 a.m. and was confined to the roof area.
Mario Harris, who hosts parties at the venue each Friday night through his WassupNAtl group, says, “Everything was fine, and we were good to go” at the end of the night.
Harris says he’s exploring his options, including a move to Django, to carry on his Friday hip-hop, house and R&B events until Tower II gets back on its feet.
“We’re going to rebuild,” notes Ballew. “It’s going to take us a little while, but God works in mysterious ways. And when we do rebuild, we’re going to be bigger and better.”
She hopes for a grand reopening in spring.
Divorce report surprises Hulk
Looks like Hulk Hogan was dealt a major blow — and he never saw it coming.
The St. Petersburg, Fla., Times reported Friday that Hogan’s wife, Linda, filed for divorce from the wrestler, according to The Associated Press.
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, told the Times he didn’t know his wife had filed for divorce. He was informed by a reporter that Pinellas County court records showed the paperwork was submitted Tuesday. “Holy smokes,” Bollea later told the newspaper. “Wow, you just knocked the bottom out of me.”
The couple star in the VH1 reality TV series “Hogan Knows Best,” with their two children.
Hogan’s 17-year-old son, Nick Bollea, was arrested on reckless-driving charges Nov. 7 after a car accident. Clearwater police said Bollea crashed his 1998 Toyota Supra while street racing against a friend. A report said Bollea was driving faster than 60 mph in a 40 mph zone.
Bollea was not seriously injured, but his passenger, John Graziano, was critically hurt.
T.I. Fallout
“[T.I.’s] legal issues could jeopardize branding and movie commitments, including a movie role in the film ‘Once Was Lost,’ a partnership with Chevrolet and the launch of his own clothing company, AKOO.
At press time, Chevrolet said T.I.’s endorsement deal is ‘under review’” — Hillary Crosley, in the Nov. 24 issue of Billboard magazine
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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