New url for Peach Buzz
Bookmark this new url for Peach Buzz.. We have moved to Wordpress!
Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February > 12 > Entry
Carter Center reaps $1.2 million from auction
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn spent a lucrative weekend in Port St. Lucie, Fla. This year’s annual Winter Weekend fund-raiser for the couple’s Carter Center raised $1.2 million for the global nonprofit.
And as usual, it was a handcrafted item from the president’s woodworking shop in Plains that inspired the highest bids.
This year, Carter donated a hard maple wood bench that sold for $300,000.
In a statement e-mailed to Buzz, Carter said: “I want to thank those who bought items at Winter Weekend and all of the Center’s supporters for their generosity. Their belief in the work of The Carter Center is making a difference in the lives of people in more than 70 nations.”
Founded in 1982, The Carter Center advances peace and health worldwide. So what else in the auction will likely result in extra postage on next month’s credit card statements for generous Carter Center supporters?
A one-of-a-kind photo signed by the Carters, Al and Tipper Gore, George H.W. Bush, Hillary and Bill Clinton and Betty and Gerald Ford went for $210,000.
A fly-fishing vacation with the Carters in the Georgia mountains scored $125,000, $60,000 was bid for a copy of the Camp David Accords signed by Carter, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and Dr. Jehan Sadat, widow of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, including a separate signature by Anwar Sadat and $45,000 for a photograph of five presidents autographed by all of them.
View all the winning bids and to get details on the center’s work, go to www.cartercenter.org.
$151.50 a ticket for this?
Lousy sound marred an otherwise spirited effort by Van Halen at Philips Arena downtown Sunday night. This was the first time the notoriously prickly combo of Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth have been on tour in more than two decades.
The pair seemed to get along (possibly just a case of good acting). But they were both clearly annoyed by a horrid sound mix that sucked the energy (not to mention the song clarity) out of the sold-out arena. And during Eddie Van Halen’s signature 15-minute guitar solo, the sound just died completely. There were points when Roth — hardly the best vocalist even on his best day — could be seen struggling to hear anything out of his earpiece and had to switch out mikes more than once.
Plus, this was not a true reunion of Van Halen, circa 1984. Bassist Michael Anthony, a Sammy Hagar acolyte, was booted before the tour. Instead, Eddie’s 16-year-old son Wolfgang took over. While he seemed to handle the bass just fine, he had zero stage presence. And well, Roth is still a cartoon after all these years, replete with sideburns, a Sgt. Pepper’s embroidered jacket and leather pants. Let’s hope the act has better luck with technical issues at Gwinnett Arena on Feb. 25.
A layover for Lowe
Remember we told you a few months ago that the Bill Lowe Gallery was moving from Bennett Street to new digs at Two Peachtree Pointe in Midtown?
The trip won’t exactly be nonstop. Because of construction delays, the gallery announced Monday that it “will make a temporary three- to six-month stop-over” in the Silhouette Building, the former Peachtree Street location of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia at 1447 Peachtree St. in Midtown. We hear the gallery will be open to the public and will be fully staffed and operational on March 1. “We fully intended to debut our new world-class gallery in the heart of Midtown in late March,” explained Lowe. “Unfortunately, we encountered unforeseen delays that have jeopardized these plans. Our clients and friends can be assured that we are on track to move to the Peachtree Pointe location in three to six months.”
The temporary gallery space will host its first exhibition on March 21, featuring works by artists Gary Komarin and Steve Seinberg.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS Movie director Franco Zeffirelli is 85. Sportscaster Joe Garagiola is 82. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors is 69. Actor Josh Brolin (above) (“No Country For Old Men”) is 40. Actor Jesse Spencer (“House”) is 29. Actress Christina Ricci is 28.
QUOTE OF THE DAY “I got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen to you yet, Kanye?”
“Best Country Album” Grammy recipient Vince Gill to Kanye West after Ringo Starr handed Gill his Grammy on Sunday night. Earlier, West had worn out most of America by continually reminding us how much more Grammy-deserving he is than the other nominees.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Permalink | |
