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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 30 > Entry
W hotel unveiling draws movers and shakers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Peachtree Street and 14th is the best piece of real estate in the Southeast not on the water,” Noble Investment Group president and CEO Mitesh Shah told Buzz Thursday night.
That would explain the violet carpet and the thousands of people who packed in for the official unveiling of Shah’s W hotel in Midtown.
Whiskey Park nightclub co-owner Rande Gerber was holding court up the stairs in the high-end party playground while Spice Market French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten was welcoming attendees to his latest culinary creation.
Downstairs, hotel guests were sipping complimentary champagne and nibbling on tiny pork chops and scooping up passion fruit creme brulee.
“30 Rock” actress Katrina Bowden who plays Tina Fey’s assistant on the NBC sitcom was dazzled by the new Atlanta property.
“I had to come out because I love the W so much,” she told us.
OK, so down to business. What’s up next season for the Emmy-winning comedy?
“It’s going to be interesting with Jack [Donaghy played by Alec Baldwin] possibly not the head of G.E. anymore. The show has been such a great experience. We’ve learned so much from each other as an ensemble. I’ve learned a lot about timing.”
A few feet away, Atlanta chef Shaun Doty was taking the night off from his popular Inman Park eatery, Shaun’s.
“I came here for one reason,” Doty told us. “To pay homage to Jean-Georges. He’s been such an inspiration to me in my career. I just wanted to thank him and to invite him to Shaun’s for a meal. He’s a star.”
Speaking of which, “Sex and the City” actor Jason Lewis was mobbed by female fans when he turned up at the hotel opening. His character Smith Jerrod emerges in the new feature flick as Samantha’s one-time waiter boy toy turned successful TV doc actor on a “Grey’s Anatomy”-like series.
Of his premiere-filled few weeks here and abroad, Lewis told us: “It’s been so rewarding to be a part of all this. But I never really knew if I would get the call for the movie or not. I’m always amazed when any film gets made, to be honest. It’s been an amazing ride. And the opportunity to play out the evolution of this relationship in the movie is a real tribute to [writer-director] Michael Patrick King’s amazing gifts as a writer.”
Lewis couldn’t help smiling when we pointed out that female fans of the hit HBO show were already packing into movie theaters Thursday night to get their first glimpse of “Sex.”
“Isn’t that great? I love that people are so into it and that women have something great to go to the movies for. I learned from playing [Smith Jerrod] how to have an opinion without being judgmental. And it’s come in handy!”
Among the attendees spotted in the crowd: Tongue and Groove nightclub owner Michael Krohngold, Atlanta doctors Jeffrey and Nancy Gallups, A Legendary Event catering guru Tony Conway (who was hobbling around the soiree after experiencing a leg injury while zip-lining on vacation recently), salon owner Richie Arpino, Star 94 general manager Mark Kanov, jeweler Mark Edge, WSB-TV news anchor Jovita Moore and Action News reporter Manuel Bojorquez enjoying a rare evening off.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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