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Friday, August 17, 2007
Well hello, dollies!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
RELATED
- gallery: Girls reach for the American Girl
S.B. doesn’t go to many events where hors d’oeuvres are passed among the ‘tween set, so Friday night was extra fun.
The new American Girl Boutique and Bistro, which opened at North Point Mall this week to a cavalcade of eager metro Atlanta girls and their moms, closed early on Friday for a smashing grand-opening gala that benefitted Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. See photos here.
Right away we met Heather Jones of Sandy Springs with her daughters Hannah, 8, and Rebecca, 7, and their friend Emily Anne Sewell, 9. The girls all brought their dolls, of course.
“They like to have sleep-overs and play with the dolls,” Jones said.
Hannah Weingarten, 9, of Cumming was there with mom Joni Weingarten and grandmother Sheila Frasier. “It’s something we can all enjoy,” Frasier said.
Standing in line for the doll salon (the doll salon! how fab is that?) was Jennifer Mandel of Alpharetta and her girls Allie, 10, and Ashley, 13. They’ve been to nearly every American Girl store in the country.
“I can’t keep track of all the dolls’ names,” Mandel said. Between her two daughters, there are 19 American Girl dolls (and at least 60 outfits) at Chez Mandel.
Allie and Ashley brought out the big guns for the gala. Both girls’ dolls were super glam - Allie’s doll Elizabeth wore a chic black cocktail dress with a shimmery silver cape, while Ashley’s doll Kit looked ready for a debut in a gown the color of a lemon tart and elbow-length gloves.
“It’s the style,” Ashley said, explaining the allure of American Girl. “You can pick out their clothes, you can style their hair. You can do it for the rest of your life!”
Team A.G. arranged for a well-targeted spread of mini hamburgers and hotdogs, a few grownup bites like crab cakes, and a dazzling dessert buffet of mini cupcakes and such. The bartenders poured wine and brews (and champagne, S.B. is relieved to report) for parents, and pink lemonade for their girls.
Holly Lynn Pierce of Roswell brought 8-year-old daughter Hannah (lots of Hannahs tonight!), who was dressed in cowgirl gear to match her doll Nicki.
“We were here last night and we came back,” Pierce said. “She started getting American Girl dolls when she was two.”
Just before we left we ran into the most charming family.
Jackie Holly and daughter Joyelle, 8, are in town from Virginia, visiting family in Covington. The group included Jackie’s sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Eric Hoggard, and Joyelle’s grandmother, Estella Boyd, also of Virginia.
Everyone was eager to help Joyelle choose a name for her doll.
“Georgia,” her mom suggested. “Gigi for short.”
Joyelle turned thumbs down, thought a minute, then inspiration struck.
“Jennifer!” she said. “Her name is Jennifer!”
S.B. teared up. We are so B.F.F.
The Atlanta Opera comes to Cobb
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A select crowd turned out for a sneak preview of the Atlanta Opera in its new home this week.
The John A. Williams Theatre in the new Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre was the site for the Tuesday and Wednesday night performances.
The Tuesday performance, Taste of the Season, included highlights of the upcoming season performed by soloists Pamela Dillard, Kristopher Irmiter, Rhoslyn Jones, Wesley Morgan and Philip Webb, along with accompanist Craig Kier and the Atlanta Opera Chorus, led by chorus master Walter Huff.
Atlanta Opera Board Member Bob Edge hosted the evening.
The Wednesday event, Opera Highlights, featured the Atlanta Opera Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fagen with soloist Leah Partridge, and Irmiter and Webb.
The early audiences included Nancy Bland, Jim Bland, Carol Clarke, Yoel Levi, his wife, Jackie Levi and her mother Sara Perelman, Ginny Rainey, Tad Leithead, Newell Tozzer and Charlie Yates.
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