Home > Social Butterfly > Archives > 2007 > August
August 2007
Busy moms take a break
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fayette County author and consultant Nea Anna Simone hosted a coffee klatch Wednesday to kick off a 10-city “Whistle Stop Tour” by Momseasychair.com, an online magazine and community for moms.
The group included Sal Kibler of Ansley Park, publisher of www.momseasychair.com; and MaryJayne Lambert Carter, whose “Sweet M’s Candy World” signature milk chocolate bars lent a sweet touch to the gathering.
Also attending: Vanecia Wills-Leufroy, spiritual coach and host of “A Woman’s Spirit,” on Radio Sandy Springs; Clayton County criminal defense attorney Bernadette Clark Wright; Valerie Williams, founder of the non-profit women’s transitional shelter program “Up On Your Luck;” and India Adams Patterson, a stay-at-home mom of an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
The tour tolls on to Greenville, S.C. and Charlotte, N.C., where Simone, mother of three daughters, will be one of the keynote speakers at a town hall meeting.
An inspiring event
Television journalist Tiffany Cochran Edwards hosts an upcoming fund-raiser to benefit the documentary “Daughters of Men,” based on the book “Daughters of Men: Portraits of African-American Men and Their Daughters.” It is a compilation of photographs and essays about African-American women and their fathers.
The event, featuring a cocktail buffet and performance by R&B trio Brownstone, also benefits the Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Brain Tumor Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The famed barrister died in 2005 at 67 of a brain tumor.
The event is planned for 8 p.m. Sept. 22 in the atrium lobby of the SunTrust Plaza garden offices, 303 Peachtree Center Ave. Tickets are $175. Call 404-827-3598 or email vicki.hamilton@turner.com.
For information on the documentary, see www.daughtersofmen.com.
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Hot Light, Hot Night
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was an air of mystery surrounding the recent Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation event.
Guests were to be picked up from their homes and squired around town by limo. First stop, Nan for appetizers. Then on to the Palm for dinner.
The location for dessert: Top secret!
So here’s the hot scoop: the Krispy Kreme on Ponce was the final dining destination.
The evening raised more than $17,000 for children with Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. More than 50 people turned out for the inventive fundraiser, including Charlene and Richard Carl, Deb Neff and Iris and Louie Shemaria.
Ladies, let’s lunch
EnAble of Georgia, which works with adults with developmental disabilities, has a fun event coming up.
The “Phantom of the Fashion Show” fundraiser is set for Sept. 7 at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Registration starts at 11 a.m. and the event features lunch, a fashion show and a raffle drawing for two business-class tickets to NYC, a two-night stay at InterContinental The Barclay New York, and Broadway tickets.
Lunch will feature salad, honey-pecan chicken and — this is reason enough to go — a luscious concoction involving a white chocolate “Phantom” mask for dessert.
Tickets are $50 each in advance or $60 at the door. Tables of 10 are $1,200, tables of eight are $1,000. Info: 770-664-4347, ext. 103, or www.enablega.org.
‘Cadillac Jazz Lounge’ revs their engines
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A revved-up crowd turned out Saturday for the “Cadillac Jazz Lounge” at the InterContinental Hotel.
We asked Valarie Barney, who was trying the Courvoisier Cosmopolitan, if she drives a Caddy. “I don’t yet,” she said. Visiting with Clinton Jones, Laura Dawson and Sylvia Dawson, we swooped in to inspect Sylvia’s too-fab deco dragonfly pin.
“It was just something I decided I needed,” she said, speaking the Butterfly’s language. Domonique Fines, Lorraine Hayes, Kimberly Horton, Dara Modupé, Robert Mosley and Erin Rivers were among those enjoying a preview of the 2008 CTS and performance by jazz artist Euge Groove.
Dance of the Politician
Marietta City Councilman Van Pearlberg makes his ballet debut this December. He won a walk-on role in “The Nutcracker” during “Dancers are Athletes,” held at ESPN Zone to benefit Georgia Ballet.
Wife Patti and friends Judge Stephen Schuster and wife Reva, Scott Pearson, Kelly Ellis, and Jennifer Paugh, pooled their tickets, won and nominated the affable Pearlberg.) Sportscaster Gil Tyree emceed and the crowd included former NBA pro Dale Ellis, Georgia Ballet executive director Michele Ziemann-DeVos and board chairman Sam Hensley Jr.
They’ve got the Fever
Paul and Claudia Raines will chair the 19th Annual Latin Fever Ball, “Caribe! Ritmo, Sabor y Sol.” The black-tie event, featuring Latin music and cuisine, will be Sept. 22 at the InterContinental. Aida Perez Flamm is honorary chair. See www.latinamericanassoc.org.
Start getting that costume together
S.B. married into Savannah’s batty aristocracy and considers John Berendt’s book fairly spot-on, so we’re excited about Jerusalem House’s Halloween Bash ‘07: “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil.”
It’s Oct. 26 the Foundry at Puritan Mill and will feature costume contests such as best “Good,” best “Evil,” and best “Gender-Bender.” Judges will include the Lady Chablis of “Midnight” fame and Miss Georgia USA 2007 Brittany Swann. Call 404-350-0513 or email info@jerusalemhouse.org.
Catering clairvoyance
Are you over the food-tini trend — everything from chocolate mousse to shrimp cocktail in a martini glass? The folks at Affairs to Remember hear you. General manager Patrick Cuccaro and staff recently buried a 30-year time capsule predicting more organic items and smaller portion sizes in the future, and hoping for the day when martini glasses hold only martinis. What’s your take? Tell me at butterfly@ajc.com, 404-526-5872 or 72 Marietta Street, Atlanta 30303.
“New Leash” is Luxe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Even the four-legged set was dressed to impress at last night’s private shopping event at Ralph Lauren.
Gypsy, a 5-pound Yorkshire terrier, was tricked out in a feathery hair clip and matching custom-made garment. She took in the scene from the arms of owner Tamsen Christensen.
“She’ll be 5 next month,” Christensen said as she and Gypsy greeted guests arriving at the Lenox store. The event, chaired by Aida Flamm, Lisa Miller and David York, benefited A New Leash on Life, a companion animal advocacy group.
Near the front of the store we visited with Sharon Severance and Kimberly Foley. Severance is a cat person, she told us. But her purebred Russian Blue, named Bentley, has adopted some canine proclivities.
“I take him out on walks,” she said. (As in, on a leash. S.B. would need a tourniquet if we tried that with one of our cats.)
Chit-chatting near a group of fabulous fall scarves were Cathy Cooper, Sydna Worthington and Ramona Mendoza. We paused to clink glasses with Julie Bryant and Marlene Alexander.
Toward the back of the store we met Debbie Gross admiring the longish hairstyle of Blue Med Spa’s John Stupka. He says he decided to try the tousled look for summer. Trust us, it’s a hit.
S.B.’s husband is a bowtie and seersucker man, so naturally we gravitated to Ralph Lauren associate Freddie Miller, modeling a merlot-colored bowtie from the fall collection. He demonstrated the chic new way to tie one, by the way. Knot it so it’s a little shorter, producing a more compact form. We’ll pass that along.
And standing next to his gorgeous wife was Allen Flamm in a smart seersucker suit with orange, navy and tan stripes - a great segue into fall. Aida Flamm, by the way, has signed on as honorary chair of the 19th Annual Latin Fever Ball, “Caribe! Ritmo, Sabor y Sol,” to be held on Sept. 22 at the InterContinental Buckhead.
A New Leash on Life has another fundraiser coming up in November. For all the details and more information about the group, see www.newleashonlifega.org.
Dance of the Councilman
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a fun newsflash.
Marietta City Councilman Van Pearlberg will be making his ballet debut this December.
He won a walk-on role in the Georgia Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker,” during the ballet’s fundraiser over the weekend. Wife Patti and their friends - Judge Stephen Schuster and wife Reva, Scott Pearson, Kelly Ellis, and Jennifer Paugh - all pooled their tickets for a shot in the drawing during “Dancers are Athletes,” a sports-themed fundraiser held at ESPN Zone in Buckhead.
When serendipity struck, the winning group nominated the gregarious Pearlberg, who gets to choose someone to accompany him on stage.
(Kidding aside, it’s not uncommon for Nutcracker productions to feature cameo walk-ons by local notables during the early party scene when guests are strolling about.)
Sportscaster Gil Tyree emceed the Saturday night event and the crowd included former NBA pro Dale Ellis, with his fiancee Daphne and brother Darryl.
Georgia Ballet was represented by executive director Michele Ziemann-DeVos, artistic director Gina-Hyatt Mazon, ballet master Janusz Mazon, and board chairman Sam Hensley Jr.
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Gala gourmet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here is some delicious news: Committee members working on a couple of upcoming events have announced menu selections.
First, the group organizing the annual Garden of Eden Ball, to be held at and benefiting the Atlanta Botanical Garden, met recently with A Legendary Event executive chef Lincoln Stevens.
Guests attending the Sept. 29 fete will enjoy a grilled angus filet with citrus buerre blanc. Dessert will be a “mudslide dome” - a Kaluha chocolate dome with Oreo crust, raspberry coulis & Baileys whipped cream.
Volunteers lending their palates for charity at the tasting included ball chairs Jackie and Jimmy Cushman; Kathy Rainer of Parties to Die For, which is handling the ball’s decor; and Kevin and Cheryl Wyckoff. Kevin Wyckoff is vice president and regional sales coordinator of Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, the gala’s presenting sponsor.
The evening will include dancing, elegant favors and a special tribute to the late Phillip Alston, who served as President Jimmy Carter’s U.S. ambassador to Australia. He was Jimmy Cushman’s grandfather. Tickets are $400 per person. For information call 404-591-1575.
In other news, the committee organizing “A Meal to Remember,” benefiting Meals on Wheels Atlanta, recently trekked to New York to meet the chefs participating in the the Nov. 2 event.
The group included co-chairs Marilyn Krone and Kathryn Arnett,, honorary chairs Sandra and Dan Baldwin, along with David York and Judy Zaban .
They sampled the culinary stylings of Gilt executive chef Christopher Lee, Telepan executive chef Bill Telepan, Picholine proprietor and executive chef Terrance Brennan and L’Atelier du Chocolat pastry chef Eric Girerd. Jean-Louis Dumonet, executive chef at Saks Fifth Avenue in New York, will complete the roster of guest chefs.
The event will be held at the Buckhead Ritz-Carlton. Patron levels start at $1,200. For information call 404-605-8450 or email shargrove@scsatl.org.
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Kate the Great
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
S.B. is such a fan of Kate Atwood, the vivacious young founder of Kate’s Club, which works with children who have lost a loved one.
Atwood, 28, was at the center of the action Friday night during the fourth annual “Kate’s Club Cabaret” at the Foundry at Puritan Mill.
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| Kate’s Club founder Kate Atwood hangs out with Katie Long, chair of the board. |
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| Beth and Chad Brown attend the Kate’s Club Cabaret. |
(Really, who wants to sit down to the same old filet-asparagus combo when you can nibble maple glazed shrimp or sample the delights at a Tuscan pasta station?
We visited with Chad and Beth Brown, Adam Gelb and Katie Long (chair of the Kate’s Club board), Danielle Lieb, Toby Reed, Toby and Lisa Sampson, and Todd and Wendy Silliman.
Were you there?
Mark your calendar
Stanford Financial and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are teaming up for La Grande Masquerade, set for 6 p.m. Oct. 6 at Villa Juanita Mansion, 509 West Paces Ferry Road.
The black tie event, co-chaired by Paul and Christa D’Agnese and Teresa Wasson of Executive Enterprises, is being produced by Tony Brewer and Co.
It’ll feature a four-course dinner, silent and live auction and performance by the Commodores. Organizers expect more 350 guests at the event, which benefits the pediatric cancer research facility.
Tickets are $250 per person. For information call 770-416-7707 or email elizabeth.stansbury@stjude.org.
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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Pet projects
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Butterfly had a harrowing ordeal yesterday.
We ran over to the Atlanta Humane Society to pay public relations manager P.J. Smith a visit. As she was detailing upcoming events to benefit the organization, AHS president Carl E. Leveridge appeared with a grim report: a female pit bull had been brought in with a knife in her skull. (I hope I never see anything like that again!)
Surgery to remove the knife yesterday was successful and the dog, which appeared alert and curious about her temporary digs this morning, probably will be a candidate for adoption next week.
They are calling her Lucky.
With that happy ending, let me tell you about some upcoming events to benefit our four-legged friends.
Animal attractions
The PAWS Atlanta Flea Ball is Sept. 22 on the J.B. Fuqua Rooftop Pavilion at the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. It will feature a spread by Classic Fare Catering, entertainment by the Michael Panza a silent auction and a guest billed as a local celebrity: one Sam the Fat Cat. Tickets are $75 per person. Info: 770-593-1155.
And the Taylor Kinzel Gallery in Roswell will host a silent auction of artwork featuring dogs and cats to benefit Canine Assistants and Good Mews. The opening reception is tonight from 5-9 p.m., and bidding ends at 5 p.m. Aug. 19. 16 Elizabeth Way, 770 993-3555, www.taylorkinzelgallery.com.
Anyone going? And is anyone planning similar events?
Tell me all about it.
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A joyful noise at SCLC
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference awards gala on Tuesday night packed the ballroom of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis with a resplendent and joyous crowd.
In the back of the room, we met Dyann Wilkerson of Austell, wearing a long sparkly black gown created for her by the Atlanta-based Wilbourn Sisters. Wilkerson has happy memories of volunteering at the King Center, under the leadership of the late Coretta Scott King.
“Even though she’s not here with us, she’s with us in spirit, along with Dr. King and Yolanda, who we miss terribly,” she said. Elsewhere in the room, S.B. heard the sort of joyful noise Psalm 100 speaks of, and stopped to investigate.
“We’re having so much fun,” said Helen Butler of Atlanta, sharing the table with Shirley McDonald, the Rev. and Mrs. Chauncey Newsome and the Rev. Dorothy Simms. “This is the day the Lord hath made, we should rejoice in it!”
Can the S.B. get an ‘Amen’?
Down in front, we visited with gospel star Vickie Winans, who performed during the evening. This woman was a feast for the eyes — and the ears, of course — wearing a twinkling pale blue gown, gorgeous smile and enough bling to light up the night sky. S.B. sat with her for a while, just hoping some of that fabulosity would transfer.
“It feels good to be here,” Winans said. “We’ve come a long way.”
The crowd heard remarks from a host of dignitaries, including Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, SCLC President Charles Steele, the Rev. Timothy McDonald and keynote speaker the Rev. Joseph Lowery. Those chosen as this year’s award recipients included Juanita Abernathy, the Honorable William M. Branch, Amelia Boyington, Johnnie Mae Carr, Laura Dixie, the Rev. S.L. Harvey, Evelyn Lowery, the Rev. Lowery, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and the law firm of Arnold & Porter.
The SCLC’s 50th anniversary conference concluded Wednesday.
A truffling affair
Globe-trotting foodie Anthony Bourdain loves to sniff that truffle oil is the “ketchup of the middle class.” Pish!
A wide cross section of classy metro Atlantans turned out to launch the new Marlow’s Tavern in Midtown Saturday night, and those signature truffled Parmesan fries were just flying out of the kitchen. We spotted Jennifer Tugman and Noel Ritter by the bar, both carrying the cutest totes. Joseph Vella, Nancy Nusbaum and Karen Lowry lounged on the couch near the entrance.
Right in the middle of the room we spotted Sheri and Steve Labovitz and Lynne and Howard Halpern. Lynne’s smart look came together in her fabulous vintage Pucci jacket.
Mark your calendar
Who wants to wear a tux when it’s this hot outside? The 26th annual Harvest Ball benefiting Rockdale Cares, a nonprofit advocacy group for the mentally disabled , is coming up on Aug. 11. It’s a casual-attire affair. Reception and silent auction start at 6:30 p.m., dinner starts at 7 p.m. The location is 875 Davis Drive in Conyers and tickets are $45 per person. Info: 770-922-7272, rockdalecares.org.
The Governor’s International Awards Gala, honoring companies, educational programs and individuals who have promoted and developed international business in the state, is Sept. 15, in the SunTrust Plaza Garden Offices Atrium of the World Trade Center Atlanta, 303 Peachtree St. The cost is $150 for members and $175 for nonmembers ($180 and $200 after the Aug. 25 registration deadline). Info: 404-880-1562, govawards@wtcatlanta.com.
“Crystal Boots and Silver Saddles” is planned for Sept. 15 at Magnolia Plantation, 4065 Airline Road in McDonough. It benefits Childkind Foundation, which aids Georgia’s medically fragile children. Tickets are $175 per person and attire is Western. The evening features bull riding, calf roping, a mechanical bull and fireworks. Info: 404-248-1980, www.childkind.org.
What’s happening in your world? Tell us at butterfly@ajc.com, 404-526-5872 or 72 Marietta St., Atlanta, GA 30303.
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