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November 2008
Do you shop for charity?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I
No lines, no shoving: the at-home alternative to mall madness.
It seems Black Friday was a bit subdued this year, and at some places the AJC visited on Saturday, clerks outnumbered customers.
Liquidators aren’t having much luck moving merchandise, although e-tailers are gearing up for what they hope will be a robust Cyber Monday.
I’m invited to a private shopping event Monday night. Held in someone’s home, the event features wares from a number of small-business owners. And it will benefit charity. A portion of sales will be donated to an organization called Reconnecting Families, which works with people whose lives have been affected by drug abuse.
With everyone keeping a close eye on their wallets these days, I’m interested to witness this low-key alternative to mall madness. We’ve all been to home parties where the hostess was hawking products from Pampered Chef, Southern Living at Home, Arbonne and the like.
The idea of introducing a charitable angle during uncertain economic times is interesting, and we’ll see whether that impacts how many items are sold. Stay tuned.
Would you be more willing to spend money this holiday season if you knew a portion of your dollars would benefit charity?
Have you shopped at similar at-home parties, or hosted one? Do you feel pressured into buying stuff you don’t need, or do you enjoy the personal attention of at-home commerce?
Merchants, does the at-home business model impact your bottom line?
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Vine in Va-Hi closes today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Vine, shown here in a photo from its Web site, closes Nov. 29
Here’s a bittersweet post-Thanksgiving bargain for you.
Wine is half-price all day Saturday at Vine. The reason isn’t exactly one to cheer. I got an e-mail from the restaurant Friday night saying Saturday will be its last day.
Even after a change in management and ownership and improved menu, the Virginia-Highland wine bar and eatery is closing its doors.
They didn’t say much more in the e-mail besides announcing the closing.
“To say thank you, all wine will be half-price all day Saturday,” Vine’s short missive read. “We hope you join us!”
When my colleague Meridith Ford Goldman first reviewed the wine bar-restaurant in 2004, things were so dreadful she gave it no stars. (She’s only done that twice).
But returning earlier this year Goldman found lots to like. Here’s her two-star review.
Will you miss Vine? Will you go by for today’s half-priced close-out?
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The Butterfly takes on Citibank and wins!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s amazing what you can accomplish just by being polite. Proper manners can bring about lovely results even when facing unpleasant situations.
Like the boorish notice that arrived the other day from Citibank, announcing all sorts of new fees, penalties and a higher interest rate associated with the credit card I have with them.
Not that this effrontery would have affected me much, since I actually pay my bills. But it was troubling nonetheless.
Yes, poor Citigroup is having a rough time. The front-page article in Sunday’s New York Times detailed how Citi rushed headlong into disaster by embracing ever more profitable - and ultimately, risky - ventures.
When all that risk turned out to be not such a hot idea, it seems Citi decided to penalize its customers for its poor decisions.
That seems wrong - and rude.
I called Citi. A weary-sounding operator named Stephanie spelled out an insidious arrangement: accept the changes, or have my account closed.
“Please close it,” I said. “I’ll be happy to take my business elsewhere. Goodbye and happy Thanksgiving.”
Stephanie sounded even more weary, and said Citi certainly didn’t intend for me to scram. She rounded up a supervisor, named Heather.
Heather repeated what Stephanie had told me. I said once again that they were welcome to close my account, and that I would be happy to do all my holiday shopping with a different credit card - or better yet, cash.
Amazing! Stephanie said Citi would rescind all the new fees and rate hike if I’d stick around. I wished her a happy Thanksgiving, too.
I think there are two lessons here. First, corporations that make customers pay for its bad decisions may do themselves more harm by running off those customers.
Second, behave with courtesy at all times. It’s just as easy to be nice, and I suspect you will be pleased with the results.
Happy Thanksgiving!
SB
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Office party or office potluck?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Is your office partying or potlucking?
Years ago, my colleagues and I used to dress up for our annual staff holiday party. The last one was held at the elegant Biltmore Ballrooms in Buckhead.
This year, as in recent years past, we’re signing up for the staff potluck.
But we’re in good company. The Hearst magazine group has canned its holiday bash
This article says a number of other companies, including American Express and MTV, have done likewise. In fact, it points out that one in five companies is doing away with holiday parties, according to the workplace consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
How about your workplace? Are your office party plans scaling back? Does anyone have a potluck recipe to share?
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Ryan Adams to perform for free* in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan Adams will perform March 20 at the Fox for free - for the patrons who went to his Oct. 17 concert in Alpharetta. It lasted just around an hour before Adams, complaining he’d lost his voice, abruptly left the stage.
SB covers all sorts of charity events, so here’s a little twist on that theme.
Alt-country rocker Ryan Adams is performing with The Cardinals at the Fox on March 20. It’ll be a free concert for the fans who attended his Oct. 17 concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.
Or tried to, anyway.
Adams rocked for about an hour that chilly night in Alpharetta, complaining on and off that he was losing his voice. Then, he abruptly left the stage, leaving Verizon staffers flummoxed and fans irritated.
Adams fans have come to expect the unexpected, but this episode was especially poorly timed - about two weeks before the release of Cardinology, a tight set of alt rock with some country and R&B influences. (Ironically, it’s a more optimistic work for the newly clean and sober Adams.)
A heartfelt blog posting from Cardinals drummer Brad Pemberton shortly after Adams’ disappearing act apologized to fans and explained that the guys had all been sick.
Adams posted a blog of his own a day or two later, a stream-of-consciousness opus on how he was working on forgiving himself, but it was quickly taken down. I think I have it somewhere. I’ll post it if I can find it.
Anyway, for those of you who made the trek Oct. 17, here’s how you get into the Fox for free.
You can exchange tickets in person at the Verizon or Fox box offices or mail them in.
The Fox is at 660 Peachtree St., Atlanta, 30308. The Verizon’s at 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta, 30009.
Here are the hours they’re open:
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Box Office: Monday, November 24 - Wednesday, November 26; (M-W Noon-4pm) Monday, December 1 - Friday, December 19 (M-F Noon-4pm) Monday, January 5 - Friday, January 9 (M-F Noon-4pm)
Fox Theatre Box Office: Monday, November 24 - Friday, January 9 Monday - Friday: 10am-6pm Saturday: 10am-3pm Closed Sundays
The deadline for the switch is 5 p.m. Jan. 9, and only patrons who bought full price tickets get the Fox freebies. If you’re mailing them in to switch, the envelope must be postmarked by Jan. 9. Be sure to provide a return mailing address, and it’s a good idea to photocopy of your tix before mailing.
Call 404-733-5012 with questions.
I’ll be there. Will you? What do you think of Cardinology?
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Rachael Ray’s coming to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yum-o!
Rachael Ray, whose vast repertoire includes cooking, travel and talk shows, books and mags and a slew of product endorsements, is coming to east Cobb.
The EVOO-splashing, sammie-slamming, budget-dining Ray signs copies of Big Orange Book from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 at the Borders at the Avenue East Cobb.
Info: 770-565-0947
Billed as “the ultimate resource for busy cooks,” Ray’s latest tome covers cooking for one, feeding vegetarians or those who keep Kosher. There’s a month’s worth of burger recipes and, as you’d guess, the recipes are supposed to take you just half an hour or less.
Ray has, obviously, zillions of fans. But she has some high-profile detractors too. Namely, celeb chef Anthony Bourdain. He let her have it in this famous blog posting. An excerpt: “She’s a friendly, familiar face who appears regularly on our screens to tell us that ‘even your dumb, lazy (behind) can cook this’!”
Ouch.
Are you a Rachael Ray fan? Have her 30-minute meals saved you time? Or does her hyper perkiness ruin your appetite?
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Rodney Ho: He writes, he blogs … he cooks!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Master chefs Hede Archer, from left, Robert Archer, Mowpheth Archer and our very own Rodney Ho at Wednesday night’s charity cook-off.
My multi-talented colleague Rodney Ho took a break from writing and blogging about radio and American Idol long enough to help a family cook their way to Disney.
RoHo pitched in during Wednesday night’s Family PLUS National Cook-Off, a culinary challenge organized by the Boys and Girls Club and held at Insperience Studio in Buckhead. Each team had one hour to create an original dish.
Other local notables assisting as guest chefs included WAOK’s Rick Blalock, WSB-AM’s Veronica Waters and WSB TV’s Anissa Centers.
Waters assisted the Jaco family, from the Twin Cities
Centers cooked with the Wallace family, from Albany, NY.
Blalock helped the Blas family, from Dallas, Tex.
The Archer family of Garden Grove, Calif. dazzled the judges, including Jenny Lewis of sponsor Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Emily Studdard, whose son Ruben Studdard has been in town performing in Ain’t Misbehaving.
The Archers’ award-winning meal was inspired by their Jamaican heritage. They get a trip to Disney, although I don’t think Rodney gets to tag along, unfortunately.
Every team was a winner, though, receiving a bounty of Kimberly-Clark products and a Nintendo Wii.
Our local contenders were the Bolton family, assisted by Atlanta and Company’s Holly Firfer. They made a delightful three-course meal as beautiful as it was delicious, that began with cukes and carrots cut up in little X and O shapes, featured a yummy pasta entree and wrapped up with scrumptious candied yams.
Firfer and the Boltons
The Boltons, Jakkia Bolton, 17, and her parents Jakie and Leroy Bolton, had previously taken honors in the April 3 Boys & Girls Club cook-off at the Cook’s Warehouse, positioning them for a slot in the national competition. Jakkia is a member of the G. Washington Carver Boys & Girls Club on Warren Street.
Celeb Chef Marvin Woods hosted last night’s event, keeping the excitement high throughout the cooking and announcing the winners at the end of the evening.
Does your family cook together? Anyone have a kid-friendly recipe to share?
RoHo and Helen Kim with the Disney-bound Archer family
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Chipper, McCann, Francoeur on the social scene
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The McCanns and Rally Foundation CEO Dean Crowe. Photo by Karla Bonner
A number of Braves players are donating their time to charity in the off-season.
Catcher Brian McCannand wife Ashley served as honorary co-chairs for the second annual Benefit Bash with Mizuno Big League Players. The event, which raised $ $183,000 for the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, was held Nov. 13 at the Atlanta History Center.
During the gala the crowd heard from Avery Schroeder, 15. has already faced a lifetime’s worth of struggle. The Lovett School freshman, diagnosed three years ago with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has since endured 25 spinal taps, at least 75 rounds of chemotherapy, eight blood transfusions and three platelets transfusions.
Throughout her journey Avery has kept her positive outlook. Now that she’s done with treatment, she’s back in the swing of things. She enjoys cheerleading and running track and appeared as a “Rally Kid” at the gala.
Braves players in attendance included Chipper Jones, Blaine Boyer, Kelly Johnson and Brandon Jones and former pitching coach Leo Mazzone, a Rally Foundation spokesman.
Leo and Chipper. Photo by Karla Bonner
Key committee members included Harriet Arthur, Julie Pederson, Dreama Gibson, Joy Posthauer, Carole Anne Orsborn and Nicole Chitty.
Dean Crowe is the Rally Foundation’s founder and CEO.
In other news, Jeff Francoeur will headline a VIP meet-n-greet before the second annual Rock4Research bash, planned for Nov. 28 at Wild Bill’s nightclub in Duluth.
The event benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation and is organized by a group called The Tumornators. The organization was started by local brothers Ben and Chad Leathers, to support their brother, Drew, 21.
Drew Leathers’s battle with neurofibromatosis has involved numerous surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy. He’s a student and Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, but faces another spinal surgery this winter and may have to take a medical leave.
Francoeur and Chad Leathers were teammates at Parkview High School and have remained friends. Francoeur donated $500 to The Children’s Tumor Foundation on behalf of the Tumornators for every home run he hit in the 2007 season.
Other notables planning to attend Rock4Research include former UGA All American and Tampa Bay Buccaneers right tackle Matt Stinchcomb, former Atlanta Falcon Morten Andersen and Braves catcher and Parkview graduate Clint Sammons.
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Could you give up your CrackBerry?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Doug Mills/The New York Times
Barack Obama inherits a troubled economy, will have a new puppy to house-train and his mother-in-law might move in with him.
But that’s not all.
The nation’s new prez will have to give up his beloved BlackBerry.
Obama’s affinity for the device has been documented throughout the campaign. He’s been photographed countless times checking messages - the picture above shows Obama walking and Blackberrying, if that’s a word. This summer, the AP reports, cameras caught him checking his BlackBerry during his daughter’s soccer game. The nation’s next first lady swatted her husband, who put the device away.
Does that sound familiar? Amy Ellerbee Johnson of Cobb County has found the BlackBerry not just addicting, but something of a gateway drug to Facebook, which users can check and update from their mobile devices.
“I carry my BlackBerry around with me constantly,” she said. “It just makes my facebook addiction worse!”
(Full disclosure: we posted a query on Facebook and received her response there - via her BlackBerry, naturally.)
Because Obama’s e-mail correspondence would be public under the Presidential Records Act, he’ll likely bag the BlackBerry during his time in the White House.
President Bush, citing security and privacy concerns, doesn’t e-mail, either.
Here in the ATL, we wish Q100’s Jeff Dauler luck as he attempts life without the BlackBerry. (We’d e-mail to see how it’s going but wonder when he’d get the message?)
Dauler: Say no to CrackBerry. He’s gone wireless-less
NEO at the Mansion has responded to our city’s love affair with gadgets by introducing monthly Unplugged dinners, where the butler guards your BlackBerry while you dine without messaging. The next Unplugged is Nov. 19.
Do you have a CrackBerry addiction you’re trying to kick? Anyone have tips for the new president on how he can part ways with his precious PDA?
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$45,000 for Pete Rose’s autograph?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Falcon Ovie Mughelli, from left, with Pete Rose, Jaden’s Ladder co-founder Oneta Bobbett and Georgia Tech Head Coach Paul Hewitt at the Fairway Affair gala
What price tag would you stick on a jersey autographed by Pete Rose?
How about $45K?
That’s what the item fetched at a charity auction Saturday night. Rose was in town for the Fairway Affair gala benefiting Jaden’s Ladder. The event, held at a private Buckhead estate, was hosted by Brave-turned-Dodger Andruw Jones and wife Nicole.
The couple, who continued to make metro Atlanta their home even after Andruw was traded, donated $75,000 to Jaden’s Ladder. The organization works with survivors of domestic violence.
The fundraiser attracted plenty of local sports figures. It was a two-day affair, with a golf tournament on Sunday. Rose, who flew in from Los Vegas to attend, didn’t stick around to hit the links. During the gala the colorful - and of course controversial - character was honored by Jaden’s Ladder with a Champion Award for his charitable endeavors.
L.A. Dodger Andruw Jones, Pete Rose, Kathy Kim, Jaden’s Ladder co-founder Oneta Bobbett, Karl Hahn and Jaden’s Ladder President John Bobbett
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Flights, hotels filling up for Inauguration
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If you’re planning to attend the Jan. 20 inauguration and don’t already have your travel arrangements booked, well … hustle.
Delta spokeswoman Susan Elliott tells me that the airline’s bookings into Washington-area airports for Jan. 16-19 are up nearly 200 percent over the same time frame a year ago.
Air Tran spokeswoman Cynthia Tinsley-Douglas had similar stats to report, with bookings to DC area airports up “significantly.”
A quick Web search for hotel rooms just now found space available - at a premium. Try 600 bucks per night at a Holiday Inn near the White House.
But crowds aren’t keeping metro Atlantans from heading to D.C. for the historic event. Since my story the other day about folks from the ATL heading to the O-nauguration, I’ve heard from plenty more who plan to attend.
Jessica Rush is traveling with colleagues and relatives. They plan to rent a house in Virginia and will either drive or charter a bus.
“The trip first started out with me wanting to witness this with my fiancee and wanting to be able to point to a picture of the event when I have childre,” she said. “After talking to some people at work and family it seemed they had the same goals also.”
The group will stop in Charlotte to rest before heading on to D.C.
“I am very excited to go together because we all have different backgrounds and we are all different races,” Rush said. “I couldn’t think of a better group to experience this event with.”
Gwen McCants-Allen is heading up with a group of friends who are coming here first from as far away as Michigan and Alabama. Gwen’s friend Ayanna Jones is organizing the trip. Both women are active community volunteers.
Lots of educators and their young charges are going.
Shirley Quenzer, who teaches at Coffee High in Douglas, is taking 16 students.
Approximately 45 students from Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School in Athens will travel to Washington for the Inauguration, Jan. 18 - 21.
Although I don’t have the names of the individual students, I can give you contact information on the teachers organizing the trip:
In Athens-Clarke County, Robin Richards from Cedar Shoals High School and Laura Ambrose from Clarke Central High School are both taking groups of students.
Dalton County teacher Susan Ward, who teaches gifted students in grade 6-8, is heading up with three bus loads of students.
“We are staying about 10 minutes from downtown,” she says. “We will be attending the inauguration, the parade and having our own inaugural ball.”
And 33 Decatur High School students will be attending as part of Close Up, a week-long study of government policy issues. During the trip, students will meet with Georgia’s Congressional delegation and attend seminars, debates and other events.
As you’d guess, tickets to the inauguration itself are prized commodities. In fact, the hunt for tix has prompted some bipartisan collaboration. on his Web site Democratic Congressman John Lewis says his office is receiving unprecedented numbers of requests but won’t know until the end of November how many he’ll have to disperse.
So he recommends people hit up GOP Senators Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.
Are you attending the inauguration? Having luck or trouble securing accommodations? Is your school, church or neighborhood group going? How’s the planning going?
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Where will you be on Jan. 20?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BMaynard Scarborough booked his Inauguration Day plans early
Even before the Democrats held their convention to officially nominate Barack Obama, BMaynard Scarborough was making plans to see him sworn in as president.
“Sometimes you just have to step out on faith alone,” said Scarborough, whose plane and hotel reservations have long been booked for the week of the inauguration.
He is executive director of The Alliance for Digital Equality, which advocates for affordable broadband service in underserved communities. The non-partisan organization attended both the Democrat and Republican national conventions.
Alliance founder and chairman Julius H. Hollis will be part of the group Scarborough will travel to D.C. with.
“We scored early lodging at the St. Regis, just steps from 1600 Pennsylvania,” Scarborough said. The group’s agenda will include a mix of official presidential events and corporate partner gatherings, he said.
“Guess it’s safe to say the invites should start arriving later this week!” he said.
Other metro Atlantans plan to be there, even if they haven’t yet locked in their arrangements.
Luis Sandoval, who celebrated Obama’s win in Little Five Points, was driving around town with his girlfriend when epiphany struck.
“We should go to this,” he announced. “It’s a historic moment. We should be there.”
He turns 27 the day before Obama is sworn in and decided the Inauguration would make for a most memorable birthday trip. With gas back down around $2 per gallon, they’re going to drive. Where to stay is another matter.
“We’re like, who do we know who still lives there?” said Sandoval, a local concert promoter. “I’ve stayed at a youth hostel there before. That could be the place.”
Louise Mulherin’s plans are coming together a little more concretely. Her boyfriend works for Delta and his parents live in northern Virginia, so getting there and staying there won’t be a problem.
“I donated to the Obama campaign and hope they’ll have an event or two for donors,” she said.
Kristen Evans is busy e-mailing her state representatives in hopes of getting tickets to the Inauguration. She isn’t too worried about the logistics.
“I am planning on driving up and sleeping in the car or not sleeping at all,” she said. “I want to be a part of history. I want to be able to tell my children that I was there.”
Where will you be Jan. 20? We want to hear from anyone who’s planning to go, whether you plan to attend solo, with family or friends, as part of a church or student group, etc.
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Political partying plans?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve heard from a few more folks since compiling this list of election-night parties. So if you’re looking for a few more options, here’s the info.
Dem, GOP and undecided voters can all drink up at Morton’s.
Elect-ini anyone? Morton’s Steakhouse locations in Buckhead and downtown will be serving Republican-tinis, Democratinis and Undecided-tinis on Tuesday. The libations are $11 each.
Recipes are as follows:
Republican-tini:
1.5 oz Absolut Citrus Vodka
1 oz Pama
.5 oz sour mix
Democratini: 1.5 oz Absolut Citrus Vodka 1 oz Blue Curacao .5 oz sour mix
Shake either drink with ice, then strain into a martini glass.
Undecided-tini: 1.5 oz blue curacao 1 oz Pama .5 oz pomegranate syrup Place Blue Curacao into shaker and add ice, shake 15 times and strain into martini glass. Place Pama and pomegranate syrup into shaker. Shake 15 times and slowly strain down the side of the martini glass so that the mixture floats to the bottom. You should have half red with half blue floating on top.
The bars at either Morton’s location opens at 5 p.m.
Opera Nightclub, 1150-b Peachtree St. in Midtown Atlanta, hosts an election viewing event and cocktail reception starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a victory celebration for whoever wins.
Elle Duncan of The People’s Station, V103.3 and Grammy-nominated roducer Polow Da Don of Zone 4, Inc., are scheduled to be there. DJ Infamou of The Aphilliates Music Group and DJ Q-Storm, the official DJ of the Atlanta Hawks, spin the tunes.
This event is produced by The J3 Group, ATL2Nite.com, and The Charleys Way Project. Supporting organizations include the Georgia for Obama and Generation Obama Atlanta.
Regency Barber Shop and Salon at 3565 Hwy. 20 in Conyers is hosting the viewing party for supporters of Rockdale County Sheriff candidate Donald Ferguson.
The Young Leadership Council at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, along with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and ACCESS, a young adult group of the American Jewish Committee, are hosting a bi-partisan election night party. The event starts at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Hudson Grille in Brookhaven Station.
“These 20- and 30-somethings are super active in the community and in politics, so I know with 35 senate seats and the presidency up for grabs, there will be a huge turn out,” says organizer Tali Toland.
Do you have an election night bash planned? Feel free to post your info here
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