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DEL.ICIO.USCan You Get Anything You Want at Alice’s Restaurant?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ARLO GUTHRIE: Folksinger, menu-maker
Photo: Brian Kersey/AP
Why doesn’t someone ring me up at work and ask me to endorse a restaurant? The latest frozen yogurt? The pretzel stand at Turner Field?
I’ll tell you why. I’m not a celebrity. It’s the saddest case of the rich getting richer there ever was, but the folks with the most are always the ones asked to make more. I mean, for crying out loud — I sound as good as that chick that used to be on West Wing, you know, Allison Janney? How come she gets all the voiceovers?
Right here in Atlanta we’ve got newly opened Straits from rapper-cum-restaurateur Chris Bridges, aka Ludacris. And That 70s Show alums are all part of the money behind Dolce (if I were them I’d disassociate myself from that one…). Heck, Usher backed the Grape in Inman Park. Dog (or is that dawg?). Mega music man Jermaine Dupri backs Cafe Dupri and Gladys Knight’s name is all over Chicken and Waffles.
The latest? Arlo Guthrie has actually stamped his approval on a restaurant called — here’s a stretch — Alice’s Restaurant. No, it’s not in Stockbridge, Mass., where the real restaurant (which has had several names over the years, none of which were ever “Alice’s Restaurant”) is. It’s a dining venue inside Hard Rock Park (a 55-acre theme park) in Myrtle Beach, S.C., scheduled to open May 9.
Well dang, kid. Apparently Guthrie even had a hand in designing the menu, which offers up Italian specialties, vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as New England clam chowder. There’s even a “Group W Bench” as part of the Colonial-style structure’s interior.
Whether you can get anything you want remains to be seen. My how times have changed. Would you be more apt to visit a restaurant if it was endorsed in some way by a celebrity? If so, why? Or why not?
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By Ummm....NO!
May 6, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Like you said, it’s the ever-nauseating trend of the rich getting richer. Unless they’re giving away something good/free, then name (celebrity) means nothing to me. On that note, this is why “bootleg” movies/music have become so popular. “Regular” folks are tired of spending their hard earned money so the celebs can “live large”, so if I can get your cd/movie for $5, instead of $15/$20+, then heck yeah, I’ll buy it, and keep the rest in my pocket! Guess that’s one less Bentley they’ll be able to buy.
By charles harris
May 6, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this
I don’t know about Alice’ Restaurant but Arlo eats at the Colonnade a lot when he is in Atlanta!
By Reese Witherspoonandfork
May 6, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Celebrity endorsements do not guarantee quality or return business. Witness the closings of Emeril’s in Atlanta and the impending closing of Ted’s Montana Grill in Decatur. Now, if Giada deLaurentis opened a restaurant, I’d be first in line to sample those lips, I mean food.
By gwarfan
May 6, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
What is a Arlo Guthrie
By Old Fart
May 6, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
If you have to aks, you’re either too young or brain damaged.
By Storm
May 6, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
I’m not into celebrity worship. I could not care any less about where they eat or what they endorse….
By Nolan School
May 6, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Arlo who?
By gwarfan
May 6, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this
Just what i said. He is some hippy folk singer it seems. Why would anyone care about that guy? Washed up stars are even more pitiful than normal ones. Endorsements by celebraties area a joke really. Oh Luda likes potatoes, oh so do I, wow we have so much in common.
By snorfledork
May 6, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
Now if Gregg Allman opened a psychedelic mushroom bar, I would be there in a flash!
By zootrampmarie
May 6, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
gwarfan
It’s time for your metamucil, then we’ll wheel you into the sunroom with a blanket on your lap.
By ma600zda
August 23, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
c858t