Buzz got word that rapper-actor T.I. was dining with family at Ruth's Chris Steak House at Centennial Olympic Park hours after he pleaded guilty to weapons charges —- with MTV cameras rolling. (He told the AJC a few years back that he enjoyed the broccoli au gratin there.) Apparently, now that the Grammy winner has a year before he is sentenced to (an expected) 366 days behind bars, he can focus on the business of promoting his next album. (In between his 1,000-plus hours of community service, that is.) T.I.'s longtime collaborator DJ Toomp told us he will be executive producer of the upcoming CD, titled "Paper Trail." "And it's coming along really well," Toomp said. "People who've heard some of it are comparing it to [late rapper Tupac Shakur's] 'Me Against the World'." Frank Ski of V-103's "Frank and Wanda Morning Show" said he's in the studio working on music for T.I. as well. "I've been to visit him since he's been on house arrest, and I got a lot of good visions from him, and the place he is in his life now. I'm really excited," Ski said. "People have been asking me when I was going to get back into producing, and this may be the time." (As anyone who listens to his show knows, co-announcer Wanda Smith frequently jokes with him about his early '90s hip-hop production, "Doo Doo Brown"). Local A&R power Kawan "K.P." Prather —- who signed T.I. to his first major record-label deal —- also said he and production partner Malay have come up with some tracks for T.I. "He's been focused on doing something great," Prather said.

Doug Flutie on football, autism

Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie, founder of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism (www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org), was in town Thursday to help kick off the 15th season at Jerry's Habima Theatre.

The theatrical company, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, is directed and produced by professionals featuring actors with developmental disabilities. At the benefit reception before the production of "Footloose," Flutie engaged patrons in a discussion about his autistic son, Doug Jr., 16. He shared a story about how a therapist helped Doug Jr. windsurf, even though he doubted his son would be able to do it.

"I'm synonymous with all this 'never give up' stuff, and there's my son proving me wrong right in front of my face," Flutie said. He took questions from the audience, including some about football. Asked which coach had the most impact on him, he answered, "My offensive coordinator at Boston College. He was a drill sergeant, a real stickler, disciplinarian. His name is Tom Coughlin (now the Super Bowl champion New York Giants' head coach.) After working for Tom and learning it his way, everything else came easy."

It's (Maxim) Prime Time

Even before it officially opened, Maxim Prime, the new restaurant in the Glenn Hotel downtown, was hopping. The sexy steakhouse hosted a number of invite-only events last week. On March 24 —- just over a week after that freaky downtown tornado postponed a benefit bash there —- David Tufts, president of the Marketing Directors, helped whip together a cocktail party to raise money for the American Red Cross. That netted $10,000, including a $5,000 donation from owner Jeffrey Chodorow. Tuesday, the menu got a test-drive at a sneak preview dinner. Thursday was the rescheduled benefit for the Captain Planet Foundation. Guests included Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall, restaurateurs George McKerrow, Lorenzo Wyche and Jean-George Vongerichten; Captain Planet Foundation chair Laura Turner Seydel and husband Rutherford Seydel; and Guillermo Arduino, Naamua Delaney, Susan Hendricks, T.J. Holmes, Betty Nguyen, Bonnie Schneider and John Woodruff. Maxim Prime is now open for dinner, with lunch and brunch service to follow. (By the way, Buzz hereby declares its "Hometown Hottie" cocktail —- a fab cosmo with attitude —- to be Atlanta's new hip sip.)

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actress Peggy Rea ("Grace Under Fire") is 87. Actor William Daniels ("St. Elsewhere") is 81. Actor Richard Chamberlain is 74. Actress Shirley Jones is 74. Country singer-songwriter John D. Loudermilk is 74. Musician Herb Alpert is 73. Actor Christopher Walken is 65. Comedian Gabe Kaplan ("Welcome Back Kotter") is 63. Actress Rhea Perlman ("Cheers") is 60. Actor Ed Marinaro ("Hill Street Blues," "Sisters") is 58. Guitarist Angus Young of AC/DC is 53. Actor Ewan McGregor is 37. Rapper Tony Yayo is 30.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I hadn't planned on mentioning this. But I still have stitches and you'll no doubt notice them. ... Don't want you to think I got into a fistfight with Charlie Rose."

—- CNN's Anderson Cooper, blogging about minor surgery he had to remove a cancerous mole from underneath his left eye.

—- Contributing: Sonia Murray, David Wellham, news services