PEACH BUZZ: Jeezy up for ‘hollering’ at Phelps, too

First, there was a mention. Now, there just might be a meeting.

History-making Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps has told a number of media outlets that Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy is in heavy rotation in his iPod.

In fact, in a New York Times article Monday, Jeezy is cited as one of the eight influences for his record-breaking eight gold medals Phelps won in Beijing. (The Jeezy single “Go Getta” —- with R&B singer R. Kelly —- in particular.)

“Phelps and his American rival Ryan Lochte, who is also a fan of Jeezy, greet each other by saying ‘Juh,’ in homage to the rapper, a.k.a. Jay Jenkins,” the Times’ Karen Crouse writes.

Now Jeezy tells us that Phelps’ “people” have been in touch with his “people” about the two being officially introduced.

“It would be great if I could holler at Phelps,” Jeezy said during a break from his nationwide promotional tour for his upcoming CD, “The Recession.” “And it’s a compliment that the man found inspiration in the music I do for the streets over here, over there in Beijing.”

Buzz can almost visualize it now: Phelps, pride of the red, white and blue, standing next to Jeezy, whose new “Recession” promotional materials include a black-and-white striped flag and T-shirts proclaiming “My President is Black.”

Open the door, it’s … a sandwich?

Georgia Domino’s Pizza franchisee Mike Orcutt got his first feedback on his new, nontraditional product line Tuesday night when the phones at his 79 stores started blowing up. As odd as it sounds, the pizza chain is poised to become the biggest sandwich delivery company in the country this month. On Tuesday night, a soft rollout began for the menu items.

So what gives? Well, the economy for starters.

“High-end restaurants are currently down 74 percent in sales,” Orcutt told Buzz. “Your middle-priced restaurants are down as well. Our price point is being the least affected right now. People are still eating but as consumers, we’re putting different priorities on food now.”

Hence, the introduction of $4.99 Domino’s Oven-Baked Sandwiches in varieties like Philly Cheesesteak and Chicken Bacon Ranch. So how do Domino’s delivery folks keep said oven-baked sandwich warm on the way to your door?

According to Orcutt, there’s a contraption called the Heatwave Bag that keeps the meals at 170 degrees. The bags are plugged into chargers between runs.

And it’s no coincidence the sandwiches are being sampled in the third week of August.

Explains Orcutt, a 35-year vet of the industry: “We traditionally see a dip in business when school starts back up. Families usually try and get organized and assemble schedules.

“Then about two weeks in, the schedules start to crash. That’s when our phones really start ringing.”

Legal-ly open

Legal Sea Foods, the Boston restaurant that will be one of the anchors of the new Luckie-Marietta district, has quietly opened.

The chain opened the location, in the Hilton Garden Inn hotel next to the Georgia Aquarium, on Friday and Saturday to family and friends.

But it couldn’t open fully until it received its liquor license Tuesday morning, said Richard Bogusz, the general manager.

The Luckie-Marietta District is the brainchild of builder David Marvin, who wants to create a destination of hotels, attractions and restaurants stretching from the aquarium to the Georgia World Congress Center.

Celebrity birthdays

Actor-filmmaker-writer Melvin Van Peebles is 76. Singer Kenny Rogers is 70. Singer Jackie DeShannon is 64. Actress Loretta Devine (“Eli Stone”) is 59. Newsman Harry Smith is 57. Actress Kim Cattrall (“Sex and the City”) is 52. Singer Kelis is 29. Actor Cody Kasch (“Desperate Housewives”) is 21. Actress Hayden Panettiere (“Heroes”) is 19.

HIGH FIVE

Television

The Top OnDemand programs for the week of Aug. 11-17, as determined by Comcast customers in metro Atlanta:

1. “SpongeBob Squarepants,” “The Fry Cook Games,” Nickelodeon,

2. “Transformers,” HBO

3. “House of Payne,” “Party Over Here!” episode, TBS,

4. “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Jellyfish Hunter” episode, Nickelodeon

5. “House of Payne,” “We’ve Come This Far by Faith, Pt 2,” episode, TBS

—- Courtesy: Rentrak’s OnDemand Essentials

OVERSCENE

“Anchorman” actor Luke Wilson and a female friend sipping cocktails at Strip at Atlantic Station. “He was pretty incognito,” beverage manager Elvis Soto told us. “He kept his sunglasses on and people pretty much left him alone. The bartender told me, ‘I think that’s somebody.’ I said, ‘Yes, that is.’ “

Contributing: Sonia Murray, Leon Stafford and news services