PEACH BUZZ: Jazz Age fun, fruitful for spinal center

For the 20th annual Legendary Party benefiting the Shepherd Center, the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead was magically transformed into the Jazz Age on Saturday night.

Formally attired guests, along with a few flappers enticing attendees with raffle tickets, were whisked into Harold’s Joint for a little pre-dinner gambling and cocktails. The only dose of reality among the cards and poker chips? A wide-screen TV showing seemingly endless highlights from that unfortunate Florida win over Georgia on Saturday.

Beyond Lizzie’s Flower shop and the “Positively No Admittance!” signage, the Ritz’s ballroom had been painstakingly recreated as a speakeasy, complete with potted palms, a mirror ball, an old radio microphone and the Doc Scantlin and the Imperial Palms Orchestra on the bandstand. Raiding uniformed beat cops from the era blew on whistles and playfully waved billy clubs in the air as they encouraged diners to take their seats (the “cops” also happily posed for pictures between arrests).

At each place setting, a Legendary Party-etched stainless steel silver flask awaited each attendee. The evening honored longtime Atlanta philanthropist Elizabeth Allen. For many years, she and her husband, Carl, have been generous supporters of the Atlanta spinal and brain injury facility’s groundbreaking work.

Looking every inch a big band singer herself, Legendary Party chairwoman Sally Dorsey told the sold-out crowd of 520: “This is not a good economic climate. That’s why I’m so thrilled to tell you that with your help, we’ve raised $775,000 tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This fight is just beginning!”

Ritz-Carlton Buckhead executive chef Andrew Litherland then wowed attendees with a Jazz Age-inspired menu, including a deconstructed Caesar salad, herb-crusted beef tenderloin with Gorgonzola stuffing and a red wine sauce and a flapper martini consisting of white chocolate liqueur, vodka and heavy cream for dessert.

Across the hall, a replica of the legendary New York nightclub the Stork Club had been created (complete with a pink neon stork and trademark awning) for late-night breakfasting and carousing until the wee hours.

Overscene

Last year, the celebrity quotient at the Atlanta Hawks home opener was virtually nil. This year, with the Hawks showing signs of being a quality team, Buzz noted a few notables in the crowd: a very satisfied former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young high-fiving Josh Smith as the Hawks beat the Sixers in a huge come-from-behind win; Olympian and Jamaican springer Osain Bolt; original Destiny’s Child singer Letoya Luckett and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas of TLC.

“Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” lead actor Allen Payne won a Home Depot contest, properly pricing three hardware items (including a leaf blower) and getting a free throw in on his second try, winning a $100 gift card he then gave away.

Most amusing moment: when crowd announcer Michael King introduced Kim Zolciak of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Buzz could hear some discernible booing. Zolciak appeared blissfully unaffected.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Composer John Barry is 75. Singer Lulu is 60. Actress-comedian Roseanne Barr is 56. Actress Kathy Kinney (“The Drew Carey Show”) is 55. Actress Kate Capshaw is 55. Comedian Dennis Miller is 55. Singer Adam Ant is 54. Actor Dolph Lundgren (“Rocky IV”) is 51.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Did you have a hard time deciding?”

Gayle King joking to Oprah Winfrey on Friday’s live edition of her talk show after Winfrey disclosed she waited an hour and 12 minutes to vote Thursday. Winfrey has famously endorsed Barack Obama.

Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services.