PEACH BUZZ: After walkoff, Adams show is Fox freebie

Here’s some good news in a down economy: a free concert.

Alt-country rocker Ryan Adams is performing with The Cardinals at the Fox on March 20. It’ll be free for the fans who attended his Oct. 17 concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park.

Adams rocked for about an hour that chilly night in Alpharetta, complaining 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.” (The new album is a tight set of alt rock with some country and R&B influences, and, 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 meandering stream-of-consciousness opus on how he was working on forgiving himself, but it was quickly taken down.

Anyway, for those of you who made the trek Oct. 17, here’s how you get into the Fox for free: Exchange tickets in person at the Verizon or Fox box office or mail them in. The Fox is at 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, 30308. Verizon’s at 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta, 30009.

Call 404-733-5012 with questions.

One beleaguered industry supports another one

Are there any more jittery workers these days than journalists and automakers? (Other than bankers, developers, real estate agents, restaurateurs, hotel managers and retailers, we mean). Well, local scribes and one of the big battered three are getting together for some holiday fun. The Atlanta Press Club’s annual holiday party is being sponsored this year by General Motors. The event is 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Georgia Aquarium. APC members may purchase tickets for $20 for themselves and one guest through Dec. 5. After that, tix are $25. Nonmember tickets are $35 through Dec. 5 and $40 afterward.

This year’s roster of authors includes Mary Kay Andrews, author of a slew of popular Southern lit novels; Douglas Blackmon, The Wall Street Journal’s Atlanta bureau chief and author of “Slavery by Another Name”; and Brookhaven resident Emily Giffin, whose latest is “Love the One You’re With.”.

Other sponsors include the Georgia Aquarium, Barnes & Noble, Schroder Public Relations, Atlanta Magazine, Tribute and Edelman. Call 404-577-7377 or see www.atlantapressclub.org for information.

Smarts on display

Alpharetta teen Bradley Silverman took second place in this year’s edition of “Jeopardy!” for teens. He pocketed $44,600 in the Teen Tournament final of the popular TV game show that aired Friday night on WATL TV.

Bradley, a 16-year-old junior at Centennial High School in Roswell, said he plans to study engineering at MIT or Georgia Tech and intends to use his winnings to pay for college. He was among the best out of thousands of teens who tried out for the game show.

Anurag Kashyap, who attends Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego County, won the $75,000 grand prize.

Calling all slobs

Guys: Are you ugly, beer-bellied, balding, covered in body hair and profane? Here’s your chance at stardom. The popular and exceedingly bizarre cartoon “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” which is made here in Atlanta as part of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, is planning its first live-action episode, says producer Jay Wade Edwards. The first order of business is casting Carl, the show’s resident loudmouth. Adult Swim is soliciting short video auditions to play Carl from regular guys. There are no plans for casting calls, says Edwards; the whole thing is being done online at www.justbecarl.adultswim.com.

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Actor Robert Vaughn (“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”) is 76. Actor Michael Callan is 73. Comedian-director Terry Gilliam (“Monty Python’s Flying Circus”) is 68. Actor Tom Conti is 67. Singer Jesse Colin Young (The Youngbloods) is 67. Guitarist-actor Little Steven (The E Street Band, “The Sopranos”) is 58. Bassist Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads is 58. Actor Richard Kind (“Spin City,” “Mad About You”) is 52. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is 50. Singer Jason Ringenberg of Jason and the Scorchers is 50. Actress Mariel Hemingway is 47. Actor Stephen Geoffreys is 44. Actress Scarlett Johansson (“Lost in Translation,” “Ghost World”) is 24.

ATLANTA’S OWN

Stephanie Ruhe, mix-master at the bar at The Mansion on Peachtree, has been named the ATL’s “Most Inspiring Bartender” by Bombay Sapphire Gin and GQ Magazine. Her exquisite “Lady Sapphire,” the frothy concoction she created with chamomile-infused Bombay Sapphire Gin, along with lemongrass, freshly-squeezed lemon, honey and egg whites, won “Best Overall Drink” in Atlanta. At $12, the sweet, creamy cocktail is one of the Mansion bar’s top sellers. “I wanted to do something elegant,” Ruhe told Buzz when we stopped by to research the matter the other day. An Orlando native who’s put in time at the bars of a number of area restaurants, she said the complicated recipe came to her in a dream. Her drink, topped with an orchid, certainly tastes like a dream.

Contributing: Phil Kloer and news services

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