PEACH BUZZ: Film party raises funds for Liberians

Not only did Spanx founder Sara Blakely’s bold-faced friends brave some not-so-nice weather Wednesday night to attend her advance private screening of “Pray the Devil Back to Hell,” they arrived with their check books in hand.

Blakely hosted a viewing party at the Buckhead estate of Atlanta real estate tycoon Lee Najjar and his wife, Kimberly. More than 100 guests crowded into the couple’s in-home theater to see the possible Oscar contender. The film, opening today at Landmark’s Midtown Art Cinema, documents the efforts of thousands of Liberian women —- ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, both Christian and Muslim —- who came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside the presidential palace as they took on the warlords and nonviolently forced a resolution during stalled peace talks.

Blakely recently saw the film in New York and was so moved she’s turned into an advocate for the documentary. Also inspired to donate large checks to help the Liberian women rebuild their country and their new outdoor market was Blakely’s new hubby, Marquis Jets co-founder Jesse Itzler; the documentary’s director Gini Reticker and the film’s producer Abigail Disney; Liberian peace demonstrator Asatu Bah Kenneth; G-CAPP founder and Poncey-Highland resident Jane Fonda (with adorable doggy Tulea) and daughter filmmaker and environmentalist Vanessa Vadim; Atlanta radio personalties Ryan Cameron, Frank Ski, Vikki Locke and Jeff Dauler; Pink magazine editor in chief Cynthia Good and her hubby, Bright House founder Joey Reiman; philanthropists Aida and Allan Flamm; Captain Planet Foundation chair Laura Turner Seydel; fund-raiser Michaeline Roland; Atlanta doctor and jewelry designer Lisa Stein and her husband, Bruce; fashionista Teresa Hebert; and attorney Gary Martin Hays.

The evening raised $10,000. Since the Sara Blakely Foundation matched every donation, Liberian women can anticipate a total of $20,000 from generous Atlantans to go toward a new clinic or nursery school.

Incidentally, the well-mannered crowd did not bring up those recent unsavory reports in the New York Post that pointed to Lee Najjar as “Big Poppa,” the mystery sugar daddy of the musically disinclined “Real Housewives of Atlanta” cast member/national punch line Kim Zolciak. (All parties concerned have denied the unsubstantiated innuendo.)

For more information on the movie, go to www.praythedevilbacktohell.com.

Stork report

Atlanta pop star Usher has gotten an early holiday gift —- a second son.

The 29-year-old singer and his wife, Tameka, are celebrating the birth of Naviyd Ely Raymond. The infant arrived early Wednesday, weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces.

A statement from the couple released Thursday read: “Tameka and the baby are doing fine.”

This is the second child for the couple, who were married in August 2007. Their first boy, Usher Raymond V, was born last November.

Music to travel by

The folks at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport are seeking to soothe your stress this holiday season. On Thursday, airport rep Andy McDill sent Buzz Central the lineup for its impressive music series, set to run in the airport’s atrium 5-7 p.m. throughout the holidays. The schedule includes Super Choir (gospel) on Monday; D’vine (gospel) on Tuesday; and Twisted Royalty (funk/eclectic) on Wednesday.

Also: Thursday, Tri-Cities Chorus (school choir); Dec.19, Cherisse Stephens (gospel); Dec. 22, Kingsized (traditional jazz and holiday songs); Dec. 23, Monica Hargrave (harpist); and Dec. 24, Brian Clay (jazz). In other traveling music news, we’re told that strolling carolers in traditional Victorian garb will greet travelers on Dec. 19, 22 and 23 throughout the airport’s six concourses.

Box, bow Braves gift

Want to give the gift of the Atlanta Braves but concerned you won’t have enough paper and bows to adequately wrap Chipper Jones for under the tree? Then Buzz Central humbly suggests the team’s holiday six-game gift pack. Starting at $152, you can score two tickets to six Braves home games, including Opening Day, games against premier American League teams the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, plus three additional pre-selected games of your choosing, along with a gift box, Braves wrapping paper, a Braves holiday card and ball cap. If you want the gift pack to arrive for Christmas, you’ll need to order it by Monday.

More information: 404-577-9100, www.braves.com/holidays.

HIGH FIVE

Television

The top downloaded TV episodes Thursday on iTunes:

1. “Gossip Girl”: “O Brother, Where Bart Thou?” CW

2. “Heroes”: “Our Father,” NBC

3. “Desperate Housewives”: “A Vision’s Just a Vision,” ABC

4. “Chuck”: “Chuck vs. the DeLorean,” NBC

5. “The Office”: “The Surplus,” NBC

—- Courtesy of iTunes

CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS

Game show host Bob Barker (right) is 85. Singer Connie Francis is 70. Singer Dionne Warwick is 68. Singer-guitarist Dickey Betts (Allman Brothers) is 65. Singer-percussionist Sheila E. is 51. Actress Jennifer Connelly (left) is 38. Actress Mayim Bialik (“Blossom”) is 33.

Contributing: News services

Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com