There’s no more meaningful way to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta than by partaking in some of the events organized by the Battle of Atlanta Commemoration Organization, including the annual gala. It’s coming up at 7 p.m. Saturday at East Lake Golf Club, 2575 Alston Drive. The event is always an informational, inspirational time as a diverse range of Atlantans come together to break bread, remember the past, and look hopefully toward a united future together.
The gala begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction and features a sumptuous Southern buffet and live entertainment by Tom Marnell's jazz band and tenor Sam Hagan. Individual tickets are $65 and tables for 10 are $500. They're available at www.batlevent.org.
Filming updates
Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas have each filmed in Atlanta before, and "Ant-Man" is bringing them back. The movie ("A scientist enlists a thief to safeguard his size-changing technology, and also to create a superhero who will defend the world," says imdb) will film at the huge Pinewood facility in Fayette County. Rudd was here most recently for last year's "Anchorman 2." He also filmed the 2012 romantic comedy "Wanderlust," with Jennifer Aniston, chiefly in North Georgia. During his time in Atlanta filming "AM2," Rudd visited Conan O'Brien's late-night show, which filmed at the Tabernacle for several days. Douglas was here for the 2013 active-adult comedy "Last Vegas," also starring Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline.
In other news, the AMC hit “Walking Dead” has been lurching through downtown Atlanta, as have the living, breathing casts of cop thriller “Triple Nine” and teen sci-fi flick “Insurgent.” OTP, inspirational drama “The Sunday Horse” has been filming in Conyers and Alpharetta while the HBO biopic “Bessie” has come to the Marietta Square.
Sneak a peek at ‘Let’s Be Cops’
"Let's Be Cops" with Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. filmed in Atlanta, and this week the guys were back to promote the sort-of cop buddy comedy. "What was cool about the movie is it was us pretending to pretend to be cops," Wayans told us. The movie, also starring Nina Dobrev, Angela Kerecz, Andy Garcia, James D'Arcy, Rob Riggle, Keegan-Michael Key and Anna Colwell, is set in Los Angeles but was filmed here thanks to Georgia's film-friendly tax policies.
The movie comes out Aug. 13, but Atlanta Street Food Festival attendees have two shots at a sneak preview on Saturday. The "Cinetransformer," a 53-foot double expandable trailer that converts into a complete mobile cinema, will show the movie at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Piedmont Park. For information, see www.atlantastreetfoodfestival.com.
