When Dr. Ami Klin began in the field of autism research 25 years ago, there was little to feel hopeful about. "At that time the prognosis was very bleak," said Klin, chief of the division of autism and developmental disabilities at Emory University's School of Medicine. "Now the future of individuals with autism is very bright. The sky is the limit. There is a clear sense of hope." Klin, who is also director of the Marcus Autism Center, is the keynote speaker at today's Enlightenment Luncheon, organized by the Marcus center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory's department of pediatrics. "We know there are many causes of autism," Klin said. "The cause that is not controvertible is genetics. "There have got to be some sort of environmental causes. We need to better understand what happens in the first years of life." An experts' panel will discuss the issue at today's event, chaired by Stephanie Blank, Laura Seydel, Lisa Rayner and Joanne Gross and held at the Buckhead Ritz-Carlton. Singer and budding reality star Toni Braxton was on the guest list -- her son Diezel has been diagnosed with autism, and the launch of her new show, "Braxton Family Values" centers largely on her performance at a concert in Bermuda to benefit the charity Autism Speaks. But Braxton was going to be in New York for the showing of the debut episode, which airs at 9 p.m. Tuesday on the WE channel. Maybe she can attend in the future. Held quarterly, the Enlightenment Luncheon series has covered a number of topics including asthma, obesity and environmental toxins. For information call 404-727-3232.
Say what?
"I played Chastain Park. I found it a bit distracting, actually. People were watching and eating and talking. I remember years ago seeing Nina Simone at a concert in the park [elsewhere] and some guy in the front row was having steak and chips and she stopped the show and called him a pig. Obviously, I wasn't going to do that."
- Sade, who is performing twice in Atlanta in July -- at Philips Arena this time -- during a recent interview with the AJC's Melissa Ruggieri. To read the entire interview see blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene.
Overscene
Pee Wee Herman (also known as actor Paul Reubens) was in town recently for Wrestlemania, and stopped by Parish while he was in town. He dined with two other guests and enjoyed the Big Dixie Burger, which is a hunk of beef tarted up with fried green tomatoes, applewood smoked bacon, pimento cheese, iceberg lettuce and mayo on a brioche bun. Guess he wanted to bulk up for the wrestling event.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Joel Grey is 79. Actress Louise Lasser is 72. Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Ellen Goodman is 70. Movie writer-director John Milius is 67. Actor Peter Riegert is 64. Actor Meshach Taylor is 64. Movie director Carl Franklin is 62. Actor Bill Irwin is 61. Country singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale is 54. Songwriter-producer Daryl Simmons is 54. Rock musician Nigel Pulsford is 50. Actor Lucky Vanous is 50. Country singer Steve Azar is 47. Singer Lisa Stansfield is 45. Rock musician Dylan Keefe (Marcy Playground) is 41. Actor Johnny Messner is 41. Actor Vicellous Shannon is 40. Rapper David Banner is 37. Actress Tricia Helfer is 37. Rock musician Chris Gaylor (The All-American Rejects) is 32. Actress Kelli Garner is 27. Singer Joss Stone is 24.
Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri, news services
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