IF YOU GO
2014 Ford Neighborhood Awards. Tickets for Aug. 10 awards show at Philips Arena are $91.15 to $113.70 after fees. Tickets for Aug. 8-10 expo at Georgia World Congress Center are $35 for a three-day VIP pass. neighborhoodawards.com, ticketmaster.com.
TV-radio host Steve Harvey for years held what he called his annual Hoodie Awards in Las Vegas, one of the most notable cities in America for a big party.
But Harvey, who moved here a few years ago, decided this year to relocate the event closer to home in the less sexy environs of downtown Atlanta.
Renamed the 2014 Ford Neighborhood Awards, the event now includes a three-day expo at the Georgia World Congress Center, comedy shows, step shows, a choir competition and a big Philips Arena event Saturday at which celebrities will hand out awards to community leaders, small businesses and churches.
The comedy shows are sold out. The step shows and choir competition are part of the expo.
Noting the heavy preponderance of African-Americans in the Southeast, Harvey said, “it’s better for my fan base. It’s not so far away. I think it will save them a lot of money in travel and hotel expenses. They can come and go as they please in a more centralized location. … It can make it bigger, more fun.”
The “fun” level may not be as readily apparent as it would be in Vegas, he acknowledged, “but who wants to lose all that money anyway?”
Harvey, a best-selling author and former sitcom star, is host of “Family Feud” (CW 69 in Atlanta), which he tapes at the Atlanta Civic Center, as well as his own syndicated talk show (Fox 5 locally.) His syndicated morning radio show is heard here on R&B station Majic 107.5/97.5.
He hopes his Neighborhood Awards draw up to 150,000 fans over the weekend.
The event originally was called the Hoodie Awards but was changed last year to be more “palatable” to sponsors, Harvey said at a news conference earlier this year at Atlanta City Hall, where Mayor Kasim Reed presided. Key sponsors include Ford and State Farm.
At the big Philips Arena awards show, singers Robin Thicke, India.Arie and Anthony Hamilton are scheduled to perform. Award presenters include actors Hill Harper, Tracee Ellis Ross, Michael Ealy and Holly Robinson Peete as well as comics George Wallace and Sommore.
“When these people receive awards from these celebrities and stars,” Harvey said, “I think that’s the flip on the awards show that makes it unique.”
Harvey said he loves watching winners who have never been recognized for their work “come down that aisle. They’re getting this round of applause and the music is playing and they walk up those steps and give that acceptance speech for the first time in their lives. That’s a great moment. I love the look on every last one of their faces.”
Metro Atlanta individuals and businesses are among the nominees in the dozen categories, including best barbershop (Fadeologist in Lawrenceville) and community leader (James Jones, who runs a service organization named Simply United Together).
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