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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Club legend out of hiding for birthday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fittingly, the invitation was delivered to Buzz Central with a Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp. After all, for Atlanta nightclub insiders, the announcement is something akin to the Chairman of the Board’s 1976 surprise visit to the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon — with Dean Martin in tow.
On July 10, venerable nightspot Johnny’s Hideaway is hosting “The Annual 39th” birthday bash for the club’s namesake and former owner Johnny Esposito. In 1999, Esposito’s business partners bought him out when he decided to retire. During the transition, some not-so-nice words were exchanged. Mothers may have been maligned. Some witnesses claim hexes were uttered.
As a result, Esposito didn’t set foot in the Sinatra sanctuary for nearly a decade. Until Esposito turned up unexpectedly a few months back for a former customer’s party at the Roswell Road club.
During the visit, some of the iciness between Esposito and current co-owner Mike Dana melted. In recent years, diabetes has taken its toll on Esposito’s circulation and he quit drinking.
“I’m a Catholic, and we were taught forgiveness,” Esposito told us. “Also, they probably know I might be running short on birthdays these days and that I’ll be out of their hair soon! Seriously, it was very nice of them to do this for me.”
“What the hell,” reasoned Dana when we called Monday. “Let bygones be bygones. With a lot of style, we’re going to pay tribute to a nightclub legend.”
Former Atlanta mayor Sam Massell is one of Esposito’s old pallies who’s been invited to speak at the soiree/ceasefire.
“I was surprised for several reasons,” Massell told us. “Yes, I was surprised that the Hideaway is hosting it. It’s a very nice gesture. I was also surprised to learn from the invitation that I’m one of the ‘special guests.’ And I’m surprised that Johnny Esposito is celebrating yet another birthday. You know that he’s older than all of us put together, don’t you?”
So which birthday is this for Esposito?
Says the lifelong nightclub huckster: “People will just have to show up to find that out!”
Complimentary drinks and a free birthday buffet are scheduled from 7 to
8 p.m.
Molotov cocktails are not on the menu.
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Do you prefer public fireworks displays?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlantans will have many options to watch July 4th fireworks displays.
Do you prefer to go to a public fireworks display or have your own July 4th celebration with friends and family? Where are some of the best places and vantage points to watch the fireworks?
