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Friday, May 5, 2006
‘Sopranos’ mobster learns a few manners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead is the perfect spot to sip afternoon tea, enjoy an after-work cocktail — or cultivate a wise guy.
Steve Schirripa, known to “Sopranos” fans as Bobby “Bacala” Baccalieri, was in the hotel Thursday afternoon during tea time, learning to unfold a linen napkin and hold a teacup.
“Don’t you lift your pinky? I thought that was classy,” he said as etiquette mavens Evelyn and Stephanie Matthews of Acworth offered their expert guidance.
A crew from “The Tonight Show,” for which Schirripa serves as a special correspondent, captured the crash course in courtly conduct on film. The Brooklyn, N.Y., native’s visit south included a stop at a children’s etiquette class at Marietta Country Club Wednesday evening, and a multi-course dinner was planned for later Thursday at the Ritz.
“We’re trying to culture him,” said Evelyn Matthews, owner of the Etiquette Co. (www.etiquetteco.com).
Viewers can decide how successful she and daughter Stephanie were when “The Tonight Show” airs clips from Schirripa’s introduction to proper manners. The piece should air in coming weeks.
Schirripa dropped a few hints about his “Sopranos” character’s upcoming escapades.
“This week, for the first time, you’ll see Bobby get a little angry,” he said. “It’s involving his family.”
We would have pressed for details but the Ritz frowns on nosy scribblers getting iced in their genteel Lobby Lounge.
Fish food at the aquarium
It was perhaps a little disconcerting Wednesday night to watch the whale sharks, golden trevally and grouper swim by as the Atlanta food community gorged itself on seafood, but such is life. Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation — an annual event to benefit organizations that fight hunger — migrated to the ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium this year, thanks to honorary chairs Bernie and Billi Marcus. The city’s chefs took this as a challenge to lord their positions atop the food chain to the aquarium’s denizens and pulled out their best fish recipes. Doug Turbush of Bluepointe seared scallops in tea, Bruce McQuain of Sia’s fried tasty shrimp rolls with holy basil, and Richard Blais of One Midtown Kitchen served what we think was salmon, but a bit hard to tell under its cumulus of foam. Wolfgang Puck conducted a cooking demonstration from the stage while founding chair Pano Karatassos dutifully circulated. A private tour with the facility’s founder was bought in auction for a whopping $22,000 by Peter T. Nicas.
Alas, some among the stretch-limo set were overheard complaining that they had to be dumped unceremoniously on the curb because their rides couldn’t fit inside the parking deck. Time for a Kia?
Week at Woodruff: Day 4!
The city’s reintroduction of Woodruff Park (or, as we’ve taken to referring to it, “Woodruff Redux ‘06!”) rolled on unabated Thursday as countless cubicle dwellers gently inquired about the park’s lush new greenery. Buzz, meanwhile, was busy making a discovery — the park’s brand-new Baggit machine. The freshly installed contraption dispenses “biodegradable” brown plastic bags for thoughtful pet owners to clean up after Tiger or Fifi in the downtown urban wonderland. And today, according to the Woodruff press release, locals are urged to “stroll down Broad Street with friends and co-workers to get lunch and then join us at Woodruff Park for the first SunTrust Lunch on Broad” concert. Just step gingerly over us. We’ll be face down and passed out in the grass, testing that strictly enforced “Urban camping strictly prohibited” sign.
Arts award nominations
Know someone who has made a major contribution to the arts and culture scene in Georgia? Now is your chance to nominate that person for the 2006 Georgia Arts & Entertainment Legacy Award.
Last year’s winner, Theater of the Stars producer Christopher Manos, was feted in the Fox Theatre’s Egyptian Ballroom and serenaded by Broadway diva Jennifer Holliday.
The GAELA award, in its second year, is sponsored by the Atlanta Coalition of Performing Arts, which serves over 150 theater, dance, music and film arts organizations in the greater Atlanta area.
To nominate someone, go to www.georgiaperforms.com.
Celebrity birthdays
Actress Ann B. Davis (“The Brady Bunch”) is 80. Comedian-actor Michael Palin (Monty Python) is 63. John Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark”) is 62. MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 61. Singer Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is 47. Newsman Brian Williams is 47. Actress Tina Yothers (“Family Ties”) is 33. Singer Craig David is 25. Actress Danielle Fishel (“Boy Meets World”) is 25. Singer Chris Brown is 17.
Contributing: Jennifer Brett, John Kessler, Kirsten Tagami and news services. If you have a tip, 404-526-2749. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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