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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 18 > Entry
New host, same spirit for arts ball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some 350 revelers attended Saturday night’s 30th annual Beaux Arts Ball, which was hosted for the first time by the Savannah College of Art and Design at its Atlanta campus. For decades, the ball was a benefit for the Atlanta College of Art, but last year the art college merged with the Savannah-based school.
“We updated the ball but kept the same spirit — celebrating the arts in Atlanta,” said Paula S. Wallace, president of SCAD. This year’s party featured a black-pink retro ’50s look.
The black-tie crowd was instructed to wear masks and responded by donning everything from pretty and posh to witty and wild. Guest Carolyn Tanner wore a sleek sequin-and-feather mask with a teardrop that she described as “a vintage Beaux Arts creation” since she wore it to previous balls. Prissy Swearingen’s stunning mask was made out of silk peonies.
Student models from SCAD-Atlanta entertained the crowd by performing to the song “Masquerade!” from “The Phantom of the Opera.” The girls were in white tulle and leotards while the guys wore white suits, all accessorized by fanciful hair and makeup created by Carter-Barnes Hair Artisans.
Longtime leaders in Atlanta’s art community and their spouses served as honorary chairs of the event: Lisa and Joseph Bankoff, Brigitte and Shelton Stanfill, and Carolyn and Gudmund Vigtel. “Nothing has impacted the arts community [in Atlanta] as the merger of SCAD and the Atlanta College of Art,” Joseph Bankoff said. “It’s a great joining of forces and a great day.”
Funds raised from this ball will support SCAD’s renovation of the 1883 Edward C. Peters House at Piedmont and Ponce de Leon avenues in Midtown. When it’s finished in two years, the house will serve as a cultural arts and writing center for the community.
Boortz pens sequel
Two years ago, syndicated WSB-AM talk-show host Neal Boortz became a surprise No. 1 best-selling author with “The Fair Tax Book” ($14.95), which advocated a national sales tax and abolition of the income tax.
HarperCollins would only publish his “little tax book if I sign a two-book deal,” Boortz told Buzz on Friday.
Book No. 2, “Somebody’s Gotta Say It” ($25.95), hits shelves Tuesday. It’s a potpourri of Boortz’s thoughts, ranging from teacher’s unions (he hates them) to minimum wage (“If you are an adult incapable of making more than minimum wage, you’re a loser!”).
A Libertarian at heart, Boortz even dares address his support of abortion rights, a topic he normally avoids on the air. Why do so in print? “Because nobody can talk back to me.”
His radio show is heard on 180 stations, a steady increase since the “Fair Tax” book came out. He considers himself a “second tier” talk-show host because he’s not in such major markets as New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.
But Boortz is happy where he is and is looking forward to seeing the “fair tax” get implemented down the road. “We’re getting more sponsors and co-sponsors in the House,” he said. “It’s got legs. We’re pushing inch by inch.”
No criminal case
Larry Wachs, formerly of 96rock’s Regular Guys morning show, may have lost his job last October, but he’s no longer under a criminal cloud.
Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Robert Wolf on Thursday informed Wachs the office would not pursue criminal charges against him after he taped a restroom conversation between sister station Viva 105 morning hosts Yogi and Panda without their knowledge, then aired it. Wolf said the event occurred in a public restroom, so there was no expectation of privacy.
Yogi, whose real name is Juan Tapia, and Panda, whose name is Jose Carias, filed a civil lawsuit against Wachs, Wachs’ former co-host Eric Von Haessler and 96rock’s radio owner, Clear Channel, for invasion of privacy and negligent hiring. Clear Channel fired Wachs and Von Haessler soon after. Tapia and Carias dropped charges against Von Haessler but filed a criminal lawsuit against Wachs for illegal eavesdropping.
Christopher Taylor, who represents Tapia and Carias, said his clients told the district attorney’s office in December they changed their minds and wanted the case dropped, citing “bigheartedness.”
Wachs said they realized they had a weak case: “I’ve been vindicated.” Wachs, who is seeking a talk radio job, had filed a civil counterclaim against Clear Channel, Tapia and Carias. The civil cases are pending.
Hair cuttery
Britney Spears won’t be on the cover of Vogue anytime soon.
The singer appeared in a tattoo parlor in the San Fernando Valley with her head shaved completely bald.
Video on KABC-TV showed Spears with tiny tattoos on the back of her neck as she sat Friday night for a new tattoo — a pair of red and pink lips.
Buzz roundup
Crashing a rival radio station’s event is typically considered bad form. But Steak Shapiro, co-prez and morning co-host at 790/The Zone, turned it around by showing up at a rival 680/The Fan radiothon for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society last week and donating $250. But popular Fan co-host John Kincade, who was recently named anchor of ESPN Radio’s Final Four coverage, wouldn’t put Shapiro on the air.
Meanwhile, Shapiro and 790/The Zone are hoping to open a high-end restaurant at 300 Marietta St. near Centennial Olympic Park this fall with restaurateur Bob Amick and Legacy Property Group. Shapiro said it will have a glassed-in ground-floor radio studio so fans can watch jocks gab.
Celebrity birthdays
Singer Smokey Robinson is 67. Actor Jeff Daniels is 52. Singer Seal is 44. Actor Benicio Del Toro is 40. Singer-actress Haylie Duff is 22.
Contributing: Marylin Johnson and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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