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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 27 > Entry
Loud, proud in Decatur after marathon win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With cheerleaders, drummers, a few mutant marching band members and some percussion enthusiasts banging on kitchen cookware, the city of Decatur made enough noise to take first place Sunday in the ING Georgia Marathon Neighborhood Challenge.
The financial giant ING offered cash prizes to the top three “cheering sections” in five neighborhoods along the route of the race, with judging based on spirit, crowds and orange-ness. Decatur won $10,000 to be spent on local sports and fitness programs.
The town greeted the 13,000-plus runners with badly rhymed Burma Shave-style signs along the way (sample: “After the race/Come back and visit/Decatur is fun/You don’t want to miss it”), as well as homemade signs (including one that said “Keep MovING”).
“It was well-worth sacrificing my voice,” said Decatur Bulldogs Athletic Booster Club board member Marc Wisniewski, who cheered himself hoarse. Second prize of $5,000 went to NPU-M, which includes downtown, Sweet Auburn and the old Fourth Ward. Third prize of $2,500 went to the folks outside Inman Middle School in the Virginia-Highland area. “Woo-hoo!” said downtown volunteer Jodi Mount. “We had a lot of orange and we had a lot of caffeine.”
HAPPY TRAILS
The French fashion house Hermès, which got its start making saddles, harnesses and other “tacky” gear, has a soft spot for all things equine. So the “Miracles Happen VI” benefit, which raises money for the therapeutic riding program at Chastain Horse Park, fits the Hermès mission like a snug pair of jodhpurs.
Fashion mavens and the horsey set mingled comfortably under a tent at the horse park Saturday night, where black tie and bluejeans were de rigueur. The 400 guests raised about $200,000 for the park’s riding and outreach programs. It was the third year that Hermès was presenting sponsor. “It’s a good match,” said Amy Lance, president and founder of the horse park. “We share a common bond — a love of horses.”
Several guests honored the sponsor by wearing the famous Hermès scarves as ascots or by turning the scarves into eye-catching tops worn with jeans. Mayor Shirley Franklin — minus her signature flower pin — showed up in denims and a floral print jacket, which she bought in Chicago. “And the jeans are clean, too,” declared the mayor.
Chairs of the event were Sallie and Steve Rothschild, whose son Jack is a rider in the Chastain program, which offers riding sessions for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional challenges.
BID ON LES PAUL, KEEP BIG EASY MUSIC ROLLIN’
The Edge is donating his favorite instrument to an auction benefiting Music Rising, a charity the U2 guitarist co-founded to replace musical equipment lost or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
He’s logged thousands of hours of stage and studio time on the 1975 Gibson Les Paul. The 45-year-old musician has used the guitar throughout his years with U2.
“I wanted to give something really significant that would really mean a lot for me to give. It deserved something that I would miss,” the Edge told The Associated Press by phone from France.
The Icons of Music auction, administered by Julien’s Auctions, features 196 items, including a saxophone signed by former President Bill Clinton, a guitar that belonged to Jimi Hendrix and an original Elvis Presley recording contract.
An exhibit of auction items will travel from Los Angeles to Dublin, Ireland, and London before the sale ends April 21 with an event at Manhattan’s Hard Rock Cafe. Fans may bid online (www.juliensauctions.com) or in person.
The Edge’s guitar was expected to fetch between $60,000 to $80,000, according to the auction Web site.
Bandmates Adam Clayton donated a bass guitar, Larry Mullen gave a pair of tom-tom drums and Bono donated a pair of Emporio Armani sunglasses.
“It’s some great poetry to ask the people like myself, who’ve earned a good living from rock ‘n’ roll, to donate items to an auction that would help protect and stave off the decline of the music culture in the Gulf Coast,” he said.
The Edge, whose real name is David Evans, first discovered the area’s musical culture as a young member of U2.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Pop singer Mariah Carey is 37. Director Quentin Tarantino (“Kill Bill”) is 44. NASCAR giant Cale Yarborough is 68.
OVERSCENE
Cast members from “Sweet Charity” sighted having a pre-show bite at nearby Fifth Street wine bar Eno, while headliner Molly Ringwald is seen shopping at Eno’s attached wine and cheese retail shop, the Barrelman.
CELEBRITY DOCKET
Perhaps the dryer wasn’t working. The wife of Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland was arrested and charged with torching his clothes outside their Toluca Lake, Calif., home hours after the couple brawled at a luxury hotel, police said Monday.
Mary Weiland, 31, was booked for investigation of felony arson vandalism after officers responded to a call Saturday night that a female was burning clothes. They found a trash can full of smoldering clothes, Sgt. Mathew Ferguson said.
Officers called Weiland, 39, who said the wardrobe was worth $10,000, Ferguson said. The couple’s children, ages 4 and 6, were placed in the custody of family friends.
The arrest culminated a rowdy weekend for Weiland and his wife. Police were called to the nearby boutique Graciela Hotel on Pass Avenue earlier Saturday after the couple got into an argument that left two rooms vandalized, Ferguson said.
“Both rooms had damage and items scattered, broken plates and things. It was looking definitely like items were deliberately destroyed,” Ferguson said. He said the amount of damage exceeded $400.
Contributing: Marylin Johnson and news services
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