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First lady Laura Bush intrigued by Atlanta icons
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was good enough for Margaret Mitchell, so why not Laura Bush? The first lady of the United States made an unexpectedly long literary pit stop Thursday for a reverse visit to the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum.
The motorcade pulled up to the Peachtree Street landmark about 10:45 a.m. and Bush — in town for a school dropout prevention program luncheon and a fund-raiser for Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss — entered through the “GWTW” movie museum, then proceeded to work her way back to the place where it all started: The apartment where former Atlanta Journal reporter Mitchell wrote her fictional masterpiece.
“We gave her the sort of backwards tour, starting with the Martin Luther King Jr. photo exhibit, then on to the exhibit of the round-robin letter exchange involving Margaret Mitchell and her family,” said Mitchell House communications director Anne Stanford, explaining that Bush had personally asked to have this stop put in her itinerary and then extended her visit to 45 minutes. “She was very intrigued, especially by the King photos, and she asked a ton of questions.”
Speaking of backward, Mitchell wrote the last chapter of “Wind” first — something the ex-librarian first lady hadn’t known until informed of it by visitor services manager Russell Caldwell.
“She said, ‘This makes me want to read the book again, to read it backwards to see how it was written,’ ” Stanford reported about the visit, which was closed to the press.
The Bush appearance was the first of two big events this week for the Mitchell House, which will hold the official launch party for “Rhett Butler’s People” Saturday night. Copies of the authorized sequel weren’t in the house yet Thursday morning (the scheduled delivery of 1,000 books was purposely delayed so it wouldn’t interrupt the first lady’s visit), but Stanford said Bush has been promised the first copy to be autographed by author Donald McCaig during the party.
Tickets for the event, which includes an autographed copy of “Rhett Butler’s People,” are still available. Call: 770-578-3502.
Reed family back in town for ‘Blues for Bread’ benefit
We couldn’t help smiling when the 415 area code unexpectedly popped up on our phone this week. Sure enough, it was Atlanta’s own Francine Reed, calling in to report that her latest run as a featured performer in San Francisco’s Teatro ZinZanni show is done.
“Georgia is calling my name, baby!” the singer said. Her singing siblings Michael, Margo, Mellody, LaVergne and the family matriarch, Miss Girley, are winging their way here as well. The Reed family is headlining “Blues for Bread,” a benefit for the Buckhead Christian Ministry on Saturday night at CenterStage on West Peachtree Street. The nonprofit helps families and individuals in need.
And while Reed has become a fixture with Lyle Lovett on “The Tonight Show,” routinely sings for mayors and receives standing ovations at Chastain now, she says she will never forget the years she spent as a single mother, raising four children while working the assembly line at a Gaines Burgers dog food factory.
“I wish that an organization like the Buckhead Christian Ministry had been around in the 1970s [in the Midwest] where I was living. I would get in line at 1 a.m. for food stamps that would start to be given out at 7:30 in the morning.”
And yes, the Reeds will be performing some holiday selections as a thank-you to local fans who supported their seasonal shows at the now-closed Libby’s Cabaret.
If you want to hang with the Reeds at a private pre-show cocktail party (we heartily recommend the experience, just for the family recipes they might divulge to you), tickets are $100. For just the 8 p.m. show, tickets are $45. For info: www.buckheadchristianministry.org or 404-239-0058, Ext. 127.
Pat and Betty to the rescue
Just as we were pondering what to do with all the leftover Halloween treats at Buzz Central Thursday (oddly, small fry aren’t all that partial to vermouth-soaked martini olives), Patricia Schweitzer and Betty T. Morton (as in “Pat and Betty” from the Reynolds Wrap TV commercials) were waiting for us in the lobby.
Our fave home economists were in town to introduce folks in Centennial Olympic Park to the new ultra-cool Reynolds Handi-Vac vacuum sealer that removes and locks out air from the company’s new Handi-Vac freezer bags.
Alas, our old pals had their trademark white and blue lab coats in garment bags. The duo’s latest TV spot features the gizmo helping a frazzled mom who’s only got unidentifiable, ice crystal-laden blobs from the freezer to feed the family.
“It’s really changed the way I shop,” Schweitzer told us. “I do a lot more buying in bulk now.”
Added Morton: “Plus, you can buy more family packs of meat without worrying about freezer burn.”
The pair say their eight-city tour to introduce the $9.99 sealer has instantly converted some fans. “One woman was reaching for her wallet at one appearance,” Morton said.
“We had to explain that we weren’t actually selling them,” added Schweitzer.
The 12-year TV commercial icons say they get recognized more often when they’re together.
“We just got recognized on the train going to baggage claim at the airport,” said Schweitzer. “But that’s probably because I got off the train, Betty stayed on and then I fell back into the train next to her. That’s when we heard, ‘Aren’t you the Reynolds Wrap ladies? I didn’t recognize you without the lab coats.’ “
For info: www.handivac.com.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS Keyboardist Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 63. Singer K.D. Lang is 46. Actor David Schwimmer (“Friends”) is 41. Rapper Nelly is 33.
OVERSCENE NASCAR drivers Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, Clint Bowyer (right) and Juan Pablo Montoya road-testing the “more meat please!” green discs at Fogo de Chao in Buckhead. We’re told that the drivers came in separately to partake of Fogo’s continuous service of 15 unique cuts of meat and ordered up lots of beer.
Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com
Contributing: Jill Vejnoska 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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