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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 18 > Entry
No twister of fate stops Ted’s Montana Grill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For veteran Atlanta restaurateur George McKerrow Jr., the weekend’s twister-tainted dose of Mother Nature downtown was faintly reminiscent of Snow Jam ‘82. Longtime Atlantans will recall the former Longhorn Steakhouse proprietor catered to customers at his Peachtree Street restaurant that January as folks abandoned their cars in drifting snow and headed in for beef and brews.
Now, as co-owner of Ted’s Montana Grill on Luckie Street downtown, McKerrow worked throughout the weekend with his staff and managed to keep the doors open for the thousands of out-of-towners here for conventions, college hoops and a home show. But it wasn’t easy, considering many of the building’s windows blew out, and 166 diners had to be hustled into the kitchen Friday night as the storm struck.
“My upstairs office looks like it was hit by shrapnel,” McKerrow told Buzz on Monday. Business partner Ted Turner’s top floor penthouse likewise lost some windows but suffered “no significant damage and it’s now buttoned up and secured.” Turner, who’s out of the country, rang McKerrow throughout the weekend for updates.
“Ted was all excited that we were able to stay open and serve our out-of-town guests,” McKerrow said. “He told me, ‘I just knew you’d do it, George.’ “
McKerrow conceded that task wasn’t easy. Cleaning crews worked throughout the night to scrub away dirt and mud and sweep up glass throughout the restaurant. New custom windows are expected by the end of the week.
An entire stained glass window from The Tabernacle next door also landed in Ted’s parking lot.
“It’s amazing that no one was killed or seriously injured,” McKerrow said. “We were extremely fortunate.”
While McKerrow noticed some parallels between this past weekend’s twister in downtown and 1982’s historic snowstorm, he added: “This weekend was much more of a crisis than the snowstorm. And the snow lasted longer. What was surprising about Friday night was how fast it was all over. At the end of the day, our staff felt great being able to provide a safe place to eat. As you can imagine, there was more than a little anxiety down here.”
A USUAL TUESDAY FOR THRIVE
Sure, a little chaos swirled around his business all weekend. And on Monday, commuters sat in traffic out front on the parts of Marietta Street that were actually open, but Thrive restaurant and nightclub general manager A.D. Allushi says the hipster eatery’s weekly Sushi Rock event will happen as usual tonight at 101 Marietta St. The popular free sushi and $4 cocktail party featuring DJ Scott Cannon is set for 8 p.m. And while Allushi probably has gotten 14 seconds of sleep since the tornado hit Friday, we’re betting he’ll be in residence tonight to assist customers, all while immaculately dressed in something fashion forward. In comparison, Buzz officially ceased hiding in a fetal position under our bed about 3 p.m. Monday.
SOLO SIR ELTON FOR SENATOR CLINTON
While technically he can’t vote for her, part-time Atlantan Sir Elton John will help Democrat Hillary Clinton raise cash for her presidential campaign with a solo concert next month at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
“I’m not a politician but I believe in the work that Hillary Clinton does,” the British musician said in a statement released by the Clinton campaign on Monday.
Tickets for the “Elton and Hillary: One Night Only” performance on April 9 go on sale Wednesday. Prices start at $125 for mezzanine seats, $250 for seats near the orchestra.
Last October, Clinton held a star-studded fund-raiser to celebrate her 60th birthday. Comedian Billy Crystal and rockers Elvis Costello and the Wallflowers headlined the event at New York’s historic Beacon Theater, which raked in more than $1.5 million for Clinton’s presidential bid.
MCCARTNEY EX GLAD TO GET $48 MILLION
Money may not buy her love, but Paul McCartney’s ex sure has a lot more of it now. One of Britain’s bitterest divorces reached a settlement Monday when Heather Mills was awarded $48.6 million.
Mills declared herself “very, very, very pleased” with a payout that amounted to about $34,000 for each day of her four-year marriage.
A Family Court judge awarded Mills a lump sum of $33 million, plus the assets she currently holds, worth $15.6 million. Mills had sought almost $250 million, according to a summary of the ruling; McCartney had offered $31.6 million.
TOP FLICK PICKS
Television
On March 31, Atlanta boxer Evander Holyfield turns guest programmer as he discusses his fave flicks with Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne. The evening on TCM will kick off at 8 p.m. Among the films Holyfield selected:
1. “The Shootist,” 1976
2. “True Grit,” 1969
3. “Cooley High,” 1975
4. “The Terminator,” 1984
Courtesy: TCM
STORK REPORT
It’s a girl!
Oscar winner Halle Berry gave birth to a daughter Sunday and “is doing great,” publicist Meredith O’Sullivan tells People.com.
The father is 32-year-old model Gabriel Aubry. The two met while shooting a Versace ad in Los Angeles two years ago.
Berry, 41, told Oprah Winfrey on her show last year that playing a mother in her latest movie, “Things We Lost in the Fire,” helped convince her that motherhood was for her.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actor Peter Graves is 82. Composer John Kander (“Chicago”) is 81. Author John Updike is 76. Country singer Charley Pride is 70. Actor Kevin Dobson (“Knots Landing”) is 65. Actor Brad Dourif (“Lord of the Rings”) is 58. Singer Irene Cara is 49. Singer Vanessa Williams is 45. Rapper-actress Queen Latifah is 38. Comedian Dane Cook (“Employee of the Month”) is 36. Singer Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is 29.
Contributing: 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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