Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > July > 01 > Entry
Club legend out of hiding for birthday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fittingly, the invitation was delivered to Buzz Central with a Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp. After all, for Atlanta nightclub insiders, the announcement is something akin to the Chairman of the Board’s 1976 surprise visit to the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon — with Dean Martin in tow.
On July 10, venerable nightspot Johnny’s Hideaway is hosting “The Annual 39th” birthday bash for the club’s namesake and former owner Johnny Esposito. In 1999, Esposito’s business partners bought him out when he decided to retire. During the transition, some not-so-nice words were exchanged. Mothers may have been maligned. Some witnesses claim hexes were uttered.
As a result, Esposito didn’t set foot in the Sinatra sanctuary for nearly a decade. Until Esposito turned up unexpectedly a few months back for a former customer’s party at the Roswell Road club.
During the visit, some of the iciness between Esposito and current co-owner Mike Dana melted. In recent years, diabetes has taken its toll on Esposito’s circulation and he quit drinking.
“I’m a Catholic, and we were taught forgiveness,” Esposito told us. “Also, they probably know I might be running short on birthdays these days and that I’ll be out of their hair soon! Seriously, it was very nice of them to do this for me.”
“What the hell,” reasoned Dana when we called Monday. “Let bygones be bygones. With a lot of style, we’re going to pay tribute to a nightclub legend.”
Former Atlanta mayor Sam Massell is one of Esposito’s old pallies who’s been invited to speak at the soiree/ceasefire.
“I was surprised for several reasons,” Massell told us. “Yes, I was surprised that the Hideaway is hosting it. It’s a very nice gesture. I was also surprised to learn from the invitation that I’m one of the ‘special guests.’ And I’m surprised that Johnny Esposito is celebrating yet another birthday. You know that he’s older than all of us put together, don’t you?”
So which birthday is this for Esposito?
Says the lifelong nightclub huckster: “People will just have to show up to find that out!”
Complimentary drinks and a free birthday buffet are scheduled from 7 to
8 p.m.
Molotov cocktails are not on the menu.
YOUNG JEEZY TO MCCAIN: ‘IT’S ROUGH OUT HERE’
Who says presidential candidate John McCain isn’t attracting the young hipster vote? In the August issue of Vibe on stands this week, none other than Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy talked about chatting with McCain. It seems the pair shared a hug recently as the credits rolled on “Saturday Night Live.”
“No disrespect to my man Barack [Obama] …” says Jeezy in Vibe. “He greeted me like a G. … The fact that he acknowledged me was crazy. I said, ‘I’m Young Jeezy, and it’s rough out here.’ He blew me off at first. I was like, ‘Nah, for real. It’s rough out here, so what you gonna do to change it?’ … I like Barack, but at the same time I wanted to see what McCain was talking about.”
Jeezy continues: ” ‘You gotta fix it, you know that, right?’ And he gave me a look back, like, ‘I know.’ “
At the very least, the encounter gives McCain some much-needed street cred.
Atlantans will recall that just last month the rapper also known as Jay S. Jenkins was arrested here and charged with speeding, no proof of insurance, open container, reckless driving and driving while impaired by alcohol/drugs, according to Atlanta police.
‘FULL HOUSE’ DAD NOT SO SQUEAKY CLEAN
To most of Middle America, Bob Saget remains Danny Tanner, that goofy “Full House” dad, and host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
But as many of his biggest fans know, he’s a dirty, dirty man. So filthy he’d make Andrew Dice Clay blush. Buzz checked out his show at the Tabernacle on Friday night, and it’s 50 percent potty humor, 45 percent sex jokes and 5 percent usable material for this news-gathering operation.
“I don’t know if you can tell,” he cracked, “but I’m divorced!”
Yet Saget is so good-natured, so amiable, even the nastiest bestiality reference comes across as oddly sweet. He acts as if the obscenities coming out of his mouth even shock him.
“You’re going to go home and watch reruns of ‘Full House’ tonight and say to Danny, ‘Don’t pick up the kids! Don’t pick up the kids!’ “
And a tidbit about submissions for “Funniest Home Videos:” “People sent us porn! Porn! And I have all of it!”
GEORGIA STATE STUDENT GETS CROWN
It was a good night for Georgia State University at the Miss Georgia contest Saturday.
Chasity Hardman, a 23-year-old GSU music education student, became the second African-American chosen to represent Georgia in January’s Miss America pageant. Hardman, a Columbus product who now lives in Atlanta, was second runner-up in the 2007 Georgia contest.
“It’s all a blur,” Hardman told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer shortly after winning the title Saturday night at the RiverCenter in Columbus. “I’m just very, very excited.” Hardman said she looks forward to traveling as Miss Georgia, as well as to pushing her personal interest in using music in education.
University of Georgia student Lauren Edmunds of Americus was first runner-up. Second runner-up was Georgia State student Kristina Higgins of Dacula.
COUPLING
This is also now official: actress Uma Thurman is set to marry financier Arpad “Arki” Busson.
“I can confirm she is engaged,” Thurman’s representative, Stephen Huvane, told The Associated Press in an e-mail.
Huvane didn’t immediately respond Monday when asked for further details.
Thurman filed for divorce from Ethan Hawke in 2004. They have two children.
The 38-year-old actress was previously married to Gary Oldman.
Busson has two sons with Elle Macpherson.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Actress Olivia de Havilland is 92. Actor Jamie Farr is 74. Actress Karen Black is 69. Gospel singer-choir leader Andrae Crouch is 66. Singer Deborah Harry of Blondie is 63. Singer Fred Schneider of The B-52’s is 57. Rapper Missy Elliott is 37. Actress Liv Tyler is 31. Actress Hilarie Burton (“One Tree Hill”) is 26.
OVERSCENE
At the W hotel in Midtown: former “American Idol” contestant Diana DeGarmo, NBA legend and broadcaster Charles Barkley, producer/author Jermaine Dupri and singer Robin Thicke.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, 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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