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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 15 > Entry
Designer fund-raiser enthralls
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As usual, Monday night’s 11th annual Dining By Design fund-raiser for DIFFA, or Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, was a senses-saturating gala filled with fascinating table concepts. This year, the evening was held inside a massive white tent adjacent to the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center in Buckhead.
Among the more fanciful concepts guests gawked at as they sipped martinis in massive glasses: The “Arabian Nights”-themed dining room created for the Stark Carpet Corp. by designer John Oetgen (right). Beside panels of puffy clouds and blue sky, guests dined atop a large “flying” carpet and plentiful pillows.
“Snakes on a plate!” one guest gushed as they noted the ceramic serpents resting on each plate. Guests of Stark Carpet, meanwhile, came dressed for the occasion in turbans and brandishing swords.
The Tiffany & Co. table was more sedate, with the jeweler’s signature robin’s egg blue painted walls and vintage “Breakfast at Tiffanys” movie posters. The stylish Hollywood homage was created by interior designer Lee Bryan. Throughout dinner, guests got to gaze upon Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly from the classic film via a flat-screen TV set up in the space. Guests at the table each got a goodie bag with a DVD of the film.
The design for Atlanta and New York retailer Jeffrey, meanwhile, stopped guests in their tracks with its colorful, whimsical tables and wacky hand-painted lampshades concept that appeared to be equal parts “Alice in Wonderland,” Dr. Seuss and “Pushing Daisies.”
This year, Buzz was seated at Atlanta caterer Tony Conway’s A Legendary Event table created by Steve Welsh. The table was a living backyard of sorts with floral blooms and lush green grass strategically placed around the table. (Buzz momentarily encountered an etiquette question, as we wondered if resting our butter knife on living blades of grass was really proper or not …).
“The entire table is living,” Welsh told us. “That was the challenge of the concept this year.”
Happily, we were seated next to film production designer Ina Mayhew, the creative dynamo responsible for the signature looks of all seven movies made in Atlanta by director-producer Tyler Perry.
Alas, Mayhew resisted passing along any “Madea”-inspired decorating tips to us. Well, at least not until “Madea Goes to Jail” hits theaters next February. Still, we may start shopping yard sales for doilies and Reader’s Digest Condensed Books …
Overscene
Ridiculously beautiful tennis pros Anna Kournikova and Andy Roddick at the W Midtown hotel. We’re told that the glamorous Kournikova checked in wearing a decidedly low-key outfit of jeans and a sweatshirt. Roddick was spotted dining at the hipster hotel’s Spice Market restaurant. The pros were in town to help Sir Elton John raise $400,000 at his annual Smash Hits tennis benefit.
Actors David Duchovny and Demi Moore, spotted dining at Ray’s Killer Creek in Alpharetta. They’re in town filming their new movie, a dark comedy tentatively titled “The Joneses.”
Seen celebrating Atlanta Falcon Jonathan Babineaux’s 27th birthday and that impressive win over the Chicago Bears at the Velvet Room were fellow Falcons John Abraham, Roddy White, D.J. Shockley, Lawyer Milloy, Michael Boley, Jamaal Anderson, Rod Coleman, Chauncey Davis, Grady Jackson, Brent Grimes, Kindal Moorehead, Chris Houston, Simon Fraser and Ovie Mughelli. Former Falcon Warrick Dunn was also there, as was singer Mary J. Blige, who surprised the birthday boy by serenading him.
‘It’s Atlanta!’ again
The Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics Torch may have made its way around the world, but its final home is going to be Atlanta. The Olympic symbol is being installed at 10 a.m. today at the World of Coca-Cola downtown. Sergey Bubka, a member of the International Olympic Committee and a pole-vaulting gold medalist, will present the torch during the installation. It will join a collection of seven other torches and be on display in the Milestones exhibit. So why the World of Coca-Cola? The Atlanta-based beverage giant is one of the Games’ biggest sponsors. Consider it one really expensive souvenir of the Summer of 2008.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
Singer Barry McGuire is 73. Actress Linda Lavin (“Alice”) is 71. Actress-director Penny Marshall is 66. Singer Tito Jackson is 55. TV chef Emeril Lagasse is 49. “Trading Spaces” host Paige Davis is 39. Singer Eric Benet is 38. Singer Ginuwine is 38. Actor Vincent Martella (“Everybody Hates Chris”) is 16.
Contributing: Leon Stafford 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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