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Atlanta, you may want to go ahead and up your dosage of Lipitor now in preparation for next month's milestone. On Aug. 2, the Varsity will celebrate its 80th anniversary at its main location downtown at 61 North Ave.

The city's fast-food fixture is throwing a big birthday bash on the upper deck of the parking lot from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring local bands the Cool Whips, the Hibbert Brothers and the Planet Rock Experience (featuring talented local school kids, ages 7 to 18). 97.1 FM the River will host a live radio remote from the Frosted Orange emporium. Coca-Cola, meanwhile, is hauling in the NASCAR Experience driving simulator for race fans and classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s will be parked outside.

Harold Daniels Studio (ENLARGE)
This year's AID Atlanta co-chairs are (left to right) Richie Arpino, Randi Layne, Ken Goldwasser, Karyn Greer and John Stupka. The Urban Chic fund-raiser will be air-conditioned, unlike last year.
FILE (ENLARGE)
Ty Pennington
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MORE BUZZ Varsity will mark 80th with big bash  What Usher has learned being a dad

The Varsity will be giving away free birthday cake, ice cream and balloons. And we strongly suspect they'll have a few chili dogs and onion rings available for purchase as well.

Oh, and Varsity fanatics also will get a sneak peek at a five-minute preview of the upcoming PBA 30 documentary tentatively titled, "What'll Ya Have? A History of the Varsity," set to air this fall.

Thankfully, producers taped two interviews with longtime Varsity counterman Erby Walker before the 70-year-old's death last month.

"We were really fortunate," the film's executive producer, Gregg Bauer, told Buzz Thursday. "Two weeks later, Erby was gone. It was quite a shock."

Other bold-faced names and Varsity fans being sought to lend their insights for the film include U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson and Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy.

And their dream narrator for the project? None other than Jeff Foxworthy.

"We're working with his agent," says Bauer. "It's really going to come down to his availability and scheduling. But he would be the perfect fit for us. He's a huge fan."

On Thursday, as Buzz gazed at the venerable eatery's menu, we discovered that the Varsity also sells egg salad sandwiches. We've never had one or seen anyone else order one for that matter. Now we're curious. We'd love to hear from readers who have actually sampled the sandwich and can tell us more about it.

And more importantly, how does the Varsity counterperson call out such an order?

Chic and cool

There's good news for those of us who dissolved into puddles of our own perspiration at last summer's Urban Chic fashion benefit. This year's soiree is set to be held at the perpetually chilling Egyptian Ballroom at the Fox Theatre in Midtown Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta hairstylist, photographer and vintage Ms Pacman arcade machine enthusiast Richie Arpino has enticed some of the city's hippest boutiques, including Addiction, Bill Hallman, Festivity, LUXE-Atlanta, Sage, Tootsie's and Kaleidoscope, to lend the evening's fashion show some signature style.

"With Atlanta's trendiest boutiques involved this year, we are confident the event will be more fabulous than ever," says Arpino.

He's also organized some highly motivated co-chairs for the evening's AID Atlanta benefit, including Blue Med Spa's John Stupka, Catwalk Productions' Randi Layne, Goldwasser Signature Jewelry's Ken Goldwasser and WXIA news anchor Karyn Greer.

Tickets range from $100 for the fashion show and $500 for the deluxe VIP package.

For tickets or more info: www.urbanchic2008.org.

Pennington pens a new tome

The AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical has added some "Extreme" star power to its author lineup. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" host and former Grant Park resident Ty Pennington is set to sign his latest book, "Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories," at the festival on the afternoon of Aug. 30 at Decatur's downtown square. Also added to the lineup, forensic anthropologist, author and "Bones" TV show inspiration Kathy Reichs. The writer is in town to introduce readers to her newest book, "Devil Bones," at 10 a.m. Aug. 30. Both authors will sign copies of their work after their respective talks. For more info: www.decaturbookfestival.com.

Celebrity Birthdays

Actor Tab Hunter is 77. Actress Sela Ward is 52. Guitarist Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi is 49. Singer Suzanne Vega is 49. Actor Greg Grunberg ("Heroes," "Alias") is 42. Actor Justin Chambers ("Grey's Anatomy") is 38. Actor Michael Rosenbaum ("Smallville") is 36. Rapper Lil Kim is 33. Singer Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie is 32. Rapper Lil' Zane is 26.

Coupling

"Training Day" actor Ethan Hawke has married girlfriend Ryan Shawhughes, the actor's publicist confirmed Thursday.

The couple, who are expecting a baby, were married last month in New York, Mara Buxbaum said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. Hawke, 37, has two children from his marriage to Uma Thurman.

Contributing: news services

Got a tip for Peach Buzz? 404-526-2749 or buzz@ajc.com