Social Butterfly

From left, Dr. Henrie M. Treadwell, director of Community Voices of Morehouse School of Medicine; CNN's Soledad O’Brien, humanitarian Malaak Compton-Rock; Children’s Defense Fund president Marian Wright Edelman and Dr. John E. Maupin, Jr., president of the Morehouse School of Medicine. Photo by Philip Shone

 Malaak Compton-Rock is as giving as her husband is funny. The wife of comedian Chris Rock was honored April 30 with the Soledad O’Brien Freedom’s Voice Award. Created by the Community Voices of Morehouse School of Medicine, the award recognizes those who embody the mission of improving health care for the underserved around the world. Compton-Rock, who left a career in PR and events planning to work for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, has since founded the Angelrock Project to promote volunteerism and social responsibility. 

The foundation works with impoverished villages in South Africa to help with food and schooling. Touched by the villagers she and her family …

Continue reading Comedian Chris Rock = foster dad! »

Atlanta Braves second baseman Kelly Johnson and his wife, Lauren, will host the 2009 Prevent Child Abuse Georgia Celebrity Golf Classic on June 29 at White Columns Country Club in Milton. Registration and warm-up will begin at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. A reception, dinner and auction of sports and entertainment memorabilia will be held afterward. Sponsorships range from $250 to $40,000. Individual spots are $750 per golfer. Info: www.pcageorgia.org, 404-870-6589 or abbottcom@mindspring.com.

From left, Atlanta Zoo CEO Dennis Kelly Bill Torres, Lovette Russell, Jack Sawyer and Mark Street

The donor party for Zoo Atlanta’s 2009 Beastly Feast was April 30 at the home of Brad and Cynthia Hammond. The crowd included Denny and Renée Hopf, Neil and Mary Johnson, Tom and Celeste Jones, Mark and Ashley Preisinger, Glenn and Danielle Rollins, Joanne Truffelman, Ginny Brewer, Mickey and Carolyn Brown, Chris and Merry Carlos, Bill and Liz Cary, Bob and Jennifer Garlow, …

Continue reading Kelly Johnson hosts golf classic »

Andy Konigsmark and Dodi Darrow are getting married Saturday in North Carolina, and had planned to honeymoon in sunny Cancun.

As you might guess, those plans are shot.

So the groom, a Cobb County native, and his Tar Heel bride, will start married life right here in Atlanta.

Konigsmark, a 1996 graduate of Campbell High School now working as a a missionary Baptist minister in Telluride, Colo., had been working in secret to plan the trip to Mexico. He didn’t even tell his friends, lest someone spill the beans on Facebook.

But with swine flu warnings growing more dire, he knew he’d have to come clean.  He told Dodi that he’d intended to take her to Mexico, and that they’d need a Plan B – just days before tying the knot.

Enter Stone Mountain travel agent Rob Kalpak and WSB-AM’s Pete Combs. The newsman called the fly guy the other day for a radio interview on how the deadly flu was impacting travel plans. Kalpak told the young couple’s tale of woe on the radio.

The …

Continue reading Swine flu moves honeymoon from Cancun to ATL »

Remember when corporate titans were rock stars? When America’s huge corporations raked in profits?

Longtime GE CEO Jack Welch was a big part of those days of yore.

He is coming to Atlanta on Monday for an event benefiting the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation. 

Welch moderates a conversation between two authors, his wife Suzy Welch and Edie Fraser, at a luncheon sponsored by PINK Magazine.  Suzy Welch and Fraser will sign their books, “10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea” and “Do Your Giving While You Are Living.”

The event, themed “The Winning Formula,” is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the InterContinental in Buckhead. Tickets are $90 each or $800 for tables of 10. Register here.

We’re hoping to get a word with him ahead of time, so stay tuned. Chances are, his message will straddle the current economic woes and hopes for a brighter future, if his web site is any guide:

“Winning companies are the engine of a healthy society and nothing short of the foundation …

Continue reading Once upon a time, when businesses made money … »

Country star Pam Tillis has been touring England, but heads our way later this month. We caught up with the singer, known for hits like “Maybe it was Memphis,” as her driver wound her through rolling hills.

Q: How is your music going over in the U.K.?

A: It’s a natural. This is my first time to tour England. The Irish reminded me a lot of Southerners, really laid back and open and friendly. It didn’t feel too foreign to me.

Q: Does modern country music, which sometimes strays into the pop arena, ever sound foreign to you?

A: I never considered myself a purist, but I find myself sounding a little bit like one sometimes. I start feeling overprotective of a certain sound. I take issue when someone’s doing pop and rock and roll – which I like by the way. If people are doing pop music, they ought to just call it what it is.

Q: Talk about your songwriting process.

A: I wish I had an easy answer. There’s a lot of suffering. I named my publishing company “Blood, Sweat …

Continue reading Country star Pam Tillis to play Marietta’s Strand Theatre »

Next week’s going to be so fun

Johnny’s Hideaway celebrates its 30th anniversary this Thursday with an evening of entertainment featuring singer Manuel Covington and Elvis tribute artist Mark Phillips, shown above. Chris Dauria owns and manages the club.

And Hank and Billye Aaron, above, head the list of honorees Saturday at the Atlanta-based Allied Athletes Group Foundation’s gala this Saturday. At the black-tie bash at the Westin Buckhead, the Aarons will receive a lifetime achievement award from the charitable arm of the AAG, a for-profit athletes’ advisory company.

Other honorees include former NBA star Alonzo Mourning (athlete of the year), University of Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran (college athlete of the year) and the parents of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb (athlete parents of the year). Tickets to the gala are $150. Tickets for both a reception and gala are $300.

Preceding the gala is a Friday charity golf tournament at the Julius …

Continue reading Elvis to perform, Hammerin’ Hank to be honored »

WNTW host Stacy London is coming to town

Someone in the ATL is about to get a style makeover.

The unknown un-fashion plate is going to receive a visit from TLC’s What Not to Wear next week. After the shock wears off, he or she gets expert help (and a little cash) to find a hip new look.

Here’s where you come in. Producers are looking for a few fabsters to fill in as extras during a scene to be shot on Monday. It’s going to take place somewhere intown, between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

We don’t have lots more details, since the organizers don’t want the unsuspecting dowdy dresser to catch on. Extras don’t get paid, but you’ll do anything to get on TV, right?

Email caren@carenwestpr.com or kate@carenwestpr.com for consideration.

Continue reading Want to be an extra on “What’s Not to Wear?” »

Julia Ann Gore, left, and Connie Woltz at last year's Steeplechase

It’s almost time for the Atlanta Steeplechase, which means, for many, it’s time to choose the perfect hat.

The event is all day this Saturday at Kingston Downs. Gates open at 9 a.m. and the last race is around 5 p.m. 

The highlight for many in the fashionable horsey set will be the hat parade and contest, at 12:45 p.m.

Socialite Jessica Thomas at last year's Steeplechase

SB wishes more people wore hats more often. We spotted a few other ladies in chapeaux this Easter but in general it’s not too common. So, here’s a tip of our hat to metro Atlantans who sport fine millinery.

WABE host Valerie Jackson

Philanthropist Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel

Beauty Becomes You Founder Alison O'Neil Andrew

Lauren Fierman, marketing director at Rubin Lublin

Continue reading Hats off! »

Author Anna Fields was in town recently to read from her upcoming book, “Confessions of a Rebel Debutante.” The memoir tells the story of the North Carolina native’s brief affiliation with the debutante process.

We caught up with her for a quick chat.

“I went through all of cotillion, learned how to bow and curtsy,” she said. “I did want to be a debutante but I had a little rebel in me.”

Guess how things worked out?

“I was too rebellious,” said Fields, 27.

Not that her post-deb life ended badly. An Ivy League grad, she is based in New York now, having spent time in Los Angeles. She who has written for soaps like “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” and “One Life to Live.”

Fields is expanding her Rebel Deb line to feature clothing, jewelry and stationery.

“My business now is all about empowering the hearts and minds and spirits of young women,” said Fields. Although she never took that final curtsy, she says her debutante experience had its benefits.

“I feel like I …

Continue reading A visit with the Rebel Debutante »

The housing market’s grim. Raising philanthropic dollars is a challenge.

So here’s a creative response to both: A shot at a $595,000 house for just $50.

Montaluce Winery and Estates in Dahlonega is partnering with the Sandy Springs-based Solidarity School, a Catholic preschool serving children from low-income families, for a unique raffle.

 Whoever wins the July 6 drawing gets the keys to one of Montaluce’s new homes, and an additional $100,000 to pay the taxes. The home, designed by Harrison Design Associates, is an 1,800 square-foot, three bedroom, three bath house with hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen, courtyard with outdoor fireplace and a terrace off the upstairs bedroom.

Buy as many $50 tickets as you like at this web site.

Developer Brent Beecham hopes the raffle will help raise the profile of Montaluce — a 400-acre spread fronting the Etowah River and Chattahoochee National Forest — while doing some good.

“I’m excited to be able to raise some money for …

Continue reading Bargain alert! A $600k home for 50 bucks! »