The folks working on a film starring Jennifer Garner want to be good neighbors while they’re working – and have alerted residents that the project will temporarily affect traffic near the now-closed Forrest Hills Elementary School in DeKalb County this week.

An advance notice sent out from Green House Pictures, Inc. said “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” will be filming in and around the school from Wednesday to Monday. No filming is planned for the weekend, but trucks and gear will remain in the area, guarded by security.

From the notice:

“We have requested from the DeKalb County authorities permission to temporarily re-route traffic around the Forrest Hills Elementary School, closing Forrest Blvd.  between N. Carter Road (south end) and Craigie Avenue at Livingston Place (north end) during the days we are at the school. Green House Pictures, Inc. will also hire off-duty DeKalb County Police officers to assist us with traffic control and security.”

No students will be affected. …

Continue reading Jennifer Garner film to close streets in DeKalb »

Janelle Monae always looks sharp but she insists she doesn't fuss over her look much.

Thursday night a raft of local Grammy nominees and assorted music industry figures turned out for their annual pre-awards show party at the downtown W.

Here’s a link to a nice photo gallery. They’re much better than the iPhone pictures on this page!

The turnout included Big Boi, B.o.B., Janelle Monae, Kelly Price, Sean Garrett, Devyne Stevens, Third Day bassist Tai Anderson, Zac Brown Band members Coy Bowles and John Hopkins, Collective Soul’s Will Turpin and Jan Smith, vocal coach to stars such as Usher and Justin Bieber.

Sean Garrett has such a nice smile!

Gov. Nathan Deal showed up to lend the affair some gravitas. We asked what was on his iPod.

“I am one of those people who doesn’t even have an iPod,” he said.

So what’s on the CD player/tape deck/ turntable?

“I’m a country fan,” he said. Remember that Luke Bryan was supposed to play the inauguration but it was canceled due to …

Continue reading Georgia Grammy nominees party with Gov. Deal »

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are here in Atlanta.

She’s here filming a movie called “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” which sounds like a supernatural thriller from this brief synopsis on imdb.com: “A childless couple bury a box in their backyard, containing all of their wishes for an infant. Soon, a child is born, though Timothy Green is not all that he appears.”

The two had dinner this week with a group of about 10 people at the Midtown location of South City Kitchen this week. They both enjoyed the Georgia mountain trout (she requested the bourbon-almond brown butter on the side).

It sounds like they’ll be here for a while and are making it a family affair. A source told me one of the couple’s children is spending time at a local preschool.

“The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is going to be filming for a few months.

- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

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Photo from queenlatifah.com

All hail The Queen!

Queen Latifah, who is starring with Dolly Parton in a movie called “Joyful Noise,” was spotted here in Atlanta over the weekend.

Her royal fabness stopped by Savvy Snoot in the West Side Provision District on Howell Mill on Sunday.

We’re told Latifah enjoyed browsing for a while and purchased three Savvy Snoot candles. The staff loved visiting with her (who wouldn’t?) and say they look forward to having her back.

Latifah has also stopped by the Mediterranean Grill at 10th and Monroe, enjoying the chicken plate and red lentil soup.

The Queen and Parton will be filming in Newnan next month. Here is a link to a story with more details about the project and shooting schedule.

- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

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“It’s been a long week,” said Stephanie Blank, wife of Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, a few days after the Falcons season ended with a loss to the Green Bay Packers. But no sense dwelling on it. Saturday night, the Blanks will be celebrating at the St. Regis Atlanta at the 2011 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hope & Will Ball.

Stephanie Blank, who has chaired the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board of Trustees for the past five years, is being honored at the event.

“The ball is lots of fun, but what’s most important to me is what the ball benefits,” said Blank, whose 14-year-old son and 9-year-old twins have all managed to wind up at Children’s Healthcare at one time or another.

Saturday’s event is being chaired by Beth Park and Cathy Rhodes, with Sara Shlesinger, Sara Smith, Ashley Preisinger, Liz Lazarus, Shannon Dixon, Caroline Crawford, Kelly Miles, Stephanie Bond, Kathryn Chan, Michelle Leiter, Jackie Greene and Liz Shults serving in key committee …

Continue reading From sidelines to soiree for Falcons owner, wife »

When we tweeted that we were about to interview Emmy-winning Peter Buffett, the musician-composer-author who is the youngest son of billionaire Warren Buffett, a wag quickly posted in joking response,”Will you ask him if he would like to be my sugar daddy?”

Ahem.

Not only has the younger Buffett been happily married to his wife Jennifer Buffett since 1996, but the “sugar daddy” mentality is about as far from the Buffett family ethos as the moon is from Omaha. (In the current issue of Vanity Fair, Warren Buffett is photographed picking up breakfast in the McDonald’s drive-through.)

“I was never handed a big check,” Peter Buffett said during the telephone interview. “I was just told, ‘figure it out.’ ”

He’s managed to do pretty well for himself. He worked on part of the “Dances with Wolves” film score, which won an Academy Award. His score for a documentary about Wisconsin won a best-soundtrack Emmy. His many projects include a collaboration with Atlanta-based rapper Akon, which …

Continue reading Peter Buffett: son of Warren Buffett, friend of Akon, coming to town »

You know what they say to actors right before a show: “Break a leg!”

Not, “sprain a muscle.”

But that’s what happened last night to a cast member of “Bring it On: The Musical,” at the Alliance Theatre.

A statement from the theater didn’t identify the affected performer but said she “sustained a moderate sprain shortly before last evening’s performance.”

Because the injury happened shortly before curtain time last night’s performance had to be cancelled. Patrons were offered a free drink and ticket exchanges or refunds. If you were there and have any issue with your ticket call the box office at 404-733-5000.

Tonight’s 8 p.m. performance will go on as scheduled. The show is running through Feb. 20. Here is the theater’s web site.

Continue reading Sprain cancels “Bring it On” performance »

Dolly Parton was happy to pose for this photo with Wilson Trivino on Sunday.

The movie starring Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah will set up shop in Coweta County next month.

The Newnan Times Herald reports today that the Newnan City Council has approved a request from the production company, and that shooting will take place from Feb. 16-18, with crews coming in ahead of time to get thing ready from Feb. 8-25. Here is a link to the full story.

Parton, who is staying at a private residence in Midtown during her time here working on the project, has already been spotted a few times. She took in the matinee performance of “Bring it On: The Musical” on Sunday afternoon at the Alliance Theatre. (It’s there through Feb. 20; here’s the link for tickets and information).

On Monday, she did a little shopping at the Vinings Jubilee development, stopping by Emly Benham and Etc. East.

We actually ran into Wilson Trivino last night at the Fox, who spotted Parton at the Alliance.

“She’s …

Continue reading Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah to film in Newnan »

Photo by The Associated Press

Rapper Nas, who has a home in the Eagle’s Landing subdivision south of Atlanta, owes more than $6 million in back taxes, according to the Detroit News’ Tax Watchdog blog, where metro reporter Robert Snell scours public records and reports details on famous people with big tax bills.

Here’s a link to the Tax Watchdog blog. Follow it on Twitter here.

Nas has had tax troubles for some time, with the IRS filing liens in 2009, 2010 and most recently, on Jan. 10. The address on the oldest lien was the property in Eagle’s Landing.

Incidentally, the Eagle’s Landing community is also where the home of rapper Waka Flocka Flame was recently raided; Henry County authorities discovered two guns and a small amount of marijuana. Here’s the link to that story.

Nas also owns property in New York. The managers of his Queens condo building filed a lien last fall and said he had not paid the $420 monthly assessment since January 2010, according to Tax …

Continue reading Rapper Nas in tax trouble »

Monica performs at the Fox Theatre in 2010. Matt Alexandre / www.robbsphotos.com

L.A. Lakers player Shannon Brown and Atlanta singer Monica got married in November,  but are just now telling people about it.

“This is a very special time in my life,” she said in a statement provided to  HipHollywood.com. “I am blessed to have married the man that God sent me, he’s loving, compassionate, strong and supportive of my children, family and career. I look forward to our lives together.”

They plan to hold a ceremony for friends and family this summer and may want to have children, the singer said.

She toured with Trey Songz and Dondria, who is Jermaine Dupri’s new protoge, last summer. The photo at right was taken during a tour stop here in Atlanta.

By Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com

Continue reading Singer Monica is married »