Lawd, The War ain’t over. Nearly 148 years after he torched Atlanta, Gen. William Sherman has been abducted.

Someone boosted a portrait of the Union leader from the Marietta Museum of History where it had been hanging, where else? Over a urinal in the men’s room.

The filched item was just a copy of the portrait, not a pricey antique, and museum director Jan Galt Russell said they would have been happy to provide a copy to the thief, had he or she requested one.

“It’s ridiculous,” said Russell. She hadn’t yet thought about amnesty should the culprit wish to come clean, say, in an Appomattox-style surrender. ”It’s very, very sad.”

The museum, on the Marietta Square, was once the Kennesaw House hotel, where Union spies spent a night before stealing The General, a locomotive that traveled between Atlanta and Chattanooga in those days. The Rebs caught up with the Yankees after they commandeered it at Big Shanty, now known as Kennesaw, where The General resides today at the

Continue reading Civil War continues in Marietta as General Sherman goes missing »

Chris Lowell, on screen and on stage

Actor Chris Lowell of “Up in the Air” and “The Help” note just finished directing his first film, “Beside Still Waters” and is juggling numerous auditions.

Despite his busy schedule the Atlanta native found time to come home to share tips the other day during a session at Camp Flix, a filmmaking summer camp for kids 11 to 17.

“Thank you guys, so much, for listening to what I have to say,” Lowell told the attentive young group. “If you guys have any questions, any questions at all, I’ll tell you anything.”

The group did have plenty of questions for Lowell, stemming from technical questions about his craft to “Can I have your autograph?” And one enterprising camper asked if she could give him her resume and head shot. Lowell seemed to relish his time with the young people aiming to follow in his footsteps.

Camp Flix featured a red carpet event where campers debuted their own works.

“I am sure that at some point in my life I will …

Continue reading “The Help” actor shares tips with young filmmakers »

UPDATE: Chick-fil-A just announced the sudden death of its longtime spokesman this morning, reportedly from a heart attack. Here is a link to that story.

A number of celebrities have joined the myriad other commentators in discussing Chick-fil-A.

“Chick Fil A is delicious, give me a #1 with cheese cut in half,” tweeted Atlanta hip hop star Big Boi, who later tweeted, “Chick-fil-A is closed on Sunday in honor of the Sabbath, you know how many folk miss that chicken for 1 day.”

Roseanne Barr struck a differing tone, tweeting that anyone who dines at the restaurant chain “deserves to get the cancer that is sure to come from eating antibiotic filled tortured chickens 4Christ.” She later clarified her sentiments, saying she did not actually wish cancer on anyone. “I should have been more careful in choice of words,” she said in a follow-up tweet.

Also invoking medical conditions was celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who tweeted, “I heard #ChickFilA gives you diarrhea!”

Atlanta …

Continue reading Celebs weigh in on Chick-fil-A flap »

We took in an advance screening of “The Watch,” which stars Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn, this week.

The movie, also starring Jonah Hill, Richard Ayoade, Rosemarie DeWitt and Will Forte (with Channel 2’s Amy Napier Viteri in an extras role, aptly playing a reporter), hits theaters this Friday.

The Costco scenes were shot in Norcross (amusingly, in a former BJ’s Wholesale Club building). Otherwise the movie was filmed largely in Cobb County and features a number of West Cobb subdivisions and the football stadium at Campbell High School.

The Marietta Square factors prominently in a number of scenes and looks lovely on the big screen.

“Following the theme that Georgia is the Hollywood of the South, we’re excited that Marietta makes an appearance in the new movie ‘The Watch.’ We’re thrilled to share Marietta with the world,” said Theresa Jenkins, who lives close to the downtown Square and is executive director of the Welcome Center, which is prominently shown in …

Continue reading Marietta Square featured in Ben Stiller-Vince Vaughn movie »

Getty Images

Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn’s movie “The Internship” now shooting in Atlanta will soon be filming at Georgia Tech, the college web site reports.

The movie, which also has filmed scenes downtown and in Midtown, is a comedy about guys who get downsized and then start their careers over at the bottom rung. They evidently make the most of their downtime along the way; we’ve seen casting calls looking for extras for a “Gentlemen’s Club” scene this week.

Anyway, the Georgia Tech notice says “Filming will take place at the following locations: Campus Recreation Center, Ford Environmental Science and Technology Building, G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons, Klaus Advanced Computing Building, Leadership Challenge Course, Noonan Courtyard and the Marcus Nanotechnology Building.”

Students, faculty and staff will have access to their offices and dorms but some disruption is possible, given all the gear involved when a production sets up shop. “The Clough Commons …

Continue reading Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughn movie “The Internship” to film at Georgia Tech »

AJC photo by CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM

Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones retires at the end of this season. Want to have lunch with him before he goes?

Listen up, literally.

The 12th annual Care-a-Thon broadcast on 95.5 FM and AM 750 News/Talk WSB to benefit the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta will offer donors the shot at lunch with Jones and Braves pitcher Tim Hudson – shown together in their natural habitat in this photo.

Hudson and his wife, Kim, are scheduled to call in at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, during Neal Boortz’s show. The first 50 people to call in with a donation of $1,000 or more get an invite to the “Huddies Buddies” luncheon at the Buckhead Maggiano’s later this year. Donors at the $1,000 level receive two tickets to the lunch and guests each will receive an autographed baseball, a photo with the guys and the opportunity to ask them questions during lunch.

“We do love Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta,” …

Continue reading Want to have lunch with Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson? »

The gang's all here! Photos by John Spink

Monica Pearson’s Channel 2 anchoring career concluded just like it began – with John Pruitt by her side.

“Thirty-seven years ago we sat down and co-anchored your first newscast,” said the retired Pruitt, who made a surprise return to WSB to sit beside his longtime friend and colleague for one segment during the 6 p.m broadcast. “And here we are. We’ve come full circle.”

Justin Farmer usually co-anchors at 6 p.m. but graciously scooted aside so Pruitt could resume the anchorman mantle for just a few minutes.

“I feel like Kanye West,” Pruitt joked. After a video of highlights, retired sportscaster Chuck Dowdle appeared on the set.

"Mind if I cut in?" Justin Farmer graciously stepped aside so John Pruitt could reclaim the 6 p.m. anchor chair for a few minutes.

“This feels so good – nothing against the kids, as I call them!” Pearson said, reunited for a moment with her longtime on-air teammates.

A huge round of applause broke out in …

Continue reading Surprises in the studio on Monica Pearson’s last day »

Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth’s movie “Devil’s Knot” is filming in downtown Atlanta today.

I know this because I have friends in high places. Literally.

CNN’s Holly Firfer sent this photo of the trucks carrying lighting and camera equipment and other gear lined up outside her office window. By the way y’all need to see this nice story about Holly and her mom.

Thanks Holly! Tell Reese and Mama ‘nem we said hey!

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

Continue reading Reese Witherspoon-Colin Firth movie filming in downtown Atlanta »

It’s been a sprint to the finish!

With Channel 2 anchor Monica Pearson preparing to sign off for good this Wednesday and anchor Jovita Moore poised to take on an expanding role at the station, the two broadcasters embarked on a tour of radio stations today.

Pearson visited 92.9 Dave FM’s Mara Davis on her own last week but had a slew of visits with Moore planned for today, her next-to-last at WSB.

Monica Pearson and B 98.5 FM's Kelly Stevens share a goodbye hug!

“I have had a fabulous career,” Pearson said Tuesday morning during a segment with Neal Boortz on 95.5 FM and AM750 News/Talk WSB. “I’m going to miss the people but it is time to live my life.”

The two journalists also visited V103, 1380AM/WAOK, the B 98.5 FM with Vikki Locke and Kelly Stevens, The Bert Show, KISS 104.1 with Cynthia Young, WSRV/97.1 FM The River with Kaedy Kiely and Majic 107.9FM/97.5FM – Radio 1 with SiMan Baby.

“Thank you for allowing me to be in your home for 37 years,” Pearson told …

Continue reading Monica Pearson and Jovita Moore make the radio station rounds today! »

Continue reading Video: Talking Owen Wilson, Katie Couric, Lindsay Lohan »