I’ve seen the premiere episode of the next season of “Downton Abbey” but don’t worry I won’t divulge any details!

What I will tell you is where to watch and get ready for the season.

The episode airs at 9 p.m. Sunday on Georgia Public Broadcasting, and GPB has been celebrating for weeks in anticipation.

For starters the crack techno staff at GPB has assembled another montage of “Maggie Moments,” featuring some of the Dowager Countess’ most delicious witticisms.

Here’s the video:

GPB aired the video at its Dec. 18 gala, held at its Midtown studios. Here’s a link to a recap and photos from that fun night.

And the Buckhead Ritz-Carlton is getting into the spirit of things with a cleverly branded promotion, “What is a weekend?” (Pronounced Downton-style as week-END, the title pays homage to the Countess’ curiosity over the notion that there is a difference between the week and weekend, since her days are all uniformly filled with leisure).

The “What is a weekend?” package, …

Continue reading Get ready for the next season of “Downton Abbey” »

AP

If your 2013 resolution is to triumph as the nation’s finest tattoo artist, keep reading.

The Spike TV show “Ink Master” plans an Atlanta casting call from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at the Midtown W hotel, 188 14th Street NE.

“Essentially, we are in search of those who have artistic and creative tattoo skills with an outgoing, dynamic personality,” the casting folks told us. “In this exciting series, highly skilled tattoo artists from around the country will compete in a high stakes competition for the chance to win a $100,000 cash prize and the coveted title of Ink Master.”

See this link for full details.

Continue reading Spike TV’s “Ink Master” to hold Atlanta casting call »

Happy New Year’s Eve afternoon. How about a couple of sightings before you start popping the corks?

NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal and Julius Erving have been spotted (separately) out and about in Atlanta in recent days.

Shaq stopped by the Davio’s in Phipps Plaza on the Thursday after Christmas for some Philly cheesesteak spring rolls and angel hair pasta with kobe meatballs. Dr. J. dined at Watershed on Peachtree a few nights before Christmas. Here he is with the restaurant’s Sue Owens.

Erving lives here now and O’Neal spends a good bit of time here. We get tips on Shaq sightings from time to time – he was apparently filming a commercial at a dry cleaners not long ago.

OK that’s it for now. Happy New Year!

Continue reading NBA in the ATL: Dr J, Shaq spotted around town »

Chris Cauley, a past contestant on “The Voice,” will lend his voice to the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Meehan’s Public House in downtown Atlanta tonight. There is no admission charge.

Cauley, an Atlanta artist, will perform starting at 10 p.m. until about 1 a.m., with a break in between sets (and presumably to toast Happy New Year at midnight).

Meehan’s is partnering with the Atlanta Mission in encouraging fans to support via monetary donations or just social media shout-outs during Cauley’s performances.

See full details here.

Continue reading “The Voice” alum Chris Cauley at Meehan’s downtown tonight »

AP

Reality star personality, actress and now expectant mom Kim Kardashian spent a fair amount of time in Atlanta in the past couple of years.

Will she and Kanye West, who announced the baby bulletin at a Sunday concert, return while they await the arrival of their child? Could they be planning to move here at least part time? Remember the item from June about West supposedly scouting for an Atlanta pad for the two (soon to be three) of them?

We’ll see. For now here’s a look at Kardashian’s Atlanta connections so far.

In late 2011, Kardashian headed to Atlanta soon after announcing divorce plans following her ephemeral marriage to Kris Humphries. She was in town that time, serendipitously enough, to film a role in Tyler Perry’s movie “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor.” Kardashian’s role in the movie, coming out March 29, is pretty minor but Perry took a fair amount of static from his fans for casting her at all.

“I could not have imagined I’d be getting …

Continue reading Kim Kardashian’s Atlanta connection »

Andruw and Nicole Jones during a 2010 interview to discuss Jaden's Ladder, a nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence. They hosted an annual event benefiting the charity for several years. Photo by Jennifer Brett, jbrett@ajc.com.

Former Atlanta Braves player Andruw Jones, arrested on Christmas Day on a battery charge stemming from what police call a domestic dispute involving his wife, has been a major supporter of a charity that helps survivors of domestic violence.

In 2010 we interviewed Jones and his wife, Nicole Jones, in advance of that year’s “Fairway Affair, ” a golf tournament and gala benefiting the charity Jaden’s Ladder.

“We hope to be able to help more families, ” Nicole Jones said then.

The couple hosted the annual event for several years. In 2008, the couple donated $75,000 to Jaden’s Ladder, and that year’s gala featured an appearance by colorful and controversial MLB figure Pete Rose. At that year’s gala, a jersey signed by Rose fetched …

Continue reading Andruw Jones a past supporter of domestic violence charity »

Following another busy year for movies filmed in Atlanta, here’s when you can expect them to hit theaters, along with our handicapping to help you decide what to put on your calendar. Scheduled release dates were provided by the Georgia Department of Economic Development and are subject to change.

“Identity Thief,” starring Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy, Feb. 8.

The plot: Gal steals guy’s identity, he tracks her down, hilarity ensues.

The ATL connection: The movie is set in Colorado and Florida, but you’ll recognize Atlanta. In just the short trailer clip, we spotted Cafe Intermezzo in south Buckhead and the 191 building downtown.

Notes: Bateman starred in the dreadful 2011 buddy comedy “The Change-Up,” co-starring Ryan Reynolds. The pairing with McCarthy, nominated for a best supporting actress Oscar for her role in “Bridesmaids,” is a hopeful sign.

“Tyler Perry’s Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor,” starring Jurnee Smollett, Vanessa …

Continue reading Coming attractions: 2013 release dates for Atlanta-made movies »

Billy Crystal and Bette Midler in a still from "Parental Guidance"

Remember landlines? Remember how people used to call home and Mom and Dad would pick up on different extensions, then crack each other up and finish each other’s sentences during the call?

That’s sort of what it was like talking to Billy Crystal and Bette Midler by phone at the same time.

“We’re like a pair of old shoes,” Crystal said during the interview in advance of “Parental Guidance,” which was filmed in metro Atlanta and hits theaters on Christmas Day. “We fell into each other. We loved the director. We loved the material. We loved the characters.”

“It was great fun,” Midler said.

The two play a loving but technologically unsavvy couple who come to stay with their super-wired grandchildren when their adult daughter, played by Marisa Tomei, and son-in-law, played by Tom Everett Scott, take a trip. It’s about as family-friendly a film as you can imagine, perhaps aimed at real …

Continue reading Interview: Talking “Parental Guidance” with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler »

Remington Youngblood, wearing his honorary Captain's bars, is dedicated to "serving those who are serving us" through his organization, Change4Georgia.

“Here’s my business card,” Remington Youngblood said after greeting us with a firm handshake. He took a seat by the fire and told us about himself. He likes to water ski. He founded a nonprofit a little over a year ago. An extra-credit assignment should help him clinch an A in math class.

Remington is 11. Eleven.

The Duluth sixth grader was looking for community service opportunities after his family relocated from California, without a lot of luck.

“I was too young,” he said. “I was a liability; soup cans might fall on my head.”

Remington was undeterred. When he won an essay contest last year, he poured the earnings into a charity of his own.

“I got $25,” he said. “If I was like most kids I would have spent in on video games. Instead I opened a Chase bank account for Change4Georgia.”

The organization, …

Continue reading Young philanthropist works to support military »

I didn’t send Christmas cards this year but if I had I would have sent these.

Here’s the link to where you can order these awesome things if you want to get a jump on 2013.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and I’ll see ya in 2013. If you have breaking Honey Boo Boo questions or other matters that can’t wait follow me on Twitter. I am sure to be checking my account often during my holiday travels.

Peace on Earth,

JB

Continue reading Merry Christmas! »