By A. Scott Walton Contrary to uninformed opinion, Prada's newest signature boutique is indeed scheduled to open before year's end at Lenox Square Mall. Read on for details about the brand's appeal, and why British regulators are appalled by Prada's latest ad campaign...*
Anyone left on the planet who's not yet acquainted with Ben-Ari's unique blend of classical violin, hip-hop and jazz likely will be after her performance Sunday at the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington,D.C. A personal favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama's, Ben-Ari won "Best Rap Song" Grammy Award for co-writing Kanye West's smash 2005 hit, "Jesus Walks". The song Ben-Ari's best known for was inspired by a line from the slain civil rights leader's "I Have a Dream" speech. The spell-binding piece is entitled, "Symphony of Brotherhood"rose as high as No. 2 on Billboard's "Hip Hop" charts in 2007. At the King Memorial dedication, she debuted an original composition called "Black Tone" that was inspired by the Montgomery Bus Boycotts instigated by Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat. The acclaimed spoken word artist, Poem-Cees, provided vocal accompaniment. "I've been a part of many major show, from playing Radio City Music Hall to performing at the Super Dome," Ben-Ari said in an exclusive interview. "But this time, it's historical. We'll all be there paying respect to an incomparable man. So I want to help make sure it's an experience we remember for a very long time." She performed "Black Tone" an hour before President Barack Obama delivered his dedication speech. The all-star roster of artists Ben-Ari's collaborated with in her relatively short career - after years of study under the iconic violinist Isaac Stern - includes: Wynton Marsalis, Patti Labelle, Janet Jackson, Jay Z and John Legend. Besides being a violin virtuoso, she's somewhat of a visual artist whose body language resonates onstage. "When I was recording with Wycleaf Jean, he said it's like the violin becomes an extension of me," Ben-Ari recalled. "And Kanye paid me the highest compliment by calling me the Miles Davis of our time. "I just go into a zone and lose myself. It's me, the audience and the music." She performed "Symphony of Brotherhood" at the White House at Mrs. Obama's special request earlier this year. "I've done a lot in my career, but playing at the dedication will definitely be a major milestone for me," she said. "I came to the U.S. from a small town in Israel to pursue the American Dream. This is the land of possibilities and now I see they're real."
Fashion writer-turned-foodie to address "A Tiger in the Kitchen" fans By A. Scott Walton Book lovers with adventurous food tastes should beat a hasty path to the Decatur Book Festival on September 3 (5:30-6:15 p.m.) to meet and greet Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, author of the intriguing cookbook/memoire, "A Tiger in the Kitchen" (Hyperion, $15).
For years, Tan and I worked shoulder to shoulder as Fashion Week correspondents for competing news services. From personal experience, I can confidently call her a "spicy" personality.
Her wit, worldly viewpoints, sense of humor and openness to adventure are all fully exposed in a book that tracks her reconnection to her Singaporean roots through the culinary skills her family's matriarchs have honed for decades.
Culinary literature rave that "A Tiger in the Kitchen" "(contains)haunting flavors of childhood meals", "teaches us that food is the tie that binds", and reminds us that "meals define who we are".
Tan will stage a reading and discussion of her “Memoir of Food and Family” at the First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary Stage, (308 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, GA 30030). Click here for directions and details.
Her appearance will truly be something to savor.
Divorce Doesn't Spell End of Power Couple's Influence By A. Scott Walton
J. Lo and Marc Anthony must have a joint bank account as part of their pre-nuptial agreement. What else would explain indications that they’re forging ahead with two new business ventures – as a couple – even though they announced last week that their marriage is kaput. Not only is the pair preparing to launch a twin set of signature apparel collections for Kohl’s department stores this fall, but they’re also reportedly in the process of filming a reality TV series called “Q’Viva: The Chosen” that could require them to spend months together touring Latin America. Imagine Tiger and Elin attempting that. Then again, this could be a potential boon for Marc and J. Lo’s separate and conjoined careers. Until he re-marries to another bombshell, Mr. Anthony can certainly benefit from a boost to his stature as an entertainer. And Ms. Lopez certainly won’t be sitting as a judge on “American Idol” indefinitely. Heck, the couple isn’t even ruling out the launch of a kidswear line inspired by their three-year-old twins. The party line at Kohl’s is that “the Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony brands have always been positioned as two separate, distinct collections.” And when asked for observations about how a reality show can proceed under such circumstances, United Entertainment Group CEO Jarrod Moses told the New York Post: “The word on the street is that it's business as usual and they're shooting together ... As unfortunate as divorce is, when it comes to business, J. Lo and Marc look to a higher power: cash." Can you blame them?
Latin-themed lounge delivers great food, cool drinks, hot music and warm service
By A. Scott Walton
There is a rose at Spanish Harlem. A rose in semi-sheer black leggings, neon sneakers and a skin-tight red t-shirt at Spanish Harlem. She waits tables. She pours drinks and takes reservations. She cheerfully and meticulously cleans the picture windows that look across the street toward the Sweet Auburn Curb Market. She politely laughs off questions about why so many ambulances and fire trucks pass by Spanish Harlem, in downtown Atlanta, with their sirens blaring. “Well, we are right around the corner from Grady Hospital,” the rose shrugs. “It’s just EMS doing their job.” The rose’s name is “Victoria”. And her presence is emblematic of all that’s good about Spanish Harlem, one of our favorite new spots to dine, drink and relax. By all indications, she’s just happy to be there. So were we. After an initial late-night visit for spicey food and sparkling adult beverages, the Be My Guest crew (check out co-host, Hadi!) recently returned to Spanish Harlem to gain more incite from owner Carlos Ramirez about what attracts patrons to the spot tucked away so unassumingly that one needs a reliable GPS to find it. Watch the video for a glimpse at what Spanish Harlem is all about. After all: you must savor any rose; wherever it happens to sprout. Agreed?
By A. Scott Walton Sources as credible and incredulous as Time magazine and NBC’s “Hoda and Kathie Lee” show both report that new rules of propriety are being suggested for fashionable women. Following these new dictates - reported widely after a poll conducted by the British digest, Chef Diet, came to light – may require women of a certain age to overhaul their entire wardrobes. According to reports, 2,000 women were probed for their opinions about age-appropriate attire. The response that’s drawn the most headline: all women should stop appearing in public wearing swimsuits of any kind at an aver age of 61. And the cut-off for wearing bikinis should be age 47. But the survey results don’t stop there. Women weighed in on 13 other age-appropriate categories. The attire, and “cut-off” dates, include: Bikini, 47; Miniskirt, 35; Tube top, 33; Stilettos, 51; Belly piercing,35; Knee-high boots, 47; Sneakers, 44; Leather pants, 34; Leggings, 45; Ugg style boots, 45; One-piece swimsuit, 61; Tight vests, 44; Sheer blouses, 40; Long hair, 53; Ponytails, 51. Do these mandates sit well with you? Or do you dress and think as if age ain’t nothing but a number?
Dainty deejay with hot chocolate soul raises the roof No cosmopolitan lifestyle is complete without the right mood music. Right? So it’s only fitting that the Ken Barber Signature boutique in downtown Atlanta is tucking a “retail deejay” into its mix of offerings for those with sophisticated tastes. This week, while a film crew from the scripted VH1 series “Single Ladies” was taping an episode on how guys should dress for their first dates, KBS introduced DJ OMG as a new fixture. WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! Picture Gabrielle Union working two turntables and a mic, and you’ve captured DJ OMG in a nutshell. She’s dainty. Her tastes run to raw soul. LISTEN HERE She’s a nice complement to the mix of merchandise – sportswear, accessories, baby clothes, tuxedoes, health remedies and art – that define the store. Shop to this why don't ya...?
Soledad O'Brien Special Probes Prince William's Taste The first two words that came to mind from the first frame I saw of “The Women Who Would Be Queen”, a CNN Special Report by Soledad O’Brien were “unfair” and “inevitable”. There wouldn’t be a need to air such a “special” in prime time on Sunday night, really, if a Royal wedding wasn’t about to take place at Buckingham Palace. Would there? And the wedding of the semi-orphaned Prince William and Kate Middleton wouldn’t have the world press quite so riveted were it not for the tragic death of the prince’s mother, Princess Diana, after a messy divorce from his father. Would it? If you can’t catch its premier, the “CNN Presents” show casting stark contrasts between Di and Kate will air repeatedly on the lead-up to the planet’s most-scrutinized marriage ceremony ever. This is the essential primer to watch in advance of the day when the media seems to stop on its axis (and probably a week afterward), and you’re wondering what all the fuss is about. Scrutiny of the Royal monarchy’s princess will only grow more intense over time. Most of what we remember about Princess Diana is captured in still photos. For Princess Kate, every move – or misstep – will be digitized and disseminated within seconds. “Unfair”? “Inevitable?” Watch CNN’s “The Women Who Would Be Queen”, and form your own opinions.
Pharos Group's "Fire Tables" Debut at Ken Barber Clothing By A. Scott Walton Imagine having a clean-burning coffee table that you could warm sake, roast marshmallows or serve fondue on. Those are just a few of the possibilities proposed by the Atlanta-based duo behind Pharos "Fire Tables" launching this weekend at downtown's Ken Barber Clothing emporium.
The cocktail party hailing the Pharos designs coincides with the early portion of the Academy Awards telecast. So if you can't attend but want to learn more about the customized table designs ($2,500=$3,000 depending on your choice of wood base and stone insert), reach out to Ken Barber, or seek out the tandem known as Pharos (Michael Courts and Donald Burlock, Jr.) before they get flooded with orders and you lose out on the chance to obtain a numbered, limited-edition piece.
By A. Scott Walton
