Dwight Puts "Real Housewives" To Shame

To borrow a phrase from Arthur Herzog, Jr.: “God bless the child that’s got his own.”
Dwight Eubanks (left, with author Tracie Howard) deserves a round of applause for conducting himself in a more gracious and _ dare we say, “ladylike” _ manner than any of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” he stole the show from in the latter episodes of the highly rated Bravo! reality series.
Eubanks’ main claim to fame before “Real Housewives….” hit the airwaves was his operation of the prestigious Purple Door salon. Though he flashed some over-the-top tendencies in Season 1, he was the portrait of decorum Wednesday night while hosting a launch party for Tracie Howard’s latest novel, “Friends and Fauxs.”
The well-dressed turnout for the event at Buckhead’s Eros lounge was afloat with A-Listers: Armani-clad event planner, Warren Huntley; Kosmo Gastro Bistro co-owners Karen and Oswald Morgan; art curators Juan and Judith Service Montier; the Pied Piper of parties, Petey Franklin; Caesars Palace marketing chief Lily Hu; modern jazz publicist Monica Polo; celebrity photographers Jimi Flix and Brian Christian; Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs honcho, Camille Love; effervescent socialite Evelyn Mimms; and Ms. Howard herself in a pretty, pink satin gown.
“All you have to do is look around at this crowd to know I’m totally different from that (reality show) image,” Eubanks said.
“I mean, (the production crew) thought we’d get here late. But we were right on time.”
He insisted that the party was in no way part of a pilot for a spin-off series. Nevertheless, guests were required to sign waivers before entering, video cameras were everywhere, and technicians outfitted Eubanks with a microphone as soon as our chat was through.
The party, where excerpts from Howard’s seventh book were read aloud, was surprisingly tasteful in most details. (An open bar would have been nice.)
Those who’ve read the Random House release repeatedly evoke the word, “sexy” to describe it and some say they recognize people they know among the main characters.
“If people this sophisticated support it,” Eubanks said, “it must be good.”