Spanish Harlem Revives Atlanta Nightlife

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?

New Fashion Rules for Women Over 50?

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?

DJ OMG! Put On Blast at Ken Barber Signature

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...?

CNN Special Explores Princess Kate's Fate

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.

New Atlanta Designers Heat Up Home Decor

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.

CNN's Dire Glance at Black Americans' Debt

By A. Scott Walton
Read the latest from TheRoot.com if you want the inside scoop about the latest "Black In America" portrayal from CNN: "Almight Debt".
Get a comprehensive preview of both the 90-minute episode airing originally on October 21, as well as behind-the-scenes perspective gleaned from the post-show "town hall" session.
(About 100 attractive and apparently well-off Atlantans were invited to the session, but none of them were permitted to question the show's intentions or merits.)
Hell, we can still dream of better times ahead. Can't we?
Can't we???!!!
"Almighty Debt" isn't the most encouraging news special CNN's ever produced.
The truth hurts. But it can also set you free.

FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT BELOW...

Gardner's 'Pursuit of Happyness' Never Ends

Author/entrepreneur rose from homelessness; offers advice


By A. Scott Walton
Times are tough, to put it mildly.
And from the perspective of author/entrepreneur Chris Gardner - whose rise from homelessness to high cotton in the corporate world inspired a major motion picture starring Will Smith - neither raising the white flag of surrender to circumstances, nor waiting for some heroic rescue from the recession, are viable options.
"The cavalry ain't coming," Gardner said bluntly in an exclusive sit-down with EyeSeeStyle.
So, it's best to learn new modes of fending for ourselves in this economy.
Gardner's latest book about the secrets to his success comes at a most opportune time. "Start Where You Are" offers professional solid advice on how to free themselves from conventional career choices and transition into work that fulfills them personally and financially.

Gardner's visit to Atlanta has a purpose. On Saturday, October 2 (3 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) he's hosting "MasterCard's Financial Education Seminar" at the Hyatt Peachtree Atlanta Hotel. The session is free and open to the public, but guests must RSVP (1-800-694-9891) to guarantee themselves a seat.
A centerpiece of Gardner's presentation will be his "C-5 Complex" prescription for financial security, and how the baby steps you make toward a fulfilling career can actually leave a positive footprint for others to follow.

Rev. Al Sharpton Keeps it Real with A. Scott Walton

Check out “yours truly”, A. Scott Walton, talking live on satellite radio with Rev. Al Sharpton about my Atlanta Voice reports on the legal storm surrounding Bishop Eddie Long. (Original air time: 2:15 ET Thursday)!!!!!
LISTEN HERE!

GQ Salutes Atlanta's 'Drunks', 'Crunks' and Zombies

By A. Scott Walton
According to GQ magazine, what Atlanta lacks in its quantity of great cocktail bars it compensates for in quality.
After an exhaustive search for the “25 Best Cocktail Bars in America”, GQ lists just one Atlanta venue in its October issue. Cities like Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and New York (of course) are mentioned at least twice.
With nearly 35,000 miles logged and 400 cocktails consumed in the process, GQ heralded the “cocktail revolution” underway nationwide by ranking Buckhead’s Holeman & Finch Public House No. 10 on its list.
GQ writes that the mixologists at Holeman & Finch are to be trusted “completely” with your drink desires.
“On one visit, a (frat boy) grabbed the menu from us, tossed it aside and said, ‘That’s not what it’s about, man. Just tell them what you like.”
The GQ story ads that there’s a chance that H&F could help refine what’s perceived (by New Yorkers) as a frat row atmosphere in Buckhead. “Fearless” cocktails singled out include: the Pig-Pik Sour (bourbon, bacon sugar, egg whites).
Cheers!
Can you think of any Atlanta cocktail bar that GQ glaringly omitted?
COMMENT BELOW...
MONSTER HANGOVER: GQ also singles out another Atlanta phenomenon - the new AMC Channel horror series "The Walking Dead" - as a show it's "frothing" to watch this fall. Filmed locally over the summer, "The Walking Dead" and its fixation on zombies should distract us from buff vampires, at least temporarily.
NIGHTMARE SCENARIOS: In another prominent entertainment note, GQ singles out the new album from Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy - "Thug Motivation 103" -as one of the season's soundtracks. Recorded in the basement of a local producer accused of murder, Jeezy's latest sounds to GQ like "a hip-hop version of the Stones' 'Exile on Main St.' or Dylan's 'Basement Tapes'.

"Twist" gives Dickens a vibrant spin in Atlanta

By A. Scott Walton
Have you seen "Twist" at Atlanta's Woodruff Arts Center yet?
Did it render you virtually speechless too?
(Above left: "Twist" author William F. Brown, director-choreographer Debbie Allen, producer Tena Clark and composer Gary Prim)
How many times did the Charles Dickens classic "Oliver Twist" - reworked into a Depression-Era New Orleans tale - put you on the verge of tears, elation, panic or gut-busting laughter?
To call "Twist" a spell-binding two-plus hours of singing, dancing and acting would be putting it mildly. Its indescribable mix of anguish, intrigue, visual and redemptive story-telling gave EyeSeeStyle serious pause.
Do we dare declare that it's "Broadway-bound"?
Rather than ruin the surprises in store for "Twist" patrons, here's just a sampling of observations from heavyweights attached to the show or the local theatric scene, and a few photos from the "Twist" premiere last week...
(Below left: producer Michelle Seward, lead performer Alaman Diadhiou and producer Tena Clark)

Debbie Allen, director-choreographer of “Twist”: “It’s just been an amazing journey putting this all together…I was destined for this. My family was from the Port Allen, Baton Rouge area. Going to New Orleans was like going to New York when I was a little girl. So I have all the culture and history and the language of that part of the world in my bones. It’s in my DNA.”

Alaman Diadhio, title character, age 10: “I’m so excited for so many people to see all the work we’ve done. This is my first big show where I’m the star. I think that every (performer) brings joy and happiness to the audience, and that’s what makes it great.”

Camille Love, City of Atlanta Director of Cultural Affairs: “Atlanta keeps outdoing itself. (The show’s) just delightful. It’s got a lot of energy, It’s a very good story told very well and performed very well.”
(Below left: Arts enthusiast Liz Lapidus and Tony-winning Director Kenny Leon)
Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning True Colors Theatre Founding Artistic Director: “I’m guardedly excited to see what (director-choreograher) Debbie Allen’s put together. I’ve known her for a long time and I want to see how the choreography meshes with the singing and the acting. We need more premieres like this so we can encourage more artists to live in Atlanta and work in Atlanta.”

William F. Brown, author “The Wiz”, “Twist”: “This has taken a long time. We started working on “Twist” 15 years ago. Now that’s it’s made it to Atlanta, and it’s such a great production, it gives me a good feeling about the future for the show. And it takes me back.”