3-day extravaganza a crisp affair

Tag : spinning linen

THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY: 3-day extravaganza a crisp affair

By Jennifer Brett
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 07/07/08
Having a party? Fun! A fashion show? Fab! Throw in a jazz-poetrycafe night, dance lessons, a writers' workshop, a brunch, a comedyshow, talent auction and some workout time and you're approachingthe three-day extravaganza planned by poet, author and activistHank Stewart.
"I am having a ball," said the Emmy award-winning Stewart, whoperforms with the R&B-jazz ensemble 5 Men on a Stool.
His seventh annual White Linen Affair is July 25-27 at the HiltonAtlanta Hotel. The event benefits the Stewart Foundation, a youthempowerment organization. White Linen has been a one-day deal inyears past, and attracted a crowd of around 1,500 last year. Thisyear, organizers expect another full house, and prominent guestslike U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson and John Lewis, State Rep. TyroneBrooks, the Rev. Joseph Lowery and actors Malik Yoba and Cee CeeMakaela.
The White Linen idea was launched in 2001, when Stewart held aparty for the release of a poetry CD and suggested everyone show uplooking crisp and elegant. Friends urged Stewart to continue theevent, and it's grown over the years while the sartorial guidelineshave been tweaked somewhat. (This year's look is white linen with ahint of lime.) We asked Stewart, by the way, for his advice ongetting red wine out of white linen.
"You don't," he laughed. "You hope you don't spill anything onyourself until the end of the evening when it doesn't reallymatter."
Tix are $40, see www.hankstewart.net.
Here and there
The recent "Arts in the Garden" featured art work and floralarrangements created by clients of Skyland Trail, the treatmentcenter of the George West Mental Health Foundation. Attendeesincluded Skyland Trail Associates members Karen Parker and CarolGoodman, Skyland Trail President Beth Finnerty and board memberJohn Gordon. . . .Best wishes to Brooke Edmondson, switching fromAtlanta communications director for the American Heart Associationto full-time mom...Metaleap Design and Paste magazine hosted a June27 party in their Decatur offices to benefit the nonprofitorganization 100 Days. The group is raising money to build the GoodShepherd Hospital for Children in Rwanda, a country that's beenravaged by genocide and AIDS. Nearly 200 came out for sips andnibbles provided by Yellowtail, The Brick Store, and Taqueria DelSol, with DJ Little Jen spinning her magic and rock group The MingDynasty entertaining. Photog Fernando Decillis organized groupshots spelling out the night's theme, Hope...Plans are comingtogether for the Atlanta Botanical Garden's 27th annual Garden ofEden Ball, planned for Sept. 27. The black-tie gala is beingchaired by Terance and Jennifer Fowler and honors Jennifer'sgrandmother, Dottie Fuqua. She and her late husband, J.B. Fuqua,have been ardent and generous ABG supporters over the years.Atlanta event designers Kathy Rainer and Tricky Wolfes of PartiesTo Die For plan a palette of blues, greens and aquas for the ball,themed "Bell'Acqua."
butterfly@ajc.com