In these challenging economic times, what budget-minded Atlantan would turn down a hand-folded, origami-inspired invitation to the private grand opening of the new glitzy W hotel in Buckhead?
Apparently, not many.
On Thursday night, hundreds and hundreds andhundreds of well-attired Atlantans walked the purple carpet into the hotel's cozy Living Room lobby designed by "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" celeb designer Thom Filicia.
Among the TV stars flown in for the debut in addition to Filicia: "One Tree Hill" actress Sophia Bush, shimmering in a gold dress, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress Michelle Trachtenberg (who also had a memorable multi-episode story arc as arch villainess Georgina Sparks last season on "Gossip Girl" and word is, Georgina might be returning to the CW hit show) and MTV's "The City" reality show star Olivia Palermo.
And natch, NeNe Leakes, Kim Zolciak, Sheree Whitfield, the dignity-deprived divas from Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" were in attendance, basking in their remaining 15 minutes of fame (which, according to the clock on the wall at Buzz Central, is now on minute 14...).
The hotel's Whiskey Blue nightclub impresario Rande Gerber was also on hand to greet guests. So how handsome is Cindy Crawford's husband in person? Well, we noted several clusters of ladies, sipping lemon martinis, suitably content just to stare at the man while he chatted with others. In the next room, guests were busy nibbling on treats in chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's seductively lit Market restaurant.
Atlanta Hawk Zaza Pachulia and his attractive date almost managed to sneak past us undetected (no small feat, given that the Hawks center stands at six-feet, 11-inches). Pachulia was dashing in a tailored gray suit and studious black-framed eyeglasses. Atlanta fashion designer Mychael Knight was also nudging the fashion envelope, pairing a white cardigan sweater with a chic bowtie.
Buckhead Coalition president and former Atlanta mayor Sam Massell was also there to officially welcome the business to his section of the city.
Collective Soul rocker bros Ed and Dean Roland were also there, celebrating with Ed's gorgeous wife Michaeline. Ed and Michaeline, you see, are expecting a baby later this year. Plus, Dean dished to Buzz that the Stockbridge-birthed band is due to "lock ourselves in a house" later this year to create their next album, a follow-up to 2007's critically acclaimed "Afterwords."
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