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Baton Bob
Rating Details »
Category: Local Flavor [Edit]
Neighborhood: Midtown1071 Piedmont Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 454-5151
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
36 reviews for Baton Bob
The first time I saw Baton Bob it was Monday morning about 11:00 am and he was walking down Piedmont wearing a white wedding dress with a vail complete with Bouquet. I stared in amazement. A few days later, I commented to a friend and was told he was somewhat of a local novelty.
I have not seen Baton Bob in a while. I wonder if he is still around? I hope so as he is a treat to watch and brings a smile to my face.
I love this guy! or girl, whichever he prefers. I used to live off P'tree and when I first moved in I could not for the life of me figure out what the hell that whistle sound was every morning. Then, one day I was driving along and BAM! out of nowhere there is a man in the most ridiculous outfit with the most amazing legs... twirling a baton and blowing his whistle! It was the funniest thing ever and totally made my day. I haven't seen him in a while b/c I don't live off P'tree anymore, but whenever I am in the area I make sure to go slow and look for him to brighten my day.
My GF and I came to St. Louis back in 2003, traveling there to consult about her spinal injury with the team which had worked on Christopher Reeve. We got there for a first visit on a hot afternoon in August and woke the next morning hungry. We were staying at a hotel next to the Barnes Jewish Hospital and set off up Euclid Avenue in search of lunch. We were both nervous and worried because we were at the end of two years of frustration in working toward her recovery and had come to St. Louis from our native Seattle desperately hoping for answers. There wasn't a lot of talking as we trudged up the street, sweltering in the sort of heat we just don't have in Seattle.
Suddenly, through the pall of worry, I heard...a referee's whistle? This is Central West End, St. Louis' artsy neighborhood, and this wasn't fitting the neighborhood vibe. I'm thinking cop, maybe, but I don't see him.
As we passed in front of Tom's Grill, around the corner came a sweating, muscular black man in a white sequined majorette's outfit, elaborate head-dress, and make up, twirling a baton and tooting away on the whistle. Dumb-struck, we maintained just enough of our Seattle Cool to avoid gaping openly but were absolutely transfixed by what we were seeing.
The guy marched smartly down Euclid, past us, favoring us with a big, toothy grin, and, keeping perfect march tempo, executed a snappy hitch-turn and marched straight into the open doorway of a shadowy bar. The music faded out and Judye and I looked at each other. For the first time in a good week, we burst out laughing. This was barely eleven o'clock, remember, and there were almost no people on the street. It was so incongruous, so fabulously unexpected that there was literally nothing I could think to say.
I only discovered today, April 7, 2009, who that fella was: Baton Bob. I was thinking about that morning and sat with google, trying to figure out how to search: "Black, male, majorettes in St. Louis"? "Cross-dressing faux majorettes"? Finally, I settled for "St. Louis Street characters". The first link gave me Baton Bob and the news that he had gone home to Atlanta. I now have his website bookmarked and will visit often.
Bob, I just wanted to thank you. Just as you did in the aftermath of 9/11, you found two people awash in despair and let them see that life can be surprising, delightful, and hopeful, even in the darkest hour. Congratulations. Since giving people that gift of whimsy and optimism was your goal, you've become that rarest of all human beings: the person who sets out to create happiness and succeeds. Thanks from your two friends and Biggest Fans in Seattle. You made our day and raised our spirits!
An Atlanta Attraction--for some in more than one way.
I will never forget seeing Baton Bob for the first time when I was in high school on a fake ID search in the city. Truly shocking for a suburbia kid.
I had missed seeing "The Baton" over the last few years thinking that he had moved on to better gigs, and then ,out of the blue ,at a party I was catering for some yuppies birthday Mr. Bob popped out of nowhere. I had a front row seat to a paid event of the greatest show on concrete. Even served he/she some wine and watched as Baton Bob collected money the old fashioned way--Lap Dances.
So, if you don't see him/her for a while just know that the star has risen and is getting paid by the rich people in the pretty houses--a dream come true.
This guy is nothing short of AWESOME. He brings the smiles and laughs to a city that is far too often flipping the bird at bad drivers and stressed out by traffic. Baton Bob reminds us to stop and take a moment to just enjoy what we have out there without worrying about the rest. What's not to love about a fabulous guy who spreads joy to Atlanta? Truly an icon for this fine city.
Fuck yes!
I never knew who Baton Bob was until one day. I was jogging at Piedmont Park , listening to music, sweating and out of breath. Here comes along a man, dressed in a bee costume. I stopped, looked again and smiled. I didn't like my job at the time so, seeing him made my day.
LMAO!!! Baton Bob has a yelp review!!?? Wow.
I remember about a year ago a couple of friends and I were having lunch on the upstairs outdoor dining area at La Fonda off of Ponce, and suddenly we hear a loud whistle followed by a dude dressed in a Tutu twirling a pink baton. Haha!! Timing was impeccable. He was twirling that baton while skipping along the sidewalk proud as a peacock. It would be interesting to find out if he has a schedule / route that he follows. I'd love to take friends/family from out of town to a restaurant where he'll appear. HAHAHA!!! true kodak moment. It'll be like watching a comet fly by...LOL!!
I remember when I first moved to Atlanta, driving through Midtown and all of a sudden I see Baton Bob marching down the road blowing a whistle and twirling his baton.
At the time I wasn't that happy about relocating to Atlanta and I remember thinking....what the hell did I get myself into? I had no idea of the persona, I just thought he was a nutcase.
After living in Midtown for a while and continually seeing him, I got it. It made me feel better that it was a performance rather than him being an escapee.
I give him 3 stars (really 3.5). Shocking I know.
To me, the art of his performance is doing what he does best, marching down the street to little fanfare except for the occasional drive-by shout out.
These days, he is showing up at performances, theaters, charity events and trying to be an "onstage show" rather than a side street spectacle.
However, he isn't an onstage show, he is rather boorish as a planned happening. He is most brilliant marching down the street unexpectedly to the shock of out of towners...the true art of his performance.
Bob....get back to basics, you are selling out!
Baton Bob performed/attended/graced with his presence our work Holiday party this year. His flamboyant demeanor was uplifting and energizing, and he was friendly to the other guests in addition to entertaining.
If I took one thing away from my brush with Baton Bob's greatness, it was that I shouldn't take myself too seriously, he doesn't and he seems to be having a great time.
What can be said that hasn't already been said. I am so enamored of this man and his ability to share his seemingly boundless joy with the people around him. If we had more Baton Bob's in this world, it would be a much, much better place to be. Someone give George W. a baton immediately and hope that it has the same effect.
Rock on, Bob!
Every time I see Baton Bob all I can think about is The Office....
Michael: "Guys! (in the most ridiculous accent imaginable) Beef: it's what's for dinner. Who wants some man meat?"
Dwight: "I do! I want some man meat!"
Jim: "Michael, Dwight would like your man meat."
Michael: "Well, then my man meat...he shall have."
Baton Bob heart man meat and Cherry Chocolate Rain!!!
About 2 years ago I was having a really crappy day. I was coming home from work, & on my scooter at the intersection of Piedmont & Monroe. I look to my left, & see this short guy in a tutu twirling a baton.
Brain thinks: don't laugh. Today sucks. Nothing is funny. I look away. The light is taking forever. I see commotion out of the corner of my eye. I look over. He's pointing his baton at me, with exaggerated happy facial expressions. I smile despite myself, but look away again. Today sucked, dammit.
I look back. He's still carrying on, pointing at me & smiling. Then he twirls around, & throws that baton up in the air, lands where he started, & catches it. He points it right at me, & his face lights up again. That bastard is trying to make me smile!
The day be damned. I belly laughed, smiled, & waved. I realized he was standing on the corner just to do what he just did - bring some light into people's lives. Baton Bob is no joke. He is an example for us all.
* He is cool. He is a genuine star.
* He happens to make magic appareances when people is about to kill themselves, and cheer them up like no $250-an-hour shrink can.
* I love his closet, even though I have never seen it. His outfits are FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. I've seen him as a cheerleader, a bride and...
...as a bumblebee. He was all golden and charcoal and wrapped in fuzz and tulle when he entered the Flying Biscuit location at Midtown (of course), sat next to me at the bar and asked for something to drink. I can't remember what it was, because I was as mesmerized with him as I would be with, say, Johnny Depp or Daniel Day-Lewis. I was listing all my big and tiny miseries over a cup of not-so-good coffee, until he said "hi!" to me, and became the object of the affection of every single soul around (well, we weren't many on that Tuesday morning).
* I smiled. I was so happy to be sharing those few moments with Baton Bob I couldn't remember what we talked about. I'm pretty sure it was about the weather... or maybe about the eternal constructions and holes on the asphalt of poor, battered 10th St. All I know is those 5 to 10 minutes made me MUY happy.
* Then he stood up and walked out, leaving a trail of je-ne-sais-quoi behind him, for all of us. Someday, I'll write him a poem...
O-M-GOD! Baton Bob has a Yelp review?!
This is great...Let the Cadence Begin!
Let me start off by saying Baton Bob is Pretty. He has the daring imaginative fashion sense and the huevos we tend to lose as we enter adulthood. Somehow, he pulls off tutus and cowboy boots. (That's all the success I ever asked for in life.)
If you're lucky enough to have a window table at The Flying Biscuit when he makes his rounds in Midtown, then you have all the makings for an excellent day.
Baton Bob. Respect!
Who doesn't love to see a man wearing a pink tutu and whistling on a police whistle while twirling a baton?
All I can say is that he is a much better twirler than I ever was... and I took lessons when I was a little girl.
When a guy has better legs than you can ever hope to have, you wanna hate that bitch.
But seriously, you can't hate Baton Bob. Like Chase, one day I found myself near Piedmont and Monroe and I was having a horrible day. There was this dude, in a sparkly tutu and white majorette boots with fur trim twirling a baton! "WTF?" I wondered....but he kept looking at me and smiling and being goofy and I couldn't help but smile. And that is what he does, aspires to make people smile.
If you check out his website, http://www.batonbob.com, you can see that he started doing this to cheer up the people of St. Louis after September 11th. Fortunately for the people of Atlanta, he has relocated here and has been bringing smiles and laughs to us ever since! Keep up the twirling Baton Bob, just the thought of you makes my day better!
Our city would lose some of its flavor if we didn't have Baton Bob. He is phenomenal. I haven't seen him in awhile but I think it is starting to be Baton Bob weather!
While I don't think I can add too much to what everyone else has said, I will say that his desire to bring laughter and happiness to complete strangers throughout the city is inspiring. He truly sets an example for the rest of us to be a little nicer to those around us and try to make each others days just a little better if we can.
True, he's a person and not a business....but Baton Bob is as much of an Atlanta institution as the Big Chicken or Stone Mountain and deserves to be added to our local flavor section. On a side note, somewhere there's a redneck who just had a heart attack when I compared Baton Bob to the Confederate sculpture on Stone Mountain. Just doing my part, folks.
Baton Bob (a.k.a The Ambassador of Mirth) can be seen around Piedmont Park or major intersections and parades. He's a majorette leading his own personal parade most of the time, waving to passing traffic and generally putting on an awesome show. The man has skills, 'nuff said. He's been featured on CNN, major newspapers, commercials, magazines, etc. Bob got into the majorette business as an attempt to lift spirits (his own and others') and do something he enjoys.
For the entire Baton Bob history and ongoing saga, check out his page on wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.or...
What's not to love about a person who makes it their sole mission to spread cheer? Baton Bob just goes to show you that Atlanta is far from boring and all the better for it.
Okay, I HAVE to say something about my boy, Baton Bob... he is someone who enjoys milling around the Peachtree Street/Piedmont Park area , and brings a smile to everyone's faces (for whatever reason) when he strolls by with his insane costumes on, and his crazy baton twirling.
Only in a few states can this sort of thing exist, and I am glad to have Baton Bob and Bicycle Pants Guy around to make my life better.
BTW, Has anyone done a report on the infamous Bicycle Pants Guy? Show me his site on here and I will bring it! We are "friends" on myspace, but I have a feeling it is someone who made it for him.....
Anyway, this guy, Baton Bob, is trying to make our lives happier by making a spectacle of himself, and I love him for it. I remember when he wore the "Superman" outfit when Christopher Reeves died, and it made me a little happier to see him baton around town in the suit. I have no idea why.
I hope to see him again, leading the parade at Gay Pride next week, but I am not sure whether he will or not. But the guy still brings laughs into my life, with his booty- exposing outfits, roller skates, and baton throwing. You just have to be here to see it!!
Love, love, love when I catch a glimpse of Baton Bob. Makes my day.
One time in summer 2005 I was driving around midtown (showing off the sites to my friend from cali) and we spotted him. We kept along our tour and all of a sudden the sky turned dark and the sky let loose with a downpour. We turned around and came back (less than a minute after we had passed him) thinking Bob would be soaked and maybe we could help this random dude, but he was gone! Where did he go? We did not know. But he was just like a magician and we talk about it to this day.
I also talk about how jealous I am of his awesome legs that I cannot stop staring at. Work it, boy!
Only in Atlanta could you find such an amazing entertainer who goes around and literally marches to his own drummer. His appearances throughout the city at random street corners or down Peachtree always make me smile. I'm glad that he loves himself so much that he can parade around as our official Ambassador of Mirth and bring gladness to people.
I hope that one day he reaches his goal of being invited on The Ellen DeGeneres Show as he would be the perfect guest and she would appreciate his energy as much as we do.
I used to work in midtown at a job that made me sad. Fortunately, this place was on West Peachtree, and every once in a while, fortune would smile on me, and I would get a special treat. If you're ever in midtown and you hear a whistle blowing in cadence, you are moments away from a religious experience. This is better than seeing two rainbows at once.
Twirl it, flaunt it!
This man has it so good - He stops traffic marching proud with his white leather majorette boots and bright pink tu-tu hinting at his too-fine-of-an-ass for even some of the Atlanta gays.
I have only lived in Atlanta 4 years (transplant from los angeles) BUT now that I have actually seen and enjoyed that performances of Baton Bob I feel like a true Atlantan now. He rocks and always makes me smile.
I only have one question......Where the hell does he get those fabulous outfits???! He clearly has made a major investment in keeping Atlanta smiling.
Absolutely fabulous! Nothing else need be said, except I haven't seen him in a while. Baton Bob, come home! We need you now more than ever!
Maybe he'll be at the Inauguration...we can only hope Bob will lead us out of our depression!
Hah, I love it! I have run into Mr. Bob many times. And he is always a hoot. One of the reasons I love Atlanta. Go go Baton Bob!
The first time I saw Baton Bob he was marching around in the middle of 9th Street at West Peachtree, dressed as Angel from RENT. He had his baton, of course, and was blowing that whistle.
I've seen him numerous times since in that classic tutu, always with the baton and whistle. Never knowing when I'm going to see him again keeps me walking around Midtown hoping for the next encounter...
I've seen better.
Bob oh Bob, where can you be?
Baton Bob?!!! WHAT?!! Okay now I'm in digging this cuz' I so dig this dude's energy! I remember the first time I saw him strutting his stuff down piedmont. He reminded me of the unique presonalities and the colorful cast of characters I was used to seeing at home walking through the French Quarters of New Orleans. I'm so happy to see that he's accepted and his uniqueness is being appreciated by so many here in Atlanta!!
Baton Bob....it's pretty much all been said in the reviews below! You gotta love the guy! I can't help but smile whenever I see him whistling down the street!
I saw Baton Bob at the screen on the green (piedmont park) showing of Car Wash. He had a specially prepared outfit just for the event. It was awesome. People were going crazy as he marched around the aisles. Well not everyone was going crazy, some people were probably confused, but it was awesome. He will definitely make you smile.
Baton Bob, you make me smile!!!!! Thanks for bringing so much joy to Midtown!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.or...
http://www.batonbob.co...
baton bob rocks.. even if he does charge you to take his picture..
he works harder than I do.
Baton Bob is totally ridiculous and that's why we love him. He used to do his thing nearly everyday right in front of school in Midtown (14th + Peachtree) and I guess he probably still does. Atlanta would be amiss without him. What I'd like to know is what this guy does for a living other than dressing up and twirling a baton. Very mysterious.
