icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

College folk and high schoolers are now well into the "back to school" season. Vacationing business types of all stripes are coming through town. New or old, welcome. I am A.D. Amorosi, essayist and rumor monger of all manner of pop culture. If anyone approaches you in sunglasses and a hat, is waiting for "Aaron Beige" or suddenly starts clapping, heís a holdover from last weekís flash mobs at UPennís bookstore. If anyone approaches you with a tiny shot glass in her hands loudly asking for directions, sheís still deaf from Magnet magazineís 10th anniversary bash at UACA Hall, and still trying to get home. Help them all. Anyway … No-name rumor: What Old City restaurateurs are looking to buy out which money-troubled Rittenhouse-area restaurateur with too much space on his hands?… BYOB time: While Rosemarie Tran and Gianluca Demontisí Melograno opened at 22nd and Spruce, Rich Podulka is opening NEXT (across the street from his North), a continental cuisine thing cheffed by Terry Owens of Four Seasons fame, in October.… Itís been a big week for The Roots: They were named in Time magazineís "Whatís Next" issue as one of the "personalities poised to influence our landscape." The mag specifically mentioned new guitarists Kirk Douglas and Martin Luther. So whereís Scratch? Last week, a note appeared on The Rootsí Okayplayer site stating Scratch was no longer with the group. Then the note disappeared from its archives. We couldnít reach anyone for comment. The mystery continues.… WhoWhatWhere: First I saw Marilyn Manson on South Street. Then I hear Gene Simmons was at the Laff House, on the same block. If Alice Cooper shows up, weíll call it an unwarranted trend and break out the clear mascara. MXPX and Vendetta Red stopped in at Whiskey Dix, riding a minibike that the gents from Brand New had with them. Dixís owners got into the act by vrooming their Harleys into the bar. I would have brought my bike, but itís hard to be a rebel with a Schwinn. Charles Barkley hung at Glam. Mike Piazza of the Mets ate at Tangerine. Jack Black was at Four Seasons Philadelphia in an Electric Factory T-shirt blabbing about his School of Rock flick with his kid co-star, Atlantic Cityís Veronica Afflerbach. Philly expat designer Ralph Rucci got the Phashion Phest Philadelphia Award. And if you missed having dinner with Patti Smith at her ICA opening (Bardo Pond in attendance), Ms. Smith will attend the 215 Festival at the Free Library Oct. 9 with daughter Jesse. (It was being there that kept me from the continued silliness of the Daily Newsí "Sexiest Singles" cover party at 32°.)… If you missed the openings for Cream Charger Dean Rosenzweigís series of 20 new "situation" paintings at Ninth Streetís Le Bomb Chele Hair & Body Boutique or Frankie Martinís pink "Freezy Freakout" ice sculpture/igloo thing at Project Room on North Eighth (with a Philly-based CD to follow starring Krakatoa and Sola), both exhibits last until October.… Is there a larger crackdown for noise going on in Old City, other than at The Khyber, whoíve had recent visits from L&Iís sound-conscious hunters?… What opened: The first tony maternity salon in Center City, Belly, pops courtesy Patty Fagan (of Saloon fame) at 1600 Pine St., the former address of Adresse. The blue velvet/stainless steel mix of Bar Blue opened on North Third. And the Bronx-born Ferrarese brothers open a new sophisticated writing-tools shop, The Papery, with Marlton niece Carolyn Brandhorst, along North Third. Maybe theyíll teach Old City some manners.… DJ Dave Pianka leaves his post at Soma for a minute to join Steph Dewaele as 2 Many DJs. The Soulwax-signed duo has a gig Sept. 13 at UACA Hall, 847 N. Franklin St., with DJs Julian S. and Sparkles.… Despite Starbucks licensing two tunes from his Ordinary Time for their national in-store music playlist, Bill Ricchini is not the devil. To prove that, heís in talks for his second CD with Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliott Smith) and Tony Doogan (Mogwai). "No word yet if this means free java," says Ricchini.… CP contributor Jon Solomon hosts a My Pal God records night with Plain Parade Sept. 12 at Doc Watsonís, starring Taking Pictures, Quick Fix Kills and Heroics.… A shout and a prayer to Matt Pond, the Matt Pond PA bandleader who, while letting out guests from a post-Troc party at his nearby apartment, was savagely attacked by unknown "guests," smashing him up till he required staples and stitches.… Sorta-minister Elizabeth Fiend and her Big Tea Party "dig into community-supported agriculture" with their documentary, Crop Circles, premiering on WYBE TV 35 on Sept. 16 at 9 p.m. Along with wishing Greyson Horan, Michele Malin-Seidman and Marina D’Angelo happy b-days, give the latter promotrix a hand for getting engaged to Peter Santamaria. Maybe Fiend can marry them.

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