icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

Look closely at the boarded-up Book Trader (Fifth and South sts.) and you’ll see signage announcing its May move to owner Peter Hiler's other space, at 7 N. Second St., the location of Mike Hoffman's AKA Records. "We are moving," says Hoffman, who has had the space for five years. "We're out of here" by midnight Sunday, he says. "We've secured our interim space -- the beautiful Keiser-Newman at 21 North Second -- and we'll be there until July while our permanent location is being put together." Though he won't say where the new AKA will be, Hoffman assures me his next Old City space will be double the size of AKA No. 1. … "Don't ask me how … Bitter Bitter Weeks is listed as playing at The Fire," went an e-mail from BBW's Brian McTear, who's baffled as to how he got on The Fire's gig list. We do know that Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner (back from soundtracking Tom Cruise's Collateral in L.A. with Tom Rothrock) will grace The Fire every Tuesday starting May 4. … After making Tritone's monthly Saturdays an "aesthetic delight" for over a year, Jamaaladeen Tacuma's DNA Galleria series ended abruptly last week. "I didn't know until after his set anything was wrong," says owner Rick Dobrowolski. "I should've guessed, what with the usually nattily-dressed Tacuma in a sweatshirt and jeans." While Dobrowolski said Tacuma's stated reasons for leaving were business dealings abroad, Tacuma could not be reached for comment. Tritone was also hurricane central for dragster Needles Jones. Jones promoted the return of legendary Philly drag doyenne Mother Flawless Sabrina to her native soil after decades of living in NYC, and was furious that no gay press supported Sunday's event. "Sabrina, who had the courage to live her life in the '50s, as difficult and dangerous as it was. She is returning to her hometown to perform for the first time in years and none of the press is supporting this," other than a listing, says Jones, adding that the comments are mainly directed at the Philadelphia Gay News. "The real reason [PGN] didn't give Sabrina space is that Sabrina is Henri David's drag mother, and [PGN publisher] Mark Segal hates Henry David." Asked for comment, Segal laughs, "What's Tritone? Who is Needles?" While Segal remembers Sabrina from back in the day hanging out with Harlow (another gay Philly legend), he insists he never heard a word from Jones. "Next time, tell Needles to call me directly." On the gentler Tritone tip, not only did Rick D. get engaged (to Jennifer Martinelli), but his sister Susan and her husband Doug Lester (ex-Resin) had a baby girl, Lily. Speaking of Resin, ex-member Jay Medley will bring his big-haired Supernatural Birth Machine to North Star April 30. … Mon., May 3, is turning out to be a ride in the Way-Back Machine: WYSP DJ Jacky Bam Bam hosts his '80s House of Hair Ball at Cheerleaders on Front and Oregon until 8 p.m. (will guys from Britny Fox be there?), and pop artist John Stango will take over Bar Noir's Monday Night Club for the unveiling of his new pulp-painting line, "Post Punk." … On May 1, photographer Zoe Strauss unveils her newest works -- 153 of them -- under I-95 at Front and Mifflin. … Best accessory at Paperstreet and Rachel Furman's '80s Sky Box party at Delilah's last week? Tommy Up's old boombox. … Soul Bros. Entertainment opens The Terminal in Upper Darby on April 29 with DJ King Britt. Ask Britt about his label, Five Six Recording, dropping its debut CD, Black to the Future, starring buds from Jody Watley to Philip Charles. … WHOWHATWHERE: Amos Lee flew to Europe to open Blue Note labelmate Norah Jones' 40-date tour. Look for the same to happen here. When Rocket Cat Cafe's Art & Artifacts market in Fishtown opens May 1, expect to see David E. Williams among the sellers of homemade weird ephemera. Williams recently collaborated with clarinetist Ken Brune (After Dinner Mints) on a cover of Rush's "Subdivisions" for an Italian apocalyptic folk compilation. Designer Mary McFadden was the special guest at the Philadelphia University fashion show. Sleater-Kinney's afterparty happens April 29 at the Balcony with VIP DJs Fancy Schmancy Johnny Szymanski, VIPeter and Bear Smith. … Carl Michaels will spin for Gay-Les-Bi Equality on May 1 at La Tazza, and Chumley and Carlota will host a slew of Equality Weekend events: April 29's Dining Out for Life and May 1's Ride the Duck drive. Check www.chumleyandcarlota.com. … Susie Koroly and Lee Wilson "devised" a cool bric-a-brac gallery co-op, FunHouse Collectibles, opening April 30. "Dress: eccentric," says Koroly. … Happy b-day to songstress Nancy Falkow; to Sean "Psy-Ops" Adamz, who celebrates with DJ Monica Sharp at Silk City, May 2; and to Victor Fiorillo, who'll take his Brothers Suggarillo out of retirement for a Tritone show with Manhattan's Gogol Bordello on April 30.

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