icepack

Manayunk: Mythic land of intrigue, a romantic country. … Wait, isn't Manayunk the uphill landfill time forgot where crafts, crack, bikers and pricey restaurants congeal in a sick rad way? I bring the 'Yunk up (take an expectorant, already) because dishy fabulous Dan Contarino is Grape Street's new PR maven. This is big. And weird. Like Sean-Agnew-working-for-Electric-Factory weird. Like Michael-Nutter-smoking-Lucky weird. Like WIP-Wing-Bowl-clothing-line weird. (Shit! That one's true.) Mere days after Grape's Coors Light hottie search, Contarino—ex-architect of Shampoo's dance/trance/gay vibe—is ready to get past his Rimbaud-like season in hell (rumors circulating he's a member of the Jim Morrison family; the recent passing of his mom), with tricks that'll make Grape even juicier. Also, two taut Grape-affiliated bands drop big-ass records: HEAD (Tantra's Michael Zimney and Lexi Greene with Ron DiSilvestro drumming) whose thick, quickly produced-by-Phil Nicolo Look Without Seeing drops Feb. 8 with a party at Brownie's 38th to prove it and jam-hoppy Quick Step John got spitting-fast, threw some BedHead pomade in Craig Whitaker and Ed Bagden's locks, and kicked out the jam, literally, for their eponymous EP. … While the Steelers steer toward the Super Bowl, so do Philly's Cashman & Associates PR (throwing a Club Jenna party with porn-a-hokey Jenna Jameson and Kid Rock) and Gyro's Steve Grasse (bringing a hastily shot Bikini Bandits Super Bowl Special starring Wang Newton, yet). … What the hell is painter Tim Bowen doing on Fabric Row? Opening a double-wide Falling Cow Gallery in what we'll call Art Philly's newest must-be area: SoSo. … Olde City Tattoo (Jason Goldberg's crew, whose illustrations hang at Fresca Pizza's gallery), South Street Tattoo (who acquired jeweler/piercing queen Valerie Velvet), Headspot.org (Joe Mahoney's punk division of Songspot.org) and tattoo-artist bands who couldn't get in on Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention 2006's opening at the Wyndham throw a pre-convention bash at Bar Noir Jan. 30. … Cinematic automatic: Philly's Uncut Productions (Ritalin Theatre, Monkey Drive) got a "Best Production Design" award for Pas de Lumiere in the 2005 National Film Challenge. And even though the Aqua Teen Hunger Force feature won't be ready for screening (no Schoolly D?) at this year's Philadelphia Film Festival, Festival of Independents' honcho Scott Johnston tells me he's going full steam ahead for the earth's biggest Adult Swim event with ATHF director Jay Edwards sneak-peaking it and star Dana "Master Shake" Snyder's band in tow. But with last year's 800-plus attendance overcrowding the Fest's Gene Lefevre's Fringe cabaret space, shouldn't it be, maybe, at the Troc? Meanwhile, Johnston is Sundance-ing, repping not only Fest Indies, Fancypants Cinema at N. 3rd and his movie Long Haul, but trying to score deals for Marc Brodzik's Hard Coal documentary that exposes the abuses of federal agencies shutting down coal miners in Minersville (www.woodshopfilms.com). … We hear that the House of Blues on 15th and Chestnut is getting the old Firenze tavern liquor license. Punk Rock! … Tracy Buchholz of Phillygaycalendar.com does what she does best with her first Elevate of 2006, bringing in Pousse Cafe dancers Reina, Heather, E-licious, Shot Girl Stephanie and me, DJ A.D., Jan 28 at Key West for "Girl/Girl Boy/Boy Girl/Boy." … Spooky David E. Williams and Jennifer Bates'll host Ron Hogan at Germ Books today where he'll dish on '70s movies from his The Stewardess Is Flying the Plane. … Ron Forczek isn't just here to bounce you out of TLA, pal. He's a dark blues-folk singer-songwriter. And not only can you peep his twisted tunes at Tin Angel Jan. 26; he cut tracks with Paul Smith at 1935 Studios. … Sears is where America shops. Brits too, wot wif Virgin UK signing Philly's Spinto Band (despite the U.K.'s Tasty referring to them as a Mississippi six-piece) to a mucho-money deal. … The rumor (started by me!?) that Club 218 was closing is untrue, says booker Ted Enoch. He's bringing in The Insidious Rays Jan. 27 to prove it. … Blowing raspberries about the ongoing NYE legal feud between Anthony DiMeo III and the owners of Le Jardin? Maybe you can throw blueberries at what remains of Antonio Puri's paintings when the Art Alliance hosts a Jan. 27 reception for the NY-Eve-thieved artist. Sike! Or be glad you're not the reportedly ripped-off crew that claims it got "scammed" by NYEPhilly.com and their Atomic Ball at the Franklin Institute. "Our party was out of beer, vodka and rum by 10:30," says one unsatisfied customer who asked for cash back and got zero refund. NYEve party thrower/PhillySinglesConnection.com pres Dennis Gaudenzi states that while, there were liquor problems ("We ran out of vodka and rum … around 10:30 p.m. while the caterer, Frog Commissary, went to get more. Beer was available all night—just not at every bar"), they will not offer refunds. "I am working to secure additional free open-bar parties … and anything else I can to create value far beyond the actual ticket price," says Gaudenzi. "The caterer has also tentatively agreed to submit an additional donation to a cancer charity of my choice." The lesson for y'all next NYEve? Buy your own drugs 'n' booze and stay home 'n' screw. … While we birthday shout the snappily dressed DelloBuono boys (Peter, Dylan), red-tressed Amy DiCamillo (Twist, Undergirl) and Tom Ryan (slam-dancer extraordinaire) and bid a sad so long (for a year-and-a-day which means seven months!) to Neil Stein, we say a sadder so long to Beru Revue's Jerry Healy whose memorial jam happens Jan. 28 (with George Manney and Greg Davis) at Smokey Joe's. And to the dear just-departed Lori Gallagher, the metal mama renowned for booking the Cell Block.