Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

Now that I've pulled the sticky wads of Drambuie from my luxurious locks and weed seeds from out of my Monopoly Man suit's vest pocket (I lost my monocle while loading up for NYEve), Icepack might as well welcome you to 2008. I needed to get out of December fast what with Campbell's Soup in Camden selling its Godiva Chocolates to Istanbul's Yildiz's Ulker Inc. Whoever heard of fine chocolate made in Reading (where Yildiz's is) and not Camden? The audacity! So, '08: It's gonna be a Nutter-y, buttery year. A year where outta-towners try to steal our incrementally impending thundahhh (Eric Ripert's fish burger at the Ritz-Carlton: big fucking deal) and top-notch nice-y nice couples use their powers for good (can't argue with Chase's missus Jen Utley's boxer rebellion and other dog charities). Me? I'm going to do good. My charity for keeping lapels thin is under way and I'm currently negotiating to write a not-for-profit cookbook with recipes for pulling the carbs out of Philly soft pretzels. But until those get off the ground, I'll slice the tires on all the PhillyCarShare autos on my block (they're hogging all the best parking spots), spin the pages on my "Pinups for Pitbulls" (pinupsforpitbulls.com) calendar (got to move off that Mona DeLux March page) and commence zero-eight-ing now.

► Alex Radus. Philly guy. You made '07's blowsy, bluesy, best-titled Chris Isaak-y record Love Me Like You Hate Me. You've charmed the pants off many a lass 'n' lad with that F-hole twanging gee-tar and that sullen sultry croon. Here you are playing the first gig of '08 (Jan. 3) at World Café Live with your SadBastards to a crowd still hung over, hard. Whatchoo gonna do? "Well, me and the band are mending the pieces of our broken hearts and gearing up for a tour I haven't come up with a fancy name for yet," says Radus. "I was thinking 'Nice Guys Finish Dead Tour' but that sounds more metal band than jazzy-bluesy-Americana-singer/songwriterish-and-I-wonder-why-I-never-get-signed-style band." If anyone's not ready to claw out their eyes at Christmas music, dig myspace.com/turtlestudios for Radus' jazz-jump "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

► Did you know the Tidewater Grain Elevator off the Girard Point Bridge got imploded (ruins.wordpress.com) before Christmas? Do the Mudhoney-like guys who used to be in Philly's Tidewater Grain from back-inna-Dobbs-day know? Speaking of J.C. Dobbs — the 304 building on South Street — the name of that address' supposed new co-owner with hairdresser Heshi S. isn't just Hank the Drag Queen. His real name is Frank Henry. His family owns and operates the Martz bus company. And he's rumored to have paid $1.5 million to open closer to September than spring. With that, the jcdobbs.net site has commenced with pics and picks courtesy George Manney — Dobbs' Last Minute Jam drummer.

► WHOWHATWHEN? We expect Kid Rock to head to MIXX at the Borgata after his Event Center show there Jan. 5. If the names Rickles, Anka, Valli and Blavat thrill you, you'll want to head to the super private 80th b-day for local clothing mogul/producer/guy-who-has-his-own-center Sidney Kimmel at NYC's Rainbow Room, Jan. 16. Going backward, not only did you miss Queer Eye Carson Kressley hanging at Rouge during the holidays and making eyes at everyone in the bar, you missed Diplo spin for a crowd including The Roots, King Britt, RJD2, James Poyser and Mr. Lif at the two.one.five mag launch bash at Silk.

► You know Robert Fanelli as the leader of the Beach Balls, the GetArounds and his newest-still band the Embarrassments UK. But I'm getting to know him as a painter with large-scale canvases designed using Microsoft Paint on wood that tell the story of the marmot. So I'm hosting his first-ever gallery show during First Friday Jan. 4 at Glam. "Become a better marmot yourself," insists Fanelli. "Get in touch with your inner marmot. Be more marmotlike, and thank me for telling you so." Ask to see "Coaster" — a metaphor for the ups and downs of the marmot's life.

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► Bistro 7's owner/chef Michael O'Halloran opens the oft-rumored The Waverly (412 S. 13th) in April. Look for a fireside bar and Franco-American cuisine.

► Philly's Poor Richard String Quartet (Beverly Shin, Carlos Rubio, David Yang, Thom Kraines) kick it Arvo Pärt-style Jan. 3 at South Ninth's Molly's Bookstore for charity: Molly Russakoff's newly forming home-school resource center. Call or write — 215-923-3367; molly@mollysbooks.com — but go.

► Charlemagne wasn't just some king. He's the dreamy inspiration for Philly/Brooklynite Carl Johns and his psy-pop band and their daring difficult We Can Build An Island that came out on SideCho Records. And now Charlemagne's your friend at the Balcony atop the Troc Jan. 7 with special guests 28 Degrees Taurus from Boston and Philly's eeriest Northern Liberties.

► DJs MissBliss, Boogie Pranja and Marcus join the Seclusiasis force and Ghost — they who have taken Thursdays at Sal's on 12th. Boo.

► TLA vid buyer/guitarist Jay Medley isn't touring Europe with cousin Gail Ann Dorsey (Bowie/Seal bassist) quite yet. So his blues-based Hired Guns (their CD Watch Out is out any day) commence a Friday residency at Fergie's, Jan. 4. Then he'll play guitar in Atlantic City with Jagged Edge Jan. 29 at the Borgata.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)