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Icepack

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


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Published: Feb 13, 2008

Love and beauty — these things are on my mind. Not because it's Valentine's Day. I need my eyebrows waxed. And I love my eyebrows. I got good stuff. Speaking of love and eyebrows: Frida Kahlo. When it comes to passion, symbolism, politicism and realism, no painter brought it in grander, more colorful form than the Mexican master. Not only does the Philadelphia Museum of Art celebrate Kahlo's largest-ever traveling exhibit starting Feb. 20 (along with potent Mexican realist Juan Soriano's Fragile Demon exhibit, opening Feb. 16), PMA hosts a Valentine's night Frida Fiesta. Whose bright idea was Frida-gala-ing during love's favorite evening? Veronica "Ronny" Connor, the PMA's women's committee member who's chairing the fiesta and bringing Mexican delights, mojigangas (giant puppets) and Conjunto 23, a dance band with dancers teaching guests snappy Latin steps. "We're celebrating the life, love and passion of one of the great artists of the 20th century. What better day than Valentine's?" says Connor, surely with a rose between her teeth. And though Connor's got no serious connection to Kahlo, she's seen her fierce nationalism, her fiery temperament and love of dancing in that Julie Taymor movie. "I like spirited women," says Connor. Me too. Ole. Call right now: 215-684-7936.

► More love: Woodshop film director Marc Brodzik got good news in that yes he and (sing it like Lou Rawls) lady-love Jen Zielenbach (Antigone Rising) are engaged to be married. Mah, zel 'n' tov. Plus Brodzik's documentary Sammytown (about local Fang leader's travails with jail, drugs, doom, hardcore) got into the Fest Indies side of 2008's Philly/TLA Film Fest. Nize.

► Philly Friggs' boss lady Palmyra Delran is shy. When she was here with her Santa Marias in January, she never mentioned producing Falu and her eponymous indie-Hindi fusion jawn combining traditional Indian vocals (she's from Bombay) with good ol' USA-grade rawk and that Falu's at Khyber Feb. 20. So I'll say it. Check falumusic.com.

► The first thing I did when it was warm was hit Johnny Brenda's only to find I had more leg/head/yum space and a whole new room to gnash 'n' nosh in. Good-gouda-great. See you when it warms up again.

► She rings, swings and plays on her b-day: Frank folksy Dani Mari hits Lickety Split Feb. 16 (bring cake) and Fire's Feb. 17 Radiohead tribute.

► Amy Wuelfing brings her lovely-plus-gal designer-lady gear-shoppe Evangeline (the one in Chestnut Hill) to South Fourth Street, now, across from TLA Video and next to Java. Expect husband Howard, publicist to Philly's acid folk finest and the Mad Dragon label crew to be hanging 'round. Which reminds me

► WHOWHATWHERE: Language of Stone debutante Gillian Chadwick (Ex Reverie) and Au Revoir Simone were the femme musicians modeling French/NYC designer Alice Ritter's spring collection during Fashion Week. Hirsute John Sayles and Maggie Renzi so liked Scribe Video when they were here premièring Honeydripper, they're returning to teach "Seize the Means of Distribution" at I-House March 22. Not only did Vango Wednesday DJ Lee Jones do what he said he'd never again after his "Judy Boots" days there — spin at Marmont for it bartender Dan Lawrey's bye-bye bash — Jones booked old pal Rich Medina for Feb. 17's La Veranda "Sundae" jam. And that's Bloodhound Gang DJ Q-Ball spinning Friday happy hour at Ice at le Radisson Valley Forge.

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► Morrissey-meets-Bing-Crosby crooner Stephen Bluhm "guest synthesizes" for Kiss Kiss Kill Feb. 15 at Dahlak, 47th and Baltimore. Dulcet, this.

► No soup for you: Strawberry Street's Hot Soup Studio/Glass Gallery, opened in 1996, will rest its spoon March 16 with a blowout sale March 7.

► Before Joe Gervasi announces his Exhumed Films/I-House June 7 show know that its got groovy Philly connections. Malatesta's Carnival of Blood (1973) starring Herve Villechaize was lensed by Philly's Christopher Speeth and art-designed by now-famously-green-architects Alley Friends here.

► BCKSEET's G DeCandia and Oscar Dubon host Feb. 14's "Valentine's Day Sucks" singer/songwriter competition at Society Hill Playhouse's Red Room with 1812's Steven Wright, Alex Radus, you and the moonlight at 8 p.m.

► Before he squats and does Punk Rock Boot Camp in April, Brian Adoff acts in L'Etage's absurd playwright (Beckett, Ionesco, Durang) fest "Oh, for the Love of Love!" with Dura twins, Michael and Tomas Feb. 17 to 28. "The show's worth it for the Beckett play alone, performed by two middle-aged twin brothers who're creepy as fuck when they're together," says Adoff.

► Parting equals sweet sorrow: World Café Live programming coordinator Sarah Mobley spent her Philly finale at Lenny Kravitz's E-Factory gig and Bump before moving to Holland for romance 'n' chocolate. Sob. Ellen Oplinger replaces her.

► Back to where we started, love and beauty, a tear for Pileggi Boutique founder Joan Pileggi who sold her WashSquare spot, there since '76, to Andrea Chila — a Philly gal who worked for Diane von Furstenberg. I need a tissue.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)