Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

Bear with me. When I'm finished this rap, it'll be perfect for the holiday no matter what religion you are. On the September evening that ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev got his National Constitution Center 2008 Liberty Medal from the first President George Bush, I was in on the afternoon's tiny press enclave. Everything started late. No writers had eaten. Few peeps got the op to ask questions. Save for me. No joke. The benefit of me never eating is that I have superhuman command and eye power. I willed Gorbie to pick me. So I asked him about the necessity for "perestroika" in our times — the new United States under whomever would preside. Would not a President Obama have to completely remake/remodel/restructure our economy so to keep the nation whole? And nice. OK, so he answered in Russian. But his interpreter laid out a picture of economic reconditioning the likes of which would be desired so to bring peace, love and harmony to the cold war that is America now. In short, Gorbachev said things will turn out sweet. But you need to bite down on the lemon first. Lots of lemons. That might not sound like good tidings. But for a sourpuss like me, that's as sugary as we'll get. So then my gift to you guys this Christmas and Hanukkah season is weird crotchety news and gossip. All my gelt stores ran out and I couldn't find any nice hams that weren't crazy fatty.

► First, a sorta-sad note: EchoChic on Sansom Street is having a "Bon Voyage" sale until Dec. 31 when they host a champagne farewell toast to their 1700 address. "It's a combination of my lease running up and the bad economy," said owner Jennifer Ramsay of the designer/vintage clothier lodge off the beaten path. "I'll keep EchoChic alive, though. There're things in the works — fashion, home, beauty, consulting — like on the Main Line where we've lived now for two years," says Ramsay of the "we" which includes husband/cartoon (literal in some cases)/rap icon Schoolly D. "I'm helping Schoolly more with his business, too."

► Speaking of folkies, the first of Richard Wexler and me-A.D. 's benefits for freak-folk goddess Linda Cohen occurs Dec. 29 at National Mechanics with Kenn Kweder, Eliza Jones of Burning Beds, Stewkey from the Nazz (no way!) and the Dani Mari/Danny Ozark open mic program along with special guests. Check that at nationalmechanics.com.

► Remember I rumored something that looks (from a listing description) like the O.N.E./Mansion club might be for sale on a national realty site? Well that same hotshot lady realtor is moving what appears to be ye old Tragos' address on 19th Street. Can't be certain, but all the description's components fit.

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HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► He's "Puffington Proper Paws, the Cat Who Loves Christmas" — that's the holiday tune you'll meow for from Philly burlesque queen/filmmaker Heather Henderson. Make her rich and vote it in the pantheon of new-Philly-holiday tuneage (quickstopentertainment.com/2008/12/16/masters-of-song-fu-holiday) that includes Jose Diaz's "Feliz Navidad" and Gang's "Little Drummer Boy."

► We're hearing pretty much that Anjou on Market Street is closed. Rumor has it that the electricity went off one morning, the management came in and basically said "Anjou out."

► The logic of a mostly outdoors The Deck (ex-Lagoon) opening on the rainiest coldest night of December is beyond me. Forget it, Jake. It's Essington.

► WHOWHATWHERE: Not only did Jose Garces hang tough for his introduction to Peruvian/Cantonese fare (Chifa, opening in January, 707 Chestnut) at Amada last week. He ran to Owen Kamihira and Jen Zavala's brisket-soft debut for El Camino Real after the Amada bash. When cranky folkie Elliot Murphy played World Café Live to an audience of 10, one of them was NBC-TV's morning mate Bill Henley, who not only hung backstage, but introduced Murphy's set. From the sights and tastes of the last 10 days, Del Frisco's is the stop for chops if you're an Eagle, old (Bill Bergey, Mike Quick) or new (A.J. Feeley, Kevin Kolb). Thanks to boxing buds Steve O and Weinee Dog for this: Damon Feldman held a press conference at Anthony's Restaurant for Jan. 24's IceWorks Skating Complex in Aston with fighters Danny Bonaduce (WYSP jock) and Jose Canseco (what does he do now?). And Philly's pre-eminent eating machine El Wingador who showed up and said he wants a piece of C-celeb fight action. Oy.

► Let's end on congrats: that La Colombe's Todd Carmichael finally became the first American to cross Antarctica to the South Pole solo. And that WPRB 103.3 FMDJ Lizbot and electro-man George Korein unleashed their latest collaboration, a daughter, Hattie.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)