Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

You know how you don't miss water until the well runs dry? People are like water. Wet. Overflowing with something-or-other. Philly's Mikal Kamil has always been water and well to me, packed to the rim with lively ideas and great information as to how to pull off his always-civic-minded notions. Kamil and his partner in crime, Dan Levin, ran an umbrella organization (3Kingdoms) that held Artists for Heat benefits to raise money for Philly's poor. They got elite sponsors like Citgo Petroleum (owned by the Venezuelan government and its president, Hugh Chavez) with co-sponsorship from PECO's Matching Energy Assistance Fund and the Kennedy-backed Citizens Energy. They held fundraising events ("Get Outta Klass") for local music-education programs. They got participation from acts like Public Enemy and Marcus Miller. They even turned a Port Richmond filling station into a Rock 'n' Roll Exxon — all in the name of raising cold cash and hard awareness. Why haven't we heard from 3K or its flashy spokesman Kamil in a minute? "Man, we had to get out of Philly and find someplace and some city government that appreciated us and our good efforts," said Kamil, who — throughout 2007 and 2008 — pounded polls and pavements for Michael Nutter and Barack Obama. Wait. Where was Mikal calling from? Los Angeles. "It's true. We barely got off the airplane here and every part of this city's administration welcomed us and our ideas with open arms." The first idea that 3K puts into action happens May 23 when, in connection with Endeavor Talent Agency, they'll bring 500 book bags signed by celebrities and containing an autographed copy of Obama's Dreams from My Father to LA's high-risk youth. Great idea. But why couldn't 3K do that here? Why did the dynamic duo leave? "I don't know if I could or should blame Mayor Nutter directly," says Kamil. He does point the finger at the mayor's appointees for being uncaring and unknowing of the good that can be done in the name of pure volunteerism. "Hopefully that will change," says Kamil. "Philly's my home and I'd love to do more good there." Me too. It was fun while it lasted.

► Know what else I miss? Roselena's on East Passyunk. Icepack readers know that I loved the romantic if-Poe-were-an-old-Italian-widow sitting room décor, mismatched china and rich desserts. So when it closed unceremoniously, I sobbed some telltale tears. Famously, though, Capogiro's John Reitano took part of it over for a bold blue-paint makeover and his famous frozen desserts with an undesignated opening time. SURPRISE. It opened May 15. Atza nize. While Capogiro's top popped on East Passyunk already, West Philly's Radian building (3925 Walnut) gets a gelato-and-cocktail menu Capogiro May 22. Delish. 

► Newly mustachioed guitarist John Cecil Price does double duty at the Troc May 26 when he blasts forth with Ed Wilcox and Chuck Duquense as the Philadelphia Love Unlimited Orchestra and as musical director for El Malito. The ladies of Jill Rabbits and The Lemon Treasures join in the fun.

➤ Anyone who thought Stephen Starr wouldn’t set foot in rock ’n’ roll after EFC (now Live Nation) bought out Starr’s concert booking company: For you young’uns, this was way before The Continental and The Bank when Starr booked new acts like Madonna. Now St-St-Starr’s sideline catering ops will run Crescendo at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, starting with June 5’s David Byrne gig. It’s a top-tier cuisine space/concert service with several-course meals offered along with tapas-y plates and exec-cheffed by Shane Cash (yes, Johnny Cash-related) so we expect it to rock.

➤ Troubadours Jon Houlon, Kenn Kweder and Rembrandt’s Jan Zarkin are hosting their annual Dylan b-day tribute May 21 and it’s a humdinger: Dani Mari doing “Positively 4th Street,” Lisa Sunshine doing “Most Likely You Go Your Way,” Rich Kaufmann doing “Love Minus Zero,” plus Adam Brodsky, Jim Boggia, Steph Hayes, Bob Carleton, Cowmuddy and Peter Stone Brown. Special non-singing (I guess! I hope!) guests include Scot Sax (haha), comic Big Daddy Graham with actual musician Skip Denenberg — all at Rembrandt’s.

➤ WHOWHATWHERE: During last weekend’s kiddie-filled Q Concert, those chilrun up-front supposedly got an up-the-skirt look-see of what may’ve been a panty-less Ciara. Yippity yip. Indeed you saw Carlota Ttendant — drag-queen alter ego of ActionAIDS’ honcho Michael Byrne — who returned to the GayBINGO fundraiser Saturday after a seven-year hiatus at the Gershman Y. I’m hearing that Willie Aames was at Alfie’s (2417 Welsh) as part of some “find-Willie-a-date” contest for his boxing match at World Gym (on the Boulevard) with local Double Shot of Love contestant Mike Fazio which Aames happened to win. That last sentence so depressed me, I just got a prescription of Paxil filled. For the throw-the-opera-doors-open soiree to celebrate Varga Bar’s first night (try the home-cured pickles!), Jerry Blavat came by and shared with owners George and Valerie Anni and Chef R. Evan Turney his personal vat of wine. And what the Hell’s Kitchen was Gordon Ramsay doing yelling at people at Fishietown’s Hot Potato Café? Just gathering steam-n-spuds for his next Kitchen Nightmares series.

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

➤ If you, yes you, members of the bliggity blog press-o-sphere get a copy of Philly’s Happy Accident CD package, look closely. The band got their shots done at The Gallery at one of those $10 photo session stations. That’s resourceful. They’ll be at Connie’s Ric Rac on May 23 with Beloved Infidels.

➤ Sci*Fi Philly celebrates its one-year anniversary May 24 at Gojjo (45th and Baltimore) with an all-day (starting at 2 p.m.) affair starring Jack Wright/Bob Marsh, Shot x Shot, Bobby Zankel and more. They’ll save their cake for the Marshall Allen 85th b-day party at Johnny Brenda’s that same night.

➤ Matthew Bergheiser just got the gig as executive director of the University City District (UCD) neighborhood improvement organization. He’s got a budget of $9 million+. Clean up that mess across from the old Chestnut Cabaret.

➤ As of May 21, you got 10 days left to see Phila-photogs Kelly Turso and Brett Brand — both usually known for their commercial and branding images — getting all artsy with a bunch of blurry snaps and shots reproduced on custom wallpaper at Walnut Room.

➤ Back in 2004 I got this weird assignment from New York Press to write about a Minnesota band called Hockey Night. They did this cross cutting-guitar thing — like Thin Lizzy meets Europe — only its singer sounded/wrote childish lyrics like Jonathan Richman. I loved them. Fast forward to the Fishtown present where several Hockey Night/Minnesota expats live and formed Free Energy, got themselves a CD production/label courtesy LCD/DFA guy James Murphy and will play Philebrity’s Foggy Notion party May 23 in anticipation of their first record, Stuck On Nothin’ at the Barbary.

➤ Which reminds me, it’s your Piazza in da NoLibs weekend numbah one. And really, just because it rained on my — YES, MY — Italian Market Festival, I’d be a churlish asshole if I told you not to hit da Piazza. Besides, I did my rain dance. You fuckers are gonna get soaked when you see Italian xylophonist Gina Ferrera, Alokli West African Drum Ensemble, the Old Goats of Northeastern Brazil and the West Philadelphia Orchestra who you couldn’t kill when they played in Mexico a coupe of weeks back so nothing can kill this weekend, rain dance or not.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)