Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

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Published: Jun 8, 2010

From the South Philly Bar & Grill's magic cheesecake to a ?uestlove visitation at the Wach on game day, I've seen and seen Tweeted some weird stuff when it comes to good-luck totems for Flyers fans. Ridiculous. It's my new sideburns that tricked out the pucksters' unlikely run. But I dig that you're spooked. I like a good superstition — it humbles even the smartest and most accomplished among us, and proves that the talisman didn't go the way of rotary phones and MySpace.

► After making John Legend look good and Wu Tang sound vital at last weekend's Picnic, expect The Roots to get over and open July 4's Goo Goo Dolls Parkway proceedings. Opening? Stupid Wawa.

► Anthony Giordano took over management of the Liberties U.S. Hotel Bar & Grill — ye old Mayor Green manor to you Manyunkians — in time for the big bike race. Sweet. Will he keep the name? Stay tuned.

► The Contortions got nothing on sax-ax-man David Fishkin's skronking new Above Average Band. They'll debut as the opener for Les Claypool's newest signees, the heavy-water wonky Hot Head Show at the Balcony June 16.

► Good news coming from the Italian Market says the long-shuttered Spice Corner — rumored to be caught up in a legal snafu of L&I red tape, old licenses and new inspectors — should be opening real soon. Cayenne's on me.

► The last time I saw Adam West he was wearing a sling, worse for the wine and answering ketchup bottles like Batphones at Pagano's. It's a different day and West, Patrick Stewart and Bruce Campbell will appear June 11-13 at Wizard World Comic Con at PA Convention Center (wizardworld.com; see Agenda pick).

► L. DeVaughn Nelson has been a playwright, fashion designer and choreographer who won a CP Choice nod for his stuff with Peek-a-Boo Revue in '07. Then he left the Peek and went into hiding. Now DeVo's back with Hokum Arts (hokumarts.org) and Thu., June 10, will be his first new show in ages, Viva Burlesque!, at this week's GLBT Arts Fest at the Arts Bank. "I'm doing a historical ballet around Lili St. Cyr, the famous burlesque dancer, and her alleged homosexual tendencies with Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe," says DeVo, who'll feature dancers from Peek-a-Boo, Bravissimo, Sister's Sirens and Cabaret Red Light. "Then it's on to the Fringe." Soon we'll sing "Are We Not Men, We are DeVo" and it'll be for Mr. Nelson.

► Stephen Starr might've started his restaurant empire with The Continental in '95 (though I dare say Starz served a mean steak), but it wasn't until 1998, Buddakan and Scott Swiderski that Starr Dining became fine. Now Swiderski is out from under the shadow of the Budda (his call) as of June 12. His dry aged beef will be missed. By me.

►’Member long ago when I dropped the Icepack exclusive about how Tori's on South Street would go for the big meat? Black Angus Steakhouse and Supper Club is now here. Actually, our real estate friend (who we must thank for that Manyunk Liberties tip) says the big Black is still waiting for its liquor license. Also Ed Bianchini's Tweed (such a great name, in such a great space) opens today in the old Bistro Bix/TPDPS Club space on S. 12th. Exec chef David Cunningham was at Le Bernardin back in the day. Ooh la la.

➤ WHOWHATWHERE: Yes, that was Darren Finizio on NBC TV’s America’s Got Talent on Tuesday night. Hoppy the Frog Darren. Muscle Factory Darren. Philly’s own. Yes, that was Conan O’Brien and Mrs. O at Panini's in Old City before he hit the Tower Theater later in the evening. Shoulda swung by CP’s office, Coco.

➤ On Thu., June 24, Chef Brinn Sinnott will host his first Roof-to-Table Dinner for just 10-count-’em-10 guests at Noble. Sinnott’s the new guy that Noble owner Bruno Pouget brought into the picture from hot pockets such as Supper and Lacroix.

➤ I’ve enthused in past Icepacks about my days at J&J Trestle Inn — an after work hang during my days programming jukeboxes at Eastern. Anyway, the Inn was set to reopen with several new owners (Diplo was rumored to be in on the deal at one point) within the year. Now I’m hearing there was a fire at a nearby warehouse that affected J&J. It ain’t gone and supposedly no one was hurt — thank God — but surely the plans to remake the Trestle are on hold.

➤ I couldn’t get my boy Django (or me, for that matter) a powdered wig in time for this weekend, but that doesn’t mean you and yer pooch shouldn’t join in June 12’s afternoon Patriotic Pet Parade at the Betsy Ross House. You can register up until that morning (11:30) with your dog. Don’t try and enter alone.

➤ Doug Kammerer, we hardly knew ye. My favorite weatherman, my occasional co-worker on NBC-TV 10's morning show and a man unafraid to be seen shopping for plants at Lowe's, is leaving town to become the top meteorologist at WRC-TV, NBC’s sister station in Washington, D.C. Damn it, Doug. I’ll never watch weather again — not Hurricane, not Bolaris. I’ll stay wet. Miss you, man.

➤ I didn’t know Sabina Rose O’Donnell, the young woman whose life was stolen from her last week. But for all the children who leave before their time and for all the people we see regularly who disappear from our sight, I mourn. I do. This Thursday afternoon, Liberty Lands will host a lovely send-off for O’Donnell. Tommy Up, whose P.Y.T. O’Donnell worked at (and who is accepting donations for her reward fund at pytphillly.com/Sabina), mentions there’ll be veggie chicken wings and champagne, her favorite foods. That sounds sweet. She was loved.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)

Reunion
Birth of Separation
The Lampshades
Shopping Spree
Art for the Cash Poor
Art Machine Productions KickOff
Wizard World Comic Con
Todd Barry