Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

Philly, your center is showing. Better yet, it's growing. After what seems an eon's worth of renaissance tales regarding the North, West and South, the resprouting of downtown — beyond just condos — is a topic of discussion. The folks developing haute hangouts and eateries for 1200 Bank at 12th and Chestnut (DAS Architects' David Schultz, Amsterdam Billiard Club-ber Paul Giegerich) and ye old automobile dealership at 600 N. Broad (Eric Blumenfeld's spot, soon to house Marc Vetri, Stephen Starr and Joe Volpe) are feeding the beast of Center City. Not NoLibs. Not University City. Applaud.

► After the recent South Street Renaissance 40th Reunion, the reopened-without-a-liquor-license Dobbs looks ready for its November close-up. Word has owner/drag queen Hank Henry out and owner Heshy Schlachtermann bringing New York money in. The new liquor license names its applicant as "D.E. Dobbs." They're buying it from Go Figure Inc., which is Daryl Madden, owner of the place when it was Pontiac Grille. The application lists the joint as a restaurant.

► Also newsy: Paper Moon, Bill "Copabanana" Curry's old smoke-n-magazine-shop near Fourth and South, may rise again come late autumn, as a "creative computer center for artists," notes Curry, who's been integral in the Arts on South storefront program that matches struggling artisan outfits with realtors with space to spare/rent cheap.

► The LiveArts Fest's second Thursday monthly affair starts Oct. 14 at North Fifth's Live Arts Studio with "LAB Fellows" Mary McCool, Jumatatu Poe, Alex Torra and more.

► Abbondanza: While making sure Nina's Trattoria on Ninth had its grand opening weekend, I heard the long-discussed Argentine BYO 943, after a few L&I inspections and some pipe work, would be ready to roll. Word had it, too, that realtor Gene LeFevre has gone from being involved with 943 to simply being a landlord.

► If you remember the '80s, you remember Bricklin — Ian Cross and Scott Bricklin's hooting pop act that had an eponymous LP on A&M. I've ribbed the boys in the past, but on Oct. 15, Cross is holding a benefit for his cancer-stricken sister at Grape Street. Give.

► Oct. 16 at Grape Street, Steph Hayes and the Good Problems will hold a CD release jam with opener Adam Brodsky. "It'll be just like old times — except that I won't be drunk," says Steph.

► Send well-wishes to one of my very favorite people, Live Nation press overlord Jim Sutcliffe, at Hahnemann. Sutcliffe suffered a savage blood hemorrhage and is in recovery at the hospital.

► Late Philly music doyen Freddie Sutton's memorial gathering is at Bob 'n' Barb's, Oct. 16. Check Critical Mass for Ice Cubes on that and lots more.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)