Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

We know The New York Times recently featured Philadelphia food in a story titled "Beyond Cheese Steaks." And we appreciate the nod. But the Times came off a bit like Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, making backdated lock-up/rehab jokes about Robert Downey Jr. Philly's well past that headline. Honestly. Call us dog-killer-lovers or losing-casino-builders if you want, but our cuisine is 21st century. Get with it.

Designer Shawn Hausman (The Dandelion, Parc) will not be doing Stephen Starr 's next immediate projects like the reconfiguring of Starr's Washington Square. No bad blood on the wallpaper here, just a different direction. Aimee Olexy of Talula's Table (Starr's partner in the new WashSquare jawn) "gravitates toward the organic, the natural," says Starr. "There won't be much change there. The space isn't that old," he jokes. "It just won't be as slick and Miami-ish." Oxley will "warm it up" and design the still-unnamed venture herself with Starr architectural stalwart Richard Stokes.

Craig Peterson, director of Live Arts ' LAB artist residency program, will now also book/direct the Philly Fringe program. Get in there, Fringies. Deadline's April 1 for bright ideas: craig@livearts-fringe.org.

L.A.'s Tim Heidecker (of Tim & Eric comic fame) should be starting filming the pair's debut flick, Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie, in February. But not before wrapping the cover art, etc., to his so-soft-rock album Heidecker & Wood (that's Davin Wood, who tours with the laughing duo). You may remember that Tim used to be from Philly and that we've seen him singing before.

 Pig Iron Theatre finally signed that lease with Crane Arts, to be the flagship tenant at the 1425 N. Second St. space for their post-grad two-year Pig Iron School for Advanced Performance Training program. Stacks of apples await, Professor Graham Cracker.

Speaking of professors, guitar instructor/ Stinking Lizaveta axman Yanni Papadopoulos and pal Mike Long are no longer involved in (what used to be Paul Green's) School of Rock on North Seventh. Now they're Independent Rock all the way, "better, stronger, faster, smarter," says Yanni, looking to give student-shredders "that edge sorely needed to compete in today's global economy." The after-school music program for kids works out of Circle of Hope at Broad and Washington and hosts its first gig (with guest Peter Cortner of Dag Nasty) Jan. 28.

City Paper editor-in-chief stuff busting out: While ex-CP-EiC Duane Swierczynski has his locally staged Expiration Date up for an Edgar Award (Best Paperback Original), new EiC Theresa Everline used to be with Brownstoner and Orlando Weekly. It's cold, Theresa. Warm us. Welcome.

Hot ice at Critical Mass.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)