The film industry piles into Philadelphia on a regular basis (when they’re not shooting, they’re eating: 1982’s Wayne Brady and Paranoia’s Richard Dreyfuss both dropped by R2L last week), but it should be no surprise that competition’s always at our heels. So last week, when New York tripled its post-production tax credits to as much as 35 percent, ears in the City of Brotherly Love pricked up, especially when you consider that Philly so often doubles for NYC and Brooklyn, as in the aforementioned Paranoia. “This is a very smart move on New York’s part,” says Greater Philadelphia Film Off doyenne Sharon Pinkenson in regard to Gov. Cuomo’s big bargain deal. “We need to stay in the game with post-production credits by creating one that stands alone. Most of all, we need more money in our film tax-credit program because we’re losing jobs and a bonanza of economic impact by offering far less stimulus than could be consumed. Productions are lining up to come here, but they will go elsewhere without a contract for tax credits.” Call Pennsylvania’s least-liked Gov. Tom Corbett and tell him to get cracking on competitive tax-credit rates now, before the impeachment proceedings commence.
Old City stylee: Mad River at Second and Chestnut went bye-bye last week. Its across-the-street neighbor, the recently opened Reserve Steakhouse, is on the market too. Now I’m hearing that Red Sky, the towering Second and Market glass-enclosed lounge, has just been leased with new owners ready to go with their own concept. If the idea is red or sky-like, don’t do it.
Then there’s the Triangle Tavern on South 10th Street, an Italian Market landmark and the one-time wildest saloon in South Philly. Rumor had it that Steve Simons and Dave Frank of Royal Tavern and Cantina Los Caballitos fame were going to take up the space, but Simons now says the deal fell through. Which is a shame. That would’ve made for a fun corner. The Triangle has a stage where South Philly luminaries like Rusty Gallo laid their hats, so who knows what could’ve been.
DJ/pitchman/Snoop Dogg pal/Major Lazer major Diplo may have relocated hisself to Los Angeles but he’s bringing his label crew back home to Philly this weekend for the Mad Decent Block Party. Sadly it ain’t MD’s original home (the former mausoleum factory that now houses PhilaMOCA) but rather Penn’s Landing where they’ll hang their collective hats (maddecent.com).
Now that chef Chris Scarduzio is taking over the Artisan Boulanger Patissier on East Passyunk for a fish joint, Andre Chin — the Artisan himself — is taking over a new bakery/café spot at 12th and Mifflin. Sweet.
Every Thursday, Icepack gets illustrated at citypaper.net/criticalmass.
