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

by A.D. Amorosi

You're mourning the loss of three independent music sellers —Relapse on Fourth, Siren in Doylestown, Think in NoLibs. I get it. It hurts. I'm still sad that Jolly's Records on Woodland Avenue closed and that the Balcony in Upper Darby stopped selling bongs and Beefheart bootlegs. Closer to home is the news that Molly Russakoff's Molly's Books is ending, selling her inventory with a sale starting July 7. Molly's a bud and a poet (not a mutually exclusive notion) with bookselling in her blood (mom, dad, brother — and she co-owned Ninth Street Books & Records with ex-hubbie Bob Dickie). It hurts that she's closing up shop because Russakoff opened Molly's eight years ago around the corner from where I bought my house — at the same time. "I have metaphors for what happened, many having to do with the downward vortex you see when you flush the toilet," says Russakoff. "It's really hard to let go. It's like putting down large pieces of furniture — hard to maneuver on all levels. But when it finally drops, my hands are free. Going out of business turns you into a really bad poet." Meeting with Paul Hogan who closed the Robin's Book Store Chestnut Street branch gave her an idea on the least painful way to close: lop it off. "I wasn't making enough money and I need to open time and space for the new thing." That's Project 360: Self-Directed Learning for Teens, Russakoff's resource center for home-schooling families at the bookstore's address that'll commence as soon as the inventory's gone. She's still my neighbor. But the book bloodbath is sad.

► Look up from your teary book. Get a smile on your face for the second annual Rick D. memorial block party and b-day bash — his and Freedom's — taking place July 4 at Tritone and Bob & Barb's with Beretta 76, Thee Minks, Crackula, Jukebox Zeroes, Wes Mattheu and more. Eat deep-fried Snickers for the man in the vest.

► "Chifa" comes from the Spanish take on the Mandarin Chinese phrase "to dine" (chi fan). And that's what Jose Garces is putting into 707 Chestnut for 2009: Chifa. Latin-Asian food. With ceviche.

► The only man who looks OK in a short-sleeve shirt and a pocket protector, The Office's Rainn Wilson, hits Philly for The Rocker July 16. His dreamy co-star/crooner, Teddy Geiger, is coming to World Café Live July 21.

► While half of Cashman PR's peeps could be found running with Jimmy Fallon, Maria Menounos and Kyle MacLachlan at the luxe Water Club opening in AC last week, the other half tended to local loud-asses Jekylnhyde (the first band C&A's repped since VIP) and getting Jekylnhyde in Hot Topics stores across Philly and Jersey.

► DJ Just Jess, the toast of all that's girl-licious and Fuse-forward, commences her Girlsgirlsgirls First Friday party at O.N.E. with DJ Fuck Yeah July 4. Be a patriot. See those lovelies. Plus, not only can you find Colton Ford, Amanda Lepore and ex-porn baby Brent Corrigan in the TLA Releasing's Another Gay Sequel that debuts at July 10 to 22's Philly International Gay/Les Film Fest: Philly's glam-ish The TV Sound did songs for the flick and its stars'll be in town to service your every cinematic need.

► Larry Cohen's having a good week. The co-owner of Shampoo and the folk at U.S. Realty finally dotted the line with the McFadden folks buying the Shamp. And his and Barry Gutin's concessions, through Max & Me catering, got the newly relocated Please Touch Museum account. Everybody makes money. We're hearing that some investors at World Café Live shelled out a few dollars ($25 thou?) for Megan Blue Star to record her single "You Don't Even Know Me." It's dry wry jazzy pop and involves Chuck Treece.

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► Punk rock workout king Brian Adoff sends his 12-year-old '80s cover band Renegade into the darkness of night with a retirement gig July 4 at Johnny Brenda's with brother Dave on guitar and DN gossiper Dan Gross on bass. Really. Hmm. I'm not reviewing it, thank God. YMD and Sweatheart open. Which reminds me: I spied the new guy in Sweatheart (ex-Holland Boys boy Mike Robinson) when Thom Lessner/Amanda Blank's act played Paul Green's DEVO show at FestPier (funny watching kids buy flower-pot helmets for $30 only to use them for fries and popcorn). Sweatheart has a new single and video coming. Them and their Free News label pals in Plastic Little are filming three MTV-produced skits at Coney Island promoting Santogold's album and tour with Coldplay. To further the six degrees, while Blank can be found producing tracks for Delicious Vinyl's Rmxxology Vol. 2 sessions, we're hearing that Little will open for Jay-Z for European dates in July.

► I'm pretty certain that was David Blaine I spied in a wig in front of the Continental last week. Another wigged wonder, Marissa K Devine, will perform at Miss Cyoni Darling's Freedom party/sexy lifeguard contest at Bump July 3. Word has Cyoni and other local models filming a bitchy new reality show in Philadelphia called Evicted.

► The long-shuttered Indre Studio on Darien Street just went up for sale (for $500,000 plus) and it's huger and more gorgeous that we all thought. It's got a velodrome. I did drugs in the bathroom. Turn it into a boxing arena. Live the dream.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)