It had to come sooner or later; even the largest of bookstores die away like orchids after a funeral. But seeing the sociocultural center of old lit Philly — Robin’s Books on 13th Street — get its death warrant was a swift kick in the city’s collective cerebellum (shopping will go on until December at incrementally reduced rates). Along with its Moonstone Arts Center, Robin’s was the one place to stop and think on a constantly buzzing Midtown block. But who the hell is bothering to think anymore, right? I’ll always remember Larry Robin’s shop as the place I saw Maya Angelou read (several times) and bought French film magazines with their covers cut and every City Lights volume there ever was.
Used to be, every time I drove by 22nd and Catharine, I’d see the butcher-block paper that covered the corner’s shop windows had yellowed a bit more, and I’d worry that second Ultimo Coffee would never open. Surprise. The tall coffee shop opened on Monday and will house Counter Intelligence upstairs, a learning center for caffeinated seminars and labs.
If you make it down to the Diamond State to see Calexico’s Free At Noon WXPN show at World Café Live’s Wilmington outpost, say hello to the venue’s new marketing coordinator. That’s Brittany Noonan, a lass indie-Delawarians know from WSTW-FM.
The rumors are true about another Philly-filmed collaboration between director David O. Russell and actor Bradley Cooper (who’ve already teamed up for Silver Linings Playbook, due out in November). The Hollywood Reporter confirms what Cooper said during the August premiere screening of The Words at The Prince: “We’ll be back filming in Philly before spring 2013.” Coop was talking about the D.O.R. flick once-titled American Bullshit that is now due to start filming in Philly in February 2013 with co-stars Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and the Batman, Christian Bale.
It’s Thursday morning and Who Wants To Be a Millionaire wants you. There’s a casting call, noon-7 p.m., Oct. 11, at the Convention Center. Be 18+. Check millionairetv.com. Give me a cut if you got your audition notice here.
With the passing of lyricist Hal David, I’ve broken down a bit and have been reminiscing about the classic AM pop songs he made with Burt Bacharach and some of the acts that made them dynamic. Like The 5th Dimension, who, along with recording hits with Jimmy Webb (like “Up, Up and Away”), made a smash of the Bacharach/David track “One Less Bell to Answer.” Lead singer Florence LaRue and the rest of T5D play the Sellersville Theater Oct. 14.
Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head at citypaper.net/criticalmass.
