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ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Piscopo's SNL chat, WCL, Jen Carroll, Copa, Davios and Panties
Davio’s on S. 17th Street had a spring menu tasting the other day that acted, in part, as a re-introduction to the Northern Italian steakhouse/ restaurant’s finery both in dining and décor. The trip through Davio’s was such a delight in every way it made you forget that the headache-inducing G Lounge was in the same building. While suave GM Ettore Ceraso spun us through Davio’s physical amenities like its skyline patio area overlooking the city and its fireplace-lined private dining spaces (these rooms were originally a Provident Bank’s offices) executive chef David Boyle concerned himself with our culinary needs. The braised lamb shank with white bean ragu and the sautéed branzino with white asparagus and mussel jus were both melt-in-yer-mouth tender. The grilled pork chop with Brussels sprouts and crispy pancetta were caveman-huge and tasty. And for anyone who dug the appetizer tray — stuff like the Philly Cheese Stheak Spring Rolls — they are now available as frozen food takeaways — no way. Plus Davio’s has a killer celeb chef/author dinner series that starts April 30 with Andy Husband’s talking and cooking from Wicked Good Barbecue (215-563-4810 to snag seats). Next up May 21 is John Mariani from Esquire mag who will chat, but hopefully not cook from How Italian Food Conquered the World.
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Piscopo’s SNL chat, WCL, Jen Carroll, Copa, Davios and Panties
Davio’s on S. 17th Street had a spring menu tasting the other day that acted, in part, as a re-introduction to the Northern Italian steakhouse/ restaurant’s finery both in dining and décor. The trip through Davio’s was such a delight in every way it made you forget that the headache-inducing G Lounge was in the same building. While suave GM Ettore Ceraso spun us through Davio’s physical amenities like its skyline patio area overlooking the city and its fireplace-lined private dining spaces (these rooms were originally a Provident Bank’s offices) executive chef David Boyle concerned himself with our culinary needs. The braised lamb shank with white bean ragu and the sautéed branzino with white asparagus and mussel jus were both melt-in-yer-mouth tender. The grilled pork chop with Brussels sprouts and crispy pancetta were caveman-huge and tasty. And for anyone who dug the appetizer tray — stuff like the Philly Cheese Stheak Spring Rolls — they are now available as frozen food takeaways — no way. Plus Davio’s has a killer celeb chef/author dinner series that starts April 30 with Andy Husband’s talking and cooking from Wicked Good Barbecue (215-563-4810 to snag seats). Next up May 21 is John Mariani from Esquire mag who will chat, but hopefully not cook from How Italian Food Conquered the World.
Nearly as tasty, twice as sweet and certainly as complex is Philly’s psych-pop dramatists Cheers Elephant who have cobbled together their first ever video, “Doin’ It Right” which gets it debut courtesy The Owl magazine this week. See it here. Their debut disc, Like Wind Blows Fire, drops May 8 with two cool shows around it — a day-of-release gig at the Apple Store on Walnut Street (iTunes release show) and Kung Fu Necktie (with The Spinto Band) on May 29.
While the rumored chef Jen Carroll takeover of the recently-vacated Marathon at 13th and Chestnut for Concrete Blonde (see Icepack in print citypaper.net/agenda/2012-04-12-icepack.html) floats in mesquite-scented air, another rumor has found a very possible answer: the 344 South Street space that has been in its time several different clothing shops, is set to become an upscale whiskey, beer and wine spot — a swell addition to Copa Banana’s already block-long monopoly. Apparently ownership says that every weekend, the Copa gets requests for good whiskies, wines, scotches, bourbons and beers so they grabbed the vacated spot and are currently orange-tag awaiting its “extension in premises” license. Word is the space is called Redwood.
Mistress Kiki Berlin is a doyenne of the burlesque and strip scene, a goddess of the peel-n-giggles. She’s starting her new not-so-regular series with Drugbunny Booking, the Wet Panty Party, on April 18 at the home of burlesque, The Troc with a load of special guests. Get damp. Wear PJs. Also, it’s nice to hear that Drugbunny’s John Cecil Price’s other gig, The Baptist Preachers, will soon be collaborating (on record, for shows) with The Roots’ all-local mouthpiece rapper/rocker Dice Raw. They met up at that Whiskey Tango gig that Nikki Jean was to host two weekends back (then didn’t show for, leaving Raw to fill in) and hit it off nicely.
Is Hal Real, owner of the two World Café Lives in West Philly, PA and Wilmington, DE looking to build a third sooner than later? We’re hearing that the answer is yes and that the ink is slowly drying on a singular location.
Philly jazzbo Steve Buono’s friends in Endangered Blood formed to play at a benefit for a friend’s cancer treatment back in 2008 and stayed together ever since. Chris Speed (tenor saxophone), Oscar Noriega (alto sax), Trevor Dunn (bass) and Jim Black (drums) have played with locals like Uri Caine and downtown NYC giants Tim Berne and John Zorn, released albums as the Blood and now play acoustic noise for your pleasure at the Maas Building April 14. Say hello.
And remember your commitment to all that jazz on the day previous — April 13’s Jazz Day celebration — where Mayor Nutter and a slew of other horn-and-drummed up locals celebrate in front of John Coltrane House (1511 N. 33rd St) at 10 a.m. then pose for a staged group photo a la Great Day in Harlem.
Philly journeyman chef Tony Clark, once the owner of a shiny black onyx box namesake restaurant on Broad Street, recently jumped from Tapestry on Bainbridge to the less-cozy confines of Serafina on 18th. Good luck.
Brooklyn-by-way-of Philly’s Mike Pomranz, better known as the leader of World Blanket, has premiered a cover of Syd Barrett’s “Let’s Split” via the Cover Me website. Listen here. Pomranz has long been inspired by the original Pink Floyd man and wrote a tune in his 20 called “Syd Barrett’s Soul.”
I’m not much of a fan of the Defending the Caveman theatrical experience but I do find it curious that Channel 6’s button-cute weather guy Adam Joseph has been taking stand up comedy lessons (!?!) from Vince Valentine, the comic actor who plays the Caveman. Valentine opens Defending at the Prince, April 18-May 13 and teaches comedy classes every Monday at Camden County College in Blackwood. Apparently Joseph did his first stand up routine on April 5 at The Stone Grill in Clementon, NJ. Next time make it close and we’ll see if you’re shooting sunshine or raindrops with those yuks of yours.
Oh Jose Garces. Despite my finding out some of the minutiae of what Abe Frohman’s Wursthaus would look like when it opened this spring, I’m hearing that the Iron Chef is calling off the dogs for now. He has to devote attention to those three Revel Casino restaurants and the deal that puts him squarely in charge of the Kimmel Center’s new restaurant and its Garces-only grotto where he’ll chef when he’s around town.
Sadly, we hear that the Theater Alliance of Greater Philadelphia is ending its long run in its support of local theater artists and operators, getting new viewers and support, ticketing and developing and running the Barrymore Awards. Some of its goals have been met. Some of its jobs can be placed into other theater companies’ hands. Stay tuned.
WHOWHATWHERE: First we read that history of Saturday Night Live, is coming out in comic book form (Comics: SNL written by Chad Lambert with illustrations by Patricio Carbajal). Then we find out that Joe Piscopo and Victoria Jackson are hosting and performing at the 2012 Red Heart Variety Show to benefit the Variety Club of Philadelphia at Vie on North Broad Street. At the last minute, their SNL teammate Cheri Oteri — from Upper Darby — will be a special guest. “I work with Vicky a lot — she’s always a crowd favorite,” says Piscopo from his home in NJ. “We usually do a tune together as well. We are like Lucy and Ricki. As for Cheri, we’re thrilled that she’s dropping by. With these talented chicks, man anything can happen. I’m always proud to work with my brothers and sisters from SNL and for such a good cause like the Variety Club.” Joe then reminds me he’s got another charity event lined up with Flyer Bernie Parent for the Bethesda Project’s 15th annual gala, May 1 at the Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park. “Hey, with all this time I’m spending in Philly, I better start thinking about a getting a summer home there.” For the Variety Club party call 215-735-0803. Tix are $100. Well worth it. We just missed the Dufala Brothers, Steven and Billy, when they opened their second ever exhibition, F., at Fleisher/Ollman on Walnut Street last week. I did, though, manage too shoot some skulls and Tribbles that looked like the brothers. The exhibition runs until May 12. Which reminds me: professional jackass Bam Margera and his crew of painting pals from West Chester met up with Mama and Papa Margera at James Oliver Gallery over the weekend for Bam’s art explosion. Oooh, emotion. Mitchell & Ness’ Spring 2012 Fashion event got some spinning help from DJ Biz Markie on Tuesday with 1590 — Biz Markie with Sean McKinney (prez of Mitchell & Ness), Moise Fokou and Keenan Clayon (Philadelphia Eagles), Freddy Adu and Sheanon Williams (Philadelphia Union), Lauren Cheney (US Women’s Soccer Team), Gervase Peterson (Survivor), Mike Jerrick (Fox 29), the Phillie Phanatic (who threw popcorn insistently in the store) and John Bolaris in the house. Mere blocks away at the Ritz East, sandwich-er/actor Tony Luke Jr. joined bald heads and hands with author Steve Harvey and actor Michael Ealy for the premiere of Think Like a Man, Philly comic Kevin Hart’s new film with Ealy based on Harvey’s bestseller of the same name. Luke Jr. (who can be found this weekend at the Music Box at the Borgata serving food during the Live at Daryl’s House revue with Daryl Hall and Sharon Jones) also brought Ealy by his Oregon Avenue sandwich shop for a sampler meal. By the way, Jerrick, the man in the middle of that long sentence, was seen blowing in the wind at Head House Square’s Easter parade with the Easter Bunny himself and Halloween maven Henri David and Paul Struck telling kids to show off their ears. Republican presidential candidate (still) Newt Gingrich hit the Saloon in the Italian Market neighborhood with political consultant Charlie Gerow. Before taking up the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger’s Food Stamp Challenge on April 23, where he’ll eat only $5 worth of food for an entire week, Congressman Bob Brady and his missus attended Jerry Blavat’s doo-wop summit at the Kimmel Center, Sounds as if doo wop was a big part of the couple’s wedding ceremony party according to the Geator. Rap icon/Law & Order: SVU actor/reality star Ice-T and his wife/co-star/designer Coco T brought their bulldog Spartacus to the Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Atlantic City. The threesome star on E!’s Ice Loves Coco. Blue-eyed soul star Ellie Goulding stopped to chat on-air jock Maxwell at Q102. Brown-eyed indie rawkers A Silent Film hit Radio 104.5 iHeart Performance Theater in Bala. Producers Just Blaze Smith (Jay Z) and Jimmy Douglass (Led Zep) got to talk to the producers & engineers wing of The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Recording Academy and Drexel University’s Music Industry program, at the Westphal College of Media Arts & Design. Teach/Taxi driver Tony Danza drank Pabst Blue Ribbon — really — when he hit McGillin’s on Drury Lane the other night and was damned friendly to all whom approached him. Before they sold out Electric Factory the other night, Snow Patrol and opening act Ed Sheeran hit Philly radio stations hard — soulful Sheeran at MIX 106.1, Snow Patrol at Radio 104.5 on your FM dial. First and Second Ladies Michelle Obama and Jill Biden spoke at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing for a nation-wide initiative to train nurses in the treatment of war veterans’ invisible psychological scars as part of the Joining Forces support effort. The Jewish Federation Real Estate (JFRE) held its breakfast program at the Hyatt at the Bellevue, a top-tier roundtable wee-early-morning event with Bradley A. Krouse (JFRE chairman), Dean Adler (CEO and co-founder of Lubert-Adler Partners), blah blah blah and Bart Blatstein, president and CEO of Tower Investments. Blatstein just made headlines with two new projects on North Broad Street this week alone so there’s that. No word on who ate the last donut.
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