POSTED: Thursday, February 24, 2011, 8:00 PM
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| Photo | Scott Weiner |
| Vinny Guadagnino pictured with Kid Rocco |
Philly arts just got slapped with two passings. The first is a retirement, but still a sorrow. Martha Chamberlain, a principal dancer from the Pennsylvania Ballet is getting out of the game after 21 years on stage. The George Balanchine tribute to George Gershwin, Who Cares? (April 17, Merriam Theater) will be her finale. The second is sadder still - Freedom Theatre Co-Founder, Robert E. Leslie Sr. died this week. Condolences to his families, at home and on the stage.
Philly's free-jazz power-punk trio Many Arms is lying, they really only have six arms between electric guitarist Nick Millevoi (Make A Rising, Joe Lally), electric bassist John DeBlase (Zevious), and drummer Ricardo Lagomasino (Joe Lally, Capillary Action). That's not SO many arms, is it? That said, they've got a new album, Missing Time debuting March 1 at Local 269, then March 3 in an opening slot for Marnie Stern at First Unitarian Church.
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| Photo | Scott Weiner |
| G Love |
It's a busy week for Marc Vetri. Not only is the chef putting touches on his sixth Great Chefs Event dinner to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation June 14 at the Naval Yard. His (Marc) Vetri Foundation for Children is a sponsor with Top Chef Tom Colicchio and Iron Chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Jose Garces joining in the festivities. Vetri is also at the forefront of the PNC Bank's Food for Thought benefit for ACHIEVEability on March 19, also at the Naval Yard's Urban Outfitters space. Is UO planning a Vetri t-shirt? "As far as ACHIEVEability goes, it's a great organization as it's doing amazing things for people who really need it," say Vetri. "If you help these parents and adults, then you are helping their children as well. Eventually it all comes full circle." The evening honors the President's Council on Fitness' Dr. Ian Smith, and Vetri got thirteen of his chef buddies like Supper's Mitch Prensky, Jonathan Adams from Pub & Kitchen and Dave Conn at, JG Domestic to donate time and recipes. "It wasn't as planned out as you think. I just helped the organization with chefs since I know so many. I picked people who were friends and who I thought would want to get involved in a good organization." First off though, Vetri will deal with the end of an era at his name-sake restaurant this weekend as he'll cease a la carte dining starting in March so to focus solely on tasting menus. In his estimation, he's not really deciding anything, the public is deciding. "I offered tasting menus only on Saturday nights 11 years ago. It filled up right away two months out. Five years ago I went to Friday and Saturday. Those nights started to fill up. Now, on a la carte nights, 70 to 80 percent of customers order tasting menus. I feel that people who order a la carte are taking seats away from people who want the whole experience. I also love to go out and get a couple things and eat quick. I would go to Amis and Osteria for that. This will give us the opportunity to really give people a true sense of a fine restaurant in Italy. Not just the food, but the whole experience." Abondanza.
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| Photo | A.D. Amorosi |
| Campanaro & Romeo |
Nano Whitman is playing World Cafe Live on March 1. That'll be a homecoming for the relocated-to-Austin cat who sings ever so sweetly, plays a twinkly piano and tells a mean warm tale or two. He used to go to Friends' Select. If he owes you money from high school, you know where to find him next Tuesday.
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, Live Nation's James Sutcliffe is back to work after being felled for a spell – a year now that he's been gone. The PR boss man is talking up Grateful Dead shows at the Tower and making Good Charlotte sound appealing. I love that.
Painted Bride guy Phil Sumpter has a lot to say about Salsa Caliente, his Art Center's hot homegrown late-night Latin party that he needs us all to attend. The always-First Friday event — this time March 4 — was originally scheduled to be its finale. "Because the party is gaining great momentum, the Bride wants to extend throughout spring and summer — an institutional game changer as Bride traditionally goes dark for the summer in June." But it needs proof it can sustain. Trying something completely different, namely transforming PB's setting for dance parties/nightlife events is atypical for the Bride as a theater-based arts presenter. The event is also BYOB - an all new Bride experience. That would be great if all their shows allowed booze in. Lamont Steptoe would've seemed so much more interesting if I was drunk –siiiiiiiiiiiiike. "This salsa party is like no other in the region because it is driven by live music performances - the series features two big bands each event laced with the very best musicians in the region. DJ driven Latin nights are a dime a dozen." DAG, PHIL. "We go dark in the summer. We'd like to have to show a reason not to go dark. We've never presented nightlife. In an effort to generate buzz, create a splash, make waves, stay front of mind we are doing things differently." Do it. Differently.
Reading Terminal's Beer Garden, sold to Jimmy Iovine (not the producer) and his bro Vinnie for what they'll call "Molly Malloy's" has finally closed. Sob old garden. Yay Molly.
Want to watch the Oscars with a bunch of silly men and drag queens? Damn right. Philadelphia Cinema Alliance's Thom Cardwell, Chatterblast's Matthew Ray, Miss'd America Pageant director and emcee Robert "Sandy Beach" Hitchen and Miss'd America 2010 winner Michelle Dupree will present the Third Annual Red Carpet Party at the Prince Music Theater with a public screening of the 83rd Academy Awards show. Mark A. Dahl, founder and artistic director of Traverse Arts Project created the event, Blame him.
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| Photo | A.D. Amorosi |
| DeBella and Dello Buono |
WHOWHATWHERE: You wouldn't think Cameron Diaz would return to Philly after
In Her Shoes, but there she was with her mom, Billie Diaz shopping Saturday at
Head Start Shoes and
Alma de Cuba. Some folk have no shame.
While NBC 10's Jami Osiecki, Keswick-er Greg Benedetti, Pulse PR's Meredith Trotter, and Allied Advertising's AnneMarie Nacchio looking on, an auspicious event occurred at 102.9 MGK Morning Host John DeBella's 4th Annual Comfort Food Fest at Cescaphe' Ballroom. No not the kobe beef hot dog form the Borgata or Harvest's meat loaf – yummy both. DeBella met up with haute couture Peter Dello Buono, a bud he hadn't seen since pre-WMMR days at le Riverloft. Not one hour before the Dello Buono/DeBella summit, more Italians were getting together over new meatballs and Limoncello shots at the opening party for Village Belle in Queens Village. Lou Campanaro (chef-owner) and Michael Romeo (general manager) were holding up the foodie fort nicely from packs of ravaging eaters. Another Italian, Vinny Guadagnino, of Jersey Shore infamy was doing his business as a celeb host for Vinny's Valentine's Revenge Party at the Field House. Eh.
Tall wide comic Rob Riggle (a Daily Show alum) was spied at the Franklin Institute when he wasn't busy with his booking into Helium Comedy Club.
William Shatner was hawking MyOuterspace, a sci-fi entertainment media company founded with Philly entrepreneur Carlos Hoz de Vila at Del Frisco's.
And Philly's own G. Love. G Love hit Radio 104.5Â Xfinity Performance Theater in Bala Cynwyd then the Legendary Dobbs on South St. so to publicize his hillybilly-brilliant new CD, Fixin' To Die, eecorded at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC, and produced by The Avett Brothers
Before NYC's March 4-5 Downtown Fest in NYC at Webster Hall starring Philly-related acts like Diplo's Major Lazer and Santigold (A-Trak, Art Brut, White Denim, Lissy Trullie, Miike Snow and So Me are on the bill) I need to mention that Santi White/Santigold, at work on a new album due out in 2011, has joined forces with Vans for a special shoe release. She worked with Tosha Hi's silhouette and the limited Vans x Santigold collab has some swank faux gold chain accents and a custom SG gold pin created with by jewelery designer Jules Kim of Bijules. The Vans x Santigold Tosha Hi can be seen here - santigold.com.
Not to be outdone, Jill Scott's Blues Babe Foundation will has a new line, Indigo, available at local hair salons. Rah Crawford, and "Flygirrl" Wilson, are in on the designs and you can see them for sale on Feb. 27 at Meek Salon (1549 W. Passyunk), bluesbabefoundation.org.
