Ice Cubes

ICECUBE: Jersey Shore selling the Jersey Shore, bargain bondage basement in CC, a move for BCKSEET and more!

POSTED: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 4:57 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Vinny from Jersey Shore goes beyond the traditional notion of an ironic t-shirt.

âº By now everyone knows that the season 3 crew of MTV's Jersey Shore finds our guidos and guidettes back in Seaside Heights. But did you know they're back working at the t-shirt shop? We found Vinny trying to casually hawk his wares to a customer. âº After a successful residency at the Society Hill Playhouse for the past five seasons, BCKSEET Productions is leaving SHP. No more cleaning up after Caveman and Patent Leather Shoe enthusiasts. BCKSEET relocates to 535 South St. to create the BCKSEET Creative Co-OP now through January and will hold open rehearsals to give street patrons a looksee. They'll also take a new theater series into area bars and restaurants. Not like Glengarry Glen Ross at Amada but you get the drift. âº Let's be discrete here. There's a new dungeon on the block — 12th Street, near the Convention Center — courtesy of the Royal Women of Philadelphia that specializes in erotic role-play, fantasy bondage and discipline. The Royal Castle is female-owned and has a teensy slew of beautiful experienced dom dames who, if you stare at long enough, you'll recognize from other parts of your daily life. They have all the whip smart accouterments, private and open spaces. You have to have to pay $20 for a consultation to see what you might want, what you can handle and, I'm guessing, whether or not you're serious about dungeon drama. They're open to photographers using their (rental) rooms for photos shoots and are swank enough for a private affair. Plus they're accessible to New Jersey expressways and bridges, and they've cheap parking minutes from their door. âºThe ride on Broad Street's Subways got a little more dangerous last Saturday when the ramshackle TJ Kong and the Atomic Bomb went from the Pattison, to Fern Rock stops playing songs from their debut CD. No one got jailed. Everyone was arrested. âº Tommy Lee had breakfast in the drizzle with an unnamed lady companion at Marathon Grill on Chestnut before he and the Motley Crue played Ozzfest in Camden. âº On Friday, Philly's Disco Biscuits hung out — shooting a documentary, having a nosh — at Darling's Diner at da Piazza at Schmidts âºWhat's the hub bub bub at the old stucco-ed super-spot on 10th & Christian? The long-boarded up building was rumored to become a Santucci's Square Pizzeria. Actually the building is more rectangular, hmmm. Anyway after I wrote a Meal Ticket post where a rep for Joe Santucci denied that was the case, Alicia Santucci wrote and confirmed in the affirmative. "We are indeed opening a Santucci's at the corner of 10th and Christian. Although we have a lot of work still to do, we are very proud and excited to open up our newest location. We are expecting to open late October," the femme Santucci writes. Whee. âº Blocks away on Ninth Street's lower half near the Ric Rac, rumor is spreading that a tattoo parlor will start inking by October âº NBC10's 10! Has been looking for some lovelies to fill the slot next to Bill Henley for the next two weeks. Starting today, look for Love Boat lady Jill Whelan, ex-Wired 96.5 morning gal G-N Kang and our fave one-time co-host, singer Lauren Hart

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 4:57 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: The British were here! The British were here!

POSTED: Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 5:20 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

We would be unhappy with the British right now — what with all that damnable BP oil stuff, Tony Blair getting our Liberty Medal and don't even get us started on Nigel Lythgoe — but sometimes we have to just look at the British in awe, like we did this weekend.

Emma Thompson at the Free Library

We were pleased as plum pudding to check out Emma Thompson hawking her new film Nanny McPhee Returns (in theaters this Friday) at the Free Library and having a spot of tea at 10 Arts at the Ritz Carlton. We're not sure still why she made the face she's making in our friend Scott Weiner's photo, but still, she's smashing.

Paul McCartney at the Wells Fargo Center

We heard from more than a few lorry drivers that Paul McCartney was out-n-about on Kelly Drive riding his bicycle. Good show, old chap. We had to settle for seeing the dear Sir at the Wachovia-Not-Yet-Wells-Fargo Music Hall (just like Brian Howard, who reviewed the show earlier today). Oh Britain, we love you: We love Ray Davies and clotted crÃ¨me and the original version of The Office (sorry, still not as much as the U.S. version. Still a nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse, mate). We'll even eat bland brussels sprouts and beans on toast if you'll give us back our Brothers Quay. I know they're on loan right now as Timothy and Stephen are filming bits of their animated Anatomica Aesthetica at the MÃ¼tter Museum. But they're from Norristown. Please give them back. We're sorry about that sad old revolution. Pip pip. Cheerio. Keep calm and carry on. See you at Icepack on Thursday.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:20 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Adam Lambert sucks face (maybe); Ivanka Trump's family jewels

POSTED: Friday, August 13, 2010, 5:12 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Ivanka

You got to take your garish queens where you can get them. Me? I'm annoyed that I opted to see and follow Adam Lambert through his Borgata Atlantic City stretch rather than trail after him on his hot swath through Philly's gay club and boite run: Q Lounge where he supped, Woody's where he sucked face (supposedly, don't want to piss off his long suffering beau) and pranced the night-and-wee-earlies away until he had to be at Q 102's studio and, oh yeah, that pesky Tower Theater show. Instead, we got Ivanka Trump â the Penn alum progeny of The Donald â at the Margate, NJ home of Gary and Nancy Veloric who were throwing a bash with Bernie Robbins Jewelers and the Cashman & Associates folk, with a private showing-and-sale of Ms. Trump's gem line where some proceeds of each sale went to the Shane Victorino Foundation. Love the cause. But if you look hard, wouldn't you say that Ivanka and Adam L share the same hair? PREVIOUSLY >> ICECUBE: Hip-hop edition, featuring T.I., the Black Eyed Peas, Damon Feldman and more

Sisely

Posted 2010-08-13 13:03:40

Ummm, Adam doesn't have a beau. He's single and loving it.

kitty

Posted 2010-08-13 13:23:34

Adam doesn't have a beau. He has joked that he has been dating his coat.I hope he had a "GREAT"time in Philly, he deserves it. Is the author of this article going in for his cataract surgery soon? He thinks Ivanka and Adam share the same hair? Did I miss something?

tuff

Posted 2010-08-13 15:11:53

Sounds like the 'green eyed monster' has you right by the nether parts.  Suppose you go on back to the HOME & let the young folks do the reporting, fella.  A little more research on your part would make your article a little more credible  ...  NOT!!  ADAM has been single since Idol  ...  everyone knows that.  GLAD to hear he had  a little time for some R&R  ...  he has been working his butt off lo! these many months to give his ADORING fans the BEST show he could much to their DELIGHT!!  So off you go  ...  back to the HOME  ...  BINGO games are just about to begin (Sounds more like YOUR speed to me).   GORGEOUS ADAM will keep the rest of us ENTERTAINED!!!

jen

Posted 2010-08-13 15:20:52

on what planet do they have the same hair? anyway, adam seemed to have a grand time in the city of "brotherly" love! he was extra frisky on stage after ;) whoever got him that way, i thank you!

Lory

Posted 2010-08-13 17:20:23

I guess there is a comparison between Adam and Ivanka's hair--if you consider his black pompadour and her blond causual look similar.  Oh well, maybe this author should call it a wrap earlier in the evening of his celebrity stalkings in order to have a clearer take on things. Oh, and Adam's last long standing relationship was over months ago.

A.D.

Posted 2010-08-13 17:31:53

I'm impressed that so many Glamberts and Ivankacs came out of the woodwork for this. I'm proud of you. That said - you caught me snoozing on my Idol runner up trivia -hmmm. I wonder what Clay and Bo Bice are doing tonight? As for the Ivanka hair? I screwed that up and was yearning for the days of her mom's Ivana's boufantop. A boy can dream, can't he?

kumulus

Posted 2010-08-13 18:37:46

A.D., at least you admit the error of your ways.  Thx for that.  I had thought you were on crack.  As for "so many Glamberts"?  (maybe you are on crack, after all.)  Ya ain't seen nothing yet.  There are only 4 responses, now 5, besides yours, lol.

marcy

Posted 2010-08-13 21:09:49

Helen Keller said;"Life is an adventure on nothing".
Adam Lambert has a life 
We are his spectators
His fans are obsessed
His foes are obsessed
Adam wins !

Amalia

Posted 2010-08-13 23:46:38

A.D. Amorosi  said:
"But if you look hard, wouldn't you say that Ivanka and Adam L share the same hair?"

How HARD do we (normal and sane people) have to look t see that?

Hey A.D. Amorosi I think you are too much in love ans mostly I think YOU ARE SMOKING FUNNY ( HIGH QUALITY) SMOKES.

It will be better for you NOT TO POST anything when under the influence of...............you know ir better.

Cat

Posted 2010-08-14 07:45:30

Could the author please clear up who Adam's "long suffering beau" is supposed to be??

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:12 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Hip-hop edition, featuring T.I., the Black Eyed Peas, Damon Feldman and more

POSTED: Thursday, August 12, 2010, 5:33 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Tony Luke Jr. and T.I. at the premiere of Takers

Sure T.I. and Ice Cube took the plane to Philly together but when these two rap-n-cinema magnates hit the ground, they never laid eyes on each other again. T.I. walked a red carpet at Le Ritz East on Sunday so to promote his newest film, Takers (in area theaters next Friday). T.I. was lucky enough to meet up with another snazzy film star — Tony Luke Jr., of The Nail and Eagles TV fame (not to mention the whose cheesesteak thing). Cube, in town, to hawk his new flick The Lottery Ticket (also out next Friday), didn't have a Luke to lean on. Instead he was spied at McDonald's on Arch Street near the Convention Center. That's just cold. Before Tip and Cube even hit Philly, the Black Eyed Peas were all over Atlantic City where Will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo took turns on the steel wheels at Dusk last Saturday night at their official afterparty. Taboo even got on the mic and rocked a couple verses of "Boom Boom Pow" with apl.de.ap in an impromptu performance. The trio invited fans to join them at their table drinking Grey Goose and Bacardi cocktails.

The Black Eyed Peas in AC

As for our other hip-hop friends, there was DJ A.J. Khubani, president/CEO of TeleBrands — aka, the originators of the "As Seen on TV" logo — at the Marriott Residence Inn hanging with inventive Philadelphians pitching their goods and MC Bradley Cooper who was spied hanging at the Palm, not so much spitting rhymes as having a nosh. What will WHOWHATWHERE hip-hop look like in the immediate future? Let's ask D-to-the-F Damon Feldman what he's gonna do to Michael Lohan on September 17. "I am going to kick Michael Lohan's ass," writes Feldman in a letter to Lindsay's pop. "[Lohan] accused me of hooking up with Kate [Major, Lohan's then fiancÃ©e]) You left me crazy messages and you showed up at an event and tried to crash it. I could have ended it there. I thought you were a friend, but now we can resolve it all in the ring. You think you are a tough guy with pushing everyone around in the media, well now you can take it out on me. I saw the true you when you left me a nasty message about me and Kate and more and when you tried to sneak me at the event last week. So be a MAN and accept the challenge. The media says you beat Kate, well now try beating me. THIS is not a PUBLICITY stunt." Lastly, loverman Harry Jay Katz gave me alone the date of his wedding to Debra Renee Cruz whose engagement we announced in July: December 22, 2010. Stay tuned for rice throwing locations.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:33 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: The Simpleton Edition, featuring John Mayer, the Jersey Shore kids and more

POSTED: Thursday, August 5, 2010, 7:01 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes | Movies | Music | TV

©Scott Weiner 2010

John Mayer at Studio Q

This week Icepack's got an abbreviated WHOWHATWHERE section, but trust me, it's a doozy. First up: Possibly-racist-maybe-misogynist-definitely-dumb John Mayer (pictured) at Q102's studios for its (kinda) new Studio Q performance series. Mayer, who we last saw comparing bellies and abs with The Situation in New York City, mashed a version of Justin Beiber's "Baby" into Mayer's own tame-boy anthem "Your Body is a Wonderland" and covering Katy Perry's vivacious "California Gurls." Mayer also did some of his own milquetoast tunes and took station jock Maxwell up on a Rocks-Paper-Scissors match. What else? âº Sticking to the musical tip Freeway, Beanie Sigel and Peddi Peddi were at the Unity in the Community block party on Snyder Ave. âº Before doing his Lulu bit in a ball gown with ostrich feather shoulders at the Mann, Rufus Wainwright hit the Art Museum to marvel at the Rocky impersonators. âº After his Black Keys jammed the outre-blues at Penn's Landing's Great Plaza (check out Patrick Rapa's pics!), Dan Auerbach hit Silk City. âº I'm bored of music — what's good with the cinematic tip? âº Are Lili Taylor and Amy Madigan here yet? The queens-of-indie-flick-dom are starring in the laugh-fest Future Weather that starting lensing the other day. âº Guess we'll have to make due with Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzman and Anna Kendrick — the cast of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, out Fri., Aug. 13 — who supped at Parc while on break from promoting the film. In more Oh-My-God-Celebs-Eat-Food news, the Ruby Tuesdays on Chestnut Street got a visitor from its Liberty condo-dwelling porn-tape-having football widowing neighbor Kendra Wilkinson. She stopped by and ate at the restaurant twice last week.

Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi (top) and "J Woww" Farley on August 3

And to round out Icecube's simpleton edition, we found our exquisitely accented friends from the MTV series Jersey Shore (the second ep of the season 2 premieres tonight at 10 p.m., with special Kanye West video preview) filming season 3 in Seaside Heights, NJ mere days after Snooki face-planted herself in the sands and got arrested for drunken dis-awwwwwwwwwwwwder.

Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino

betty

Posted 2010-08-05 14:44:25

I just read your first paragraph and can't be bothered to read the rest. What garbage! If you don't have the intellect, humour, and analysis to understand someone as sophisticated as Mayer, then please be quiet. Attacking someone for absolutely no reason except that he provided witty, fun banter for his fans, is nasty on your part.

John Mayer

Posted 2010-08-09 11:27:37

All I can say,
About the performance,
I saw that day.
It was simply marvelous.
I wish you may,
have a real chance,	
to watch and you'll reply,
That it's just fabulous.
If y worry about tickets,	
You can check Ticketsinvetory.com

John Mayer Tickets

Posted 2010-08-12 06:17:50

This was my husbands and my third John Mayer concert. 1st at the Hollywood Bowl, 2nd at the Verizon in OC, CA. This was definitely the best, we were very happy. his choice of songs was greatI used to get John Mayer Tickets easily through Ticketwood.com. Whatever. I will always be a fan, believe me, there is nothing like a Justin Bieber show — mind blowing.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 7:01 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Use Your Illusion Edition: Steven Adler and Screech hit Philly

POSTED: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 5:11 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes | Music | TV

©Scott Weiner 2010

Steven Adler, once of Guns n' Roses, now of Adler's Appetite. He must be craving pens.

Today's the day that Icepack online drops and honestly where else are you going to find Diplo and Harry Jay Katz in the same column? Nowhere. Vortex-urally speaking, though, it's the WHOWHATWHERE section that tripped me up. By sheer accident, Back to the Future II-like, Icepack went backward this week to a mass-loving minute he mostly missed: 1989. I never saw the unfathomably popular Saved by the Bell and though I caught Guns 'n' Roses opening for-and-being-more-awesome than Aerosmith, I didn't get the rise of Appetite of Destruction. Yet here we are on Tuesday watching Steven Adler twirl his drums while some screechy singer yowls "Welcome to the Jungle." It wasn't Axl though. It was the guy in the stickman's new band, Adler's Appetite, (co-starring Chip Z'Nuff, man. CHIP Z'NUFF) who we caught strolling and smoking in the kitchen of the Mill Creek Tavern where they played.

Adler's Appetite with Rick Stitch on lead vocals, Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot) on guitar, Michael Thomas on guitar, Chip Z'nuff (Enuff Z'Nuff) on bass and Steven Adler on drums and percussion.

The next night there was Screech — Dustin Diamond to porn and Celebrity Fit Club aficionados - from Saved by the Bell at Cavanaugh's. Diamond could've had a different life. Consider this: Diamond's Bell co-star Mario Lopez was in this column a week earlier because of his hosting duties at the Borgata. Hey, it's not Clinton wedding opulent, but it's a start. Shift to the Deck and there's Diamond talking up his referee-ing gig for Damon Feldman's Celebrity Wrestling Big Bang event with fighters Susan Finkelstein (of Phillies sex-for-tix scandal fame) and Devon James (a Tiger Woods mistress). (Remember last time Ms. James hit Philly?) Somewhere, something in Diamond must've died.

Susan Finkelstein & Dustin Diamond & Devon James

Hardcore Phillies fan Susan Finklestein, Dustin Diamond (aka, Screech from Saved by the Bell) and Tiger Woods' former paramour Devon James.

Closer to the 21^st Century, there was my Aretha Franklin sighting-from-afar at the Four Seasons, the blab that Real Housewives of New York's Alex McCord had an early morning nosh at Fork and the still unconfirmed-but-fun rumor that Michael Jackson's personal doc Conrad Murray ate heartily at Barclay Prime, while all doctors in the M.J. death probe were freed from any charges of wrongdoing. Eat up, Nero.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:11 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Fish Jam for the Grasso bros.

POSTED: Friday, July 23, 2010, 5:15 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes | Music

Last week, I wrote an item in Icepack about how the mega-real-estate-ing brothers Grasso — Joe (Union Trust) and David (DelFrisco's) — had decided to turn the just exed-Roy's, formerly at 15th and Sansom (aloha!), into a restau-bar of their own that would open by winter 2010. The bros were rumored to be looking into a club space, very possibly with live music, along that same block. I heard that they met with people from Live Nation as well as other local booking people. There's a club-sized space below Roy's that's long been discussed as a venue. And, remember, David Grasso was once going to turn what became DelFrisco's into a House of Blues until that deal died and the steakhaus became the occupant. But news — courtesy of Brownstoner — seems to make more sense where live music real estate comes into play. Grasso Holdings are looking at a 76,000-square-foot warehouse at 2055 Richmond St., south of Girard Avenue for a music venue and nightclub. They even got Councilman Frank DiCicco in the act with a bill that would override the region's zoning overlay. Stay tuned... Plus the word that Mallin Panchelli Nadel Realty, Inc. has Le Bec Fin for sale (nearly four mil for Georges Perrier's building, three-plus mil less for just the biz and liquor license)? Doubt it. Icepack mentioned possible sales of the Walnut St. Apple store neighbor ages ago. Everybody gets restless. Everything has its price.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Real Housewife Bethenny boozes it up at Franklin Mills

POSTED: Friday, July 23, 2010, 3:34 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes | TV

Bethenny Frankel

Well, I can see that the ladies responded to my Chris Noth at Parx IceCube from earlier this week. There are plenty of sexy men sightings (like Mario Lopez!) in my Icepack WHOWHATWHERE section and we just missed bumping into the hunky prog-rock likes of Rush while they slept at the Ritz-Carlton. But what about something for the men? Well, boys, here's Bethenny Frankel — star of the Real Housewives of New York and Bethenny Getting Married? — at the Franklin Mills Wine & Spirits store yesterday, selling and signing bottles of her all-natural, low calorie Skinnygirl Margarita. More than 500 peeps lined up and, yes, she did have a few swigs.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 3:34 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: Chris Noth rolls the dice at Parx

POSTED: Monday, July 19, 2010, 5:01 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

Chris Noth

I know y'all salivating for Icepack but here's an early treat, one that helped bring gambling trouble to river city and that's trouble with a capital "T" that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Parx. The Bensalem casino not only got live table games over the weekend — 57 of 'em in total — including craps, blackjack, three card poker, baccarat and roulette. But on Sunday, Parx got something better: Chris Noth. Fresh from Sex and the City 2 (oy)!, Noth helped launch the live table games. He cut some ribbons, blew on and threw a set of ceremonial first dice then stayed around for a few hours and dined with owner Bob Green and casino executives. Me? I lost a hundred at baccarat but made it back on roulette. See you at Icepack on Thursday where I'll tell you how cheap Herbie Hancock is.

Jennifer

Posted 2010-07-19 12:12:53

He looks great!

Les

Posted 2010-07-23 00:38:36

Yummy indeed.....looking better and better

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 5:01 PM Permalink | Post a comment

ICECUBE: The Men and Thumbs edition

POSTED: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Ice Cubes

James Brolin

The online edition of Icepack — up now with its usual retinue of last minute jabs and jibing — always includes the illustrious WHOWHATWHERE section of celebs spotted-and-spied upon. This week's theme?: Men using their thumbs to point at things. On top, we have Babs Streisand's silver foxy boy toy James Brolin whose Glee-like film Standing Ovation had its Philly premiere at the Prince Music Theater. We wonder if he knows wifey is being honored at QFest this week? Such a charming man.

Next up: We have defender of the faith Joe Vento â the owner of Geno's Steaks and proponent of the speak-English-if-you're-in-America school of thought. Last night, Vento and the WIP 610 Big Talker minions were on his side of Ninth Street showing their support of Arizona's famed immigration law while, counter-protesters supporting with the federal government's lawsuit against AZ were on the other. My photog buddy Scott Weiner asked Vento to give the lens his best "Get out of here" thumb and Vento complied.

Posted by A.D. Amorosi @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

« PREVIOUS | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18

What we're trying to do this weekend
Behind the scenes of local film A Man Full of Trouble
CONCERT REVIEW: The Postal Service @ The Mann 6/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Sunny, Tony and the return of Do No Harm
NOW SEE THIS: Salinger film trailer
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
REVIEW: Archer Live! @ the TLA 1/11
CITY PAPER WRITING CONTEST 2013: Send stories! Send poetry!
CONCERT PHOTOS: The National/Dirty Projectors @ The Mann Center 6/7
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Pink. Diner en Blanc 2. Breaking Glass and Milkboy at the movies. And so on.

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

June
May
April

March
February
January

Past Archives: