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Icepack Illustrated
Back in March, after his concert at First Christ Church with John Zorn at the organ, Bowerbird’s Dustin Hurt told me a secret, that the next B-bird series would be dedicated to Morton Feldman, adventurous experimental composer. That time is now. Hurt’s otherworldly American Sublime series runs June 4-12, features the crème of the avant-garde in Joan LaBarbara, the Either/Or ensemble and Marilyn Nonken, with the highlight being a rare performance of Feldman’s six-hour String Quartet No. 2, which concludes the fest at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral on June 12. Tix.
Speaking of otherworldly, King Britt just sent me this message: “The light at the end of the tunnel is not an illusion… the tunnel is” and this “Firefly” music that he produced, engineered, composed and mixed. Download it. Spooky.
The Keswick Theatre hosts a fundraiser on June 5 for the Philadelphia Folksong Society as the starter event for this August’s 50th Philadelphia Folk Festival. Who’s playing? Only the godfather of flat-picking guitar Doc Watson with David Holt and Tony Trischka.
Hey neighbors with money. South Street’s Jamaican Jerk Hut is allowed to have live music outdoors again after a long battle in the courts that stated that the Hut’s lovely lolling reggae grooves bucked up against your precious vows of near-silence. Ha. You can stuff all your lawyer fees right up your ass. I’ll be there every Friday and Saturday starting at 6 p.m. banging pots. Sue me.
View galleryWeird that I ran into Shannon Webber Wednesday morning. I hadn’t seen the Philly punk mistress in some time. First thing she said to me was that she had been to visit the long ailing Philly punk-before-you-were-a-punk Mikey Wild in hospice at 18th and South the night previous. “He’ll be in rock ‘n’ roll heaven soon,” said Webber. She couldn’t have known how soon, as The Mayor of South Street passed away that morning. The outsider artist will be celebrated starting on June 18, 5-8 p.m. at Pageant Soloveev Gallery, 607 Bainbridge St. You can scan City Paper’s back issues for scads of stories that I wrote on Wild, and drop off condolences at the gallery space.
Philly expatriate Johnny Makeup’s adopted father/rent dad Dov Charney of American Apparel fame has his cock all over Gawker.com right now. Whee. See it here.
Queen Village’s house of meatballs Village Belle starts its “Behind Belle’s Bar” series this Thu., May 26, with Emilio Mignucci of DiBruno Bros. slicing cheeses from his shop and chatting about food, life in the Italian Market and whatever else guests are interested in learning about.
Everyone remembers that David Grasso was ready to launch two different House of Blues venues in the Philly area: one at 15th and Chestnut (where he wound up putting a Del Frisco’s Steaks) and one between 16th and 17th on Washington Ave. Eh. They didn’t happen. But that space at Beach and Richmond that he got to book with Live Nation’s backing, all 8,000 square feet, is going to be the House of Blues he always wanted. Live Nation owns the HoB brand, and Grasso got the nightclub zoning variance that Frank DiCicco pushed through before Council’s seasonal session ended. All they need is to finalize the parking arrangement.
My favorite new power couple in Philly is Dean and Christy Bottie Kitagawa. She’s a painter and muralist whose swell new student exhibition made of studies of the Divine Lorraine Hotel are the hit of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and will be on display throughout the spring. Dean is a local restaurant vet (FriSatSun, the Saloon) whose first-ever restaurant Rotisseur (on S. 21st Street, between Chestnut and Sansom) has been soft testing this week with mind toward a Mon., May 23, opening for his menu of cage-free, hormone-free, antibiotic-free rotisserie chicken with veggie sides, all done up with products from local growers and farms in Lancaster. Ask for the succotash as a side and you’ll love me forever. But hey, why a BYOB rotisserie chicken spot? “I’ve seen tons of spaces fail and watched places have headaches with bartenders,” says Kitagawa. “Here, the bell rings and you know the chicken is done.” Along with partner Aaron Matzkin, Christy painted a gorgeous sunny mural on its walls to brighten up the spot.
Clark Maloney has, at one point or another, run every club and restaurant in Philly. He’s probably managed the square footage of space where you are standing. Now the managerial veteran Maloney has a new gig at the Walnut Street after-hours joint, Whisper. Along with being its GM, Maloney is now Whisper’s entertainment director. Maloney is bringing in Jazzy Jeff on May 25 and readying artist-centric after parties in June with Marsha Ambrosius, P Diddy and Ke$ha. Zach Seidman, Whisper’s valued previous EM, is rumored to be doing something similar at Tweed.
When Audrey Claire Taichman isn’t busy planning THE perfect dinner at 20th Street’s Twenty Manning (May 24’s bacon and beer collaboration with Dock Street) she’s tied up with a blog detailing the progress of COOKbook, her due-in-late-summer food lab. Taichman gets blogging help from COOK’s Jackie Baik and Lily Cope.
Guitarist Tim Motzer’s 1k label hosted “Sessions,” a live in-studio web cast on May 18 with bassist Tony Tidd and drummer Jeremy Carlstedt. Think Cream meets Eno. You missed it live so catch it and tons of other Motzer music at 1ksessions.com. Motzer was also the subject of an April article in Guitar Player Magazine on the making of Descending, an album he made with King Crimson’s Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto.
Kraftwork on Girard Avenue celebrated a one year anniversary the other night. I’m not sure which night after the mix of Fegley’s Brews and absinthe ginger ale vodka drinks.
How do we know when Spring is officially here? When DJ Lee Jones says so. His Sundae bash on May 15 celebrates the hot streak in the Shampoo parking lot and at Silk City’s beer garden throughout the entire day.
The Piazza at Schmidts’ newest renter? A casual drive by and an orange sticker reveals that it’s Raw, the Gayborhood sushi haunt that is taking over the much valued ex-Speck space.
When you hit the Third Annual Benefit Cabaret for the Nichole Canuso Dance Company on May 13 at Underground Arts at the Wolf Building, congratulate her for winning $50,000 from the Knight Arts Challenge that she and the likes of Pig Iron, Live Arts, Mighty Writers and Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby got (all to the tune of $2 million+). Ask her for a loan.
Congrats to Lora and Kenny Eris. Last weekend, the long-together (and living in sin, damn them) couple finally tied the knot at the Radio Eris compound in West Philly during which time no avant-garde band in Philly played a gig as every weirdo in the tri-state area was on 52nd Street.
The Art Star Craft Bazaar is at Penn’s Landing this weekend and that means NoLibs’ Erin Waxman and Megan Brewster of Art Star are playing curator to dozens of Etsy denizens and bands picked by Jack McBrearty of The Mural & The Mint. It’ll be sunny out. Buy some sock monkeys.
Speaking of that strip of land where Art Star is, Icepack mentioned months ago that Brown Betty Dessert Boutique was moving from Liberties Walk to 722 N. Second Street. It is true. The old spot closes officially May 15 and reopens at the new place around May 21.
Chef and restaurateur Chip Roman has a whole slew of things coming up. His newly opened Mica in Chestnut Hill just started the same sort of four-course $45 prix fixe Tuesday dinner (a different seasonal ingredient weekly) that’s been successful at his Conshohocken eatery Blackfish. He’s gearing up for a collaborative cook-off with his one-time mentor Georges Perrier at Le Bec Fin on June 13 — seven courses for $95 (reservations: 215-567-1000). But this week, Roman opened his doors to Kevin Sbraga, another one-time Perrier protégé and Top Chef’s season seven winner. The beetroot gazpacho with goat cheese sorbet was a masterful mix of the gently spicy and coolly textural. The steamed halibut with lobster chunks and artichokes cooked and cut different ways (a Sbraga signature) and the rack of lamb with a tangy tandoori yogurt were the most delectable highlights of the meal. But a big part of the night was watching throngs of Top Chef aficionados chatter at Sbraga (“is Padma as pretty in person as she is on TV?”) and pose with him for photos. I actually felt bad that the chef had to be so genial. “I don’t mind at all,” said Sbraga. “I like to think I’m a people person.” Sbraga talked with me about the night’s menu (“everything but the beetroot gazpacho which is a long time favorite of mine, was made specifically for this night”) and how much he digs Roman and this Conshy hot spot. Then conversation moved to the question of the hour: where will that Philly Sbraga restaurant open, the one that’s been in the planning stages since he won Top Chef? “Right now, I’m looking very seriously at a space between Rittenhouse and Washington Square,” he smiles. OK THAT’S NOT TOO WIDE A SWATCH. Then Sbraga throws a little focus my way. “We’re looking at something that’s a little bit bigger than this,” said Sbraga pointing at the 30+ seater. That’s a start.
The Philadelphia Film Society is having a cool run: Last month it was the Wanamaker organ’s debut for the screening of the silent Metropolis at Macy’s in March, this month on May 16, the PFS will hold a screening of the movie Philadelphia in the Mayor’s Reception Room.
Call for the Cure, Philly’s CBS-3/CW 57/KYW News Radio/WYSP/WOGL on-air fundraiser for the upcoming Susan G. Komen Philadelphia Race for the Cure event (Mother’s Day, May 8), raised $553,157 for breast cancer research, education and outreach. Brava and bravo.
Three guitar geniuses in one big ball: Philadelphia shredding monster Nick Millevoi will open for fellow six-stringer Nat Baldwin at First Unitarian Church Side Chapel on May 6. Millevoi’s first solo guitar release, Black Figure of a Bird, was recorded by Philadelphia-based guitarist/sitar-ist/master of all things classically Indian, Eric Carbonara. Whoa.
If you thought the duck and chicken liver parfait at The Dandelion was the Brit pub’s richest appetizer, meet the trout pate. Introduced by exec chef Robert Aikens during the Easter holiday weekend, the mix of fresh and smoked trout, horseradish, lemon juice, chives, dill, Crème Fraiche, mayo and Cayenne pepper is truly decadent.
Before drummer-turned-documentarian George Manney heads to NYC for April 29’s screening of his Meet Me On South Street: The Story of JC Dobbs (The Quad Cinema, 4 p.m., part of the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival), he spoke with another newly minted local documentary filmmaker, Sam Katz. Katz debuted a half hour of Philadelphia: The Great Experiment in Wheel of Fortune’s time slot on WPVI-TV 6 Wednesday night, and has been discussing his plight to get funding to complete his multi-chapter film. The two exchanged notes after Katz’s screening — Manney saying he needs something like $300,000.00 for music licensing, Katz mentioning that perhaps Manney should go to FMQB boss and local philanthropist Kal Rudman or Kenny Gamble. Good idea, Sam. You should ask Kal to chip in on your flick as well.
There is nothing like a colorful parrot shirt to announce spring. That’s the very thing you’ll see in the window of the new shop called Lucifer at 350 S. 15th, kind-of on the corner of Pine. Louis Senofonge took over the space in March 2011 for what he calls a “hybrid of men and women’s clothing boutique and art gallery.” At present, the clothes are vintage and newly handmade. The art for its opening day (Sat., April 30, 6 -10 p.m.) is provided by Jan Welch. Lucifer has a different artist opening every month; see luciferphilly.com.
Man, I was sorry to see Ro-Zo, the eclectic Japanese restaurant at Seventh and Bainbridge go. Everything there was a delight, but R-to-the-Z was always empty. The same address is now the home of Big Eyes Sushi, a slightly less costly Japanese restaurant (a la carte sashimi $2+ — not bad) with rolls that have silly names “Yo Sexy!” (California Roll with panko and yam yam sauce).
Meanwhile, uptown on Chestnut across from the CVS on 19th, neighborhood spies tell me that the space above Robin’s Bookstore is opening soon as a Japanese restaurant.
Last Saturday, nightlife impresario David Carroll had a birthday party at T.A. Flannery’s on S. 21st Street, right down the block from Medusa, with restaurateurs Larry Cohen and Barry Gutin, designer/realtor Michelle Ashley, Bar Noir alumnus Bobby Startup and new cookbook author Hope Cohen in tow). Why it was held at that tap room-y location has everything to do with a secret I’ve been sworn to since last year. Carroll along with a rogue’s gallery of other night-lifers (Justin Fine, Anthony Sembello, more) have taken over the spot and are turning it into a dark woodsy nightspot — sexy but low-key — that should be open by May’s end. Food and DJs should be part of the act.
April 21 is a good day to get your drink on if you’re in a charitable mood. The Variety Club of Philly’s young wing is holding a benefit at Public House with celebrity bartenders like Winston Justice (Eagles), Mike Jerrick (Fox29) and Amber Joy Watkins (Miss Pennsylvania USA 2011) in tow. Hit it up here: varietyphila.org/events/details/young-varietys-celebrity-bartenders-night1.
Ever since I was in grade school I had to deal with the Amoroso bread dynasty. Unwanted associations and bad jokes came daily. “Hey do you make Amoroso’s dough?” “Hey, how’s the roll hanging?” That sort of cornball stuff. It’s not my name, so don’t associate or blame me for Len Amoroso laying off drivers at its SouthWest Philly bakery (telling them to buy the route or lose the routes). Worst yet, Amoroso may perhaps shutter its 55th and Baltimore bakery which would land all Amoroso bread operations at its plant in Vineland, NJ. Buy your bread at Sarcone’s instead and tell them A.D. AMOROSI with an “I” (not an “O”) sent you.
John Gilmour’s metal machine music-filled Acidfinger takes over the Triangle Tavern at 10th and Reed on April 23 for a free show with The Blessed Mothers; they’ll be filming the event for a video. But he has one question for his big screen moment. “I got a Wonder Woman outfit for the occasion,” states Gilmour. “What do you think should go under the miniskirt? Man-thong tighty-whitey or going born free?” Hit the Triangle for his decision.
“Girls (Who Run the World)” is the new track from Beyoncé and scheduled to be on her new CD in June. Why should Philly care? It’s co-produced by Major Lazer — which means Diplo and Switch — and samples the good Major’s “Pon De Floor.” You could stream it from that bastion of hip, Huffington Post.
It was so nice they decided to have it twice. Feastival — lasts year’s supposed one-off event thrown by Audrey Taichman, Stephen Starr and Michael Solomonov for the benefit of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe — has become an annual thing. Mark September 14 in your foodie calendar and write Pier 9, 121 N. Columbus Blvd. on the page.
We haven’t heard from Philly’s comic giants The Minor Prophets and that’s a damn shame. They’ve long been on the multi-media sketch comedy tip. Thankfully the Troc will get a dose of Prophet-eering on April 15 with all new live material. Plus The Minor Prophets will screen their latest collaboration with director Derek Frey, The Ballad of Sandeep, a short film starring Deep Roy. You might know Deep from his role as all of the Oompa-loompas in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He also played Danny McBride’s foul-mouthed sidekick during last season’s Eastbound and Down on HBO. “In our film, though he plays a computer programmer,” says Prophet David Amadio who notes that Deep is flying in for the screening.
The Roots and Wawa Welcome America! have a thing going on. They’ll appear at the holiday festival on the Parkway July 4 as they have in the past with no Goo Goo Dolls or Sheryl Crow in sight. Thank God, right? But at a press conference with Mayor Nutter at City Hall Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter revealed that Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael McDonald, Estelle, Sara Bareilles and DJ Jazzy Jeff will join them on stage. Oy. That sounds like a headache. Plus, Jeff bagged on Ahmir’s soul food contest soiree at Time Café two Sundays ago so who knows if Jazzy will show. Then again if McDonald gets all “Peg” on the Roots, the whole affair will be great.
If you check out Icepack in print you’ll see I spoke with Greater Philadelphia Film boss Sharon Pinkenson about The Bourne Legacy and how close that film is to starting pre-production in the area. Another one long rumored to use area locations — director Christopher Nolan’s next Batman flick, The Dark Knight Rises, will be shot in Pittsburgh starting this summer according to EW.com. Tax credits don’t just help Philly. All Pennsylvania cities benefit. So what about the news that M. Night Shyamalan’s movie with Will and Jaden Smith, One Thousand AE, is finally getting ready to go before the cameras? “Again, it’s not officially green lit, so we don’t have a start date yet,” says Pinkenson who stated the same about The Bourne Legacy. “Late summer for principal photography would be the soonest, I think.” I think so too.
So what’s new about Cinefest 2011 for Thom Cardwell, the development director of the Philadelphia Cinema Alliance other than a batch of new scarves? “Well, there’ll be some new ensembles, too,” says Cardwell who’ll bring out his best new outfit for red carpet event for “Philadelphia-homegrown” and the film Cost of a Soul that acquired a distributor, Relativity. “I’m always excited to see the films in the Festival of Independents because it proved that our city and its regional filmmakers are producing quality films, growing up and out as filmmaking community.” Beyond that, Cardwell recommends international films, including Francois Ozon’s Patiche and Score: A Hockey Musical from Canada that opened the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival. “Of course, I want you to announce the 17th Philadelphia QFest, July 7-18,” says Cardwell. Hosted with TLA Releasing, and featuring the American premiere of The One, a romantic comedy with a gay twist. Now you know.
I love the tag line that the Ninth Annual Northern Liberties Variety Show is using for its April 9 showcase at Johnny Brenda’s. “Lower your Expectations… and you won’t be disappointed.” With proceeds benefiting the Northern Liberties Townwatch committee, self-titled “D-list celebs” Greta Alexander and David Murphy host ukulele players, fire-eaters and Liberty Lands’ Bag Pipe Man.
When I stopped by the Gift of Life’s Home Cook Heroes launch party at their new Family House at Fourth and Callowhill the other night, I ran into Laura Burkhardt, the editor of Where magazine for the last 25 years. The always cheery Burkhardt seemed happier than usual. Why? She’s moving on to the next phase of her life and leaving (amicably) Where for greener but undisclosed pastures. Brava. While she will still work on events with the leisure/hotel magazine, Kristina Jenkins takes over Where editorial duties.
If you haven’t lived and loved Madame Saito’s brand of French and Japanese cuisine to at Tokio on Headhouse Square for 23 years, you ain’t been living. Now together with new chef and artist Craig Kandel (who re-designed the space with Philly burlesque queen Melissa BangBang) Saito is re-opening the newly re-done Tokio Sushi Bar and its neighboring sister restaurant The HeadHouse (right next door) April 9 with guest chef Ian Lawrence from Nama Sushi Bar in Knoxville TN and performances by Bang-Bang and Ginger Leigh.
The Ryan Seacrest Foundation just selected Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as its newest site for the construction of The Voice, an interactive closed circuit broadcast multi-media center where kids get an outlet for activities related to radio, TV and new media. They’ll be able to broadcast like a DJ and chat with celebrities with this service.
Fans of The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn — the radio show and his actual feelings — can celebrate again. The now-relocated local will play his second area gig this month with the Knife & Fork Band at the Northeast Philadelphia landmark Tacony Music Hall on April 8 with The Speedwells on the bill. Advance tickets for the 4815 Longshore Ave. gig at groovedisques.com.
The people’s choice winner of last week’s Spirits Premiere event presented by Philadelphia mag was Patron’s Perfect Margarita with Patron Resposado Tequila. This means my fave, the Tres Leches Triple Cream Dutch Martini got robbed. I’m dyin’ here.
Certain Circuits’ on-line magazine and West Philly’s Radio Eris collaborate this weekend at ErisTemple, 602 S. 52nd St. The April 9 event features a release of Eris’ “Yellow Video” along with performers Courtney Bambrick, Jane Cassady, David Hewitt, and Horsey. All monies raised go to the print run of the magazine.
Sad news from the world of Sally Starr. The Philly cowgirl kids’ show television host and radio personality let go of her long time (60+ years) radio show. Starr started on the AM dial (WJMJ) in the late ’40s and wound up at Cruisin’ 92.1 WVLT-FM, the station she retired from. Sadder radio news: Dr Cosmo, longtime 103.3 WPRB FM Friday night DJ passed away over the weekend. Noted for bringing some of Philly’s most experimental, freakish and bizarre music acts on air, he will be missed. There’s a memorial broadcast being planned for this weekend. Lastly, the friends of Michel Notredame gathered at the Abbaye this Monday to celebrate his life. The legendary Art Museum area bar owner passed away in Oostende, Belgium. His Cuvee Notredame at 17th and Green St. and its basement Club Nostradamus were a haven to cabaret locals, goth heads and fringe sorts.
The Painted Bride Quarterly and poetess Kathleen Volk host a reading at the Black Sheep’s second floor (247 S. 17th) on April 12 with Philly expat Samantha Barrow, D&M and Maleka Fruean.
WHOWHATWHERE: There I was watching Philly’s Marsha Ambrosius doing her thing — selling out the TLA — the other night when I swore I spied Patti Labelle running by me. Three minutes later Labelle’s on stage with Marsha, and the two are launching into the Labelle classic “If Only You Knew.” When the pride of Red Bank NJ, director Kevin Smith sold out the Keswick for his one man monologue, he turned it into a two-man show by bringing on the “Jay” (Jason Mewes) to Smith’s “Silent Bob.” Smith also discussed how he’s probably going to quit directing after his hockey flick, Hit Somebody starring West Chester’s Kyle Gallner (as Wayne Gretzky) goes before the lens in 2012 — that after he releases his new horror film, Red State. Stoner rap god Wiz Khalifa made a pit stop at Hot Topic just to drum up interest in his new CD Rolling Papers. Britain’s The Joy Formidable had pop matters to attend to when they hit 104.5 FM to promote what could be the dumbest album title ever, A Balloon Called Moaning. Comedian Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling and Angel Porrino, from E!’s Holly’s World paid a visit to Port Fishington’s Invisible Studios to film several commercials. At his Parx Casino promo spot, Mike Sorrentino hung out with his family while security scrutinized the Situation’s situation. That’s because the Jersey Shore star’s security is handled by his brother Marc.
Money well spent: On March 19, when Marc Vetri got together a baker’s dozen of Philadelphia’s finest chefs at Urban Outfitters Headquarters at the Navy Yard to support ACHIEVEability. They raised $185,000. On March 29, when Zama restaurant along Rittenhouse Row hosted a benefit dinner for the people of Japan at a $100 per person, over 100 people came to support Chef Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka (including Eagles’ tackle Winston Justice) and raised $14,500.
Black Banana bartender-turned-art-teacher Terry Saulin is exhibiting her newest sculptures and drawings at Tiger Strikes Asteroid on April 1, followed by a city-wide Spring Arts Festival re-opening on April 15. Go.
The father and son team of Bob and Brandon Bitros are opening Interstate Draft House in Port Fishington at the old Moe’s spot on E. Palmer Street. Good for foodies who miss Azure (the Bitros owned that) and their familiar family manner. Bad for Moe’s and aficionados of tap room culture like me.
Alex Styer, the trumpeter from the exquisitely funky Experience Kef, has a day job helping to run the Philadelphia Arts Alliance (PAA). This weekend (starting with the a big bash on March 31) he’s pushing the PAA’s show of wearable art, ARTwear and its hand crafted jewelry and accessories show/benefit. ARTwear runs until Sunday and features dozens of craft practitioners along with the event’s curators Bruce Hoffman and my old buddy Doug Bucci, both of whom will hold special presentations throughout the event. Pay in.
Philly’s favorite son of Latino electronica, El Malito, took my advice and is working with my favorite producer of Latino exotica (and the man behind last weekend’s Caravan Fest at Electric Factory) Aaron Levinson. Levinson brought in sampler/DJ Starkey, and the rest will soon be history if I have any say.
Bear with me. As I write this next bit, I think of the line in A Christmas Story where Darren McGavin is opening the large wooden box mailed to him with “fraaa-geee-lay” on the front. As he’s pulling hay from the package, he repeats that he’s won a major award. I like the pride of a guy winning a major award, whether it turns out (as in McGavin’s case) to be a plastic leg-lamp in a fishnet stocking or master chef Georges Perrier gathering two prizes during two culinary events. First he’s getting a gift for 40 years of culinary excellence at the Flavors of Philadelphia fundraiser for the American Liver Foundation (ALF) at the Loews Hotel on April 5, the first time that the ALF foundation has honored anyone at this event. Then during the opening night soiree for the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts on April 7 at the Kimmel, he’ll be honored with the Culinary Visionary Award. After that Perrier will host chef Mathieu Viannay of La Mere Brazier from Lyon, (Perrier’s hometown) for a special menu at Le Bec-Fin April 13-15. Yum.
I’m sitting here with a full copy of the, Life Fantastic in my hand from Philly’s Man Man and it is hurting my head in the very best way. Since Anti (their label) has asked me not to review it quite yet, I will comply. But I must say that “Shameless” is epically long and all twisted up while “Steak Knives” is MM at their vintage vexing best.
Jazz Appreciation Month is coming. Grilled Cheese Month is coming. So is Poetry Month. To celebrate the latter, PhillyCAM is doing April Folly on April 1 with DJ K-Tell, scores of guys with cameras (including City Paper emeritus Bruce Schimmel) capturing footage of the poetry fun at the PhillyCAM studio 232 Vine. If you can’t get there, turn on Comcast 66/966 and Verizon FIOS 29/30 that night to catch the event along with shows like Celebrities in the Basement and The Mike Holla Show.
March 31 and The Marvelous on S. 40th Street — that’s the day and the place where composer/guitarist Nick Millevoi holds his release jam for yet another magically noisy CD, Black Figure of a Bird.
WHOWHATWHERE: Oscar winner Natalie Portman shopped at Joan Shepp on Tuesday because her fiance Benjamin Millepied is choreographing bits of the Pennsylvania Ballet’s “Building on Balanchine,” at the Merriam Theatre. Millepied worked with a bunch of the Pennsylvania Ballet dancers on Black Swan so there. Oscar host Anne Hathaway also stopped at Joan Shepp recently so expect visits from the little girl from True Grit and Helena Bonham Carter shortly. OK. Just deal with the Jersey Shore crew while they’re still in the states. They’ll be heading to Italy in a minute. Jenny “J Woww” Farley and her new beau Roger Matthews hit Whisper last week and The Situation will be at the Wine & Spirits store at Franklin Mills Mall at 5 p.m. then Parx Casino in Bensalem at around 9:30 p.m. Both appearances are for his launch of Devotion Vodka in Pennsylvania. Somebody send me a bottle. Oh, let me tell you about the weekend in Atlantic City. I wasn’t with my photog when he shot Dennis Rodman before his DJ slot (yes, DJ slot) at Dusk where he hung out with boxer Roy Jones Jr., tried to unscrew casino light bulbs and hugged everyone within reach. But the Janet Jackson show at The Borgata and all that stuff that followed it? Sweetness I say. She put on a helluva show of hits. After the Friday show at mur.mur (the Borgata club), Joey Fatone showed up and hung with Samantha Ronson in the DJ booth. (Fatone has been hosting The Price is Right nights in AC and will start filming Mancation in the area next week). The next night, dimpled television host Mario Lopez dined at Bobby Flay Steak and met the Flay-ster himself before catching Jackson’s show and hosting a party at mur.mur. That same night at the Borgata’s MIXX, Janet’s ex Jermaine Dupri spun with Sky Nellor and held court for rapper Busta Rhymes who performed “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” and “Pass the Courvoisier, Part II.” Not to be outdone by Jersey that weekend, the action centered on the Ritz-Carlton where Travis Barker (who was on the Wells Fargo bill with Lil Wayne and Nikki Minaj) hung out. Wayne was not to be seen at the hotel and Minaj eventually made her way to Atlantic City for host duties at The Pool at Harrah’s.
Speaking of being on film, Philly’s chamber-noise-pop sensations Creeping Weeds shot a video for the single “Light In The Window” at Johnny Brenda’s from their forthcoming new CD Creeping Weeds. Bravo them. I’d love to tell you where they are playing April 1, but I can’t because the West Philly house that they are playing with is suddenly undergoing heat from the police and are no longer allowed to do shows. So the Weeds is going underground, playing in the basement and in secret. Fans? You just have to figure it out.
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