9thstreetitalianmarketfestival.com

Perhaps the festival can best be summed up by my friend’s eating so far. A slice of Sicilian from Lorenzo’s near the Italian Market Historic sign at 9th and Christian was followed by a chocolate chip canolli from Termini’s stand, then pork tacos (he believes el carbon) then roast pork sandwich with provolone from somewhere just north of Washington.

Strange weather may have kept some away, the morning was a little slow, but it filled in a bit later on. Most people don’t seem to realize the festival ends at five.

Perpetual powerhouses DiBrunos, Talluto’s and Isgros draw people in, as do the bountiful grills, stages and assorted stands (jewlery, funnel cake and the best mango on a stick you’ve ever had)

This is just the tip of the iceberg, there is a ton going on. 9th street and Washington is the core of it all.

There’s a huge Mexican flavor between Washington and Geno’s, how’s that for modern America?

Get yourself down there and gorge.

John Boyle and Andy Dyson build Bike Corral at 16th and Chestnut

According to Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, 60 people rode with Mayor Nutter to work despite the rain this morning on Bike-to-Work Day. This was the last event the BCGP had planned for Bike Week. Earlier in the week, Fuji President Pat Cunnane beat a sports car driver and a SEPTA bus rider to City Hall, and the BCGP released Sarah Clark Stuart’s report on bicycle parking. Read more about it on the BCGP blog. Though Bike Week is over, you can still park your bike at the Bike Corrals on 40th and Walnut and 16th and Chestnut until May 30th. Otherwise, options include the usual parking meters, hand rails, and baby trees until further notice.

Every week, we have a staffer, freelancer or friend-or-enemy of The Clog put their iTunes or iPod on shuffle and tell us about the first 10 songs that come up. The only rules: No skipping, no cheating and you don’t need to be all music critic-y about it. If you’d like to submit a 10-Track Mind of your own, contact Drew Lazor at drew.lazor[at]citypaper[dot]net. This week, CP supertern, frequent Clog commenter and self-proclaimed "child of the ’90s" Annamarya Scaccia does her thing.

1. Jeff Buckley – "Lover, You Should’ve Come Over" (Grace)
After reading an article in Mojo about Jeff Buckley two years after he died, I picked up Grace from Tower Records and fell in love, especially with this song. There?s something instinctual about his voice, so passionate and so mad and it’s set to this beautiful and peaceful melody. I get goosebumps every time I hear it.

2. Mute Math – "Chaos" (Mute Math)
So I should be ashamed to say this, but I’m not — the first time I heard "Chaos" was during one of The N’s Degrassi/South of Nowhere/Best Years commercial mashups. I was instantly drawn to it and now every time I hear it, I think of how Craig totally did Ellie dirty.

3. Bush – "Little Things" (Sixteen Stone)
"Little Things" reminds me of my childhood when I first got into "alternative music" and cassettes were still around. I had this album on tape. It’s an awesome and totally confusing song. Then again, all songs of the ’90s were confusing. (Think of everything by Stone Temple Pilots … what the hell is Scott Weiland talking about ever?)

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Sorry, blondie — Rob Halford’s just not that into you not even remotely into you

Photo | © Scott Weiner 2008

 

Around 3 p.m., there was an Eddie Van Halen sighting at 15th and Spruce, in between the Rita’s Water Ice and the … wait for it … Spruce St. Laundromat. He’s wearing a jean jacket and red sneakers. It’s hard to imagine him so hot for teacher right at this very moment … doing laundry. But whadadadayagonna do. Go ahead, jump. And say hi.

Then there’s last week’s moment, with Rob Halford and a bunch of Judas Priest-ers at Hot Topic at the Plaza at the King of Prussia Mall. This is what my pal, photog Scott Weiner, did on his birthday — went to see Judas Priest. I only told him to go to there to buy himself something nice, something leather and hellbent. Oh, well. Might as well jump.

Ah, it’s like I never left you.

icanhascheezburger.com

It’s been awhile, my little Omnibussers. And while “missed” is a strong word, I might have been wondering what you’ve been up to. Just a little bit. Once or twice. Oh hell, let’s share a big stack of pancakes and catch up.

Friday: No need to kid ourselves — tonight is a pizza-on-the-couch kind of night. But in an alternate world where I would just put on a pair of rainboots and deal, the Mascher Space Co-Op Funstival is going down at Johnny Brenda’s. They’re a cute bunch, and maybe even deserving of flattened hair and soggy hoodies. Other options for the brave include Pilobolus at the Annenberg.

Caturday: Stay with me here, kittens. There’s plenty to do, and quite a bit of it doesn’t allow for a boozy lounge-y brunch. Over in Kensington, the Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Trenton Ave. Arts Festival are stirring things up. I hear Bambi Gallery will be manning the kissing booth, so pucker up and pucker up good. The Italian Market is hosting its annual block party today, and Old City joins in with a sidewalk sale. It’s a tough call, but it’s safe to say I’lll be shopping on Market. Highlights include the lovely Sheila Frank’s swimsuit trunk sale at Topstitch and a big Smak Parlour sale.

Sunday: Today is day two of the Philadelphia Book Festival, which strangely enough stars Barbara Walters this year. Moving (quickly) down the Parkway, Yoga Unites is stretching it out on the Art Museum steps. And as for tonight, we have Fern Knight at International House.

Marshall Green and Kristin Mulvenna’s Cafe Estelle, which earned a smashing review from our Trey Popp back in January, will introduce dinner on Thu., May 22. Follow the jump to check out what they’ll be serving (check out that crepe!). Menu items will rotate regularly.

Regular dinners hours will be Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.

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• Philadelphia police are having trouble explaining why they beat three men on video tape. Curse you, video tape! • A Wisconsin man with perhaps the world’s best memory (it’s called hyperthymestic syndrome) will help researchers fight degenerative mental problems. • Ellen DeGeneres is getting married. • President George W. Bush is imploring Saudi Arabia to increase oil production for the U.S. • Girl scout cookies! AHM NAM NAM NAM. 

…when we gave you the keys to the mayor’s office: busting corruption that seems to be ingrained in our city bureaucracy.

In short: Amy Kurland, the city’s Inspector General, exposed favoritism in the Personnel Department. Here’s the release:

Philadelphia, May 15, 2008 – Inspector General (IG) Amy Kurland’s office has conducted an investigation into misconduct by Personnel Director Tanya Smith. It was determined that Ms. Smith inappropriately manipulated the civil service exam process to benefit City employees she favored.

“While I am saddened to learn of any wrong-doing by City employees, I am pleased that Inspector General Kurland’s office has been successful in identifying and rooting out unethical behavior,” said Mayor Michael A. Nutter. “The vast majority of City workers are honest, hard-working people, but the City still needs an autonomous watch-dog to weed out bad actors.”

The investigation was to determine whether Ms. Smith inappropriately interfered with a two-part written/oral exam to benefit another Personnel Department employee. The evidence confirmed, and the Inspector General concluded, that Smith illegally cancelled the written part of the exam after she improperly questioned several Personnel Department employees on their exam status and learned that her preferred employee had not passed the test. This action would have resulted in an unfair eligibility list based only on the subjective, oral part of the exam. Furthermore, it permitted Personnel Department employees who had not passed the exam to have an unfair second chance.

Additionally, the evidence established that Ms. Smith obstructed the IG investigation. She made false statements to the IG investigator and directed her subordinates to be untruthful to IG investigators. During the course of the investigation, the IG instructed Ms. Smith to freeze the eligibility list for the exam in question. However, despite those instructions, she released the list. Individuals were promoted from this list who may have had an unfair advantage.

“Unfortunately my office has concluded that Ms. Smith conducted herself unethically in her position as Personnel Director,” said Inspector General Amy Kurland. “The problem has been investigated and dealt with accordingly. The improper actions of one individual should not cast doubt on other City workers.”

It is the duty of the Personnel Director to uphold and safeguard the regulations of all civil service employees. Because Smith abused her authority, intentionally circumvented the civil service system and failed to uphold these regulations, and because she obstructed the investigation, the Inspector General recommended to the Civil Service Commission that Smith be removed as Personnel Director and barred from civil service positions for five years.

Prior to any final action by the Civil Service Commission Smith resigned from her position.

According to our schedule, there is an important movie coming out that day.

thehappyrooster.com

The orange sticker is up and the deed is done. Laurence Berk Esq. is now a new owner at The Happy Rooster, a Philly restaurant and bar institution for all smart business folk.

Though I’ll have a full interview in next week’s Icepack, there will be no change in food, employees or concept. "It’ll be the same exact Happy Rooster tradition," says Berk, who’ll take over the Rooster with Debbie Reid Jordan. "She’ll be up front — managing," says Berk of his pal. Can’t wait to see what they do.