I won’t belabor the passing of Arlen Specter, or go on about what a fighter he was for his constituency (shifting as it did at times throughout his political career) and for his own life as non-Hodgkins lymphoma wracked his lanky frame. This Iceman grew up watching Specter on the nightly news and on the streets campaigning in person. He always seemed to be campaigning, even when sitting still. I remember his gusto-filled runs for mayor and governor, his vigorous attacks on various political figures looking for their place in the sun. I watched him, in his latter days, do standup comedy on a few occasions, and thought if only he’d started his life as a comic earlier, he would have taken to it with the same zeal — and success — he had as one of this state’s boldest political forces. He will be missed. ™ Here’s a story I’ll be hot to discuss as it develops: Chef Mark Ellis from Bacchus Market & Catering at 2300 Spruce started running test-kitchen tastings last weekend at the Power Plant in Old City. Color us impressed.
Perhaps you’re not up for the historical import of the new “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition” exhibition at the National Constitution Center. Perhaps you, as Icepack readers, would rather just think about drinking heavily and dressing up. OK, then: Oct. 18’s Bootleggers Ball is for you, my tipplers and Lindy Hoppers. (There will be dance instructors.)
Baptist Preacher/Drugbunny John Cecil Price is having his birthday celebration Oct. 22 with a rare live-music night at National Mechanics, with ex-Lady (but all woman) Kate Foust and all-man Thom McCarthy amongst the revelers.
It’ll never be Daffy’s, the just-closed Quonset hut where fun fashion met value, but we’ll have to try it out: Marshall’s opens at 1044 Market St. on Oct. 18. Here’s hoping they at least sell Paul Smith socks.
If you press jackweeds think you’re going to bug Live Nation’s Jim Sutcliffe for tickets this week, you’ve got another thing coming. My good friend James will be busy getting married to his longtime love, Angela Cordovano. Mazel tov.
Bugging you now because it will sell out: East Passyunk’s Le Virtù is holding its Autunno alle Brace Oct. 29, with food from the Abruzzo-focused restaurant’s master chef Joe Cicala, his neighbor George Sabatino (Stateside) and Scott Schroeder (American Sardine Bar). Since these guys have held everything from daylong La Parnadas to outdoor pig roasts with fire pits and liberal amounts of beer (causing me to rave about them in print and to anyone within chewing distance), Autunno alle Brace is a must.
