icepack

The Book and the Cook is fin. Successfully, too. But a foodie taint remains on Philly things big and small. Like Antra guy Todd Wolfe's urban-oriented Cheesesteak Media, with new recording facilities and Low Maintenance record label. Clients include Matt Chitter, Ben Frank and The Malachi Brothers. Cheesesteak also does marketing for reunited hip-hop legends Black Sheep and Arrakis' Digs Darklighter, who's set to release two EPs, Spacewalking and Twisted Metals, the full CD Fast Times at Digsmont High and a new 7-inch single, "AllsImSayinIs." Then there's The Roots (whose ?uestlove produced chunks of Blackalicious' Blazing Arrow CD, due in April on MCA), who ate Totally Vegetarian's cheesesteaks for PETA billboards, photographed by John Barone and Lauren Lyons.... So where is the Carmen Sandiego of rekka guys, Glenn Manko? G left Majera Records six months ago to launch Bo Tree Entertainment music management and production, handling Ozzie Jones' rock-hop project that I've been hot on forever and electro-poppers Global Transmission and The Situation, the latter a South/Strokes-like band (repped by Pete Paterno, who lawyers the likes of Smashing Pumpkins) that Manko's co-managing with the Troc's Jon Hampton. While The Situation cut tracks at Third Story with Scott Herzog and Mark Sarisky (who's currently wrapping Stone Gossard on the new Brad record there), Manko also has a production roster of one: Griffin House. The trés Jeff Buckley-esque Ohian is recording sinister demos with Phil Nicolo at Studio 4, when Phil's not busy recording new Pete Yorn stuff in Conshy (his version of Iggy's "China Girl" rules) and mixing the live Moby Area:One CD.... Gyro's got quite a set for the Bikini Bandits premiere at the Prince April 6, what with the film's opening act Betty WhiteTrash and Andrew W.K. doing a post-movie showcase. Messy.... "My Attorney Bernie" Resnick heads to L.A. to expert testify in the "rappin' Granny" case, where No Limit artist Magic -- with Snoop Dogg -- are alleged to have surreptitiously sampled a recorded telephone call with an old lady from Pomona, Calif., without her knowledge or permission. "It's a classic," says Resnick, who's reppin' Philly's Peedi Crak, the Louis Farlow-managed rapper who're near inking a Roc-A-Fella deal.... Club Nostradamus' Goddess Theatre Thursdays start soft, March 28, with Tapping the Vein's pre-CD-release acoustic set of spidery faves. Also golden-calfing are Torsion and painter Zack Parkar.... Whohungwhere? Frank Stella and Jasper Johns visited the Art Museum's Barnett Newman opening; Troma film prez Lloyd Kaufman and stars Toxic Avenger and Sgt. Kabukiman stopped by Tritone's Hard Liquor Thursday, becoming part of electro-shock game-show festivities (as did TLA film guy Scott Johnson) as Wilma visitors/Needles Jones' pals Kiki & Herb watched.... Shawn Kilroy removes "Hector" and keeps the Boyd's of London tag for a crinkly art mod-pop show (with Joe from Three 4 Tens) at Silk City April 1 with DJ Matt Werth. This begins "Lush Puppy & Ryder" -- a continuing Monday new wave party with Niko gals Tracy Lutz and Regina Mandell and DJs Can’t Spin for Shit and Mike Z.... 76er Derrick Coleman has his own label, On Point Recordings, a debut artist Seth Marcel and a single "I'm Necessary." I hear Allen Iverson ain't signed no more. Light bulb!.... New Transit/Synergy Entertainment Fridays kick off March 29 with DJs Kling, Wonder, Rodrigo Ramirez, Summerjoy, Carl Michaels, Jason and Jamie bathed in Pawn lasers, cruising new Floor 3 VIP suites and sipping private bottle service uh, sippables.... Sax axeman Elliott Levin (who hangs with Mother of Invention Don Preston April 8 at Tritone) debuts Interplay Ensemble (with Ed Watkins and Rick Iannacone) there April 1. That's also a good day for Painted Bride Quarterly to start a reading series upstairs at Khyber. The first Monday monthly begins with C.A. Conrad, Nzadi Keita and Jim Cory.... Framework label-exec/techno-iste Bob Brown is Frolicking Wednesdays at Proto, while Jugo, Argo and Lorne start a Nu-jazz Friday monthly, Mud People, March 19.... Electro-rockers Robots in Disguise throw a multimedia fashion concert, M.O.T.M., to debut tracks from their not-yet-done CD March 28, 9 p.m., under the great white tent behind Manayunk Brewing. DJs Brendan Olkus and Joey Blanco do it loft-style at Mask & Wig March 30.... While Glam hosts Tronco's disco for in-the-biz VIPs on Mondays and Carl Michaels' house Wednesdays, 32° headed to South Beach for the Winter Music Conference to promote, serving ice shots on the beach and hosting a party with Tommy Up, DJ Juan Atkins and the usual Philly suspects.... Noel "Dr." Zayas welcomes WMC-locals home with a party at 1616 Locust, March 29, starring Lee Jones, Cozmic Cat and b-day girl Miss Phoenixx, who'll perform (ahem) at midnight.