Also this issue:

Vital Statistics
Baseball Reference's Sean Forman finds strength in numbers.
-Brian Howard

firstlook
-A.D. Amorosi

January 30-February 5, 2003

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

My new thing, other than spinning Manicured Noise 7-inches, wearing peak lapels and guzzling Twizzlers (potent girlie cocktails) at Drinker's Pub, is lawsuits. Like Paule Turner's legal tug-a-war with The Wilma Theater. For the lowdown, see Artsbeat on p. 24. And while Judge Judy's in the neighborhood, she may want to hear Young Professional Events party thrower Mark "The Dentist" Simone's case against Callahan Catering, the company who allegedly ran out of everything -- liquor, food, liquor -- way too early at YPE's New Year's Eve gig. "I'm doing it on behalf of our loyal youngprofessionalevents.com members," says Simone, who doesn't think it'll go to court. "Heaven forbid if PLCB got wind of their lack of responsibility." Electricfactory.com is up for grabs as the domain name held by the concert co. accidentally (?!) went un-reregistered. $10,000 gets the site. Twenty21 on Commerce Square dispensed, unceremoniously yet amicably, with Robin Parry's Nostradamus Friday happy-hour jams and Saturday live music/Peek-a-Boo-ish revues. At least till spring. "They decided live music did not fit the image they are trying to create," says Parry, who moves proceedings 10 feet away to Cary Borish's Marathon Lounge. While Marathon Commerce takes on bachelor pad Fridays, etc., Borish places Parry's jazz brunches and small shows at the Rittenhouse Square Marathon. Look for new themed stuff at another Marathon soon to get its liquor license. Ed Wilcox breathes life into another avant vexing version of Temple of Bon Matin, Feb. 2 at The Fire with Northern Liberties, Irene Moon and Rake Eheil. WhoWhatWhere: One night it's Kevin Spacey at one Ritz theater, then Sigourney Weaver hits another to hawk The Guys. A buncha Biker Boyz hung at Loews in Cherry Hill. D.L. Hughley anointed the swanky VIP room of Beyond. And what happened to Camper Van Beethoven at TLA? David Lowery sprayed with mace, bringing show to quick finale? Yikes. Dirty Dave Pianka and A.J. Ready Right smack Fluid upside the head Jan. 31 with cheap Pabst and hard electro. Jennifer Wechsler is moving Beadworks from South to South Second -- 602, ye olde Roxy space -- with Feb. 1's reopening show of jewels, gems and bangles. When Mike “Slo Mo” Brenner ain't busy producing The Donuts (whose EP is all over U.K. pirate radio), he's hanging with his old band, The Low Road, who not only got ABC's Hack to use a snip of "Hallelujah, She's Gone," they're playing their first shows in six years: On and around New Year's Eve 2003 at Tin Angel. Tickets already on sale. Schoolly D, fresh off a stint sucking face with Asia Argento in her DVD, Scarlet Diva, will spin at North, Feb. 2. Khyber kids Marc Sonstein and Meaghan Wright-Smith opened a Belgian brew and bites boîte, The Abbaye (Third and Fairmount), with Khyber bar gal Heather, Standard Tap's Leo Smith and TJ "Siltbreeze" Lax on the menu. Down under, Low Bar's "Dead Celeb" Tuesdays drew complaints when habitues got rattled by bountiful-boob-a-dacious art work. Boss Rick O’Neill gracefully covered the saucy fresco with a tapestry and will continue until the prudes leave the bar. The camera loves us: Not only will HBO film Jennifer Weiner's Good In Bed in Philly, King World filmed Inside Edition at Learning Studio in Malvern (for "Art of Exotic Dancing for Everyday Women"). Bravo is casting about locally for snazzy gay popcult and foodie pros for a makeover show called The Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (go to cities like Philly, find a grungy slob, spiff him). Fashion Frenzy TV is taping Living Room's "Models and Bottles" bash Jan. 30 with fashions by Hugo Boss and Sarai Styles. Finally! House kings JG and J. Smooth (a.k.a. GFS) release Mount Vernon Street (on Sound Gizmo Audio) with Soulglow's bash at Liquid Blue Jan. 30. Chamber Orchestra violinist Gloria Justen teams with electro-morphs Crasta, Thee Phantom, VJ Kaboom, Vincent Wonder, Clayton the Chemist and Mat Leutwyler at Fluid for a Feb. 5 Arts in Motion event. When not celebrating joint b-days, Shampoo's Shannon Niland and Cyoni celebrate Shampoo's sixth anniversary with Feb. 1's Bed party -- a pajama fashion show/Eagles Cheerleaders' lingerie show benefiting City of Hope. Lil’ Dave rings in two years of Bodyrock at Fluid, Feb. 1, with the godlike Prince Paul and DJ Avee. Swanky Bubbles makes merry for year three with sushi and champagne Feb 5. And fab folkie Betsy Spivak turns 22 with a gig at The North Star Jan. 31. Kevin Hanson, Matt Eyler and September help blow out her candles.