Also this issue:

Fear and Loathing in Los Angeles
The video-game industry’s annual E3 is too much, and not enough.
-Chris Newborg

firstlook
When Philadelphians think "art gallery," Old City and its First Friday booze-and-browse fest come to mind.
-A.D. Amorosi

June 5-11, 2003

music

icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

The last few Icepacks have been filled with closings and bust-ups. Let me find some cheer. How about this: May 28’s New York Times gave a shout to Philly fooderies. Wait. It only mentioned "sloppy" Philly food, focusing on Jim’s, Pat’s, water ice and scrapple. And it called Passyunk Avenue "Manayunk Avenue." HACKS! Speaking of messy food, if you frequented the Ninth Street festival, you not only got to see the opening of the new Gleaners Café and Gallery, you heard Sam Katz and Frank DiCicco croon lousy Sinatra-esque takes on "Luck Be a Lady" and "My Way."… Maybe that wasn’t so happy. Maybe this is cheerier: G. Rich Goldberg, the executive director of the Philadelphia Film Society (they produce the Philly Film Fests with TLA Entertainment), has left his post. "I felt like I’d done what I set out to to," says Goldberg, pointing at the recent Fest as the pinnacle of his success. His highest point? "Seeing people watching cartoons on Broad Street." What’s next? His G. Rich Productions is developing feature films, kids’ television programming and a NoLib community performing arts facility. "I hope to be the mayor someday," he says.… Last week, a federal judge dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit filed in June 2002 against Britney Spears and Jive Records by Philly songwriters Michael Cottrill and Lawrence Wnukowski, who claimed that her tune, "What U See (Is What U Get)," is their tune, "What You See Is What You Get." Judge Berle M. Schiller ruled there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Spears had access to the tune, which the duo state Spears’ reps asked for in late 1999 (Spears’ team says their "U See" was already finished by then). "We are going to take an appeal," says George Bochetto, the attorney for both songwriters. "These cases, from a musicological view, are very complicated. … Judge Schiller’s a very fine judge whom I have a great deal of respect for. But in this case I happen to disagree with him."… The film Drexel’s Jonathan Estrin wrote and executive produced, Jasper, Texas, hits Showtime starting June 8.… Silvertide, busy finishing their J label debut (for fall release), kicks off a series of Abilene Thursdays June 5.… Thursdays are also good for Kate Vail and Ali Waks’ now-weekly "Bellabar" at 20th and Lombard’s Bella and its happy hour, "Ex-Exchange" -- a place where, Waks says, "smart, successful women who own their own businesses" get hooked up with the commendable ex-boyfriends of other successful women. "Just because I don’t fit with this person maybe someone else will," adds Vail. Later, the new happy couples can go to Parkway Diner -- the former St. George’s at 20th and Arch -- for Soul-One’s "Blue Plate Special." It ain’t just dining -- the 24-7 food service is matched with an upstairs dancefloor/hang suite, with hosts Camille Young and S-One and DJs Mr. Cisum and Bill Prophet spinning till 3 a.m. Plus, Thu., June 5, Diesel Jeans is hitting Drinker’s Tavern, with giveaways, barbecue and free Smirnoff Ice.… David Carroll and Tim Bowen present "SuperFried" -- a punk-rocked hip-hop experience at Bar Noir June 10, with me, A.D., spinning.… "The E Street Shuffle," starting June 8 and running every Second Sunday at The Bishop’s Collar, is Philly’s first all-Springsteen night -- a gift from Bob Zimmerman, Backstreets Magazine contributor, to Boss freaks everywhere. "Springsteen "tramps’ are an intense, loyal, breed," says Zimmerman.… While Bi Mon Sci Fi Con play their last show under that name (they’re going to be Trouble Everyday) at Doc Watson’s June 6, Chris “freAKAnature” Mottershead, Herbie D., Chuck Treece and the rest of City Limits -- all exes from the famed Fathead -- hit The Fire June 7.… Haralabos Zacharatos hosts first-time-in-Philly Miami DJ Robbie Rivera and local spinners Tommyboy, Snug, Donato and Groove June 5 at Emerald City.… After five years, Felix Diaz’s film, Superhero Excelsior, hits Brooke Lewis and co.’s "FirstGlance Film Fest" at the Prince, June 8. It’s a dark "Dirk Factor" comic flick that should scare the kids.… WhoWhatWhere: After ringing the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange, Peter Nero slams the eighty-eights at Steinway & Sons’ 150th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall June 7. "Superman" Dean Cain made a night of it last Thursday at Bar Noir and 32º.… You have two chances to be famous this week: You can either hook up with photographer Joe Bowman for his ads for Blue Ball 2004 (gotta be fit, boys) June 5 at William Way Center (call 215-545-5551), or, if you’re a bit saggier, try out for Ben Morgan and his Sand Family’s riot grrl rock opera, The Broken Hipsters, June 8 at The Rotunda.

B-days: L'Hexagone celebrates its first anniversary with a beach party (would that be Cannes?) June 5. George Manney, Andrew Chalfen, CP's own M.J. Fine and Chatty Cathy all celebrate belated birthdays, while promoter Maria Tessa Sciarrino observes her big day in July at Doc Watson's with the mysteriously named Cherry Coke, a band inspired by last year's scene-slamming zine, supposedly with members from Delta 72, Marah and Strapping Fieldhands.