January 29-February 4, 2004

mixpicks

Black Tie Tailgate Auto Show Preview Gala

Why do I love the annual Black Tie Tailgate Preview Gala for the Philadelphia International Auto Show when I never, ever learned to drive? Because, even as a kid, I dug the fast cars of my native Italy, like the lemon-creamy dream machine, the Lamborghini Gallardo, to be on display at the 2004 Tailgate. I dug being around cars, such as the dashingly futuristic Enzo Ferrari, that will be shown in the Grand Ballroom along with the products of tony English manufacturers like Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls Royce. While my favorite memory of past shows was watching a tipsy Adam West answer a ketchup bottle as if it were a phone, I dare say this year's appearances by the Eagles' A.J. Feeley and Mike Quick, Eagles' radio-mouth Merrill Reese and the Flyers' Jeremy Roenick and Tony Amonte will be a tad more sober. While the gala is meant to preview the weeklong 2004 Philadelphia International Auto Show (starring Terry Labonte, NASCAR Winston Cup series driver of Kellogg's/Got Milk?-sponsored Chevrolet race car) all this Black Tie Tailgating actually has a grand charitable cause, giving its annual monies to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Plus this year will see the debut of the Auto Dealers CARing for Kids Foundation, providing educational and safety programs. Vroom.

Black Tie Tailgate Auto Show Preview Gala, Fri., Jan. 30, 7 p.m., $150, 1-800-759-9533; Philadelphia International Auto Show, Jan. 31-Feb. 8, $6-$10, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 11th and Arch sts., 215-418-2003, www.phillyautoshow.com.

—A.D. Amorosi

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