icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

It's never too soon for kitsch: Seeing American Idol's Ryan Starr drained dry on The Surreal Life is a keen, careening example. But with breast-man Russ Meyer lionized again, P. Diddy wearing a faux hawk, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi posing in his gruesome videos with Public Enemy-like machismo, IRS-besieged restaurateur Neil Stein hauled off like John DeLorean, and the Dead Milkmen reuniting, the kitsch of the moment is very chic-y, 1982-specific punk-funk. Even the monstrous John Kerry—our generation's Richard Kiel—is in on '82ing it, what with those Madonna-like bracelets on his stitched-up wrists. For fall's first true weekend, make sure you wear Zubaz so you can see the coke that fell from your nose while listening to The Lords of the New Church. … It's true. It's good: Philly's riotous punks The Dead Milkmen will play together for the first time in a decade (Nov. 21, the Troc) to benefit the family of original bass player Dave Blood, who committed suicide early in 2004. Dan Stevens, the bassist for Milkman Joe "Jack Talcum" Genaro's Low Budgets, will fill in. FOD and Ween (busy putting new tunes on the Tony Hawk DVD Underground 2) open. Having just run, happily, into Frankenstein Bike Worx owner Jeff Harris—aka Doc Dirt, the Milkmen's former minder—the circle is complete. Om. … After hosting the final Mojito at Marathon JFK and the slamming, intimate Back Door at Emerald City last Saturday, Paperstreet launches Easy Livin'. It's not a relaxation technique. Rather, it's a self-published magazine/"community love project" featuring Tommy Up, Robert Norton, Sara Ronsvalle and more, done up by stylists at Closet Fever. "We've developed a warped sense of humor working together, so it should be a funny little read," says Up, who'll co-host the Oct. 2 Emerald City launch party with DJ Tommie Sunshine (himself a very '80s-electro type) spinning till 8 a.m. Speaking of Emerald City, its co-owner Joe Dougherty reports that he's just been named branch president of the new Entertainment District Division of the Licensed Beverage Association—formerly the 1907-established Philadelphia Tavern Owners Association. "All of Philly's lounges and nightclubs will now have an organization that deals with our own specific issues unique to Old City and Northern Liberties," states Dougherty, pointing to everything from LCB and police relations to ugly bits of legislation such as a purported smoking ban. Light up while you can. … A rumor has ¡Pasion!'s Guillermo Pernot readying a Japanese-meets-Latin concept on 19th Street, near Tragos and Matymos. "I can't comment about that," says Pernot. Speaking of Tragos, they've got Iqram, a fabulous Zimbabwe-born, Sri Lankan singer-guitarist whose Latin-laced acoustic ballads and vibey covers grace Tragos' Friday happy hours, as well as Sundays (starting Oct. 3) at Tabula Rasa Café at Second and Poplar, and Thursdays at Astral Plane. Iqram's debut CD 10:00 Friday Night is produced and released by Bolden Abrams Jr. , the Germantown composer who did the music for casting guy/director Mike Lemon's film Touched. … Peter Breslow's assault-on-the-senses foodie freak-out, Binge—a "freethinking, freewheeling social club for amateur epicures"—will host First Wednesdays at Lacroix on Oct. 6 in its kitchen. Don't touch that spatula. Call 215-731-2000 ext. 200 and talk to Kevin. … Not only will Shawn Kilroy unveil the noir pop of Neon Gate at Bar Noir, Oct. 4, openers Chris Coella (Bombs) and Brian McNamara (Three-4-Tens) unveil solo sets. … I can't eat the bread but I can nibble the Taleggio cheese, Kobe beef, truffles and more of former Prime Steakhouse chef Todd Miller's cheesesteak when Stephen Starr's Barclay Prime opens Oct. 5. Expect to pay $100 for the sammich. … Singer Ashley Thomas and GFS DJ J. Smooth join Moqita (JG of GFS, Billy Blaise) at Fluid, Sept. 30, for a bigger take on Moqita's esoterica. Days later at Fluid, King Britt unleashes his Five Six record label's This is What Radio Should Sound Like starring Dozia and Bugz in the Attic, Oct. 6. … WHOWHATWHERE: When renowned stylist Maria Gallagher opened her Salon Thalia at the Curtis Center, she was joined by crooner Vic Damone and his wife Rena Rowan, the fashion maven whose Rena Rowan Breast Center the evening benefited. After their scheduled gig at The Khyber with Panthers yesterday, Philly's Hail Social are to join the Interpol tour as openers. Jersey soul girl Toby Lightman opened for Prince in Portland on Sept. 1. He sent an airplane to Jersey to pick her up. ... When Dave Pianka brings Making Time to Transit, Oct. 1, he'll do so with Downtown for Democracy voter registration and Bloc Party, Brits who surely have nothing to do with our democracy. Tea party! ... Friends of much-loved local advertising exec Kevin Levy (Where, Style) unite: Levy recently suffered a stroke. With the resulting lengthy hospital stay, friends Craig Russell, Phil Anderson and PhillySmooth are gathering troops for Oct. 6's Levy-thon, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Vesuvio, Eighth and Fitzwater. Bring $25 and your good heart.