March 3- 9, 2005

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Aces for the Cure

by Nick Norlen

Charity Casino

Tired of waiting for Philly to legalize gambling? Wish your casino dealers could predict cold fronts? Here's your best bet: The first annual Double Down 4A Cure Casino Night, a charity affair featuring celebrity dealers such as The Bachelor 2's Gwen Gioia and NBC10's Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz, whose bow tie, for once, is appropriate.

The event benefits the NephCure Foundation, the only organization that exclusively seeks cures for nephrotic syndrome and FSGS, two fairly rare kidney conditions. The latter affects about 35,000 Americans, but diseases so scarce don't even make a blip on the public's radar, and a name like "focal segmental glomerulosclerosis" doesn't help. NephCure event coordinator

Kevin Tierney explains the challenge of spreading awareness: "There're so few people with the disease that we have to reach out to people who have never even heard of it and give them something fun to do." There are few things more fun than check raising with two-seven off-suit, especially when there are some sweet prizes on the line. A trip to see the Eagles play the Redskins in Washington, a private poker tourney for up to 64 players, and a two-night stay at the Sheraton Atlantic City are all among the goods up for grabs. Fifty bucks gets you in and gives you chips for Texas Hold 'Em, blackjack, roulette and craps. Open your wallet and you'll be rewarded with an open bar and hopefully a few open-ended straight draws. Have a heart; maybe you'll be dealt four more.

Double Down 4A Cure, Sat., March 5, 8-11 p.m., $50, Manayunk Brewery & Restaurant, 4120 Main St., 610-540-0186 ext. 23, www.nephcure.org .

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