icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

To witness Philly Mag working overtime to hype itself to mah brethren in columnland has been like seeing The Apprentice's second-place contestant on TV: the hickishly urbane Tana Goertz sweating, kvetching, pointing to herself. With its out-tomorrow story on local PR ladies a naughty, nice, yet-incomplete tale, I'm blowing big kisses to Philly's publicity women — a group of gals Icepack's clowned and kissed since it was a loose cube. So hello, Clare Pelino, who just graduated from NYU with a Master's of Science in publishing; to Michelle Malin Seidman, who just got a gig as a trend consultant for Fox TV's GoodDay; to publicity ex-pat Melissa Jacobs, who continues her Lexi James and the Council of Girlfriends onslaught with a Warwick Hotel she-bang June 16; to Paige Wolf, who just got her PPRA Fast Track award; to Kelly Boyd, because she stays skinnier than I do; to Ali Waks and Rachel Furman for having diggity b-day bashes last week; to Nina Zucker for getting Rufus Wainwright onto the bill for Elton John's July 4 Freedom Ball; to Nicole Cashman, busy flying to Switzerland for Italian watchmaker Giuliano Mazzuoli and doing PR for Don Argott's Rock School; to Philly Film Society's Thom Cardwell — not really a woman, just a PR maven — who just got an Honorary Doctorate from University of the Arts. "I don't get enough ink and that's why I had to become a doctor," laughs Cardwell. Ladies, I stand, sans entendre, at attention fer ye. … Now that papers are inked for erstwhile Zipperheaders Rob and Stef Windfelder's move from 407 South St. to 528 S. 4th St., will they retain the Zipperhead name? "You know how you see band reunions and it's never quite the same?" asks Rob about taking up its owner/their landlord Rick Millan's offer to license the name. (Neither side would discuss the proposed financials.) "We're choosing the future over the past. It's more respectful — like retiring a player's number." … Can't wait until Dean Rosenzweig — painter, sound guy, Cream Charger — beats it permanently for Berlin, where he'll practice his trades? I keed. He's having his going-away bash 'n' BBQ at Bar Noir May 30. … Atop Lemon Hill, where his son Peter's Spirit — The Seventh Fire dwells, billionaire investor Warren Buffett hosted a Sunday picnic, with locals (including single-bullet Arlen Specter) as well as private-jetted-in guests Sir Ben Kingsley and Perry Farrell. "I'm privileged to have pretty strong connections with your Native American population, which in my eyes [is] your nation's greatest asset and treasure," said Kingsely. While Warren jokingly tugged on ears with faux investment advice, Kingsley played drums with Spirit's percussionists. When I accidentally called Ben "dude" in regard to his picking up sticks, Gandhi exclaimed: "It is not the first tiyime I hahhve drummed with people, sah." As for a spacey Farrell — taking a break from prepping for his Lollapalooza — he was wowed. "It was as poignant as a spirit walk," said Farrell. "People don't sit cross-legged and meditate anymore. This made you consider that." What the fuck? WHOWHATWHERE: While the Power 99/WDAS FM Music Summit 2005 hosted Ludacris, Russell Simmons and Irv Gotti at 38th and Market (and nobody got killed), World Café Live welcomed the snoozier AAA-radio fest, NONCom. Sure, I had to snort meth to stay awake through Erin McKeown. But I got to watch John Doe hang outside with Harry Shearer, who wearily fielded inane fan chatter about Spinal Tap ("Was that your real mustache, dude?") and The Simpsons. By questions' end, Shearer seemed older than Monty Burns. Rock-a-hula-ing Brian Setzer may have just brought Glenside buddy Tommy Maguire (from the Blue Comet club) to Palm Springs to best-man his wedding to Julie Reiten over the weekend. But a li'l bird tells me Setzer will repay the favor here, in August, when Maguire marries his longtime fiance, Katie. Wanna meet Amber Tamblyn? Ask her what the hell is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Make fun of her for losing Joan Of Arcadia? She'll be hanging at 5th and Market (May 27, noon), signing (not selling; she doesn't need money, yet) autographs. … For Gay Pride Day June 12, Franny Price has booked The L Word theme-songers Betty and famously queer comic Ant who, Henri David says, "the kids love, right?!" … Exhumed Films officially sealed its film presentation deal with International House over a vegan cake inscribed with the words "Exhumed Films [heart] International House." … While planning its next big show (CSI: Camac Street inna morgue? That's what I hear.), Pig Iron Theatre Company was awarded an OBIE for its off-Broadway showing (SoHo's Ohio Theater) of their Hell Meets Henry Halfway. Yay! … After almost seven years and countless napping audience members, The Point is closing its Lancaster Ave. address in Bryn Mawr; sad, as they were just getting ready to get a liquor license, which meant you could've at least been drunk listening to Ben Arnold. (Hi Ben!) While the license apparently scared landlords, The Point is continuing to look at Main Line addresses. "One door closes and another opens; unless it's a revolving door," says booker/PR guy Jesse Lundy, who'll bring Jim Boggia to close the Point June 25 — a show I'd need more than al-ce-haaal to stomach.