icepack

by A.D. Amorosi

So last week The Continental Midtown held a charity poker championship where celebs from news (yes, I was asked to play; no I didn't realize Texas Hold 'Em didn't come with spurs) and reality TV (can we get a charity to find fuckers like Gervase and Heidi Bressler suitable out-of-town lodgings?) gleaned big money to be given away by the Borgata Casino in A.C. "We knew we'd have a great charity event and a fun-filled party working with Stephen Starr," said Larry Mullin, executive vice president/COO for the Borgata. Yeah. That's great. But what was cool was seeing Starr and EFC/local Live 8 boss Larry Magid together. With the (then) just released info about Starr's Buddakan and Morimoto to be re-created — big Buddha 'n' all — backstage at Live 8 for schtars and VIPs, I began dreaming about their to-do list: 1.) Don't let Jacko do the Captain EO thing. 2.) Keep your sons in front of you. 3.) Remember to label the '78 Merlot "Jesus Juice.' 4.) Tell Kelly Rowland she'll always be as important as Beyonce. 5.) Remember that the Pink Floyd reunion's happening in London. No roasted pig necessary.

P.S. The unofficial Continental/Borgata after-party at Walnut Room with Mei Yann Hwang's wack Vegas act

"Wang Newton": priceless. … After five years together, Joe Lekkas' loud-as-love Hilliard called it quits, playing a final show at the Fire, rather than the club he books, the Manhattan Room, or going to see the band he rented out rehearsal space to (at his Surreal Studios) the night prior, Bloc Party. "Creative differences, I guess — that's my claim and I'm sticking to it," says Lekkas of Hilliard's demise. What's next? Lekkas has already debuted his much quieter new band, Grammar Debate, on MySpace (www.myspace. com/grammardebate). Don't let the door hit your ass, Hilliard. … Also big on change is Jason Killinger's Trauma Queens, who have, in the name of throwing people off their scent, become Birds of Maya. "If you want to know what that means, just Google it," adds the cryptic Killinger. … We're stone sorry we missed lurvely Jacky Bam Bam's Hairball at Cheerleaders, Monday — "Highest Hair" contest 'n' all. So we'll catch up to his mane, Couzin Ed's mohawk and ugly, elderly tongue-r Gene Simmons' frizzy 'do at WYSP's Babefest, June 24 at Electric Factory — just for the hair. We promise. … Look for William Way Community Center — all about Philly's GLBT community — to rename its patch of Juniper Street "Elton's Way" when Sir John hits town, July 4, for his Art Museum mega-fest. "Crocodile Block" already taken? … Finally figured out: Ye old Bank at Third and Chestnut is getting a Haru Asian fusion joint from the same people who brought you Benihana, June 28. HIYA! … Too sad: Mad's Record store in Ardmore is closing after 45 years in biz. I never knew the name of the frizzy-haired guy who ran it. But I'll miss you, man… WHOWHATWHERE: "I recorded "Parents Just Don't Understand' and all I got was this stupid T-shirt": little hooray to DJ Jazzy Jeff, who got celebrated for his charity work by the Phillies and Sound of Philadelphia's Gamble and Huff at Citizens Bank Park with a videotaped congrats from Will Smith. Big Willie keeps those friends close, huh. Will and Grace's Leslie Gordon ate a whole bunch of crab cakes at Philadelphia Fish & Co. while in town for Philly's Gay and Lesbian Theater Festival. We spied Donovan McNabb dancing close to the stage at Brian McKnight's Tower show last week, getting almost sexy while the Kenny G of soul wailed on. McNabb: stick to QBing and dissing T.O. Dancing ain't your thing. … Quran Goodman got his new song "My Struggles" on the new Missy Elliott CD, The Cookbook, which also features Mary J. , Grand Puba 'n' all. … Even though she's finished with her Judy's Café, we hear ex-owner Eileen Plato gave her former bartender, Chris Rago, Judy's old recipes (meat loaf for everyone), the pink neon Judy's sign and aid in helping him find a new spot. … Satan's, I mean, Bart Blatstein's left-hand woman, Laura Vernola, is nearly ready to go with a very Vegas-y lounge along Liberties Walk run by "Black Randy" of N.3rd/Standard Tap fame… Look for G. Love's Souf Philly-filmed Coca-Cola Zero commercial "Chilltop" — which celebrates Coke's past glories with hilltop-lensed ads — to begin airing nationally June 27… Ian Morrison — known to most and many as drag princess Brittany Lynn — is going corporate so as to help Joni Bishop, the Director of Development and Public Relations of BEBASHI (HIV/AIDS crisis intervention for Philly's African-American Community). BEBASHI's Dancin' In the Streets event, June 24 — National HIV Testing Day — will go down on the steps of the Art Museum with Rich Medina, Lady Alma, Ursula Rucker, Xande Cruz and Montazh. … Yo, you love Charles Duquesne, aka Chuck D. He's drummed in more bands than I care to remember. But he's sick with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. And you need to hook him up with some money. So get to ChuckFest, June 25, at Poor Henry's (Ortlieb's bottling plant on American Street) and hear Mark Boyce (who's been integral in putting this all together), bands like Krass Brothers, his Grayy & Boyce duet with Phil Moore Browne's Mr. Thomas and more-more-more.