Sure, it's just an acting gig. But Norristown's Maria Bello can't help but be affected. Words like "inspiring" and "courageous" come out of her mouth when talking about her newest film — Oliver Stone's World Trade Center about the events of 9/11 and the devotion of its cop protagonists, William Jimeno and John McLoughlin, the latter of whom Bello took to supper at Villa di Roma with her parents before McLoughlin's hero's welcome (as reported at citypaper.net/clog) at Ritz 5. Like McLoughlin, Bello's mom was a first responder. "My parents were with me at a screening in Manhattan when the planes hit, so my mom, a registered nurse, rushed to St. Vincent's to help," says Bello from a couch at Four Seasons. "She's incredibly strong and brave." It's that sort of humanity and realism that makes WTC a damned-near documentary — a film sans Stone's usual politick. "My mother always said when you come to the edge of a cliff you can either turn around. Or you can jump." It's the exact words of the first responders that Stone made a film about — McLoughlin's stories, those of his wife Donna, whom Bello plays. "Nic [Cage, who plays McLoughlin] and I got to know their characters by doing the dishes. Going to their house in Long Island was like being in Norristown with my family." Other WHOWHATWHERE ain't SO beneficent: Philly native Bradley Cooper — whose Kitchen Confidential = UGH! — was schlumping around in long shorts and much stubble through Washington Square Park. Members of the band Live were spotted supping and cheering at Le Castagne. Was that really Bruce Willis at Pad Thai Shack? We hear from our source that the maybe-Willis "stood at the counter the entire time, staring at us like we were supposed to recognize him." That is Justin and Kenny, I mean Kiki & Herb, out of retirement and lurking around The Wilma with Philly ex-pat producer Earl Dax, readying their Broadway show (four weeks at the Helen Hayes, starting Aug. 11) with a series of verrrry quiet previews. Though everyone's still recovering from WYSP's Jacky Bam Bam's Troc party with Buckcherry, one of the eve's attendees, Dave Weakley (bassist for Roughhouse), is asking for people to get involved in a benefit for his daughter who was badly injured by a hit-and-run driver. "My friend Larry O'Toole started a campaign to help her out with a Texas Hold 'Em tournament and a motorcycle poker run/band concert in September," writes Weakley. Contact kingoflarryland@yahoo.com. While Drexel's L-Cast label hosts its first Khyber gathering Aug. 4, next door at Glam artist buds (Come Dionysus vidmaker Patrick Ferguson, photog Ryan Lauko, painters Lindsay Grow, Chris Jankoski and Linda Joy) debut their First Friday wares. Days later, Aug. 7, their traveling, Silver Jews-punk-sounding Burnt Oak label buds Griffin and the True Believers play Bar Noir. La-la. New owner types — yay: While Christopher Lyons straightens out the Blue Horseshoe to make it into a Mediterranean-themed restau-bar (called Christopher's) for September, the Brothers Vasiliadis, Alex and Steve, are tricking out their new purchase, the old Monkey Bar, to be more clubby, less bar-y. The upwards rightside-up take of the WXPN/Y100 brotherhood? First, DJ Robert Drake's once monthly old new wave show, Land of the Lost, will remain — final Fridays 7-11 p.m. — on air, even with Jim McGuinn's time slot. (Note to all: That'd be a cool regular show for the Y-Rock stream.) Then there's World Café Live booker Karl Mullen's very interesting take on the new infusion of kid stuff 'round X/Y's homestead. With bookings like Clap Your Hands' Alex O's Flashy Python, Starsailor and Bettye LaVette, Mullen boasts of nothing but net for WCL. "There seems to be a perception that Live Nation are in some sort of flux at the club level and certainly Laura [Wilson] and I are very quick, savvy, creative and hip to new music and have booked a surprisingly high number of profile artists." OK. "We're really good at online promotions and marketing while the competition still seems to rely on saturating the alternative press with full-page ads." Hey now. One of Abilene's out-on-its-ass regulars, the freak-a-deaked Fat City Reprise, still hasn't got its equipment back from when that venue closed. "The locks are changed, the partners are bitching, neither of them paid the rent, and we're all pissed," says Fat Nick Anastasi. But don't take it out on Andy when FCR and the lilting tilted harmonies of Unlikely Cowboy (we luv Ali Wadsworth's voice, yo) play First Friday's Aug. 4 Fuk Warhol showcase at Five Spot. Want more gorgeous vocals? Beth Filla's. Hey, they saved my ass. Now save theirs. The Trolleyvox debut stuff from new label Transit of Venus's label debut (phew) The Trolleyvox Present the Karaoke Meltdowns at North Star Aug. 4. Their drummer Ken Buono is like Keith Moon, man. Stacey Wilson of Squarebiz and Ed Crawford of Phatboy Media got their own jawn now: Allstar Collective. Their graphic/Web design, marketing and such (they've worked with Prince, Jazzy Jeff and MTV's Real World: Philadelphia) can be spied in art gallery/storefront form at 510 W. Girard Ave. You won't have Dave Glass to help out too much after his solo art show at Tritone Aug 5. He and his missus Kelly are ready to drop a "crazy kid" named Colin "Darby" Riddick named after his childhood hero Darby Crash from the Germs, who just happen to be reuniting without the dead Darby this weekend at the Troc. Congrats to Dave and Kelly. Sorry, Darby. And remember, Aug. 3 is the first ever-est Philadelphia magazine Best of Philly Day. While the mag'll celebrate by giving away free soft pretzels, Tastykakes and "We Love Philly" flags, do something Philly Mag-ish: Get a nose job or a chemical peel. Register Republican. Do it for them.