Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

When it's sunny, I'm not outdoors boozing. And I won't let you fling a ball near me. I shop. And I read. So in between Mother's Day gifting and shoe perusing, I caught up on mags. Since I live 9 feet off one of the eight places you can currently legally smoke in Philly � the Friendly Lounge on Washington at Eighth Street � I can't tell you how funny it was to find it called one of America's best bars in the just-out issue of Esquire. "Magical" is what it said; "heaven" even. Now Friendly's swank in that Bukowski-meets-Larry Clark manner. But brah', you stop by there some sweaty Tuesday night at closing time. No matter what kind of Uli Kunkel-brand of nihilist you are, Friendly ain't heaven. I also caught Vanity Fair's Nick Tosches' sushi story where he mentions Philly's Sasha Issenberg's book, The Sushi Economy, and calls him "her" a few times. Some say it's a gaffe. Maybe my paisan Tosches meant to be bitchy. That's nose-pinching, Tony-kill-Christopher cruel, yo.

► Reading is funkdamental: I know y'all love Gyro-ite Steven Grasse's The Evil Empire: 101 Ways That England Ruined the World. But Grasse is busying himself now producing Erich Weiss' directorial debut (if his John Legend documentary doesn't beat him to it) about the real Sailor Jerry, tattoo artist extraordinaire Norman Collins and the true tat world of burly coots and bikers. Plus, Weiss captured Jerry's protégés Don Ed Hardy, Mike Malone and Hardy's supposed rival Rollo Banks, whom Weiss filmed right before Banks' suicide in April. 

► Sure, the Holt (Chris, Frank, Rob) brothers' big throbbing Shovelhook is readying CD No. 2 with Phil Nicolo. They're also opening for the Velvet Revolver/Evanescence WMMR-B-Q at Tweeter May 20. In a world of coincidences, Chris' band Liquid Gang once toured as an opener for Stone Temple Pilots. Dig? 

► With the precincts in and council votes from the neighborhoods (Souf' Philly, Ninth Street) and city (Philly licensing peeps) counted by May 16, Connie's Ric Rac, closed for electrical permit stuff, should be opened, up and running. 

► The Live Arts/Fringe Fest is three-plus months away with 39 big shows including BATCH from New Paradise Labs and the legendary Wooster Group production of The Emperor Jones under its big belt. But to kick things off, Live Arts/Philly Fringe marketing director Heidi Duffey, Needles Jones and the Monday Night Club at the Balcony will start their heralded monthly Pre-Fringe big-shoe networking/workshop events May 21 with all-comers testing their shows and schmoozing. Avant-whatnot Radio Eris will be on hand to re-release Monkey Island. Peek-A-Boo Revue's Christa D'Aggar and Davey Cassanova will make their sketch comedy debut before doing a striptease. Both of them? 

► WHOWHATWHERE: Seeing Georgie Girl and having high tea with its star, Lynn Redgrave, at Bryn Mawr Film Institute? That's me. And you, too, can meet Redgrave May 18 if you're in on the Wellness Community of Philly cancer charity jawn called Evening in the Park. (Call 215-879-7733 or visit www.twcp.org for info.) I know that little could be as exciting as seeing Melrose Place's Andrew Shue at Ritz Five talking about his co-producing debut, Gracie. But dude, that was Ronnie James Dio walking down Broad and Pine last week: DEVIL HORNS! Gwen Stefani May 24 at the Tweeter? Look up 'n' look hard: That'll be Hired Guns guitarist Jay Medley joining cousin Gail Ann Dorsey (Bowie bassist) in Gwen's band. We have it under good authority (DJ Rahsaan, who's taking them around) that when Sony BMG bachata group Optimo hit North Philly May 17 (Centro Musical meet/greets) they may stop at singer/hairdresser Diana Guzman's new Puerto Rican/Mexican Cobre at 812 N. Broad. Didja miss Björk at Radio City Music Hall and the Apollo? I didn't. But you did. So see her at the Mann near September's end. 

► It's her party. And I'll spin you right 'round if I want to. Rachel Furman's Rachel Inc. is doing ev'ry-third-Friday happy hours at Glam starting May 18. DJ A.D. (me!) will spin '80s noise. Long Island Iced Teas ev'rywhere. 

► RUMOR: We keep hearing that legendary Sands executive George Toth is nosing around several of the Trump casino/hotel properties in Atlantic City. And he's not looking for the buffet table. 

► Mark Bee's Silk City? Opens first week of June. While I'll fill you in on visual highlights until then, here's one from Bee: "Well, the diner's a classic. I just took out the milk-shake machines and added a cool old beer tap." Gotcha. Now, I know there'll be entertainment every night of the week â€â€� DJs like Ian St. Laurent and Steven Bloodbath. But won't that bug eaters? "Not after 11. I've got these cool padded doors." But before that? "Better flow between the rooms." Dig. 

► Cosmo? His Rub DJ jam is on Scion radio here (www.scion.com/broadband). He celebrates 10 years of The Remedy at Fluid June 4 with Rich Medina there. And this Black Sabbath mix (brooklynradio.net//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=48) would scare the aforementioned Dio anywhere. Cosmo's playing with Beanie Sigel at Knitting Factory May 22. Separate sets. "I am not trying to get punched," teases Cosmo. 

► Sad this is happening to one so rad: Jim Weiss will close his Spruce Street Records and Tapes April 26. That's 20 years â€â€� to the day â€â€� of serving University City kids alternative music. Why? Downloading. "I'm not dying," laughs Weiss, who'll sell everything but his boots at 50 percent off till close. "Besides, I'm the last man standing in West Philly ... but the first one in." It was a fun party. Thanks, Jim.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)