Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

Suzanne Roberts. We love your theater on Broad. We were up all night dancing to Sondheim, thinking of sprightly nicknames: "The Sue," "The Suuzz," "The Szbert." But between reports of Comcast cable's falling profits (54 percent), its BitTorrent bitchiness and that Nightmare on Broad Street thing Inga Saffron wrote about your upstairs neighbor Symphony House, I can't help think that either Brian and Ralph're freaking, thinking you have to just cut yourself loose from the fam. There's no biz like show biz and family comes first only after being fabulous.

► Speaking of boards 'n' bards, a new theater company's a-brewin' (damn plays got me talkin' like Rodgers but not Hammerstein) in West Philly, commencing with William Finn's March of the Falsettos February '08. But we need a benefit NOW. Bring in Sherman Arts' Rich Wexler, Rob Goldberg, swooning synth crooner Stephen Bluhm and the hee-larious Sixth Borough comedy sketchers at Rotunda Nov. 1. Pay it in.

► You'll want to know Mark Marek and Dino Minelli (former co-owner of NYC's Luke & Leroy). They're the owner and marketing director at the membership-mostly G (under Davio's) opening doors Nov. 28.

► Temple U's Leah Kauffman gets no credit for her viral "My Box in a Box," and "I've Got a Crush ... on Obama" vids. That g-damn dancer got the cred. Leah wrote, played and sung 'em and is M-Room-ing Nov. 2.

► WHOWHATWHERE: Billy Paul came without Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Jones to Back2Basics at Silk City. He even sang some tunes. When WMGK's John DeBella wasn't being Chef Boyardee for Halloween at Hard Rock Café, he was hitting King of Prussia's Hugo Boss store reopening. Nice seeing Rich Santore in his glory when his Saloon hit 40 the other night. But we were thrilled to see his brah, kids' book illustrator Charles Santore. Saloon-ing, too, was the very hip (as in replacement) David Carroll (thanks Eric Hume, Gov. Corzine's doc) who rumored an Artemis-like rock and/or roll club-night reunion between he and DJ Bobby Startup soon. I'm hearing Startup may join the retinue of spinners (Christian James, Dozia) at Level and Vango. Cool. DJs Carl Michaels, Deep C, Rahsaan, Frosty, Lee Jones and Dev 79 just joined Vango's weekday lineup. Which reminds me: Nobu's Michael Fee does what Diaa Sawan calls "Japanese Continental" at the Vang. (And do catch the aforementioned reggaeton-ing Rahsaan doing his "Noche De Los Muertos" jam at EDN in Old City Nov. 1.) 

► Run it? Run this. Philly's Andre Harris and Vidal Davis wrote 'n' produced "Hold Up" on Chris Brown's Exclusive newbie.

Hot Hands Studio: $50 for $25 Massage, Skin Care & Body Treatments | Curves | Cafe Nola | Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub: Plastic Debit Cards | Philadelphia Orchestra: Four Tickets for April 8, 2010 | Philadelphia Orchestra: Four Tickets for June 3, 2010 | Skirmish Paintball | Swanky Bubbles | Gillian's ticket | Mango Moon

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► We're hearing Nov. 1 for the quiet opening of Bombino, Al Paris' new Ninth Street eatery. Make some noise and mange. 

► For the love of his da,d Jim Morrison (it's his rumor and he's sticking to it), Dan Contarino (ex-Shampoo) runs events at Taylor Mills' new-old-new Taylor's in Cherry Hill. Did Dan shield his eyes when porn star Gina Lynn opened the sporty joint?

► J.C. Price's gospunk Baptist Preachers sing at the Balcony with Blue Maxx Goat's Black Landlord, Nov. 5. Will there be horns beyond cardboard ones? We only hope.

► I know you missed Drexel U's date with legendary fine-art fashion illustrator Gregory Weir-Quiton (Neiman Marcus, Bob Mackie) 'cuz I didn't see you there. So don't miss Drexel's next celebrity date to benefit the school's fashion council with jewel giant David Yurman Nov. 7 at King of Prussia's Zodiac Restaurant (610-642-2226)

► My neighbor Nick Meglina finally sold his Felicia's at 11th to Manayunk's Old Eagle guys for something called Devil's Den. Yo. It's a Catholic neighborhood.

► Keven Parker's soul swanky Ms. Tootsie's RBL turns one Nov. 3 with Monique, Jill Scott and Musiq in the house and a Champagne Soul Food Brunch the next morning.

► Before I get to helping CAConrad and Betsy Andrews host their mega-ACTION AIDS event Nov. 13 at the Balcony, I'm curating/spinning a pre-bash for that event at Glam in the O.C. — a First Friday happy hour exhibit Nov. 2 with new works from Peek-A-Boo photog Chris K, Art@Sophi pal/painter Mike Murray and new Philly arrival Pyro — a guy whose work's even more fired-up than it sounds (www.pyropainter.com). Make the "burn" noise.