Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

You know the line "the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated" or however it goes? That's absolutely Henri David's mood. Even though Raphael Tiberino drew the poster for this year's now-nearly-sold-out Halloween Ball at da Wyndham Franklin, and David's still sewing "enchanted forest" themed costumes ("Three changes, four depending on weather. I have to hit Home Depot. I'm a construction site.") Internet rumors are still running rampant that Henri won't be there this year or evermore. "WRONG," he laughs when he calls to chill the gossip. "That's why I never use computers or the Internet. I'm never stopping and if I did it would only be because of the bullshit," he says, regarding union hasslers uncertain as to what time to end the ball — what with daylight-saving time. "This used to be a fun dressed-up town. Nothing is as much fun as it used to be." That said, Ed Rendell says he'll be there ("and he's not even running for anything"), as will more than one currently-filming-in-Philly movie personality. "And you won't even know them from their masks." Tease.

► While George Manney readies his Meet Me on South Street documentary (search YouTube for "Shameus"), the hippie block's 2,000-square-feet of Chef's Market should be getting filled (if papers get signed and zoning's taken care of, as I'm hearing they will this week) by mega-dessert-ier Capogiro. Like what the ice-cream-er's done in University City, this will be a massive hangout/sweets-foodie hub. In the same building (Chef's Market's side room) will, supposedly, go Cathy Cavuto's Healthy Bites nosh-erie and cooking classes. Sta-tuned.

► It's Baptist Preachers' John Cecil Price's birthday and he'll drop EPs if he wants to. And cover Hall and Oates. That's what JCP's got planned, respectively, for Oct. 27's EP release/b-day party (at the Troc's Balcony) and Nov. 2's H+O tribute with rare screenings of "Live from Daryl's House" and guests like David E. Williams' doing "Method of Modern Love" (at National Mechanics).

► And isn't The Balcony doing the sweetest thing this Sat., Oct. 24? A Philly-indie slumber party with Saudi Arabia, TJ Kong, Daniel Pujol's Some Beaus and Denny and the Jets? Bring PJs.

► Is goofball boxing promoter Damon Feldman already going after Jon Gosselin? Rumor has ze Jewish Bomber driving to NYC to meet JG on Saturday with a weekday plan to look at venues nearer his brood. Ugh. But good call on Feldman's part.

► Sadly this weekend, two local burlesque companies call it a day — the Von Foxies is done as is the Hellcat Girls, the latter of whom disband as Athena Onatopp leaves for Texas (with the franchise name?). "Looks like we're the Claudius of burlesque troupes," says Peek-a-Boo Revue-r Scott Johnston.

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HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

► Also going out with a bang — after 13 openings, T&P Fine Art on South Ninth shuts doors at November's end.

► The married two-thirds of spooky Fern Knight (Margie and Jim) moved to Washington, D.C., not so very long ago. And yet they swear they're excited to come home and play the Rotunda Oct. 24 with Cheer-Accident, The Red Masque and Make a Rising.

► WHOWHATWHERE: My Spidey sense tells me that Kirsten Dunst had dinner at Amada, away from the fray in Jose Garces' back room. My skinny tall dancer sense tells me that Tommy Tune hit Lorenzo Pisoni's Humor Abuse at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. Atza nize. And yes, that was Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre in the stands at Bruce Springsteen and The legendary E Street Band's final mesmerizing program the Spectrum. Torre was, miraculously, not ripped to shreds.

► Shannon Niland-Carroll, Cheerleaders Gentlemen's Club Director of Promotions, is hosting a first-ever "PinUps for Pitbulls" charity event and festival, Oct. 25. The cash goes to area rescue groups and rehabilitation centers, there'll be burlesque performances and sideshow acts.

► Heery Casting's Diane Heery will hit the Terror Film Festival Oct. 22 at the Ethical Society. Yell at her for not putting your mug in The Last Airbender.

► Yes, that was a whole bunch of Gamble and Huff songs you heard on the Philly-based (theoretically) Cold Case on CBS 3. Nothing like "Back Stabbers," "Me & Mrs. Jones" and "Brown Baby" when you got someone on the slab.

► Pizza Pub/Dobbs bartender Tommy T is currently working as an associate writer for Philly comedy troupe Comic Energy. Ooooh, comic energy. Anyway, its founder James Daly (also known as the Phillies Dancing Usher) got jumped after a game not so long ago and badly hurt. WTF?!? T's first gig with the troupe is Oct. 24 at Karma on Bustleton Ave. and it sounds like your admission fee will help Daly out a bit. Good.

► On Oct. 25, Philly jazz giant, the late great drummer Rashied Ali, will find himself memorialized at the Clef Club by his brother Muhammed Ali (also a drummer), Dave Burrell, Pheralyn Dove, Henry Grimes, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, James Blood Ulmer and G. Calvin Weston. It's free and so very necessary for you to be there.

(a_amorosi@citypaper.net)