Icepack Illustrated: MilkBoy’s Michael Jackson connection? Square 1682’s candy cigarettes? Muchnick’s Millions? Wegmans’ WTF?
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
News, gossip, goings-on.
The field of journalism lost an important voice this week with the death of Daily News legend Chuck Stone. Along with being a pioneering black journalist and one of the most trusted names in the business — so much so that more than 70 criminal suspects turned themselves over to him rather than the cops — Stone (89) made being a reporter look good. No matter when I saw Stone on television or ran into him at an event, he was sartorially correct in a suit, bow tie and a handsomely trimmed haircut. He will be missed.
Old City is reeling from the fall (and subsequent demolition) of Shirt Corner in March and the fire that consumed Suit Corner yesterday — to say nothing of a dynasty that at one time included a Shoe Corner and a Tie Corner. It’s fair to say that the Ginsberg family won’t re-erect the glorious palaces of polyester. Before my move to the Italian Market, I lived in Ginsberg territory and can attest to the slickness and silliness they added to Old City.
When the next posthumous release of un-finished Michael Jackson material, Xscape, comes out on May 13, there will be a lot of MilkBoy Studio blood in those tracks. M-Boy co-founder Tommy Joyner texted and told me how one-time Studio owner Larry Gold did the strings for Xscape with top-tier producers Rodney Jerkins, J-Roc, and Timbaland behind the boards (as was engineer Jeff Chestek). “I assisted on some of the sessions and was blown away,” says Joyner. “The vocals come from all over MJ’s career, some of it recorded in the ’70s, and all of it is vintage Michael. It’s going to sound great all summer long.” Samples!
Everyone smokes on Mad Men, the AMC Network series based on the Manhattan advertising world of the 1960s. So, despite Mayor Nutter’s very recent anti-vaping legislation banning e-cigarettes, Square 1682 will start hosting Mad Men Sunday parties, starting April 13, this season’s premiere. Square 1682’s solution: candy cigarettes and strong cocktails.
Speaking of the ’60s, Bunny Gibson, one of the first Bandstand dancers when the show was in Philadelphia, will appear on the Lifetime series Deadly Wives this Monday (April 14, 10 p.m.) as an, uhmm, really mean wife. Gibson, an actress and a sculptress, can also be found in the films Bikini Model Academy and American Beach House, both set for release in 2014.
Is it me, or are some of my colleagues in real estate gossip really, really pushing the idea of a Wegmans, despite all the denials everywhere? I have certainly trafficked in rumors about chain store/theme restaurant openings within city limits before, from Disney to Nordstrom to Mario Bataldi. Some businesses that previously denied their interest in particular locations did in fact wind up here. Some did not. But Wegmans? Is that a thing? Are we upset that Cherry Hill and Mount Laurel have one and we don’t?
In further real estate news, Midwood Management from New York City is a big deal in South Philly’s Italian Market. They own corners on Christian Street and held the reins on the largish lot off of 9th and Washington that gets lots of poster-ing from Connie’s Ric Rac. Well, Midwood just took over Muchnick’s at 1725 Chestnut St. with a price tag of $2 million plus. Though there’s no word yet whether the property will be restaurant, retail or both, can I just add that Muchnick’s use to be the go-to spot (other than Zounds) for stylus arm replacements and Broadway soundtracks. CBRE/Fameco, who represented the Philly seller, also has a similar large scale retail/restaurant opportunity at 2021 Chestnut.
Along with congratulating Jose Garces’ Bar Volver at the Kimmel on a successful tony saloon opening last night, we are hearing that results of several tastings at its mother ship Volver — his handsomely priced ticketed restaurant — are mixed, and mostly on the “eh” side, so far. Plenty of time until opening (next week) and everyone absolutely loves the plating.
Don’t be too afraid that Philly-born comedian Kevin Hart is actually recording an album of soul songs, Hart’s Beats, with ridiculous titles like “Sorry I Called You the Wrong Name” and “Adult Braces Girl.” The joke’s on us courtesy Hart and the CollegeHumor e-zine, who filmed footage of the comic going at it badly in the studio.
The 20th and Washington BYOB Café Ynez — from the Rex 1516/Jet Wine Bar Weber-Malone family — that we dropped exclusives on throughout March in Icepack and Icepack Illustrated, will now open definitely on April 14. Rotisserie chickens for all my friends.
WHOWHATWHERE: Before he hit up the Barbary for his Philly homecoming and new album (RetroHash) pre-release show, Asher Roth stopped by Radio 104.5 in Bala Cynwd to talk up his current digs in Los Angeles and ruminate about the times he lived in NoLibs. Other visitors to Clear Channel’s Bala studio include Strange Talk, Cherub, Parade of Lights and Skaters (Radio 104.5), as well as the marvelous Andy Grammar (MIX 106.1). In the middle of so much real life drama, I made a pilgrimage to NYC and Santos’ Party House for a rare live music appearance with Jim Jarmusch for his Only Lovers Left Alive screening after-party. The film opens in Philly before May. Speaking of parties, The Party celebrated 12 years of focusing on organ and tissue donation, with the usual Donors are Heroes hosts/founders Don and Renee Freeman and Fox 29's Mike Jerrick happily hamming it up for a good cause. Huzzah.
