Icepack Illustrated: Tommy Up, In the Pocket, Ana Ortiz, The A's and more
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.
Kickstarter makes the world go ’round. You can fund films and albums with it, host charities with it, and now, in Tommy Up’s world, you can hopefully open a Tiki Bar with it. Up’s Yachtsman project with Sarah Brown was supposed to open this week after finishing its structural design. They hit a snag though, and need $36,000 within 30 days. “Instead of bringing in some corporate money and losing the singleness of vision we feel is important, we want to keep The Yachtsman weird,” says their Kickstarter plea. Want one of their Duke & Winston-designed Fishtown Yacht Club t-shirts or a personal Poi-Dog tasting?
Cheers to Philadelphia PR maven Nicole Cashman and DJ/realtor/club culture entrepreneur Nigel Richards for getting pregnant with their first baaa-beeee, after having been married nearly two years. Congrats.
One of the tidbits I caught wind of at David Uosikkinen and Dallyn Pavey’s In the Pocket project CD release show at Ardmore Music Hall (and man, the place had the grape-ish smell of Aussie hair spritz piercing the club’s air) was that one of the night’s vocalists, Richard Bush, was putting the finishing touches on an EP (Back Together) with The A's, the band he started with guitarist Rick DiFonzo and keyboardist Rocco Notte, “There's really nothing at stake, no pressure, no label, no tensions,” says DiFonzo. “Just having fun. We sound like us only better.” When I asked if Bush would still have the white beard that he donned at the In the Pocket show, DiFonzo said with a laugh, “His is, very fortunately, the only beard in the band, and won't be there long.” Their next gig is at The Social at Revel, July 5, at 8 p.m. Before I get off the topic of In the Pocket’s Ardmore show, the gig had local celeb attendees such as WMMR DJ Pierre Robert, chef Chris Scarduzio, top dog Philly lawyer Nino Tinari, scribe Stephen Fried, and a.kitchen’s David Fields. Watch for this same crew to head to Havana in New Hope on May 17 for the next In the Pocket show after Uosikkinen and the rest of the Hooters return from Germany.
I have an eye for local actors making waves wherever they may be, so it was super-cool catching Philly’s Gideon Glick during Sunday night’s premier of Devious Maids. That’s two local thespians on the Lifetime series now in its second season, as he joins Ana Ortiz (famed City Councilman Angel Ortiz’s daughter) on the show.
How is it Oyster House CEO Dave Magrogan has his own fest? Very possibly because he’s swell enough to make certain that his Oyster Houses’ Second Annual Doc Magrogan’s Craft Beer & Oysterfest (May 3, 1-5 p.m. in University City, May 4, noon-4 p.m. in West Chester) will benefit the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). Get tickets here. Magrogan is also getting ready for a Craft Beer and Irish Whiskey Festival at Kildare’s in Manayunk on May 17 that I’ll drink at even if it doesn’t give money to the dogs.
It looks as if that Market East/Century 21 deal that I rumored weeks ago, is finally coming true, with papers preparing to be signed, and announcements (ooh, from the Mayor yet) to be made. It ain’t Neimans, but, the NJ/NYC-based Century 21 retail clothing chain is as close to a designer duds Daffy’s/H&M mix as you can hope to get.
Congratulate Kal Rudman, the Friday Morning Quarterback legend and philanthropist, for the 74th annual Alumni Distinguished Service Award (Temple U’s Alumni Association’s highest award to an alumnus) he’ll get at the TUAA’s Impact Awards Celebration on April 27. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated extraordinary loyalty and commitment to Temple through their volunteer and philanthropic contributions. In 2012, Rudman and his wife Lucille donated $1.2 million for TUTV, Temple’s new media production center and TV station which airs student films and news shows, along with showcasing student artwork and musical pieces. Good job, Kal.
Not the first time that we’ve heard the name “Sandoval” in Philly (famed Chicago restaurateur Alfredo is prepping a restaubar for 21st and Chestnut to be ready this summer), but Richard Sandoval (Alf’s brother) will probably be tapped to be the executive chef at Ten Arts on Broad Street before April is out.
WHOWHATWHERE: WMMR’s Pierre Robert had a pretty busy social schedule this week. First, I bumped into him at that In the Pocket gig. Then we clinked glasses with Jerry Blavat, Steve Ramm, Bobby Rydell, Nino Tinari, Matt Cord, Rep. Bob Brady, at the Geator’s Bliss after-party for his Legends of Doo Wop show at the Kimmel. Then, Robert hit up Tuesday’s Project HOME 25th anniversary bash with Jon Bon Jovi, Meet the Press’ David Gregory, HOME executive director Sister Mary Scullion, Comcast boss Brian Roberts, Eagles owner Jeff Lurie, the legendary Vince Fumo, and Philly thespian David Morse. Speaking of Philly thesps, Pearce Bunting — of Mamma Mia and Boardwalk Empire fame — made his homecoming appearance in Theater Exile’s Annapurna, co-starring Catherine Slussar and directed by Exile boss Joe Canuso. The entire cast, crew, and audience (including Rizzo Project playwright Bruce Graham) that filled Studio X for Annapurna’s opening, hit up Paradiso on East Passyunk Avenue after the show. A Day To Remember and AJR made their ways, separately, to Clear Channel studios in Bala this week, Day to Remember to Radio 104.5, AJR visit to Q102. Daman Wayans Jr. and Jake Johnson, two stars of the new film, Let's Be Cops, stopped by The Rave for a little Q and A. It Ain’t Over… Til It’s Over author/actress Marlo Thomas wowed audiences at the Free Library Of Philly on Tuesday night. Before Boy George opened his North American tour at Theater Of The Living Arts last Friday, he stopped by World Café Live to do one of its WXPN Free at Noon showcases, where, oddly enough, the Black Lips were doing likewise on another floor of WCL. Naturally, they joined forces for a cover of T. Rex’s “Bang a Gong.”
