Icepack Illustrated: Whither the Blockey. Cherish the jazz chanteuse. Say goodnight to Jimmy Amadie
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.
The Blockley doesn't have a New Year's Eve party posted as yet, but I bet that it will be one heck of a bash. Sorry to see you go, Blockley.
Dag. The Blockley is closing. After only four years. Where the hell will all the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley tribute acts play? No, in all seriousness, the 38th and Chestnut Street venue, a fave for nearby college kids, was finally coming into its own, what with The Fire’s Derek Davis booking top-notch adventurous hip-hop, old and new. So what happened? In a note posted yesterday at theblockley.com, said they’d “lost our liquor license, without much notice. We’ve been negotiating it, but at this point we’re forced to move the license out of the building at year’s end.” The Blockley doesn’t have a New Year’s Eve party posted as yet, but I bet that it will be one heck of a bash. Sorry to see you go, Blockley.
Mary Ellen Desmond always puts her money where her mouth is. The Philadelphia chanteuse with a jazzy ensemble has been dedicated to her cause, the annual holiday Comfort & Joy celebration, for 10 years. Desmond and her faithful band — Larry McKenna, Lee Smith, Tom Lawton and Dan Monaghan — perform for crowds at the Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany on S. 13th Street with monies going to AIDS/HIV charities through the St. Luke’s Hospitality Center. This year though, Desmond and co. have a CD of new and classic holiday compositions to show for it, titled Comfort & Joy. With that, you can head to her charity’s tenth anniversary celebration at St. Luke’s on Dec. 15 and check her out in more secular (but no less holy) settings during two sets on Dec. 20 at Chris’ Jazz Café. If you do nothing else, Christmas-y, charitable or jazzy this season, do this.
In far less charitable CD release news, wry, dry, and shy Philly comedian Pat House, has just recorded his debut LP, Biggest Thing, that he recorded during a recent date at Helium Comedy Club.
Rosa Blanca is Jose Garces’ new Caribbe-Cuban diner that I told you about first, at 707 Chestnut, replacing Chifa and opens softly next week. Have the Ropa Vieja.
Stella Rossa is Dave Magrogan’s homestyle Italian eatery with stops at Ninth and Walnut and E. Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown that’s celebrating Frank Sinatra’s birthday this weekend (Dec. 13-15) with Old Blue Eyes’ menu favorites (stiff drinks, lots of veal dishes and lemony desserts). Sinatra interpreter Rich De Simone will be on-board for musical ambience. Ring-a-ding-ding.
In other Mediterranean food-fare news: Walnut Street’s Alma de Cuba’s Saturday Pop Star Brunch gets a turn from porn maven Jessie Andrews on Dec. 14, 11 a.m.
So who else received emails to check out the bathroom stalls at this Saturday’s Army/Navy football matchup, and thought “what is the glory hole shit?” Nah, it ain’t nothing lascivious or devious. Charmin Toilet Paper is sponsoring 20 portable toilets at the big game in advance of its relief programs’ charities.
OK, it’s not Kandinsky or Leger, but Lucky Strike Philadelphia’s bowling alley’s third floor has a wall mural, “Phanatic Love for the Arts,” created by Philly area artist JC Zerbe. Next up a sculpture garden at Buffalo Billiards?
Brendan Bring’Em/Olkus told me he’d have food when I premiered info about the DJ-turned-saloon owner’s Saint Lazarus Bar, at 102 W. Girard Ave. But he never told me he’d make it Cajun fare. Brendan and his crew ushered in N’Orleans’ inspired fare and creole-appropriate cocktails (like the French 75) the other day. “We got beads all over the place,” he says. I’ll be there next week to let you know how big and easy it is.
If you’re in Bala on Dec. 18 and you happen to be in local media, stop by the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s celebration of the late, great Sally Starr. WHYY’s Ed Cunningham, Captain Noah Carter Merbreier and Jerry Blavat will be at the Bala Golf Club (2200 Belmont Ave.) lunch affair.
WHOWHATWHERE: When he isn’t busy opening his Rosa Blanca or preparing for Volver, Iron Chef Jose Garces is busy popping up at charitable soirees for his Garces Foundation at holiday shopping events like Boyds Clothier did the other day. There’s really too many reasons as to why I love Philly. On other hand, those who attended the #whyilovephilly party at the newly opened Arden Theatre’s Hamilton Family Arts Center knew just why and expressed as much in hand-written notes as well as during colorful shots snapped in its makeshift photo booths. Radio 104.4 not only got visits from Sponge and Lost In Los Angeles. The latter still-unsigned band found they had some very devoted fans on hand in Bala. I trekked up to Sellersville Theater to see rocker/poet Joseph Arthur and who should be on stage with him? None other than R.E.M.’s bassist Mike Mills. See it and hear it. The Philadelphia Airport’s just-debuted “I’m in Philly” exhibition got visits from several Hooters, ex-Governor Ed Rendell, and the Airport’s CEO on its first day. The 2013 edition of the Q102 Jingle Ball had the most active backstage red carpet it ever has, with visits from Fifth Harmony, Flo Rida, Fall Out Boy, Avril Lavigne, Icona Pop and Austin Mahone. This last bit is neither a what or a where, but a who: Jimmy Amadie, the legendary Philly pianist, passed away this week, and the hearts of Philly’s jazz community, to say nothing of his family, is broken in a million pieces. He will be missed.
