Philadelphia Musicians Celebrate Life of Guitarist Jef Lee Johnson

The late, great guitarist Jef Lee Johnson

By A.D. AMOROSI

When Jef Lee Johnson passed away in January of 2013, the Philadelphia guitarist, composer and singer left behind a legacy that touched on nearly every form of music. While locals know Johnson for his solo albums and work on records from King Britt, Phil Roy, Melody Gardot and the Roots, the guitarist made his bones doing session work with D’Angelo, Billy Joel, Jeff Beck, George Duke, Roberta Flack, Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, and The World's Most Dangerous Band from Late Night with David Letterman. Tonight, Wednesday, June 26, at 8:00 PM (door at 7:00 PM), Johnson’s friends and musical family remember him with The Rainbow Crow: A Tribute to Jef Lee Johnson at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill St., Phila PA).
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'Dance Moms' Recap Season 3, Episode 25: No Room for Rotten Apples

Cathy Nesbitt-Stein from the Lifetime show Dance Moms

By GLAMOROSI

Last week on Dance Moms, studio owner Abby Lee Miller was away shooting season 2 of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition (AUDC), so we barely saw our girls from the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC). This week we do see a bit of Abby and Maddie Ziegler, but most of Dance Moms season 3, episode 25 titled “No Room for Rotten Apples” is focused on Abby’s nemesis, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, and her studio, the Candy Apples Dance Center (CADC). Cathy is planning to cut one member from her team, and while most of the talk revolves around dismissing a student, it’s starting to look like Cathy may be considering cutting choreographer Anthony Burrell instead.
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Celebrity Fight Promoter Damon Feldman Gets Back to His Boxing Roots

(L to R) Boxing legend Meldrick Taylor, Phil Margera, Damon Feldman and Marty Feldman

By A.D. AMOROSI

Boxing promoter Damon Feldman knows how to get publicity. The Philadelphia-based ringmaster could be pursuing PR by pushing outrageous bouts with D-list celebrities using silly fight gear (oversized boxing gloves, pillows, etc.). Sometimes, publicity finds him, as it did this weekend when he got into a scuffle with one-time Wing Bowl competitor, “Gentleman” Jerry Coughlan. Mainly though, Feldman knows real pugilism – he was the “Jewish Bomber,” renowned for his vicious right hook – and that’s what he, his father, trainer Marty Feldman and boxing legend Meldrick Taylor will promote this Thursday, June 27, at The Deck in Essington, PA.
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'True Blood' Recap - Season 6, Episode 2: The Sun

A scene from True Blood season 6, episode 2 titled "The Sun"

By GLAMOROSI

With True Blood currently dealing with serious issues that mirror racism and gay rights, it’s nice to see romance creeping into the picture as it does, ever-so-slightly, this week in season 6, episode 2 titled "The Sun". With Bill Compton’s “Billith” (Stephen Moyer) either transforming into a vampire-world savior or a pawn in Lilith’s evilest scheme yet, and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) busy gearing up for war against the government hell-bent on destroying his species, neither have time to consider love or sex with Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin). Luckily for her then, she meets a fellow faerie on her way to work.
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Thom Nickels Releases Novellas 'Walking on Water' and 'After All This'

Walking on Water and After All This by Thom Nickels

By A.D. AMOROSI

Philadelphia-based author Thom Nickels has written books and essays about a wide range of topics including local architecture, Catholicism, gay and lesbian legends and conscientious objectors (of which he was one during the Vietnam War). For his just-released ninth book, Nickels has penned two novellas, Walking on Water and After All This, with science fiction and spirituality as the link between each work’s alternate universes. Nickels will read from and sign copies of this new work at 5:30 PM on June 22, at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S 12th Street, Phila. PA.
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Chef Jim Coleman and Chez Colette at Sofitel Celebrate World Music Day

Jim Coleman, Executive Chef at Chez Colette at Hotel Sofitel in Philadelphia, PA

By A.D. AMOROSI

Nothing goes better with fine food and wine than delicious music. With the celebration of World Music Day happening today, June 21, Philadelphia’s Chez Colette at Hotel Sofitel unveils “Fête de la Musique”, a sumptuous, internationally-themed event with a musically-inspired menu from legendary local chef Jim Coleman, and featuring performances by students from the Curtis Institute of Music. The event begins at 7 PM; Sofitel is located at 120 S. 17th Street.
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'Dance Moms' Recap Season 3 Episode 24: An Apple a Day Keeps Abby Away

Cathy Nesbitt-Stein from Dance Moms

By GLAMOROSI

On the season 6 premiere of True Blood, a character named Lafayette who talks to the dead and lives in a town with vampires, faeries and werewolves, described watching a shape-shifter transform as, “the strangest thing I’ve ever seen on TV, and I watch Dance Moms.” Is Dance Moms strange? It’s so close to what my childhood as a competitive performer was like that none of it seems odd to me. Abby Lee Miller is a ringer for one of my teachers – right down to the blatant favoritism – and all of the Dance Moms, even Candy Apple Cathy and her drama mama pals “Black Patsy” and Yvette, the focus of this week’s season 3, episode 24 titled “An Apple a Day Keeps Abby Away”, remind me of my teammates' parents. For me, watching Dance Moms is just like another day on the road.
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You have read this article Abby Lee Miller / Abby moving to LA / ALDC / Anthony Burrell / Black Patsy / Candy Apples / Cathy Nesbitt-Stein / dance / Dance Moms / Dance USA / film / film and tv / Hadley / Jekyll and Hyde / Nick Daniels / Yvette with the title June 2013. You can bookmark this page URL https://greatwall0.blogspot.com/2013/06/moms-recap-season-3-episode-24-apple.html. Thanks!

Opera Philadelphia Ends Successful Season with 'Powder Her Face'

Patricia Schuman as the Duchess of Argyll in 'Powder Her Face'

By A.D. AMOROSI

The life of Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll is still a richly scandalous story, a tale of a wealthy, married royal (to the future Duke of Argyll) whose Polaroid photos surfaced showing her wearing only pearls while performing sex acts on men who weren’t her husband. Composer Thomas Adès and writer Philip Hensher took the bold step then when they crafted an opera around the provocative story of “the Dirty Duchess” that rocked Britain’s aristocracy. That composition, Powder Her Face just ended it run as part of the Opera Philadelphia Aurora Series for Chamber Opera at the Perelman Theater.
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BalletX Holds Their Annual Premiere Party on June 19 in Philadelphia

BalletX is Philadelphia's premiere contemporary ballet company

By GLAMOROSI

On Wednesday, June 19, the contemporary ballet company known as BalletX will hold their annual premiere party and fundraiser from 6:00 to 9:30 PM in the Vista Room at Top of the Tower in Philadelphia, PA (1717 Arch Street, 50th Floor). Guests will enjoy a wine tasting, cocktails and dinner, live music, a silent auction, and speeches by choreographer Nicolo Fonte and BalletX founders Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan.
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Review and Recap: 'True Blood' Season 6 Premiere: Who Are You, Really?

True Blood star Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) directed the season 6 premiere

By A.D. AMOROSI

The True Blood season 6 premiere episode titled, "Who Are You, Really?" started and ended with a fast, furious rush, and a focus on Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) and his reincarnation as the newly super-empowered “Billith.” When faerie waitress Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), aged vampire Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård) and their supernatural pals aren’t running from “Billith” and scratching their collective head as to what his motives might be, Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) is running into the arms (or, at least the car) of new character Niall Brigant/Macklyn Warlow (Rutger Hauer), the very vampire who killed his parents.
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Saint Maron's Lebanese Festival This Weekend in South Philadelphia

St. Maron's Lebanese Festival takes place June 14-16 in South Philadelphia

By A.D. AMOROSI

South Philadelphia’s famed Italian Market area isn’t just for Italians; it’s been a mix of nationalities since it opened in the mid-1880s. For the last 38 years, that same neighborhood’s Lebanese community celebrates its culture with the Saint Maron's Lebanese Festival, an annual event run with help from the Tayoun family, long respected for its involvement in Philadelphia’s arts and politics. This year, Tayoun brothers Bill and Joseph pull out all the stops when their Mid-East Ensemble plays the festival, held outdoors at 10th and Ellsworth Streets from June 14-16.
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Rolling Stones’ '50 & Counting' Tour Hits Philly Next Week

The Rolling Stones '50 & Counting' Tour hits Philly June 18 and 21

By A.D. AMOROSI

As the American leg of the Rolling Stones’ '50 & Counting' Tour heads into the home stretch, Philadelphia finds itself graced with two dates at The Wells Fargo Center – June 18 and 21 – and the announcement of special guests Brad Paisley and The Crossing. The pre-show build-up to the Stones' concerts includes a lengthy Philly radio interview with guitarist Ronnie Wood, and an intimate performance at The Tin Angel by occasional Stones’ collaborator, pianist Ian McLagan.
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Dance Moms Recap Season 3, Episode 22: Abby Assigns Two Girls One Solo

L to R: Dance Moms stars Chloe Lukasiak and Maddie Ziegler

By GLAMOROSI

On last week’s episode of Dance Moms, Christi and Kelly had a terrible fight that threatened to end their friendship. This week on season 3, episode 22 titled “Two Girls, One Solo”, they make up. Studio owner Abby continues to pit Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) stars Maddie and Chloe against each other though: for this week’s competition she gives them identical choreography, music and costumes.
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You have read this article Abby Lee Miller / ALDC / Anthony Burrell / Asia / Black Patsy / Cathy Nesbitt-Stein / Chloe / Christi / dance / Dance Moms / episode 21 / film / film and tv / Kelly / Maddie / recap / season 3 / Two Girls One Solo with the title June 2013. You can bookmark this page URL https://greatwall0.blogspot.com/2013/06/dance-moms-recap-season-3-episode-22.html. Thanks!

Kung Fu Hoagies' Vegetarian Cuisine Delights Philly Food Cart Scene

Steve Renzie and Paul Davis of Kung Fu Hoagies

By A.D. AMOROSI

A little over a year ago, Paul Davis and Steve Renzi started taking their vegetarian Kung Fu Hoagies (KFH) cart for a spin on a daily basis, offering the finest in Vietnamese-influenced food (Davis is a painter – that’s his art on their cart – and a student of the martial arts) throughout the universities of West Philly and, in particular, Clark Park. Now, the pair can be found mostly near South Philly’s East Passyunk Avenue, delighting fans with their their cuisine and using Twitter to get the word out for their location.
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The Rascals Bring Their Steven Van Zandt Produced Show to Philly

The Rascals are currently on tour with their Once Upon a Dream show

By A.D. AMOROSI

When socially conscious, 60s soul pop innovators The Rascals reunited in 2010 at the urging of Steven Van Zandt (Springsteen guitarist, The Sopranos cast member, Sirius XM host), it wasn’t just because “Little Stevie” liked the band that splintered in 1970. Van Zandt knew that The Rascals were one of the lone U.S. acts to break through the British Invasion of the early 60s, and he believed them to be the key to all American pop that followed (including his E Street Band). So, Van Zandt scripted and directed Once Upon a Dream, and brought it to Broadway in April 2013. This week Philadelphia’s Academy of Music (240 S Broad Street) plays host to the show, with one performance remaining, on Saturday, June 8, 2013.
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IndustryXIX and Emmaline Exit 1904 Chestnut, Mac’s Tavern Moves Forward

The "Cease Operations" sign on the door at the IndustryXIX nightclub

By A.D. AMOROSI

Two weeks ago, we broke news that trouble was brewing in Philadelphia at 1904 Chestnut, the address that housed two nightclubs – IndustryXIX upstairs and the intimate Emmaline downstairs – as well as an incoming tenant, Mac’s Tavern, looking to open another location (their first is in Philly's Old City area). Since then, The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) slapped a "cease operations" sticker on IndustryXIX for its lack of a special assembly license and their crew, and Emmaline’s, left the building on Monday, June 3.
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'Dance Moms' Recap Season 3, Episode 21: Boy Crazy, Mom Crazy

Dance Moms cast members from left: Brooke, Kelly, Paige, Abby Lee Miller

By GLAMOROSI

When we last saw Dance Moms, studio owner Abby Lee Miller announced to her team that she was looking for property in LA. That left us with a mid-season cliffhanger: was Abby leaving Pittsburgh PA, and would she be taking the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) with her? This was not addressed on last night’s two-hour, season 3, episode 21 called “Boy Crazy, Mom Crazy”. Instead, we were left with more questions: what alternate universe are we in where Abby and her nemesis from Candy Apples, Cathy Nesbitt-Stein, are the mellow, sane characters? Her daughters Brooke and Paige are doing well this week, so why is Dance Mom Kelly so unhappy? Why are Christi and Kelly still fighting? Will Asia be back? Will Brooke stay on the senior team? Is Anthony Burrell a permanent cast member?
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You have read this article Abby Lee Miller / ALDC / Anthony Burrell / Asia / Boy Crazy Mom Crazy / Brooke / Candy Apples / Cathy Nesbitt-Stein / Christi / dance / Dance Moms / episode 21 / film / film and tv / Kelly / Paige / recap / season 3 with the title June 2013. You can bookmark this page URL https://greatwall0.blogspot.com/2013/06/moms-recap-season-3-episode-21-boy.html. Thanks!

Changes Underway for Real Estate in Philly’s Famous South Street Area

Sexploratorium and Philadelphia Record Exchange are moving off S. 5th

By A.D. AMOROSI

Philadelphia’s South Street gets all the press, acclaim and songs written about it, but lately it’s the real estate immediately surrounding the thoroughfare that is seeing the most movement. This month, it’s a strip of S 5th Street directly off South where changes are underway to turn that block into upscale apartments, small-scale retail, and possibly a boutique hotel.
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