'Mob Wives' star moves from small screen to big

SOUTH PHILLY'S own "Mob Wives" star Natalie Guercio is moving from the small screen to the big one. She was recently cast in "Black Point," a psychological thriller.

Guercio will star as a clairvoyant who is working with the NYPD to catch a sadistic serial killer. Fearing she is the next victim, she flees to a sleepy New England town where her past (and the killer) continue to haunt her.

"Morning Joe" co-host Mika Brzezinski is bringing out her book, Knowing Your Value: Women, Money, and Getting What You're Worth. And she's bringing along some famous friends.

Joining Brzezinski at the April 10 event at the Loews (1200 Market St.) will be the "Today" show's Hoda Kotb and Vogue contributing editor and general bon vivant Andre Leon Talley (who will give out his fashion advice), as well as local and national CEOs.

Philadelphia is one of only a handful of stops on the tour.

"I love Philadelphia!" Brzezinski said. "It's kind of like the sweet spot of professional women who don't get access to messages like this in New York and Washington."

That message? Teaching women the tools they need to negotiate for the equality they very much deserve.

For the tour, Brzezinski is putting her money where her mouth is when it come to her own advice: Step out of your comfort zone.

"I find it absolutely frightening. It's much easier to be on TV," Brzezinski said about the performance aspects of going on tour. That's why she advises women to do things they feel uncomfortable doing, even if it's as minor as giving a toast at dinner or speaking at a public event, like church.

"To understand what it's like to be at the negotiating table, you need to feel that naked," she said. "You don't get anywhere if you don't step outside of your comfort zone."

For more info, go to msnbc.com/knowyourvalue.

Victor Cafe (1303 Dickinson St.) got a makeover this weekend. The operatic South Philly spot is standing in for Adrian's, the Rocky-owned eatery, in "Creed," the "Rocky" sequel focusing on the son of Apollo Creed, played by Michael B. Jordan. Word is, the "Creed" crew will be in South Philly for much of the week.

Victor Cafe has stood in for Adrian's before. In January 2006, Victor Cafe became Adrian's for "Rocky Balboa."

The crew has been all over the area, including Laurel Hill Cemetery, West Philly, Kensington and Elkins Park.

Pioneering female hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa's here . . . er, rather, they'll be here when they perform at Cheers for CHOP, a fundraiser for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, on Feb. 28 at the Valley Forge Casino (1160 First Ave., King of Prussia). The $150 ticket price will go to CHOP's Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy program, which recognizes the importance of play in a child's recuperation.

Joe Chelius will read from his first published book of poetry, The Art of Acquiescence, tonight at his alma mater, La Salle, where he published his first poem. His subject? Now-wife Pat, who illustrated the cover for Chelius' book.

Want to see the People Paper's own political cartoonist Signe Wilkinson up close and personal? She'll speak at the University of Pennsylvania's College Hall (1 College Hall, Room 200) tomorrow at 5 p.m. Her talk is titled "Redrawing Stereotypes: Redrawing in our Charlie Hebdo World."

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