Dan Gross | A 'Top Ten' list for the retiring Marc Howard

NOTE: THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

WITH "Late Show" host David Letterman's show dark during the Writer's Guild strike, CBS 3 Anchor Angela Russell and Planning Editor Vince DeFruscio tried their hand at writing a Top Ten list. They presented the Top Ten Reasons We'll Miss Marc Howard Friday afternoon at a goodbye party for the Philly TV institution.

Howard retired Friday after 54 years in broadcasting and four years at CBS 3. Among the gems: "Without Marc, who will remember the last Republican mayor of Philadelphia?" "The average hourly wage at CBS 3 is going to take a dive," and at No. 1, "The techs will no longer be able to white balance on his hair."

As a going-away gift, the station gave Howard an iPod Touch. The gadget geek's an opera buff and had stored a number of arias on his iPhone.

'Top Model' and Borgata Babes

"America's Next Top Model" winner CariDee English hosts a release party for the 2008 Babes of Borgata calendar at mur.mur nightclub Dec. 10. Many of the hotel staffers who appear in the calendar will be at the party.

The hotel's servers live up to their name as Borgata Babes, but the term and standards have also led to the hotel being sued for discrimination by former babes who had been fired for allegedly letting their looks go. Anyway the calendar's now on sale at the hotel and soon at shopborgata.com.

The sexy calendar was photographed by former Playboy model Lisa Boyle and sells for $18.50.

Quick helps promote health

It was a different Eagles wide receiver who's known as "Invincible," so Mike Quick knows the value of a flu shot. The Eagles broadcaster  will accompany accompany Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens, founder of the Community Ashthma Prevention Program at CHOP, to the Faces of Influenza vaccination clinic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 at 30th Street Station. It's an initiative of the American Lung Association. Vaccinations cost $25, or free for folks on Medicare. The vaccinations are open to anybody over 4-years-old. For more info, call 800-LUNG-USA.

Out and about

Lovebirds Alycia Lane and Chris Booker caught a bite at Kildare's HeadHouse Square Friday night between the CBS3 anchor's 6 and 11 newscasts. The Q102 morning host celebrated his 36th birthday at the pub earlier this year.

* South Philly rapper Beanie Sigel was laying major money on a craps table at Atlantic City's Tropicana over the weekend. At one point, Sigel, whose new album "The Solution" is out Dec. 11, called over a fly honey for good luck, telling her he was down, but had $12,000 left to play with. She advised he keep it real and lay down another grand. No word on whether big Beanie won back his $$$.

* Gov. Rendell and Phillies President David Montgomery, Penn alums, were seated together a few rows behind the Quaker bench at Villanova's Pavillion Saturday night. Former Sixers coach Larry Brown, a friend of Wildcats coach Jay Wright, was also in the house.

Flyers winger big scorer off ice

Don't believe anything you hear about hockey being on the wane. At least chicks are still into it. Flyers right winger Scottie Upshall indicated the answer was yes when Preston Elliot asked Friday morning on 93.3 WMMR's Preston & Steve show whether he'd ever scored with two girls at once. "Let me just say that life is good," replied Upshall. The 24-year-old Canadian was mum when P&S pressed for details.

Attorney doubles as actress

Nancy Abrams, an attorney at Spector Gadon & Rosen in real life, plays the role of Susan, a British Episcopalian in the one-woman play "Unsuspecting Susan" Thursday through Sunday at the Walnut Street Theatre's Studio 5. Abrams performs using her stage name Nancy Segal in the play exploring themes of anti-semitism and terrorism. Tickets are $15. For info, call 215-336-1482.

Sheryl Lee stumps for her Sen.

Not every state senator has his own "Dreamgirl," but Vincent Hughes does. His actress wife Sheryl Lee Ralph hosts a fundraiser party for the 7th District senator from 6 to 9 tonight at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut). Entertainers include Ledisi, Gerald Veasley and his band. Tickets are $50 to $500. For info, call 215-471-0507 or e-mail citizensforhughes@verizon.net

Grand openings

Looks like Thursday night will serve as the rescheduled grand opening of G (111 S. 17th). The club was set to open last Thursday when a supply line pipe burst causing plumbing issues, says a club spokeswoman.

* Also opening soon is Paddy Whacks Irish Sports Pub (2nd & South) which launches its third location Dec. 12 on the site of the upscale Monte Carlo Living Room, which closed in August after 25 years in business. *

If you have something you'd like to share with Dan, call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. To read Dan's recent columns, visit http://go.philly.com/dangross.