Dan Gross: No hard feelings for Kari
JUST BECAUSE she was arrested here doesn't mean that Kari Ferrell has any hard feelings toward Philadelphia. Ferrell, dubbed the "Hipster Grifter" last spring by the New York Observer, was arrested here in May on a warrant from Salt Lake City, where she was wanted for check fraud.
JUST BECAUSE she was arrested here doesn't mean that
Kari Ferrell
has any hard feelings toward Philadelphia. Ferrell, dubbed the "Hipster Grifter" last spring by the
New York Observer
, was arrested here in May on a warrant from Salt Lake City, where she was wanted for check fraud.
Ferrell, 22, was released last month from jail in Salt Lake City, where she had been incarcerated since then. In August, Ferrell pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony forgery count, and several more misdemeanors for passing bad checks, attempted forgery and attempted identity fraud.
"I still appreciate Philadelphia. . . . You have very nice transients who serve as walking Planned Parenthoods," Ferrell told us by e-mail. "A homeless man once asked me if I'd like to buy the morning after pill or a box of Durex condoms - had they been Trojans, I probably would have taken him up on the offer. I don't think that other cities are so well prepared," Ferrell writes.
She was pinched in Philadelphia after musician Sam Tremble, of the local band Hermit Thrushes, lured her to town by offering her a spot on tour with a band, and when she got off a bus in Chinatown, Tremble was there to meet her, as were the police, who had been in touch with the Salt Lake City authorities.
Former Philadelphia Weekly staffer Doree Shafrir's Observer stories painted Ferrell, a former Vice magazine employee, as scamming her way through Brooklyn, telling friends she was terminally ill and preying on good intentions and handouts.
After that story appeared, the "Hipster Grifter" became an Internet sensation and garnered widespread news coverage, inspiring a "Law & Order" episode.
"I actually never saw it. I heard that the character that is based off of me is eventually convicted of murder, though, so . . . uh . . . that's great," Ferrell says with sarcasm.
Ferrell told us yesterday that she didn't steal nearly the $60,000 that the warrant for her arrest claimed. "If I had stolen that amount I would be in federal prison, having biracial gang bangs and being jumped into the Korean Sisterhood," Ferrell writes. Now that she's free, Ferrell is living in Salt Lake City, and says that her plans include "eating a lot of burritos . . . besides that, I will be returning to New York, and moving on with my life." Ferrell says that she's writing for AnimalNewYork.com. Asked how she's been treated since her release, shell says: "As far as people I have met, most come to the conclusion that I was treated unfairly, and the amount of attention that this story has garnered is sort of dumbfounding, and I have to agree on the latter."
Jordin Sparks to play Lemon Ball
"American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks will perform Jan. 9 at the Lemon Ball, the annual gala benefit for Alex's Lemonade Stand. CBS 3 anchors Susan Barnett and Chris May announced Sparks' performance last night as they emceed a Lemon Ball preview party thrown by Govberg Jewelers at G (111 S. 17th). Liz and Jay Scott, parents of the late Alexandra Scott, spoke at the party about their excitement over Sparks. Tickets for the Lemon Ball, taking place at the Downtown Marriott, are $250, at TheLemonBall.com or by calling 866- 333-1213.
Seinfeld Trivia alert
To answer the hundreds, or at least tens, of questions that we have received: yes, you can register for "Seinfeld Trivia" at the door Monday at Helium Comedy (2031 Sansom). The contest, hosted by Your Humble Narrator, None More Black front man Jason Shevchuk and No Quarter Records mogul Mike Quinn, tests your knowledge of the classic sitcom in which many claim to be knowledgeable, but few are truly masters of their domain. Entry fee is $5 with the winning team taking most of the door. Registration starts at 8, the contest at 9. Teams of 2-6 are encouraged, but individuals also can compete.
A.J. Lamas guzzles Jack at Dusk
A.J. Lamas drank Jack Daniel's straight from the bottle and gave a profanity-laden shout-out to DJ Jesse Marco at Dusk inside Caesars Atlantic City Tuesday night while serving as host at the club. The son of Lorenzo Lamas, A.J. was mobbed by the ladies all night. He appears with his father and more family on E!'s "Leave It to Lamas." Rapper Erick Sermon, of EPMD, also turned out at Dusk Tuesday.
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.