Inqlings: This summer, it'll be geckos galore
A museum promotion so easy . . . even a caveman could do it. It's the summer of the lizard.
A museum promotion so easy . . . even a caveman could do it.
It's the summer of the lizard.
The Academy of Natural Sciences and the Philadelphia Zoo are gearing up separate exhibitions based on geckos, the bug-eyed lizards made popular by the car-insurance commercials.
The academy's is the larger and more academic of the two. "Geckos: Tails to Toepads" will run May 30 through Sept. 7. Exhibit creator Clyde Peeling, who runs Reptiland in Allenwood, Pa., says he's wrangling 18 species of geckos, including the giant day gecko that speaks (on TV, anyway) with a Cockney accent. The exhibition is insured, by the way, and not by Geico.
The zoo's gecko exhibit, inside its Rare Animal Conservation Center, has the commercial tie-in, as it's sponsored by Geico and backed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It will run June 18 through Aug. 31, and the opening weekend (June 20-21) will feature an appearance by a Geico Gecko costume character.
Food stuff
Georges Perrier
feels 10 feet tall with his newly pinned-on Légion d'Honneur, which he picked up Tuesday at Le Chiberta restaurant in Paris. The Le Bec-Fin chef/Table 31 co-owner learned around New Year's that he was up for the Napoleonic decoration, the highest French distinction for civilian or military valor. (Let's assume his is for civilian, though life in his kitchen is purely militaristic.) Le Chiberta's
Guy Savoy
, grand officer of the legion and master of haute cuisine, did the honors.
Audrey Taichman, who opened Rittenhouse Square's Audrey Claire in 1996 and went across the street for Twenty Manning in 1999, has an oral agreement to open another Audrey Claire crosstown. It'll be at the northwest corner of 13th and Sansom Streets, across from Capogiro and El Vez. Taichman hopes to open the BYOB in September.
Who's top in rock ratings?
Alt-rock station WRFF (Radio 104.5) has hit the No. 1 spot among Philadelphia listeners ages 18 to 34 for a fourth consecutive month. In March ratings, the Clear Channel station - whose format calls to mind the late Y100 and WDRE - surpassed WMMR (93.3) by more than a full rating point. (WMMR's
Preston & Steve
morning show happens to be No. 1.)
Following WRFF and WMMR in that demographic are WRDW (Wired 96.5), WPHI (The Beat 100.3), WUSL (Power 99, 98.9), WIOQ (Q102, 102.1), and WBEB (B101), which was top-rated among ages 25 to 54. WRFF's rise has been steady since its sign-on two years ago.
For nearly 20 years, WYSP (94.1), with Howard Stern, duked it out in the rock realm with WMMR. When Stern left for satellite radio in late 2005, WMMR got it all as WYSP floundered. In 2007, Clear Channel pounced, a surprise given that the 104.5 frequency had been home to a series of low-rated stations, including Alice, Sunny, and Rumba. The kicker: Radio 104.5 has a two-person air staff, and much of the content is recorded, so it's probably one of the most profitable stations in town. WMMR, meanwhile, has announced the full-time status of Jacky Bam Bam, who will work overnights and two weekend shifts starting the week of May 18. Bam Bam replaces Randy Kotz, who was let go in February. WMMR program director Bill Weston says he got 105 applicants for the slot.
Carla Katz, former girlfriend of Gov. Corzine, starts tomorrow as a contributor to The Jersey Guys on WKXW (New Jersey 101.5). She'll be on in the 6 p.m. hour.
When CBS3's "Call for the Cure," a phone-bank fund-raiser for the Race for the Cure, brought in nearly $165,000 on Thursday, the biggest attraction was WYSP's Danny Bonaduce, who answered phones. Three callers agreed to pay $150 to have dinner with him. Someone paid $610 to sit in with the WIP morning show with Angelo Cataldi. CBS3's Ukee Washington answered one line, and it was morning anchor Liz Keptner's father calling in a pledge.
Briefly noted
Note a lane closure early this week on northbound Columbus Boulevard near Callowhill Street as OCTO Waterfront Grille begins construction at the former Rock Lobster. A crane will be set up to remove original decking. OCTO is due to open this month.
The city begins to rein in performers in the transit concourses, but such public acts will be encouraged this summer throughout the South Street/Headhouse District. A program called Busk Til Dawn will showcase performers from Memorial Day through Labor Day on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Applications are being taken via southstreet.com, and auditions will be held at 1 p.m. May 16 at the shambles in Headhouse Square at Second and Pine Streets ($10 registration fee; sign-ups begin at noon).
The romantic comedy How Do You Know?, from director James L. Brooks and starring Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, and Owen Wilson, is looking for women ages 20 to 26 who can play softball extremely well. Heery Casting also says an open call for extras will be announced later; details at www.heerycasting.com. The film will start shooting in late June or early July all around town.
Charitably speaking
Phillies pitcher
Cole Hamels
and wife
Heidi
, launching their education foundation, have picked four Philly schools for grants: Stetson Middle School ($50,000), Thomas G. Morton Elementary ($10,000), Olney West High ($10,000), and Bayard Taylor Elementary ($3,000). The Hamels Foundation, which also will build a boarding school for girls in Malawi, has a $300-a-head fund-raising event up for May 11 at the Please Touch Museum. For tickets, call 215-627-1060.
The Badges of Honor 5K run - which Fox29 meteorologist John Bolaris coined as a fund-raiser for the city police and fire survivors' fund - will come off the morning of June 6 around the sports complex in South Philly. The city, the four major pro teams, WMMR, and Fox29 are among sponsors. Bolaris hopes for 2,500 runners; entry is $27.50 at www.imathlete.com. (Search for "Badges of Honor 5K.") There will be a family fair, too.
Dig it
Motorists on Kelly Drive near Laurel Hill Cemetery on Thursday morning slowed down at the sight of dozens of white lawn signs, emblazoned with Laurel Hill's Web address and cheeky, funereal messages, such as "Six feet of fun," "Perfect for family reunions," and "We're dying to see you." The cemetery is known for its whimsical streak - witness the annual Gravediggers' Ball - but denied any role in the temporary signage.