East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Week Debuts this February in Philadelphia

Dish from Kris, a featured spot for East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Week

By GLAMOROSI

East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District (EPABID) and twenty-one dining establishments from the area will launch the debut East Passyunk Avenue Restaurant Week on Sunday, February 24, through Saturday, March 2, 2013. During the event the restaurants will feature three-course prix fixe menus (brunch, lunch and dinner), beverage pairings, and off-menu specials.

Fitler Dining Room Scheduled to Open this February in Philly

The Fitler Dining Room to open in the space formerly occupied by Meme

By A.D. AMOROSI

When executive chef and owner David Katz closed Mémé last summer, the folks at the neighboring Pub & Kitchen took over the space at 2201 Spruce Street in Philadelphia and vowed to re-open it as the Fitler Dining Room. Word has it that the 32-seat restaurant will open in February with Chef Robert Marzinsky at its helm, but earlier this week we were able to get a first sneak-peek inside.

'Dance Moms' Recap: Revenge of the Replacements

Sisters Maddie and Mackenzie on Dance Moms

By GLAMOROSI

On Dance Moms season 3, episode 5 titled “Revenge of the Replacements”, our dancelings compete against the girls who took their places during the Dance Moms strike. Clearly though, it’s Abby who wants revenge, as she continues to punish the dancers for their Mother's walkout.

Legendary Guitarist Jef Lee Johnson Passes Away in Philadelphia

Jef Lee Johnson

By A.D. AMOROSI

Last night Philadelphia guitarist Jef Lee Johnson passed away at Roxborough Memorial Hospital due to complications from pneumonia and diabetes. He was 54 years old.

Glamorosi's Recipe Box: Creamy Skillet Corn

By REESE AMOROSI

Toward the end of the 1890s, my maternal Great Grandparents and my Grandmother (who was a child at the time) left the Calabria region of Italy and settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where they set up a farm, had more kids (for a total of 17) and opened a produce business.

Since I spent so much time around my Mother's side of the family, specifically with my Great Aunt Lily with whom I lived on and off, my cooking style is largely informed by Italian tradition. My late Father, however, was raised in the Virgin Islands and the American South (and as an adult he mastered French cooking; by the time I was 7 he was schooling me on Julia Child recipes, although to this day I'm certainly no expert), and his influence shines brightly in my cooking, too. One of the Southern dishes my Father taught me early on was skillet corn.

Link Roundup - Food Edition: Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, Beyoncé, Anthony Bourdain

By GLAMOROSI

This week at Glamorosi we devoured stories about food: celebrity cuisine choices, competitive cooking, and food fan photography.

First, for celeb watchers we have news about Paul McCartney, his sheep and Meatless Mondays, and we find out what and where Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé ate before and after their performances at President Obama’s inauguration.

Coachella 2013 Lineup: Blur, Stone Roses, Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Coachella 2013 Lineup

By A.D. AMOROSI

There are good Coachella lineups and so-so Coachella lineups, but for the festival’s 2013 concert weekends in the desert of Indio, California (April 12-21), they have a great lineup. Coachella 2013 features British post-punk greats Blur and the Stone Roses headlining its first day, France’s synth-rock ensemble Phoenix on its second night, and America’s punk-funk finest, Red Hot Chili Peppers, wrapping up the fest on April 21.

'Dance Moms' Season 3, Episode 4 Recap: Pants on Fire

Abby Lee Miller from Dance Moms on Lifetime

By GLAMOROSI

On the last episode of Dance Moms, the series regulars were back, except for Brooke, and the replacement team was gone, except for Sophia Lucia.  This week on season 3, episode 4, titled “Liar, Liar, Dance Mom on Fire”, Melissa, mom to Maddie and Mackenzie, is in the hot-seat, and Abby continues to use Sophia’s excellence against the long-term members of the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC).

Act II Playhouse Month of Comedy Includes ‘Why I’m Scared of Dance’ and ‘First Impressions’

Jen Childs (center) in 'Why I'm Scared of Dance'

By A.D. AMOROSI

January is Comedy Month at Act II Playhouse in Ambler, PA, and Philadelphia’s Tony Braithwaite is in his element. Long the lead in a host of productions at the 130-seat performance space, Braithwaite – a Barrymore Award winner for excellence in local theater - became the artistic director at Act II in 2012. This month, along with his own one-man-show of Presidential humor, First Impressions (Jan 21), Braithwaite will bring his longtime collaborator, Jen Childs, to the theater for one of her most outrageous showcases, Why I’m Scared of Dance (Jan 18-27).

'Dance Moms' S3, Ep3 Recap: The Original Team Returns

Chloe Lukasiak from Dance Moms

By GLAMOROSI

On the last episode of Dance Moms, the original team held a parking lot sit-in to protest Kelly and her daughters Brooke and Paige leaving the group, and Abby quickly brought in a whole new team to replace them. This week on Season 3, episode 3 of Dance Moms the original girls return, but first Abby has to deal with some new girl issues.

Link Roundup: Sharon Osbourne vs. Lady Gaga, Britney, Demi, White House, Oscars, Monopoly

By GLAMOROSI

This week in the news we noticed a lot of articles about judges and voters. For celebrities we have Sharon Osbourne vs. Lady Gaga (on behalf of Kelly Osbourne), Britney Spears and Demi Lovato, and The Oscars. For civilians we have “We the People”, The White House and the Death Star, and also news about the Monopoly board game.

Philly's Weathervane Music Organization Marks 4th Anniversary with Show at Johnny Brendas

Twin Sister will appear at the Weathervane Music Organization benefit

By A.D. AMOROSI

Four years ago, Philadelphia-based producer Brian McTear founded the non-profit Weathervane Music Organization. It wasn’t going to be just another job of his, recording and mixing the likes of The War on Drugs, Espers, and the Azusa Plane and giving each a lustrous ambience. Weathervane was meant to further the community that McTear was a part of (sonically and locally) by giving bands and artists a forum to build upon and to show off their music and videos. Now, for the start of its fourth season, Weathervane debuts new episodes of its on-line video program Shaking Through along with live performances from the most notable acts it’s been involved with: Twin Sister, Steven A. Clark and Ava Luna with members of the War on Drugs, Man Man and Dr. Dog along for the ride. The Weathervane 4th anniversary show and benefit is tonight, Saturday January 12, at Johnny Brenda’s ($15, 1201 N. Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 215.739.9684).

David Bowie Announces First Album in a Decade, Drops New Single and Video

David Bowie

By A.D. AMOROSI

This week David Bowie celebrated his 66th birthday (January 8) with gifts for his fans: news of his first album in a decade, The Next Day, with images of its cover and a track listing, the iTunes release of the record’s melancholy initial single, “Where are We Now?”, and that single’s oddball video.

'Dance Moms' Double Recap: Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2

Abby Lee Miller and students from Dance Moms on Lifetime

By GLAMOROSI

Dance Moms is a hit show on the Lifetime network that focuses on Pittsburgh, PA-based instructor/studio owner Abby Lee Miller, her young students and their Mothers. Each week Abby unveils the student pyramid, a ranking system that shows where each student in the Abby Lee Dance Company (ALDC) stands, and then the action that follows centers on the drama surrounding the rehearsals and competitions. This is a double recap: season 3, episodes 1 and 2.

As I wrote in my first recap for Abby’s other series, Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition (AUDC), she "is loud and occasionally obnoxious, she is hard on her dancers and rude to their parents, she plays favorites, and she puts too much pressure on everyone around her.  She is also a beloved coach who turns out winning dancers.  As someone who studied dance and competed in national talent shows as a kid, I find that Dance Moms is nearly identical to my experience, and I can say wholeheartedly that if I were still in the game I’d want Miss Abby as my teacher." Later as an adult I worked as a judge and director so I got to see it from the other side; nothing on this show surprises me.

Mark Wahlberg to Premiere Film ‘Broken City’ at Philadelphia’s Prince Theater

Mark Wahlberg in Broken City

By A.D. AMOROSI

In the years following his brief career as a muscular boy-toy rapper named “Marky Mark,” actor and producer Mark Wahlberg has emerged as a genuine entertainment industry force. Luckily that force has made his presence known in Philadelphia more than a few times with having shot films such as Invincible, The Lovely Bones and Shooter in the area, and of course using Atlantic City as a backdrop for Boardwalk Empire, the HBO series he co-produces with Martin Scorsese. Tonight, January 8, Wahlberg will appear in Philly as he brings his newest project as an actor and a producer, Broken City, to the Prince Music Theater for a premier pre-release screening.

Good Deal Alert: Three Free Bottles of Zoya Nail Polish, You Pay Shipping

Zoya Professional Lacquer shades: Megan, Yummy and Wednesday

By GLAMOROSI

Zoya.com is offering three free nail polishes when you use code ZOYA2013 - you just pay $10 for shipping and processing. Zoya polishes normally retail for $8 each. There are some restrictions - items from Zoya Nail Treatments, Gilty Pleasures, or Spring 2013 Lovely & PixieDust Collections aren't eligible for this promotion - but they have so many other colors to choose from it doesn't really matter. The offer is valid Monday, January 7th (10AM EST) through 11:59pm EST January 13th ONLY. For more info click here for the Zoya blog.