Home | Philly Gossip
Dan Gross: A Valli impatient Frankie
By Dan Gross
Philadelphia Daily News
Jul 31, 2008
F RANKIE VALLI was a tad irritated Friday while lunching at Mace's Crossing (17th & Parkway) before playing the Mann Center with the Four Seasons . Valli was upset that there was no bottled water and groaned into a cell phone that he "better not have to wait around for this car and carry my own bags," said an eyewitness. Valli's lunch buddy was pathetically name-dropping Frank Sinatra and "desperately trying to get everyone to recognize them." Valli eventually was picked up in a white van, and the "Walk Like a Man" singer and "Sopranos" cast member ended up loading his own bags. Valli and pal had apparently been guests at the Windsor Hotel next door. The hanger-on was busy hitting on a waitress "like it was still 1965, calling her 'doll' and 'baby,' " we're told, grabbing her wrist and saying, "You must have a rich man to buy you nice jewelry like this" and asking her to come home with him.
DeMentri is MIA from NBC
Vince DeMentri was nowhere to be found during yesterday's 4 p.m. newscast on NBC 10, with Kristen Welker sitting in for him alongside Dawn Timmeney . No comment from the station on his absence, and DeMentri has yet to return messages we've left him.
Jane Lynch sucks . . . oysters that is
Jane Lynch , whose credits include "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Best in Show," slurped oysters, one of her favorite foods, Friday at XIX at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue. Lynch, here to receive the Artistic Achievement award from the 14th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, was a guest of Thom Cardwell , development Director for Philadelphia Film Society, which produces the festival, as were her "Tru Loved" director Stewart Wade , and festival shorts programmer Rob O'Neil .
Lynch's co-star in "Tru Loved," Alec Mapa , will be town on Friday to receive the festival's GLBT Entertainer of the Year award.
Sunday morning at Mixto (1141 Pine), Lynch was given a chocolate Tastykake with a birthday candle as a surprise from festival interim managing director Mark James for her 48th birthday, which was yesterday. Other guests, including Hollywood photographer Michael Childers and producer Jerome Hellman , here for the 40th anniversary tribute to "Midnight Cowboy" and its late director, John Schlesinger (also a past PIGLFF artistic achievement winner), chimed in, singing birthday wishes to Lynch. She received a gift of personalized note cards from Fabulous Stationery from IMPAX Marketing's Jay Arnold , a host of this year's festival.
Out and about
Phillies slugger Pat Burrell , snubbed from tonight's MLB All-Star Game, went for the cheeseburger on a quiet lunch alone at Rouge (205 S. 18th) yesterday.
_ Philadelphia Soul players including Phil Bogle , Tony Graziani , Chris Jackson and Dee Webb were among some of the players that hit Swanky Bubbles (482 Evesham) in Cherry Hill late Saturday night, after the team clinched a spot in the Arena Bowl. The players, who also included Eddie Moten , Kenny Henderson , Anthony Dunn , Bryan Save and Gabe Nyenhuis hit the Eternity Lounge upstairs, where champagne flowed heavily.
_ Lola Falana , the "Queen of Las Vegas," bunked at the Chestnut Hill Hotel the other day. The star of musical stage, Italian movies and a Playboy centerfold was back in her hometown, we're told, to discuss a movie idea with an Italian company.
_ Preston Elliot , Steve Morrison CaseyBoy and Nick McIlwain of 93.3 WMMR's Preston & Steve show were among media getting a sneak preview of "The Dark Knight" yesterday at the Ritz Five (214 Walnut). In this Batman fan's opinion, the movie and Heath Ledger 's farewell performance were simply astonishing. *
Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest stories. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com . For recent columns, visit go.philly.com/dangross.
Copyright 2008
Powered By Zebra Mobile