Gossip Should Have No Friends

[January 4th, 2006] BLAST OFF Chef Leather Storrs ' Rocket project is finally off the launch pad. Along with his partner, former sous chef Mukund Devan , the Noble Rot co-owner broke ground on a swank new space on East Burnside Street just prior to the holidays. Storrs says the new venture, scheduled to open by late July, will feature snazzy drinks and "American Cocktail" food. "Think pimientos and poppers...," he says. "And chicken hearts and gizzards on a stick." Yum? Yuck?

SECOND HELPINGS Speaking of restaurant openings, with the pumpkin-colored paint barely dry on his latest venture—Northwest 23rd's see-and-be-seen Balvo —Scoop's heard whispers that Bruce Carey , of Bluehour/Saucebox fame, may already be planning his next big thing: an eatery to accompany Southwest Stark Street's snazzy new hipster Ace Hotel (does that mean Sergeant Recruiter , the cafe-bar scheduled to open there, will go bye-bye?).

SHORT FUSE Fresh from their appearance at a stag party for His Royal Bitchiness, Sir Elton John , notorious NYC cabaret act Kiki and Herb threw their own royal hissy fit at the Wonder Ballroom last Thursday. The draggy duo's song stylings stopped cold when they stormed off the stage during a protracted lighting malfunction. After a few awkward moments, the faux lounge lizards returned to the spotlight. Some might think it was part of the show, but according to Scoop's sources, it wasn't.

BOOKIN' IT Literary Arts' lion Howard Aaron, who created VERB's lit works turned stage performances, has added a new adjective to his repertoire: fired! Although Aaron was second-in-command at the local nonprofit, Lit Arts Executive Director Elizabeth Burnett says there are no current plans to replace him. Aaron's December dismissal was kept fairly hush-hush and is part of a general personnel restructuring that Burnett says is still "in progress."