Humans Enjoy Conveniently Delivered Ice Cream

The Daily News‘ Kitty Caparella covered the Outlaws’ motorcycle gang bash yesterday — that there are still motorcycle gangs in Philly is sort of awesome — but nothing really happened. The Pagans showed up, but couldn’t get through if they wanted to, then they turned around and went to Cheerleaders.

(Caparella: “Outside the South Philadelphia topless bar, several women flashed bare breasts at the police helicopter, said a law enforcement source, who lamented: ‘We didn’t have anybody flash at us.’”)

So, no violence. No gang wars. No arrests, except for a few Outlaws members who got tickets. And, oh, ice cream:

Sources close to Mister Softee said the beer-drinking Pagans, who met at the Handle Bar, a biker bar on Frankford Avenue and Wildey Street, fortified themselves with soft ice cream about 1:30 p.m. Saturday before a potential showdown. [...]

With the streets around the Outlaws club, at Somerset and Amber streets, blocked by cops and feds six ways to Sunday, these tough bikers also came under the spell of the ring-a-ding-ding of Mister Softee.

“Aren’t you going to let Mister Softee through?” asked one Outlaw.

Sure enough, Outlaw beer-guzzlers opened the barbed-wired gates for Mister Softee, like “a bunch of school kids, and stood in line single-file,” said a law enforcement source. “It was hilarious.”

“These bad-ass bikers, standing there eating their ice cream, somewhat ruined their image,” said another law enforcement source. “Both clubs did it, so it must be something new.”

Because as we all know, no tough guys eat ice cream.

Going soft? Biker bash shows sweet side [Daily News]

Cory Lidle: Pitcher, Pilot, Eater, Gambler

There’s been a war of words between an ex-Phillie and several members of the Fightin’ Phils for the past few days. After he left, Lidle said, “On the days I’m pitching, it’s almost a coin flip as to know if the guys behind me are going to be there to play 100 percent,” regarding his time with the Phillies.

Well, ho ho, some current members of the Phillies didn’t like it, including Arthur Rhodes, who called Lidle a scab — he was a replacement player in ‘94, which is why he’s not in the players’ union or in video games (except as “Felix Berger”) — and also revealed his sweet tooth:

“The only thing Cory Lidle wants to do is fly around in his airplane and gamble…. He doesn’t have a work ethic. After every start, he didn’t run or lift weights. He would sit in the clubhouse and eat ice cream.”

Lidle realized that, well, gee, I sound like an asshole, and went back on his comments. He said he meant the team was distracted because of all the trade rumors and it was hard to focus. Okay, sure, Cory. But, whatever, he did the right thing and apologized (kind of) and changed his story. He didn’t want to continue to be an asshole (unlike a certain cheesesteak seller who shall remain nameless).

But Arthur Rhodes wasn’t done, firing this salvo:

Rhodes amplified those sentiments last night. “If you look at it, he only pitched two good games,” he said. “Before that, he wasn’t pitching too good.”

According to the 36-year-old veteran, the defining incident came before a game against the Mets at Shea Stadium in late May.

“He was on the Internet during a game,” Rhodes said. “I told him he’s got to be out there [in the dugout] for the first pitch and he got mad at me. I didn’t have anything to say to him after that. He didn’t want to win. He didn’t want to go out there and root the team on.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Arthur Rhodes is trying and wants the team to win?

Shit. Coulda fooled me.

Rhodes fires back at ’scab’ Lidle [Daily News]
Rhodes Fires Back At Lidle [Phillyville]

We All Bark For Ice Cream

I’ve gotten your emails, people. I may not always respond (I try to!) but I get them. And I know what you’re always asking: “Hey, we don’t have slot machines yet. How can I throw my money away?”

Fear not, those of you with disposable income! Introducing ice cream for dogs, the Boston-born creation soon coming to Philadelphia. Recently, the neighborhoods of Washington Square West, Society Hill and Queen Village — now, what would make anyone think the residents of these neighborhoods have disposable income? — were blanketed with fliers advertising the soon-to-be-in-Philadelphia doggy ice cream.

But lest you think this is as good of a way to lose your money as slot machines, there are actually some health benefits to the doggy treat. Jeffrey Walker came up with the idea as a way to get his dog, Phattie, to take his medicine. Sez the Daily News:

That led him to concoct micro-batches of ice cream to address specific doggie problems, after consulting with a Chinese herbalogist, Miles Chang.

At a customer’s request, Walker will add specific herbs to his trademark recipe. They can treat dogs with psoriasis, arthritis, indigestion, diarrhea and dull-looking hair. Even dogs who like to eat their poop are, Walker says, missing vitamins in their diet.

Word of mouth has since spread about his doggie ice cream - as far as Beverly Hills, where he expects to open his second doggie ice cream parlor, after Boston. He hopes Philly will be his third site.

Thrilled with Philly’s reception, Walker said he sold out of 3,000 handpacked eight-ounce cups of the doggie ice cream within a week.

“It’s really not bad,” said Beatrice Smith, who tasted it.

And, hey, there might be some health benefits for humans as well, apparently.

How he made treating his pup a treat [Daily News]