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RUNNER'S HIGH: Anyone would agree, gloomy singer/songwriter Elliott Smith needs the cheering up only endorphins (or possibly a strip club) can provide--and boyfriend's been workin' it! Several disbelieving onlookers reported seeing Elliott actually outside and jogging the weekend before last, in all-black sweats and a black wool cap (that MUST have been before the heat wave hit--unless E was feeling unusually masochistic). His coordinates? Pine/Pike at 12th Ave E. Gonna fly-y-y now!
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SWIMMING, PUNCHING, ETC.: Lucky reader Scott says he ran into Pepsi One salesman/my-doesn't-he-think-he's-funny MTV goon Tom Green at the Colourbox Sun 6/13! Green, in town filming for his MTV show, was hanging out drinking beer with one of his writers and checking out the bands. When Scott asked what antics he was up to, the witty Tom retorted, "Swimming across Lake Washington" (was he sarcastic? Scott couldn't say). Naturally, Scott then asked Tom if anyone has "clocked him" (as in punched him), and Tom replied, "I try to run, but it has happened several times..." and then told of "a fat woman on Coney Island who slugged him 'it felt like 50 times' in the back of the neck and head." Reportedly Green does plan to air that satisfying slugfest.
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PUBLIC THUMBSUCKING! Which pal of J. Mascis was seen suckin' her thumb at the Cha Cha lounge? Miss Tiffany Anders! Some background: Tiff played the Croc Thurs 6/3 with J., but the two go back a long way. Her mom, Famous Movie Director Allison Anders, gave both J. and Tiff small parts in 1992's excellent Gas Food Lodging; and as early as 1993, Tiff sang on Dinosaur Jr.'s CD Where You Been? (She's also worked w/Mike Watt and Up Records labelmate Mike Johnson.) In '96 J. cameo'd in, and Tiff sang soundtrack for, Allison's maudlin piece o' music-biz tripe, Grace of my Heart. Tiff's 1998 Up CD Runnin' from No Place to Nowhere, sounds enough like Dinosaur Jr. to be called "derivative." Anyhoo, girl sucks her thumb.
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COOL BREEZE: We managed to get a photo of Minnie Driver's awful SIFF party dress (seen here with Police Beat columnist Charles Mudede); luckily for her, we also received this report of her in a less "festive" get-up. Anne reports, "Saw her Sat 6/5 on First Ave, having a lively conversation on her cell phone. She ducked into McCormick & Schmick's for better phone reception, then politely breezed past us out the door and down toward Pioneer Square. Nice crisp white shirt, and sunglasses. Gotta love Minnie!" · · · Also, TTS reader Steve phoned all the way from the 253 area code to tell me that Sir Elton John did NOT tell autograph hounds to fuck off at the Cinerama! "That's BULLSHIT!!"
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CARGO EMBARGO: On June 20 it becomes officially uncool to buy cargo pants. (If you've already bought them--and you probably have--you're okay. You're grandfathered in.) Furthermore: It's hip to buy summer flip-flops through July 1, but after that you're gonna have to do without. So say the fashion police.
Coming soon: The kleptomaniac TV news reporter! shirley@thestranger.com
