Dan Gross | Popular pub goes dark for good

SIGNS ON THE DOORS of the Independence Brew Pub (1150 Filbert) say "Closed Temporarily," but it seems that the popular watering hole is shuttered for good.

Frank Keel, spokesman for the Redevelopment Authority, which owns the building, says Independence Brew Pub, and its parent company, GS Capital LP of Wayne, were "severely delinquent on rent," owing about $800,000. The company made "intermittent payments," which explains why it hadn't been closed sooner. The rent dispute dates back nearly five years, Keel says.

Calls to GS Capital, (not affiliated with GS Capital Partners, a private equity firm operated by Goldman Sachs), were not returned by deadline last night.

The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office executed the eviction Friday, and the city's Office of Emergency Services took all nonperishable food for area homeless shelters, Keel says. The RDA declined to reveal the monthly rent figure so as not to affect negotiations with the next tenant. Keel says one group has contacted the RDA with a proposal on the property, but he would not say if a restaurant is interested in the space.

Daily News beer columnist Joe Sixpack broke the news of the closing on his Web site joesixpack.net on Friday. Sixpack, aka Don Russell, will have more on the Independence situation in his Friday Daily News column.

Terrence talks a tad too clean

With his handsome looks and his Oscar nomination, Blue Bell-based actor Terrence Howard is one of the area's most eligible bachelors. But women should be warned he's very particular.

After telling Elle magazine that he no longer believes in premarital sex, Howard espouses on his obsession with cleanliness.

The "Hustle & Flow" star says if a woman uses toilet paper and not baby wipes, "they aren't washing all of themselves. It's just unclean." He tells women his position, and "if she doesn't make the adjustment to baby wipes, I'll know she's not completely clean."

Out and about

There to support his girl Beyonce, who played Atlantic City's Borgata on Saturday, hip-hop mogul Jay-Z spent the night, minus his better half, in a suite at the hotel and played blackjack in the Borgata's high-limit salon until the wee hours.

Also in the house was John Gotti, grandson of the late New York mob boss and co-star of A&E's "Growing Up Gotti." Gotti dined at Bobby Flay Steak and hung out at Borgata's mur.mur nightclub.

* Phillies second baseman Chase Utley

and a pal hung out in the VIP area at Bleu Martini (24 S. 2nd) late Saturday night.

Hunky singer Enrique Iglesias and a large crew went for Mama's Pizzeria (426 Belmont) in Bala Cynwyd the other day.

* Ron Jaworski stopped by

Owen's Pub (119 E. 17th) in North Wildwood the other night.

Couple offers adoption aid

Local publicist Becky Faw-cett, who splits her time between Philadelphia and New York, and husband Kipp have founded HelpUsAdopt.org. To offset the cost of adoption, which averages about $25,000, the nonprofit will provide up to $15,000 of financial assistance for qualifying couples, without respect to marital status, sexual orientation, race or religion. The Fawcetts decided to start the organization to help others adopt after depleting their savings during a four-year-ordeal of trying unsuccessfully to conceive and after a failed adoption attempt. Fortunately, the couple got lucky in November 2005, when they adopted a boy they named Jake.

HelpUsAdopt.org is up now, and the program launches Nov. 1, for National Adoption Month.

Interior gal gets exterior assist

Interior designer Cheri Privor admits she's been dressing "completely frumpy and comfortable" since she spent a lot of time working from home after a bad car accident in 2002. But she was definitely surprised when her friend Susan Mikhail recommended her to TLC's "What Not To Wear." Privor, 41, was recently ambushed by hosts Clinton Kelly and Stacy London while dining at the Water Works Restaurant. The show gave her fashion advice and $5,000 to buy new clothes, and donated her old clothes to charity. Her big reveal occurred before friends and family at the Merion home of designer Maria Viola Kuttruff and husband Bill. Her "What Not to Wear" episode is scheduled to debut next month. *

If you have something you'd like to share with Dan, call 215-854-5963, or e-mail grossd@phillynews.com. To read Dan's recent columns, visit http://go.philly.com/dangross.