Owen Wilson, two-wheelin' on the Drexel campus. (Photo: Samantha Butler)

During a break in filming the James L. Brooks comedy on Thursday (7/30), Owen Wilson got in some bike time, taking a spin on Market Street on the Drexel campus.

Helmet, Owen?

In a bid to keep the peace at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies wanted to cloak or replace the 16-by-16-foot Mets banner at the top of the set decoration at the Billy Joel/Elton John concerts tonight and Saturday.

Alas, they could not find anything suitable.

Joel will wear a Phillies jacket for at least part of the show and will make some sort of joking reference to the Mets and their 10-games-back status

My colleague Bob Ford and I hear that the Phillies had reached out to the "Face 2 Face" concert to express concern about Joel's New York-theme set.

It's not that the Phils are worried about any kind of baseball rivalry, we hear; they just don't want some yahoo having too much to drink and throwing something at it or starting a fight. The Mets banner was visible at recent shows at Nationals Ballpark and Wrigley Field.

Perhaps Joel will sing "Philadelphia State of Mind," as well.

John's set includes images of London. Not an issue.

(Semi-related video: Behind the scenes at Citizens Bank Park.)

(This post has been updated.)

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How about two respected chefs setting up in Manayunk?

Just met with Matt Levin and Joseph Scarpone, who each has a project underway on the upper end of Main Street. Both are partners with real estate developers Richard Rivera and Rob Nydick. Both are aiming at mid-fall.

Scarpone, who previously ran Sovalo, a polished, three-bell California-style bistro in Northern Liberties, is going into 4359 Main St. with a paninoteca/wine bar called agiato. It's formerly a store called Susan's New Attic. Think Le Pain Quotidien here: Setup will resemble a Tuscan cafe with a 10-seat community table and 20 other seats. Menu includes small plates, pressed sandwiches, salads, in-house-made mozzarella and breads, and a tight wine list of mainly Californians. It will be open from breakfast till late evening. Here's the menu.

Levin, formerly chef at Lacroix at the Rittenhouse, is going into a former building-supply store at 4445 Main St., next door to the fire station, with Rubb, which he describes as "no-rules, punk-rock barbecue" -- order at the counter, take it to your seat. Levin actually did BBQ at Lacroix -- "except I was making it like octopus and pepperoni." The space right now is a brick-walled shell. Levin says his more ambitious project, Masano, is still in development.

Check back later for photos.

Actual message from Alison Barshak at Alison two in Fort Washington:

Lobsters Gone Wild and a Cry for Help
Thursday, July 30

We would like to take a moment to talk to you about something very serious. Packs of stray lobsters are trying to take over our kitchen. We have managed to keep them at bay and temporarily contain them. Please help us by adopting a FREE lobster Thursday, July 30th, and we will show our appreciation by preparing them with butter, lemon, and lots of love for all who come out to enjoy.

For reservations, call 215-591-0200.
 

Garces working with melon on "Iron Chef America."

Philly chefs will be represented on the two major culinary reality series.

Aug. 19 will see the premiere of the sixth season of Bravo's Top Chef with Jennifer Carroll of 10 Arts and Jennifer Zavala of El Camino Real.

Oct. 4 will be the premiere of Food Network's The Next Iron Chef and I've learned that Jose Garces will be one of 10 contestants. In four years, Garces has built a mini-empire - Amada, Tinto, Distrito and Chifa in Philadelphia, Mercat a la Planxa in his native Chicago, and next month, Village Whiskey near Rittenhouse Square. His cookbook Latin Evolution came out last year and he's supposedly partnering with the state Liquor Control Board on a bistro/wine store at 1111-13 Locust St. in Washington Square West. (I hear that the LCB started construction on the wine store last week.)

Click to see Garces' win over Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America last year.

Beer aficionado Chris Fetfatzes and his girlfriend, marketing whiz Heather Annechiarico, are setting up shop in the former Bella Vista Beer Distributors location on the southwest corner of 11th and Fitzwater Streets. That slice of South Philly is known as Hawthorne.

Hence, the name Hawthornes.

Fetfatzes -- whose father owns the beer biz, now located at 11th and Catharine -- insists that Hawthornes won't be a restaurant. It'll be a "homey cafe-slash-gourmet deli-slash-brunch-spot-slash-bottle shop," with prepared food to go and a changing menu of food based on local, seasonal ingredients. Cheese plates, too.

Construction is underway and opening is expected in mid-September.

The alcohol of choice, as you might guess, will be beer. In LCB terms, they have an "E" license, which allows beer sales on the premises as well as to go -- but not wine and spirits. "We'll have obscene amounts of beer -- 800 to 1,000 varieties plus growlers to go," she said.

Better start buying octopus futures.

Dmitri Chimes, whose Dmitri's at Third and Catharine and 23d and Pine are perched atop most best-of lists for down-home Greek dining, is plotting a third location.

He told me that next week, he will sign a lease at 944 N. Second St. in Northern Liberties, the corner spot at Second and Laurel that's been a couple of short-lived coffee bars, including Elixir Cafe.

It's just down the block from the Piazza at Schmidts and more or less catercorner to Cantina Dos Segundos.

BYOB. He's hoping to open in late September.

Yet another restaurant deal in University City:

Michael Chow, whose Sang Kee Peking Noodle House has been wowing folks at Ninth and Vine since 1980 or so, told me that he has signed a lease for the Sheraton University City Hotel at 36th and Chestnut Streets, which over the years has hosted bar-themed street-front occupants such as Shula's 2 and Top Dog.

He hopes to open in a couple of months.

He says the concept will combine the noodle concept from Chinatown with the polish of his Sang Kee Asian Bistro in Wynnewood, and will have a noodle bar and open kitchen.

Marilyn Manson and Stoya pause outside the Continental in Old City. (Photo: Brandon Todd)

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The randomness of this city:

Goth-rocker Marilyn Manson and Stoya, the University of the Arts-schooled adult-film star with whom he's been linked for several months, spent three hours-plus Tuesday night at The Continental, Stephen Starr's flagship eatery in Old City.

It's not clear why Manson was in town, as his performance at the Susquehanna Bank Center is not till Aug. 7. (He's playing Scranton Wednesday night.)

The dinner -- lobster mashed potatoes, hummus and pita, Thai chicken lettuce wraps, ahi tuna tartare, grilled Thai chicken skewers, and many shots of Patron -- was not romantic and actually had business overtones.

Manson, 40, was quite cheery as he and Stoya, 23, left the restaurant, slowly walking and playfully wagging a fork, which he later tossed toward (but not at) journalists.

"Toward but not at" is an important distinction, in light of Manson's fatwa posted Sunday on his MySpace page. He's calling out journalists who make "absurd accusations" and "cavalier statements" about himself and his band, saying they'd be murdered in their homes. "I dare you all to write one more thing that you won't say to my face."

See video at TMZ.com.