Dan Gross | LaBelle at the party

THE ALWAYS fabulous

Patti LaBelle

made a brief appearance at Lionsgate's "Pride" after-party at Zanzibar Blue (Broad & Walnut) Tuesday night. LaBelle and manager

Damascene Pierre Paul

said hello to

Terrence Howard

and sat down for a long chat with

Bernie Mac

.

Miss Patti told us she was shooting scenes for Bill Duke's "Cover," shooting here, and had just returned from Los Angeles, where she spent a few days filming an upcoming Will Ferrell comedy, "Semi-Pro." She didn't say much about it, other than she had a great time. At the party, LaBelle hugged Diana Ross' son Evan Ross, who plays one of the young swimmers in "Pride," which is based on the career of Jim Ellis, who for 30 years has taught swimming at city Rec Department pools.

Co-star Tom Arnold danced with a few women on his way out of the private party, where other guests included Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff; PR pro Nicole Cashman; entertainment lawyer Justin Wineburgh; developer John Westrum; Nina Tinari, an assistant to Gov. Rendell, and the Philadelphia Film Society's Thom Cardwell, who's excited about the Philadelphia Film Festival, April 5-18.

Actor and minister Clifton Davis behaved very righteously, giving money to panhandlers on Broad Street after leaving the party.

* The stars of the film were featured on

NBC-10's "10" show yesterday, where co-host Lori Wilson handled Arnold's flirting well. The comic actor told her that she was turning him on and that she could be his fourth wife.

The studio audience was full of former Ellis swimmers. He was also on "10."

MC Hammer for mayor

MC Hammer was seen in City Hall yes-terday where sources say he was meeting with Mayor Street to ask the city for funding for a nonprofit anti-violence initiative he's working on.

We're told Hammer arrived for his mayoral audience in a sharp brown suit, and not, as we'd wondered, in giant, baggy pants.

A mayoral spokesman replied, "U Can't Touch This" when asked for comment. Actually, he didn't return our request for one.

Gracie to be added to mural

South Philly-born rocker Charlie Gracie will soon be added to the South Philly musicians mural at 1231 E. Passyunk Ave.

Stu Bykofsky wrote a recent column about why James Darren was left out of the mural, which features Bobby Rydell, Jerry Blavat, Eddie Fisher, Fabian, Al Martino and Chubby Checker. After Byko's inquiries, the Mural Arts Program decided to add Darren and, following an outpouring of support, Gracie, too.

Gracie and Darren were Southern High classmates and have remained friends over the years.

Out and about

Actress Vivica A. Fox, in town shooting scenes for "Cover," dined Monday night at Ruth's Chris Steak House (260 S. Broad) with a friend. Fox, recently seen on "Dancing with the Stars," and her friend shared a rib-eye steak, stuffed chicken, mashed potatoes and a slice of key lime pie.

* Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, Terry McAuliffe, was honored at a cocktail reception at the Water Works Restaurant and Lounge Friday after signing his book, "What a Party" at an event at Friends Select School. U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, Housing Authority head Carl Greene and Building Trades Council boss Pat Gillespie were also there.

Group working to draft Gore

Sunday's four-hour Al Gore campaign commercial, known as the Academy Awards, was only the beginning. AlGore.org will have a local "Draft Al Gore" meeting at 7 p.m. March 20 at the Pad Thai Shack (122 S. 12th), says volunteer organizer Harry B. Cook.

They want the ex-veep, now an Oscar winner for his global-warming documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," to run for president next year. *

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.