Dan Gross: Natalie Portman was a late cancellation at Le Bec-Fin

TURNS OUT Natalie Portman and soon-to-be-baby daddy Benjamin Millepied did not eat at Le Bec-Fin (1523 Walnut) before leaving town, as we said yesterday. The couple had a reservation for a 10:30 dinner seating that was canceled fairly late, according to chef/proprietor Georges Perrier. Despite keeping his staff late for the no-shows, Perrier has no hard feelings.

"It's the business. People cancel," Perrier said. "I would have loved to have her in the restaurant. Maybe she'll come some other time."

Diddy to party at the Chelsea

 The C5 club at the Chelsea in Atlantic City hosts Sean "Diddy" Combs Saturday night as the official afterparty for his Diddy Dirty Money show at the House of Blues. The party runs from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tickets start at $60 and are still available online at wantickets.com/eegdiddyac.

For info, call 609-428-4550 or visit thechelsea-ac.com.

Local guy behind 'Ceremony'

Hatboro-raised Matt Spicer, an Upper Moreland High grad and a producer of "Ceremony," will host a Q&A session after the 7:15 p.m. screening Friday at the Ritz Bourse. "Ceremony" stars Uma Thurman and Michael Angarano.

Maxim praises barber shop

 2B Groomed (270 S. 11th) made Maxim magazine's "Smooth Operators: Best Old School Barber Shops in the Country." Owner Jahmal Rhaney is quoted giving advice on trimming sideburns.

He suggests you start mid-ear and work downward. "Typically when guys shave their sideburns on their own, they go too high and end up looking like the guys on 'Star Trek.' "

Charitably minded

Miss Pennsylvania USA Amber-Joi Watkins is in total pageant mode preparing for the June 19 Miss USA contest in Las Vegas. The other day she was in West Virginia for a dress fitting and next she's off to New York to meet with a coach, but the University of Pennsylvania graduate and former Sixers dancer will be at R2L on the 57th floor of Two Liberty Place Wednesday night for a party that in part benefits Students Run Philly Style. It's from 6 to 9:30 and the suggested donation at the door is $20.

* Former boxer Matthew Saad Muhammad is giving back to the homeless community he was once a part of on April 28 when he emcees the Knock Out Homelessness event at Chickie's & Pete's (1526 Packer). Boxing legend Smokin' Joe Frazier and Phillies catcher turned 97.5 the Fanatic broadcaster Darren Daulton will attend. The event features Wii boxing and other games and activities. Proceeds benefit One Step Away, the newspaper produced by and benefiting Philadelphia's homeless. The party runs 7 to 11 and tickets are $75 at the door or online at osaphilly.org.

* The fifth annual Ducky Birts Foundation fundraiser at First District Plaza (3801 Market) Saturday drew a crowd of powerful guests. At least half of City Council, Mayor Nutter, District Attorney Seth Williams and Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers attended the party, which doubled as a 75th-birthday celebration for Birts, a former basketball player and coach who now works for U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.

Limo driver to the stars Big Penny and wife Valerie Allen-Ruffin were also among 600-plus guests at the fete to help Birts provide scholarships for students at Cheyney and Lincoln universities.

* Roots keyboardist Kamal will be the guest bartender from 7 to 9 tonight at Guppy's Good Times (Maple & Elm) in Conshohocken along with 97.5 the Fanatic's boxing show host Henry Racich. Twenty-five percent of bar proceeds will benefit Janie Carbo, who was born in August 2005 with a rare genetic disorder called MIDAS.

It's playtime for Thompson

Author Alyce C. Thompson is hard at work on her play "3 Men I Chose to Love," which has two shows at 2 and 6 p.m. May 8 at International House (3701 Chestnut). The play is based on Thompson's autobiographical book about having three fiances murdered. Tickets are $25 at AlyceCThompsonBooksInc.com or $30 at door.

Visit PhillyGossip.com for Dan's latest updates or follow PhillyGossip on Twitter. Have a tip? Call 215-854-5963, or email grossd@phillynews.com. For recent columns, visit www.philly.com/DanGross.