Nutter kicks parking ticket to the curb

IT'S GOOD to be the mayor.

I've been told that Mayor Nutter's car got a parking ticket. And that he doesn't have to pay it.

Hold up. Before you get up in arms over any special treatment the mayor gets, keep this in mind: The vehicle, which Nutter uses only for official business, is technically a cop car, driven by a member of his security detail.

"It's like one of the city's blueand-white cruisers, so it shouldn't be ticketed," said Nutter spokesman Mark McDonald. "[Nutter's security detail] is instructed to park in legal parking places when available, but they're also required to park as close as possible to the venue for security reasons. So, on occasion, they have to park in an unofficial space."

There's a placard on the car saying as much. No, it's not a big, honking sign that screams, "I am the mayor's car! Please don't ticket me!" It's a little more subtle than that. Still, parking jockeys should know what's up.

So when Nutter's car was illegally parked near Barbuzzo, a restaurant on 13th Street, last week and was ticketed, the blame wasn't on Mixmaster Mike. The fault lay with the Philadelphia Parking Authority employee who wrote out the ticket, even though my tipster told me the employee knew of the mayor's VIP status. "We pointed it out," the tipster told me. "Lady didn't care."

I called up the PPA, but a rep said it couldn't comment on individual tickets.

Yo, Mayor, next time you have a PPA scuffle, hit up my girl Ronnie Polaneczky for quick results.

Comedian Aziz Ansari, who plays Tom Haverford on the best comedy on television, "Parks and Recreation," announced that he'll be filming a comedy special at the Merriam Theater on April 10. Tickets, from $35 to $45, are on sale for 7 and 10 p.m. seatings. Get them at kimmelcenter.org.

Ansari will perform the same material as he did during his "Buried Alive" tour, which hit Philly last year. Those shows sold out so fast, Ansari wrote on his site, that he figured it would be worth the trip back to town to his film his special.

No word from reps at the Merriam as to where the special would be aired. His last special, "Dangerously Delicious," was self-released last March, and aired on Comedy Central that May. Buy it for $5 on his site, azizansari.com.

* Jimmy and Johari Rollins are the most recent Phillies-related animal benefactors. Saint Francis Veterinary Center in Gloucester County announced that April 20 is the official grand opening of the Johari & Jimmy Rollins Center for Animal Rehabilitation. The day will include an appearance by the Phillie Phanatic, a chili cookoff, face-painting and more family-friendly goodness.

* It's hard to pass up on giving when it involves drinking whiskey and hanging out with rock stars. Help out 88.5 WXPN at its Big Day Out on Sunday, April 7, the first beer- and whiskey-tasting event to benefit the radio station. The day begins with an exclusive lunch prepared by Rob Mullen, the former tour chef for U2 and Phish and current executive chef at Campbell's Place in Chestnut Hill. Musical guests - including Ben Arnold, Birdie Busch, John Wesley Harding, Dar Williams, Rachael Yamagata, members of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Free Energy and The Hooters - will mix and mingle with guests throughout the day. A mystery guest will then give attendees a special performance. Tickets are $100, $175 for VIP access. Check out xpn.org for more.

* Alex's Lemonade Stand is bringing back Camp In For Kids' Cancer, a benefit allowing kiddies to spend the night at Lincoln Financial Field, hang out with Eagles players and live out pro-football dreams on a real football field (just remember, adults, this is for the kids). Tix are $150 per adult and $75 for the kiddies. Proceeds benefit the Wynnewood-based cancer-cure charity. For more, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

* Have a gently used designer handbag that's just gathering dust in your closet? Cole Hamels wants it. The pitcher, who will enjoy his first opening-day start this year, along with wife Heidi, want the pocketbooks for their Hamels Foundation. The handbags will be auctioned off April 25 at the Handbag Happy Hour. If you have the goods, send your bag to: The Hamels Foundation, 880 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. Email jamie@thehamelsfoundation.org for more info.