Inqlings: Spectrum offering a 10-ton souvenir

Director Tom McGrath and Megamind attended a Free Library event Tuesday for Megaread, which challenges youngsters to read books for the chance of winning a free screening of "Megamind."

By Michael Klein, Inquirer Columnist

Posted: October 21, 2010

Free to a good home: The Spectrum's scoreboard.

There are a few catches, says Lou Scheinfeld, helping Comcast-Spectacor liquidate the doomed arena's contents before its demolition next month.

"It's as big as a house, weighs 20,000 pounds, and has no spare parts," Scheinfeld says.

The new owner would have to hire electricians and carpenters - union members, as this is Philadelphia - to take the 30-by-40-foot behemoth apart and put it back together. So far, six people inquired about the scoreboard, got the lowdown, and said, "No, thanks," he said.

Bit by bit, the Spectrum is coming down. Last week's online auction of furnishings raised about $86,000, of which 25 percent will go to charity. More than 550 of the 710 listed items were sold.

This week's planned one-day sale was postponed due to too much activity. Another date will be announced. Among the available items are hundreds of urinals, for $200 each (the two in the Flyers' locker room sold for $350 a pop), and the Bruce Springsteen banner that waved from the roof line, which has been discounted from $2,500 to $1,500.

Furniture to go

Center City decorative-furniture gurus Janet and Gary Calderwood are moving again.

The Calderwoods, working out of their fourth gallery location since starting 35 years ago in their West Philly home, have put their building at 1622 Spruce St. up for sale for nearly $2 million.

They plan to move into their larger building, on the 600 block of North Broad Street, in a stretch of Broad undergoing a development boomlet.

On Spruce Street, they specialize in high-style French furniture from the early 20th century. At the Broad Street space, known as Calderwood 2, they sell modern pieces. Janet Calderwood said Spruce Street would remain open till the sale of the building, which includes two apartments and parking.

Briefly noted

Flyers fans who wear lavender to Thursday's and Saturday's games at the Wells Fargo Center will match decals on players' helmets. The team supports the NHL's Hockey Fights Cancer initiative.

Make it work: Project Runway's Tim Gunn will host a fashion show featuring Juicy Couture, Kate Spade New York, and Lucky Brand Jeans at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 at Nordstrom's at King of Prussia. Seating will be free but limited.

NBC's Monique Braxton has a busy weekend ahead. Saturday, she will be emcee of the Walk to End Domestic Violence on Martin Luther King Drive. Sunday at 3 p.m., she will be guest ringmaster at the UniverSoul Circus, set up at Belmont and Parkside Avenues in West Philly.

Charo - as in "cuchi-cuchi" - will be part of the cast of the Off-Broadway show Girls Talk: The Musical, coming to the Kimmel Center Nov. 16 to 21.

Contact columnist Michael Klein at mklein@phillynews.com. Follow his blog at http://go.philly.com/insider and on Twitter @phillyinsider.