Paula Deen

NO DEAL HAS been reached, but we hear "Real World: Los Angeles" cast mate Glen Naessens and his brother Mike , who owns Eulogy (136 Chestnut), are trying to buy the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), which is mere feet away. Rumors of the Old City rock club being for sale have swirled for about a year, but nothing has come to fruition. Khyber co-owner Stephen Simons declined to comment yesterday. Simons owns the building and co-owns the bar with Dave Frank . The pair also operate the Royal Tavern, Cantina Los Caballitos and Cantina Dos Segundos.

A cold, hypocritical media manipulator? Or a suffering Southern lady in distress? Which shoe fits Paula Deen ? The popular Food Network star revealed this week that she has type-2 diabetes - but not before signing a no doubt lucrative contract to promote a diabetes drug. A cynical move? Not as cynical, says University of Pennsylvania bioethicist Arthur Caplan , as Deen's decision to keep her illness a secret for three years - during which the Georgia-born chef continued to push recipes for high-calorie down-home cooking.

Imagination and creativity in food as well as in decorations and costumes are key to the success of a Halloween bash. Consider succulent "eyeballs" of cherry-stuffed litchis as a stunning garnish for cocktails. Or add a wine-enriched red beet "blood" sauce to a harvest entree of roast chicken, sausage and root vegetables that is both tasty and colorful. Serve it on a "stake" if you're smitten with vampires. These and other eerie offerings are the tricks up celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's sleeve on "Emeril Kicks Up Halloween," an episode of his Emeril Live series that was taped at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary in July.

Uber-chef Thomas Keller takes on American comfort food, with 350 pages of lush photos and laborious recipes for classics like fried chicken and split pea soup - and trust us, Paula Deen it's not. Moosewood Restaurant dishes out another vegetarian cookbook, this time with less cheese, more whole grains, even more vegetables - and some very tasty recipes - in its charming no-frills design. And the Lee Brothers give us another gem: quick and easy Southern dishes updated from the long-simmered and the deep-fried, presented along with charming food memories from the South.

WHEN Paula Deen announced her Type 2 diabetes last week, outrage erupted worldwide. Coming as healthful New Year's resolutions are eroding like melting snow, the news struck a chord. That's because Deen preached a comfort-food gospel heavy on butter, sugar, meat and other "down-home" delights that many work to minimize. And she knew her condition for three years before revealing it - once she had a gig hawking diabetes drug Victoza.

Late Show With David Letterman (11:35 p.m., CBS3) - Salma Hayek Pinault; Nick Offerman; KISS performs. The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (11:35 p.m., NBC10) - Sarah Silverman; Paula Deen; Lyle Lovett performs. Jimmy Kimmel Live (midnight, 6ABC) - Robert Pattinson; Chris Hardwick; Ben Folds Five performs. The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson (12:35 a.m., CBS3) - Actress Sarah Shahi; Tenacious D performs. Last Call With Carson Daly (1:35 a.m., NBC10) - Actress Katey Sagal; the Stepkids perform.

The new cast of ABC's Dancing With the Stars was revealed this morning, and the early money is likely betting on the athletes: Receiver Donald Driver and former tennis star Martina Navratilova . Past winners have included three ice-skating Olympians and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward. Fan favorites, though, often tend to be on the overweight or aged side. Forget the rumors about Vince Young, Eagles backup quarterback last season, and Jersey Shore 's Jennifer "JWoww" Farley.

SINCE CONDE NAST ceased publishing Gourmet late last year, foodies have been on the hunt for substitutes to match their cooking styles and personalities. Perhaps you are among them, flipping through glossy after glossy, gazing at glam photos of roast chicken and chocolate tortes - or Paula Deen and Rachael Ray. It's easy to become confused and overwhelmed. There are dozens of food magazines, from the usual suspects (such as Bon Appétit , Saveur , Everyday Food )

10 for the Road 1. 13th Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. Rehoboth Beach, Del. Nov. 10-14. Showcasing 100 American and international films. Seminars, documentaries, celebrity guests, and a Children's Cinema Corner. 302-645-9095; www.rehobothfilm.com . 2. Sugarloaf Crafts Festival. Hartford, Conn. Nov. 12-14. Demonstrations of wheel-thrown pottery, stone carving, and metal spinning, plus more than 200 artisans, live music, gourmet food, and children's entertainment.