Sports Illustrated’s sicom July 2 double issue spotlights former sports stars who now run restaurants, in particular barbecue joints. Featured athletes and their eateries include: Robert Porcher (Detroit Lions) Seldom Blues jazz and supper club, Detroit Breakfast House & Grill, and Grand City Grille, Detroit; Nate Thurmond (NBA Hall of Fame center), Big Nate’s Barbecue, San Francisco; Randy Jones (San Diego Padres pitcher), Randy Jones’ BBQ, Petco Park, San Diego; Sammy Walker (Olympic weightlifter), Sammy Walker’s Bar-b-que, Rowlett and Forney, Texas; Billy Sims (Oklahoma Heisman Trophy winning running back), Billy Sims Barbecue, Tulsa, Edmond and Broken Bow, Okla; Larry Shreve (pro wrestler), Abdulla the Butcher’s House of Ribs & Chinese Food, Atlanta; Lee Roy Selmon (Tampa Bay Bucs star), Lee Roy Selmon’s, seven locations in the Tampa area; Al “Bubba” Baker (pro football player), Bubba’s Q, Avon, Ohio; Greg “The Bull” Luzinski (Phillies slugger), Bull’s Barbecue, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia; and Boog Powell (Orioles slugger), Boog’s BBQ, Camden Yards, Baltimore.

IN THE NEWS: FooBooz.com reports, “We have it from a reliable source that this will be the last weekend for the Astral Plane as they will be closing for good following brunch on Sunday, July 1. The Astral Plane has been in business for 34 years.” … The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reports: Last call will be June 30 for two high-end restaurants: Felicia’s, which opened 20 years ago at 11th and Ellsworth, and Restaurant M, the newish garden spot in the Morris House, the boutique hotel on Eighth Street near Pennsylvania Hospital…. Silk City is back in business at Fifth and Spring Garden Streets on the edge of Northern Liberties. … Klein also notes the openings of Tokyo Bleu (602 Route 130 North, Cinnaminson), the second branch of Sabrina’s Cafe (1802 Callowhill St.), and the fourth location of J.D. McGillicuddy’s (111 Cotton St.). … The Inquirer’s Craig LaBan gives two bells in his review of Onasis (800 Haddonfield Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ) … The Daily News‘ Lari Robling reviews Hot Potato Cafe (629 E. Girard Ave., Philadelphia). … The Daily News‘ Dan Gross reports that Melrose Diner has changed hands. The South Philadelphia institution was sold by Richard Kubach Jr., whose family has owned the Melrose for 73 years, to Michael Petrogiannis. Petrogiannis also owns the several other diners including the Mayfair Diner as well as five Michael’s restaurants in the suburbs. philly.com … The Philadelphia Business Journal reports on the reasons why the operators of Pizzicato, Radicchio Café and La Famiglia Ristorante have poured considerable sums of cash into sprucing up their places. … The Journal also reports that Boston seafood institution Legal Sea Foods has targeted Philadelphia for expansion. Legal Sea Foods opened a restaurant in June at 690 W. DeKalb Pike at the Court at King of Prussia Mall. The restaurant chain, which has 32 locations nationwide, is also scouting out Center City for a location. philadelphia.bizjournals.com … Philadelphia Weekly’s Jess Fuerst reviews the sushi at Uzu (104 Market St.). philadelphiaweekly.com … City Paper’s Trey Popp reviews Blackfish (119 Fayette St., Conshohocken) and Vic Sushi Bar (2035 Sansom St.), while Drew Lazor notes the openings of: Everyday Gourmet (Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch sts); Cacia’s Bakery (719 N. Second St.); and Jimmy John’s Gourmet Subs (44 S. 17th St., on July 9). citypaper.net … PhillyFoodGuys.com visit Picanha Brazilian Grill (6501 Castor Avenue Philadelphia). … Blogalicious blogacliciou-adam.blogspot.com stops by South Street’s Crescent City.

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