Boldface March 17: A.D. Amorosi rounds up the local gossip

It was sad to watch the partial demolition of Chestnut Street’s Boyd Theater on Saturday, considering the Friends of the Boyd’s decade-plus fight to preserve the Art Deco movie palace.

But there was happier construction news too. The Kimmel Center held a party, with fireworks, in Hamilton Garden developer Carl Dranoff and Philly soul legends Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to introduce Philippe Starck as interior designer for Dranoff’s 47-story SLS LUX Philadelphia Hotel and International Residences at the site of the music producers’ building on Broad and Spruce.

Over at 500 Walnut Street, developer Tom Scannapieco welcomed Councilman Mark Squilla and Mayor Michael Nutter to break ground on a new condo project, which will look like a “glass needle.”

Rumor has it Old City’s next big restaurant will be mega, with 190 seats and faces familiar to Philly foodies. Word has it the restaurant will be ready by June and located on Market Street. Could it be Chef Delilah Winder‘s now-unused spot on Third?

Celebrity sightings

New Eagles running back DeMarco Murray dined at Capital Grille to celebrate his signing.

Ariana Grande was charming to Wells Fargo Center staff last Thursday. Rumor has it her beau, rapper Big Sean, was backstage.

While Sylvester Stallone made his second stop at City Tap House, lead actor Michael B. Jordan took time off from filming “Creed” in Philly to enjoy tequila at El Vez in Midtown Village. The next day, both actors were at the Art Museum steps and the Rocky statue to film a climactic scene where Stallone’s character is in the last stages of cancer.

Neil Diamond appeared at Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day parade before his Wells Fargo Center gig on Sunday.