Agenda Lead: Chinatown Fuss…Things aren’t what they seem at Abakus Takeout

By Annamarya Scaccia

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When a hopeful customer walked into Abakus Takeout looking to buy a half-dozen roasted ducks for a party, he didn’t expect to walk out empty-handed.

To be fair, the Chinatown storefront is more than a little deceiving. In the window, right next to a display of multicolored sneakers, hang several golden ducks that look good enough for dinner. And they should — Abakus founders Ky Cao and Jackson Fu overnighted real dead fowl to a California props company to ensure that the plastic models they ordered would look as authentic as those of their restaurant neighbors.

The ducks are just a small detail of the friends’ larger mission to disguise their streetwear clothing boutique as a Chinese takeout joint. The plan started five years ago when Cao’s older brother, Rick (and Abakus’ third partner), approached them with the idea. They liked it enough to spend the next few years working nine-to-fives (Fu as a sales rep in the IT industry and Cao as a QVC production assistant) until they saved up enough to start designing.

Abakus Takeout, which opened in early May, was worth the wait. Complete with a metallic kitchen station, a meat locker-esque dressing room and illuminated wall menu squares, racks of clothing and rows of footwear replace food and cooking utensils. The store’s Web site also plays into the concept and is meticulously designed to resemble a takeout menu.

When Cao and Fu receive food orders (which is fairly frequently), they know they’re on the right track. It’s all part of the game, and foot traffic has steadily increased thanks to word-of-mouth advertising among those looking for something special.

But the point isn’t to confuse newbies; Abakus is ultimately meant to bring something different to Philadelphia, “a whole new flavor,” as Cao puts it, to a scene that lacks the concept stores of NY or L.A. And what better place to meld worlds than Chinatown?

“When you go to Chinatown, it’s just restaurants and bakeries. There’s really no type of Western store,” says Cao, 25, who is half-Chinese, half-Vietnamese. “We’re trying to bring something different, and at the same time, bring a new crowd to Chinatown. “

This desire to mesh cultures also inspired the boutique’s name. To give it a modern twist, they decided to spell the ancient mathematical device with a “k.” “[Abakus] had a nice ring to it,” says the 24-year-old Fu, who is Chinese. “And it was also representative of math, a universal language.”

From average jock to energetic b-girl, Abakus is for anyone inspired by art, music and streetwear style. The clever presentation doesn’t overshadow a bold selection of graphic Ts, outerwear and denim from both mainstream and underground labels. Currently, Abakus carries a slew of brands from across the globe, including NYC-based label Homeroom, California’s Abstraxx and Trainerspotter from the U.K. Philly is represented by cheeky local T-shirters FMW and basketball-inspired gear by Undrcrwn. Of course, there’s no shortage of sneaks: Retro and limited-edition Nike, Jordan and Reebok kicks line a wall of red, Donkey Kong-inspired angled shelving, and woks of brightly colored laces are scattered throughout.

As for the future, Cao and Fu are looking to develop an in-house brand and open sister shops concentrating on either female or male merchandise. If they do, Fu says they may do another concept store, but it’s not something they’re set on. In other words, take a second look at that new pizzeria.

Abakus Takeout | 227 N. 10th St., 215-351-7978, abakustakeout.com

In The Event That…You Need Some Summer Booty

By Annamarya Scaccia

Libertine Ball 2008: Pervy Pirates — Kink on the High Seas Sat., July 12, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., $35-$100, Shampoo, 417 N. Eighth St., 215-829-4986, libertineball.com

If Jack Sparrow and his naughty mates (oh, we’re talking about you, Orlando Bloom) get your breeches wet, then Passional’s Libertine Ball is your treasure chest.

Titled “Pervy Pirates — Kink on the High Seas,” the 10th annual bash will feature four decks of fun: the Forecastle, blasting beats by Octo-Pussy and Johanna Constantine; the outdoor rum-filled Pirates Cove; the Treasure Chest vendor area; and the Hold, which includes St. Andrew’s crosses, suspension frames, flogging stations, spanking benches, tickling and bondage booths. Nudity, however, is prohibited, as is penetration and oral stimulation of any sort, says Libertine Ball creator and Passional proprietrix Kali Morgan, who’s attending as Captain Morgan. (Costumes are mandatory for everyone on deck.) Passional, Delicious Corsets and BabyLoves Latex will also put on fashions shows throughout the evening.

In addition to the ball, mateys can check out a weekend’s worth of other Libertine events. The fetish festivities include a gallery reception for Florida-based bondage artist Chainsaw Chuck at Passional’s Aphrodite Gallery and a South Street Pirates Pub Crawl on Friday night.

Agenda Lead…Touching Base

By Annamarya Scaccia

Ever watch old clips of Bob Hope TV specials, where he and his flock of stunning Hollywood starlets would visit the troops and entertain them endlessly? Ever notice the look of bliss on the soldiers’ faces?

Frank Monahan has. It’s part of why the president of Rocket Science Productions — a Virginia-based production and talent management company — has organized the first-ever National Burlesque Festival for the Troops.

A series of burlesque performances taking place through July 10 by groups across the country, the festival will help raise money to ship For the Boys: Pinups for the Troops and For the Girls: Men Standing Strong to soldiers in need of a morale boost.

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Produced by the 54-year-old Monahan and his art director, Meredith Hancock, For the Boys is a glossy, full-color tome of saucy female pinups submitted by more than 16 photographers. The live-model shots are re-creations of illustrations by famed American pinup artist Gil Elvgren, each of which was chosen by Monahan. And female troops — who make up almost 15 percent of today’s armed forces — will get to enjoy a bounty of deliciously ripped (and mostly shirtless) men in For the Girls. (Don’t ask, don’t tell: Pick up whatever turns you on at forthetroopsonline.com or during the festival.) So far, more than 3,000 copies have been sent to veterans hospitals and bases around the world, including the U.S., Germany, Japan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Acts holding shows within the nine-day fest include the Pontani Sisters of New York, the Boston Babydolls, L.A.’s Lola LaBelle and Theatre d’Amour, the D.C. Gurly Show and Philly’s own Peek-A-Boo Revue, who will perform July 5 at Johnny Brenda’s.

But why exactly bring pinup art back? “There are plenty of people and organizations putting all kinds of care packages together for the troops,” says Monahan. “We recognized the need for a smile, for something unique and fun to look at.”

“I think it is a nice way to say, ‘We’re thinking of you,’” says Peek-A-Boo Revue director Lulu Lollipop (pictured). “We can’t be there in person, but we can send a little piece of ourselves in memory and respect of the days gone by where the troops had the full support of the American public.”

The festival also hopes to raise awareness of the continuing and evolving burlesque resurgence across the U.S. “I’m constantly amazed at the sense of empowerment that burlesque performers have and their passion to keep this art form alive is contagious,” says Monahan.

Adds Lollipop, “Burlesque is back, absolutely. Now it is time to educate people not only about the art form, but reintroduce them to sex and sexuality in a fun way.”

As for the future, Monahan hopes to make the National Burlesque Festival for the Troops an annual event because, as he puts it, men and women will always be stationed away from home whether or not a war is raging. “They will always need to get the feeling that folks at home support them,” he says, “and to take a short break from their tough existence to smile and appreciate beauty.”

Peek-A-Boo Revue and Rocket Science Productions Present: For the Troops | Sat., July 5, 10 p.m., $15 ($10 if wearing USO or pinup costume), Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, burlesquetroupes-fortroops.com