Sideshow: Philly's Riley bails from 'The Voice'

Philly's reality-TV light was snuffed a bit on Monday night. Famed street singer Anthony Riley, who could be heard belting old soul tunes in Rittenhouse Square, among other environs, has left NBC's The Voice, according to team captain Pharrell. The be-hatted one announced that Riley was leaving the show for personal reasons? During auditions, Riley's golden pipes made all four judges - Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton and Adam Levine, in addition to the aforementioned "Happy" man - turn their chairs in record time. The Philly faithful will remember Riley from 2007 when he was arrested, jailed, and exonerated of disorderly conduct for singin' a little Sam Cooke in Rittenhouse. (For shame! there's no such thing as too many Cookes in Philly's kitchen!)

But never fear, Ms. Patti's here: Patti LaBelle did Philly proud herself on Monday night in Dancing with the Stars when the Ardmore-based diva-goddess boogied and Dougie'd down to 50 Cent's "In Da Club" as her personal jam. Alas, on Sunday it appeared that LaBelle had a bum knee, but she soldiered on. "Nothing's going to stop Patti but Patti," she said. Amen.

The James Beard Foundation has announced its award nominees for this year, and The Inquirer's Craig LaBan is on the list again, this time for reviews of Abe Fisher, Mole Poblano, and Volvér. It's his fourth time. He won in 2000. The categories for the Oscars of the food world span restaurants, cookbooks, and journalism. Philadelphians have three of the five noms for best chef, mid-Atlantic: Joe Cicala (Le Virtù, Brigantessa), Rich Landau (Vedge, V Street), and Greg Vernick (Vernick Food & Drink). Marc Vetri, who with business partner Jeff Benjamin has built a small empire since 1998 (Vetri, 2 Osterias, Amis, Alla Spina, Lo Spiedo, Pizzeria Vetri), is up for chef of the year. Stephen Starr, who owns restaurants in Philadelphia, New York, Atlantic City, Washington, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, is up for restaurateur of the year. Alex Bois, 28, the wunderkind behind the baked goods at High Street on Market and Fork, is a nominee for rising star chef of the year - appropriate for a baker. Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head in Milton, Del., is up for wine, beer or spirits professional. Media awards are April 24; restaurant awards are on May 4.

- Michael Klein

David Copperfield may be a great magician, but he couldn't stop the rooftop pool on his East 57th Street Penthouse in NYC from popping and flooding the penthouse below. Wave your wand at that, Dave! . . . They still let David Crosby drive? Really? Well, on Saturday, rock's most famous re-livered singer hit a jogger, who was taken to the hospital, seriously but not mortally injured. Dave, good citizen, called the police, stayed.