When it comes to TV’s most popular show, how come Philly hits all the wrong notes?

While American Idol fans across the country count down the weeks to the coronation of the newest pop-star pinup this month, Philadelphians watch with broken hearts. Even after our city hosted Idol auditions (for the first time in the show’s seven-year history), not one local out of the 20,000 who auditioned at the Wachovia Center squeaked past Randy, Paula and Simon to make it to the Top 24.

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When the Headhouse Farmers’ Market set up under the shambles at 2nd and Lombard streets last summer, it was a major moment in Philadelphia food. Finally, we had something to compare to New York’s famous Union Square Greenmarket, a place where the food community — chefs, locavores, food writers, etc. — converged every Sunday morning to buy directly from our region’s growers.

Starting this weekend, the market is open for 2008. The earliest weeks of the season bring things like ramps and asparagus. It’s not the cornucopia of tomatoes and squash of July, but the market’s opening will mean the return of major sources of humanely raised meats, including Hendrick’s farms excellent bacon. Filling your shopping bags with local fare is a good feeling, but the fun of attending the market and taking part in this vibrant community is even better. Don’t miss your first chance of the year to support our local farmers and the Food Trust, the nonprofit that makes it happen.

Photo courtesy of Lancasteronline.com; by Jeff Ruppenthal, Sunday News.

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Ira Einhorn Jr. on the loose?: Police from Philadelphia and Baltimore swarmed a Philadelphia Housing Authority property on 13th Street near Fitzwater yesterday after a large suitcase was found filled with human remains. An autopsy will be performed to determine whether the corpse is that of a baby reported missing in Baltimore a few months ago. [Daily News]

Johnny Doc steps down from redevelopment post: Tough week for union head John Dougherty — first he loses a three-way state Senate primary in an upset, then he has to bow to the inevitable and resign as chairman of the city’s Redevelopment Authority. Dougherty had been appointed to the post in 2000 by Mayor Street — a fact unlikely to endear him to the new administration. [KYW]

A joyful noise: The more than 80 public schools in the city that lost both music and arts programs two years ago in the face of a tremendous budget shortfall look to get at least one of them back next year under the system’s proposed budget. The artistic fate of thousands of kids is now in City Council’s hands. [Metro]

If you’re not familiar with Cole Haan’s G Series, allow me to educate: The geniuses at Cole Haan take cute, fun and work-appropriate heels and flats and add perfectly concealed Nike Air technology. Meaning: walking, dancing or cocktail-hour-ing in 4-inch wedges looks pulled-together and feels like heaven on your dogs. Not surprisingly, they come with a hefty price tag, which is how Kushyfoot walked into my life and saved said puppies and my bank account.

These foot covers — they sorta look like peds — are available in a buncha forms, from athletic socks to open toe styles in basic colors like black, white and nude. (Although we’ll admit the new black lace ones are like trying to make Granny panties hot. It just doesn’t work.). What makes them special is that a padded foot bed massages and cushions achy feet all day. They all cost less than my daily wrap and iced-tea lunch and a heck of a lot less than trying to keep up with Cole’s latest styles. — Andrea Carayiannas

Available at CVC, Rite Aid, $3.49 to $7.99.

Spring has sprung, dumplings, but if you were at the Flower Show opening a while back, you’d know it came early for Philadelphia’s bon ton. We were greeted by ever-peppy Horticultural Society prez Jane Pepper, looking her usual 70 pounds soaking wet but nonetheless regal in a violet floor-length gown with purple rosettes on the skirt. And that plunging neckline! Jane, you minx. Who knew? … Among those air-kissing amidst the New Orleans-themed flora: Trisha and Gerry Cuddy, the David Cohens, Anne Ewers, the Brian Tierneys, Carl and Roberta Dranoff, and buzz-building young socialite Molly Terlevich. … Innovest Group head Richard Woosnam embraced the floral theme with a springy turquoise bow tie, but for us, top fashion honors went to Karen Buchholz, there with power hubby Carl; she — as our daughter Maine would say — “rocked that dress” in an off-the-shoulder Nicole Miller number with fur neckline. But there is peril in being so in-demand fabulous — the pair couldn’t stay for supper, dashing for dinner with some of Carl’s fancy clients. … And from the “Who’s That Girl?” Dept.: Who was the gorgeous arm candy all cozy with Al Spivey, the chief of staff for City Councilman Curtis Jones? So glam! …

Illustration by Rowan Barnes Murphy

Manolos or mortgage payments?: Taxpayers could start seeing their economic stimulus payments in their bank accounts as early as today, a week ahead of the original schedule. The president has come to accept the error in his original hope that the rebates would encourage Americans to spend frivolously to boost the flagging economy; people will most likely spend the extra dough on things they actually need and can barely afford anymore, like, say, gas and groceries. [Inquirer]

Philly radio loses a legend: Radio jock “Big Ron” O’Brien died suddenly last night at Paoli Memorial Hospital. The WOGL afternoon DJ had been hospitalized with pneumonia recently, and although his condition appeared to be improving, the 56-year-old died from complications of the infection. [Inquirer]

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It’s easy to forget when you stop at most ice cream shops, but the serving size of a frozen dessert should be a mere 1/2 cup. Ice cream cones typically sport three scoops — triple the recommended portion size. But at Franklin Fountain in Old City you can satisfy your warm-weather cravings with its new College Ice. The smaller treat combines a single scoop of the shop’s house made ice cream with one topping in a diminutive Chinese takeout container. I suggest the peanut butter with crushed pretzels for a splurge that won’t put you in a sugar coma.

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Following the light — for the first time: A husband-and-wife medical team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania’s Scheie Eye Institute has made a promising gene-therapy breakthrough that has allowed three blind patients to regain some sight. The findings were published yesterday by the New England Journal of Medicine. [Inquirer]

Pedal power is better power: Car share is so pre-$4-a-gallon gas — we’re really going to be arriving at our glorious eco-future on two wheels. Possibly, anyway, depending on what City Council comes up with this week in hearings on a citywide bike-share program. [KYW]

TV anchors with heart: And seemingly little knowledge of rabies. Married talking heads Dawn Stensland of Fox 29 and Larry Mendte of CBS3 tried to nurse a baby raccoon their dog brought from the woods near their Chestnut Hill home over the weekend. The critter wasn’t liking whatever Dawn was mixing up, though, so Larry hopped in the car and took it to the Schuylkill Center. It’s now resting comfortably and has plenty of those tiny candy garbage cans to practice on. [Inquirer]