Rev. Fred Phelps, the Kansas City pastor who has picketed funerals of soldiers to draw attention to his wacky theology, has selected a new target and a new battleground.  Phelps and his micro-congregation have announced plans to turn up as scheduled at the Jan. 7 performance of pants-impaired Lady Gaga at the Fox Theatre.  A press release from the rev. denounces Lady for being a “hussy”  and for “seducing a generation.”  A national pop-culture website, www.popeater,com drew this comment from buttoned-down and gay-friendly mayor Francis Slay: “I respect his right to protest, but this instance seems more like pop music criticism than a political protest.  I hope her fans have fun and spend lots of money here.  Other than that, there’s ‘Nothing Else I Can Say (eh eh).”   – an amusing nod, notes the popeater.com writer, to Lady Gaga’s song, ‘Eh, Eh (“Nothing Else I Can Say).”  But will hizzoner, who once famously refused to honor an alleged wife-batterer like Ike Turner, turn up for Lady Gaga’s show?…  Mayor Slay was on a roll with a visit by U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who had planned to fork over a $15 million grant to allow the city to replace the South Dock at the Municipal River Terminal, which the mayor said will also preserve jobs.  In the lobby fast-talking PR types were politely pushing TV camera crews to raise up their camera stands since Locke is much shorter than Slay. Slay then gave Locke a tour through the inner sanctum and rattled off a litany of White House visitors with grant monies

NEWSOME TWOSOME: Charlie Gitto’s downtown stop was where Dani Wehmer was feted on her birthday at a party tossed by her soulmate Ricky Dicker of Wedge Tire fame. Not only was she presented an engagement ring but also a proposal for marriage. She accepted. A September marriage is now in the works. . . Barrister Gentry Sayad is clocking out at Armstron Teasdale to head up the Asia office of Minneapolis-based Fredrikson Baron. His office will be in Shanghai.

HAPPY HOLLYDAYS: Howard Hayes, the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority (LRA) chairman, said that about 200 people each year buy city property on which to build. “We’re rebuilding one block at a time,” he said. “The city owns about 8,000 acres.” Hayes was among the party-goers at the Democrats’ holiday frolic at the IBEW hall in south city. As far as Paul McKee‘s plan in north St. Louis, Hayes opined, “If you don’t like his plan, where’s yours?” County Exec Charlie Dooley sang “My Girl” for fellow-Dems, when not glad-handing the folks in the crowd that included state reps Jake Zimmerman, Mike Corcoran, Jack Hummel, Michele Kratky and Sue Schoemehl.  County council members celebrating were Babara Fraser and Kathleen Kelly Burkett and U. City mayor Joe Adams, St. Louis city aldermen Stephen Gregali and Jennifer Florida, Hazelwood mayor Matt Robinson, Missouri state sen. Joe Keavney collector of revenue Gregg Daly and Florissant councilman Keith Schildroth, a 2010 candidate for the 76th Dist. in the Missouri House. “My strength as a councilman has been my work by old-school politics,” said Schildroth. “I go to residences and talk to the people.”  Others in the crowd were Jeannie King, Mickey McTague, Mary Elizabeth Dorsey, Doug Clemens, Sean Weller, Marianne Solari, Byron DeLear, John Gwaltney, Rhoda Womack and Eileen and Leo McGeoghegan.  One of the most sought after figures there was marketing baron David Woodruff of Blue Pear media and political campaigns. His client list consists of among others: Mayor Tommy Sowers (Rolla) for Congress (8th Dist.); Joe Adams for state senate (14th Dist.); Rep. Michael Corcoran for state senate (24th Dist.); Marty Zuniga for the house (100th Dist.) of Oakville. Woodruff also does consulting and fundraising for St. Louis Ald. Shane Cohn, Sue Schoemehl and Michele Kratky.

FURTHERMORE: St. Louis county police commish Greg Sansone – steady as he goes – with Elisabeth Ottolini of cutsie Ceylavie Catering in Chesterfield, spotted over lunch at Annie Gunn’s. . . Don’t stop Adriana Fazio – too busy making stuffed sirloin meatloaf and pistachio cake at her Adriana’s on The Hill. . . After about a year, Mike Fiala continues to eye the former Coco’s space on Lindbergh Boulevard for another Talayna’s. . .Yesteryear Balaban’s chef David Timney is ditto-ing at Mangia Italiano, where pals say he’s providing pasta for Dierbergs and Straub’s. . .The SLUTS (St. Louis Urban Traders) may just end the year with twinkie rewards.  SLUTS’ membership is limited to gay men. . . Pediatric ENT specialist Dr. James Forsen and his wife, Janis, are beaming with word that their daughter, Libby Forsen, was chosen as a junior maid at the Veiled Prophet Ball. . . Plaudits for Geile-Leon Marketing and John O’Connor, who support Project Restore on a pro-bono basis.  The Edwadsville, Ill.,-based agency has provided much-needed drinking water for the Ugandan villages of  Namulonge, Buso and Kasambia for use this winter.  The Project Restore team has traveled to Uganda this month to install new rain harvesting systems to holding tanks. . .

BOTTOMING OUT: Bride to husband: “The best things I cook are meat loaf and peach cobbler.”  Husband to bride: “Which one is this?”