diff --git a/piker/data/feed.py b/piker/data/feed.py
index 7264c8e6..05834e9d 100644
--- a/piker/data/feed.py
+++ b/piker/data/feed.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ from typing import (
     AsyncContextManager,
     Awaitable,
     Sequence,
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
 )
 
 import trio
@@ -75,6 +76,10 @@ from ._sampling import (
     uniform_rate_send,
 )
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from tractor._addr import Address
+    from tractor.msg.types import Aid
+
 
 class Sub(Struct, frozen=True):
     '''
@@ -899,19 +904,19 @@ async def open_feed(
             feed.portals[brokermod] = portal
 
             # fill out "status info" that the UI can show
-            host, port = portal.channel.raddr
-            if host == '127.0.0.1':
-                host = 'localhost'
-
+            chan: tractor.Channel = portal.chan
+            raddr: Address = chan.raddr
+            aid: Aid = chan.aid
+            # TAG_feed_status_update
             feed.status.update({
-                'actor_name': portal.channel.uid[0],
-                'host': host,
-                'port': port,
+                'actor_id': aid,
+                'actor_short_id': f'{aid.name}@{aid.pid}',
+                'ipc': chan.raddr.proto_key,
+                'ipc_addr': raddr,
                 'hist_shm': 'NA',
                 'rt_shm': 'NA',
-                'throttle_rate': tick_throttle,
+                'throttle_hz': tick_throttle,
             })
-            # feed.status.update(init_msg.pop('status', {}))
 
             # (allocate and) connect to any feed bus for this broker
             bus_ctxs.append(
diff --git a/piker/ui/_feedstatus.py b/piker/ui/_feedstatus.py
index 1c9eb772..ea262876 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_feedstatus.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_feedstatus.py
@@ -18,10 +18,11 @@
 Feed status and controls widget(s) for embedding in a UI-pane.
 
 """
-
 from __future__ import annotations
-from textwrap import dedent
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+from typing import (
+    Any,
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
+)
 
 # from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt
 
@@ -49,35 +50,55 @@ def mk_feed_label(
     a feed control protocol.
 
     '''
-    status = feed.status
+    status: dict[str, Any] = feed.status
     assert status
 
-    msg = dedent("""
-        actor: **{actor_name}**\n
-        |_ @**{host}:{port}**\n
-    """)
+    # SO tips on ws/nls,
+    # https://stackoverflow.com/a/15721400
+    ws: str = ' '
+    # nl: str = '<br>'  # dun work?
+    actor_info_repr: str = (
+        f')> **{status["actor_short_id"]}**\n'
+        '\n'  # bc md?
+    )
 
-    for key, val in status.items():
-        if key in ('host', 'port', 'actor_name'):
-            continue
-        msg += f'\n|_ {key}: **{{{key}}}**\n'
+    # fields to select *IN* for display
+    # (see `.data.feed.open_feed()` status
+    #  update -> TAG_feed_status_update)
+    for key in [
+        'ipc',
+        'hist_shm',
+        'rt_shm',
+        'throttle_hz',
+    ]:
+        # NOTE, the 2nd key is filled via `.format()` updates.
+        actor_info_repr += (
+            f'\n'  # bc md?
+            f'{ws}|_{key}: **{{{key}}}**\n'
+        )
+        # ^TODO? formatting and content..
+        # -[ ] showing which fqme is "forward" on the
+        #    chart/fsp/order-mode?
+        #  '|_ flows: **{symbols}**\n'
+        #
+        # -[x] why isn't the indent working?
+        #  => markdown, now solved..
 
     feed_label = FormatLabel(
-        fmt_str=msg,
-        # |_ streams: **{symbols}**\n
+        fmt_str=actor_info_repr,
         font=_font.font,
         font_size=_font_small.px_size,
         font_color='default_lightest',
     )
 
+    # ?TODO, remove this?
     # form.vbox.setAlignment(feed_label, Qt.AlignBottom)
     # form.vbox.setAlignment(Qt.AlignBottom)
-    _ = chart.height() - (
-        form.height() +
-        form.fill_bar.height()
-        # feed_label.height()
-    )
+    # _ = chart.height() - (
+    #     form.height() +
+    #     form.fill_bar.height()
+    #     # feed_label.height()
+    # )
 
     feed_label.format(**feed.status)
-
     return feed_label
diff --git a/piker/ui/_label.py b/piker/ui/_label.py
index 0e90b7fe..07956e4a 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_label.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_label.py
@@ -285,18 +285,20 @@ class FormatLabel(QLabel):
         font_size: int,
         font_color: str,
 
+        use_md: bool = True,
+
         parent=None,
 
     ) -> None:
 
         super().__init__(parent)
 
-        # by default set the format string verbatim and expect user to
-        # call ``.format()`` later (presumably they'll notice the
+        # by default set the format string verbatim and expect user
+        # to call ``.format()`` later (presumably they'll notice the
         # unformatted content if ``fmt_str`` isn't meant to be
         # unformatted).
         self.fmt_str = fmt_str
-        self.setText(fmt_str)
+        # self.setText(fmt_str)  # ?TODO, why here?
 
         self.setStyleSheet(
             f"""QLabel {{
@@ -306,9 +308,10 @@ class FormatLabel(QLabel):
             """
         )
         self.setFont(_font.font)
-        self.setTextFormat(
-            Qt.TextFormat.MarkdownText
-        )
+        if use_md:
+            self.setTextFormat(
+                Qt.TextFormat.MarkdownText
+            )
         self.setMargin(0)
 
         self.setSizePolicy(
@@ -316,7 +319,10 @@ class FormatLabel(QLabel):
             size_policy.Expanding,
         )
         self.setAlignment(
-            Qt.AlignVCenter | Qt.AlignLeft
+            Qt.AlignLeft
+            |
+            Qt.AlignBottom
+            # Qt.AlignVCenter
         )
         self.setText(self.fmt_str)