August 25-31, 2005
mixpicks
Photo By: Jeffrey Bouchard |
15th & South Thursdays
Good Dog Quizzo
Deets: 8 p.m., free. Good Dog Bar, 224 S. 15th St., 215-985-9600.
The Skinny: Johnny Goodtimes umpires cranial combat at what could pass for Philly's smallest taproom. The "intimate" setting (read: you will reek of French fry grease, sweat and cigarette smoke by night's end) means fewer brainiacs competing for the same $30 bar tab good news when Goodtimes unleashes the periodic table, geography and Revolutionary War questions.
Who You'll See: Homely trivia junkies, happy hour stragglers and corporate meatheads packed to standing-room-only in the dimly lit, Bordeaux-red upstairs.
What You'll Do: Get grilled off your ass with questions that run the gamut from presidential deaths to Janet Jackson's secret marriage and wish you'd watched Jeopardy! instead.
Why Bother: Unless you're a sucker for photos of dogs wearing sunglasses and/or the Casual Friday vibe, don't.
Better Than Bootleg
Deets: 7 p.m., $3 donation, through Sept. 29. Jamaican Jerk Hut, 1436 South St., 267-467-4944.
The Skinny: Sandwiched between two buildings in a vacant lot is an urban oasis, a neighborhood film and video series that strives to stimulate social dialogue and raise cultural awareness. The screenings, projected onto the side of a neighboring building, weigh heavy on the social-oppression tip. Mouthwatering Jamaican fare is dished up until 10 p.m., and it's lights out at 11.
Who You'll See: A rainbow of moviegoers, ranging from Bible-beating grannies to anemic activist types with ponytails and soul patches.
What You'll Do: Swat mosquitoes, devour platefuls of mango chicken and fried plantains and watch everything from Bollywood romances to documentaries on the effects of globalization.
Why Bother: On a block strewn with broken glass, it's a breath of fresh Caribbean air.
Drag Night
Deets: 10 p.m., $5. Bob & Barbara's Lounge, 1509 South St., 215-545-4511.
The Skinny: Billed as a "family show" by sexy post-op host Miss Lisa, Philly's longest-running drag night dresses to the nines with outrageous lip synching and ass groping aplenty.
Who You'll See: Kings, queens, trannies, homos, heteros and everything in between. Be on the lookout for your friends' parents, clubby Cancun girls, Celine and Cher wannabes, 6-foot-5 "gents" with cheek implants and the barrel-chested Uma Thurman (clearly a father of three) at the end of the bar (s)he'll be gobbling beer dogs.
What You'll Do: Or better yet, who. Prepare to be dragged onstage and forced to gyrate to Montell Jordan-esque jams in exchange for free drink tickets. Pack a stack of ones for the G-string action, but steer clear of greased-up musclemen looking for a dry hump.
Why Bother: It's Fab. U. Lous.
Strychnine
Deets: Last Thursday of every month, 9 p.m., $5. Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475.
The Skinny: A psychedelic voyage guided by retro throwbacks The Misteriosos and spotlighting '60s revival bands (past acts include The Elk Tones, Thee Minks and The Chance). DJ TomBeat spins an eclectic mix of rock, soul, surf and Brit-pop from his collection of 45s.
Who You'll See: New-Agey dudes in mom jeans and white cross trainers drinking O'Doul's, aging hipsters in zebra miniskirts dancing alone at the front of the stage and DJs old enough to have bought the original vinyl pressings.
What You'll Do: Sit and stare. It's a sausage party, all right, but the kitchen serves Polish food, deep-fried Snickers bars and imported beers until late.
Why Bother: Perhaps you're looking to start a Dick Dale cover band?
Know a city hot spot that deserves a closer look? E-mail listings@citypaper.net.
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