A Million Stories

[ a million stories ]

Philadelphia's anti-casino movement has occupied a casino. It's staged an "election." It's interrupted City Council meetings. But can it plan a circus?

"Do you know circus music?" asked Ellen Somekawa, executive director of Asian Americans United (AAU), on Monday.

"I can play 'The Entertainer,'" answered Gabe Bedell, a member of Arch Street United Methodist Church, and an accordionist.

The juggler, however, was unsure of himself.

"He doesn't want to do it 'cause he's bad," said Lily Cavanagh of Casino-Free Philadelphia (CFP). "So maybe we'll have him label the balls 'economic stability.'"

The circus, planned for noon on June 25, will mark the grand opening of the "No Slot Spot" at 718 Market St., an organizing headquarters for the local anti-casino movement. Three groups moved into the site on June 1: No Casino in the Heart of our City Coalition, as well as CFP and AAU. By Monday, as the big event was being planned, the walls were decorated with photos from previous demonstrations.

Today's circus, which will include entertainment such as "Games You Can't Win," and "Pin the Site License on the Map," is meant to highlight "the mockery of a process going on in Philadelphia," says Helen Gym of AAU, referring to the fact that the city approved zoning for the proposed Center City casino before the casino had a lease.

It also serves as a taunt to Foxwoods. It's no accident that the "No Slot Spot" is within eyeshot of the space Foxwoods intends to inhabit. Indeed, the grand opening is subtitled "We've got our lease, where's yours?"

—Tom Dreisbach

"Brrraaaaaappppp!" Not long before 9 p.m. Friday, the amplified sound of a belch rang through Northern Liberties' Piazza.

"Brehhhhhhll." This time a somewhat deeper, and definitely more moist, burp was heard over the live jazz music.

Looking past the small crowd circling Print Liberation, a T-shirt store on North Second Street, one might have been surprised to see that the producer of these guttural sounds was not an uncouth frat boy, but instead a tall, unassuming girl.

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Janet Kotz was one of only a couple of women willing to step up to the saliva-and-beer-spittle-covered mic at Print Liberation's burping contest. The contest, created by owners Jamie Dillon and Nick Paparone, offered gift certificates to the store to the best (loudest, longest, most creative) belchers. Participants were given free root beer and beer to encourage the gaseous emissions.

"Nick said we should have a farting contest and I said, 'No, we should have a burping contest!'" says Dillon. "People can burp better on cue."

More than 40 people showed up to either compete or watch. A friend of Kotz's, who knew of her great talent, encouraged her to sign up.

"Apparently I was born this way," she explained. "Even as a baby I burped loud. It just got louder as I got bigger."

She didn't disappoint, rocking the store with many a delightful burp and taking home second prize.

"I'm pleased, but at the same time I didn't think I'd be ousted," she said afterward, adding that she burps well on cue, but carbonation helps add a little more "oomph."

"I strive to do better next time," she said. "I make my parents proud with my burps."

—Morgan Davis