The National Constitution Center’s multimillion-dollar “Ancient Rome & America” exhibit has been on display for months, so why are we nagging you to go see it on a random Thursday evening? The reasons are twofold:

1. The exhibit closes on August 1, which means your history-buff heart has but three days to catch the NCC’s collection of 300 Italian and American artifacts; and
2. It’s “$5 after 5 p.m.” night — if you head Independence Mall way after work today, you’ll save $15 on admission, which is a pretty sweet deal.

If you’re still not sold on the idea, read what Shaun Brady had to say about “AR&A” in a February edition of the City Paper and prepare yourself to get seriously schooled:

Having just overthrown a king, America’s founding fathers were understandably averse to monarchies, shunning the trappings of royalty while laying the groundwork for the new nation. Empire, on the other hand. … It seems the cultural and political innovations of the ancient Romans had long since eclipsed its more tyrannical tendencies in the thinking of those colonial revolutionaries. Accusations of American imperialism get raised like alarm bells at the outset of every modern war, but the idea — and its uneasy relation to the country’s self-professed values — is as old as the Constitution itself. The National Constitution Center’s exhibition explores the links between the two societies, with artifacts including toga-clad busts of Washington, Jefferson and Franklin that echo classical examples and clash awkwardly with those leaders’ populist mythologies.

“Ancient Rome & America,” through Aug. 1, $5-$20, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org.

We’re now accepting applications for the Fall cycle of A&E interns. We’re looking for the bestest and brightest to join the City Paper team. Applications are due on Mon., Aug. 2 so hop on it, people!

Here’s the info:

Fall 2010 A&E

Internship

Interested in expanding your portfolio, improving your writing skills and gaining invaluable experience outside your college paper? Philadelphia City Paper is looking for ambitious, dedicated, creative, energetic writers who want to make an immediate impact at Philadelphia’s premier alternative publication.

We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2010 intern positions. This internship requires a familiarity with the Philadelphia area and an interest in contemporary arts and culture. Primary responsibilities include keeping up with weekly beats for our listings section and writing weekly entertainment-oriented columns. Interns typically put in anywhere from 10 to 20 hours per week (scheduling is flexible).

Other duties include:

• Pitching/writing short pieces for the weekly agenda/arts agenda sections
• Pitching/writing features for the arts, music and food sections
• Pitching/writing content for our various blogs
• Conducting research
• Transcribing interviews
• Fact checking
• Developing and pitching your own story ideas

Participants should preferably be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Recent graduates may also apply. All majors are welcome, but candidates with a background in journalism, communication or English have a leg up. We are more than willing to work with your school in regards to college credit. All internships are unpaid.

To apply, mail a cover letter, résumé, three references and three clips (no more, no less) to the address listed below. Also, include when you can begin and end. We are also accepting e-mail applications (see contact address). No phone calls, please. Act fast, because these positions don’t stay open for long.

DEADLINE FOR FALL 2010 APPLICATIONS IS MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010.

Molly Eichel
Deputy A&E Editor
Philadelphia City Paper
123 Chestnut St., Third Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19106

email: molly.eichel@citypaper.net

[source]

Plaid Pony Vintage is currently hawking an All About Philadelphia Game made in 1982 by the Chamber of Commerce. For only $20, you too can play what looks like a acid trip version of Monopoly: Click For More »

Many of you know Andrew Thompson for his hard-hitting City Paper news reportage on guns, cops and more cops — but did you know he’s also adept at spinning a delightful yarn? Us neither — but AT proved us all wrong last night at one of First Person Arts‘ twice-monthly StorySlams.

On the topic of “A Date to Remember,” Andrew told a tale of getting robbed in Philadelphia — which he insists is a rite of passage — and won first place for the evening, which means he gets to go on to participate in November’s Grand Slam. Check out the vid below — the visual quality’s not great, but the audio’s all there, so pretend he’s on WHYY and enjoy.

A parody of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” from Sunbury, PA’s own Sloppy Secondz, the writer’s of such classics as “Work that Shaft” and “I Love this Whore.”

Sigh.

…Hangs head in shame.

I dread watching beloved movies from childhood because they generally never live up to their former glory (I’m looking at you Drop Dead Fred). But I can gladly confirm that Peter Hyam’s 1992 unnecessarily satiric Stay Tuned is still as ludicrous as a I remember it being from countless cable viewings. Although, I probably didn’t get the irony of a movie about the evils of television when I was, like, seven.

Click For More »

Every Tuesday, Critical Mass pokes around the blog world so you don’t have to.

Metropolis

— Mathew Craven does a stand-up job of profaning our country’s history in his new exhibit at Grizzly Grizzly, “Future Myths,” as ArtBlog tell it, Basically, the dude cuts up textbooks and has a field day with every artistic tool out there — Adobe Photoshop, markers, you name it — the century doesn’t really matter. After he’s through, the world of our founding fathers has gone from 18^th Century drab to Sergeant Pepper psychedelic.

— Make Major Moves reports our favorite animated rockers Gorillaz are coming to Philly this fall. Virtually, most of the band should be present. But no one is quite clear which members will physically show up. Either way, their shows throws together live musicians, art and visual effects so everyone feels like they’re romping around in a “Dirty Harry” video.

— If the prologue of Shakespeare’s Henry V is any indication, all you need for a bitchin’ show is, “A kingdom for a stage, princes to act / And monarchs to behold the swelling scene.” Uwishunu wants you to consider yourself king/queen for two weeks when the Philadelphia Shakespeare Co. performs Henry V for free.

— While Sam Adams already gave the re-released Metropolis the review treatment, Carrie Rickey takes a more historical approach to Fritz Lang’s Art Deco masterpiece.

Antibalas blasts the Afrobeat through your ears and straight to yours hips. Their big claim? Antibalas is “America’s only live Afrobeat party,” and we want to give you an invite!

Anitbalas takes the stage at the Kimmel Center this Thu., July 29 and we’ve got two tickets for the first person to e-mail the answer to the below trivia question to molly [dot] eichel [at] citypaper [dot] net: Congrats to Alan R. who answered correctly.

Antibalas were recently involved in a critically-acclaimed musical. What is the musical and what was the band’s role?

Fela!; Antibalas arranged and performed the music.

Words by Julia Askenase | Photos by Carolyn Huckabay

At First Person Arts‘ first-ever Summer Grand Slam and BBQ, no one held anything back. After filling up on indulgently scrumptious barbecue from Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse (pulled chicken, homestyle mac ‘n’ cheese, mashed sweet potatoes … catch my drift?) the audience packed into the Painted Bride’s main theater, which either lacked AC entirely or wasn’t circulating enough air to reach all the glistening attendees. The heat became a common talking point throughout the evening (“I’m not even wearing Spanx,” shared hilarious host Katonya Mosley), but the show pressed on. Click For More »

A concert a day keeps the doctor away.

Monday: Start the week off with a little refinement. Amble on over to the Philadelphia Orchestra’s summer home at the Mann Center for an annual treat, the Tchaikovsky Spectacular. As the name suggests, it’ll be all Tchaikovsky all night, including works from Swan Lake and Eugene Onegin. The performance, conducted by Rossen Milanov, will feature cello soloist Efe Baltacigil. 8 p.m., $10-50, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., Fairmount Park, 215-878-0400.

Tuesday: Since Monday night was a formal affair, keep Tuesday night business casual. Unless you’re heading back to the Mann to hear Aretha Franklin sing her heart out while former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice plays piano (no, seriously), you can sweat it out to the ’80s-tinged dance tracks of Chromeo. See for yourself if their synths and keyboards really are sprouting high-heeled female legs, as the cover art of 2007’s Fancy Footwork suggested. w/ Holy Ghost!, Telephoned & Jayo, 8:30 p.m., $20-22, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888

Wednesday: Last week, we told you that Natalie Merchant was coming through town solo, not with the Lilith Fair crew. Well, this week the Lilith ladies are actually in town, so break out your copy of Surfacing, and show some love for female performance power. Sure, Lilith Fair 2.0 has received some flack in the relevance department, but look at it this way: if this line-up piques your interest, then go. Simple as that. w/ Janelle Monáe, Serena Ryder, Butterfly Boucher, Anjulie, Sara Bareilles, Missy Higgins, Jill Hennessy, Sarah McLachlan, Joy Ike, Zee Avi & Court Yard Hounds, 2:30 p.m., Susquehanna Bank Center, 1 Harbor Blvd., Camden, N.J.,$ 37.75-$107.45

Thursday: La Roux knows how to make an addictive track. A bajillion plays later and “Bulletproof” still holds up as the relentless “I’m-better-off-without-you” club banger it was upon first listen. And we’ve got that sweet Major Lazer/La Roux mixtape to obsess over. Don’t miss the synthed-out duo, Elly Jackson and Ben Langmaid, when they stop through Philly on an East Coast jaunt before heading back to Europe. w/ Dave P (Making Time) & Sammy Slice, 9 p.m., $17-19, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888.

Friday: What happens when two blues-rockin’ brothers from another mother hit up the City of Brotherly Love? You get one force to be reckoned with on Penn’s Landing, that’s what. Over the course of several albums, Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys have built a unique brand of psychedelic garage rock. Catch their live prowess at the Great Plaza, where they’ll follow standout newcomers The Morning Benders, who breath new life into Spector-influenced spacious recording. w/ The Morning Benders,. 7:30 p.m., $32, Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Blvd. at Chesnut St., 215-629-3200.

Saturday: It’s that time of year again! Our beat-blasting buddies over at Mad Decent HQ are throwing their annual summer jam, the Mad Decent Block Party, and folks of all ages are invited. In this year’s promo video, Diplo tells us to expect water balloons, “all kinds of different balls,” dunk tanks, an appearance by Major Lazer and live performances by Mad Decent artists PO PO, Maluca, Bosco Delray, Paul Devro and a mysterious surprise headliner. The party’s going on the road this year to three other American cities, but it kicks off in Philly. 1-8 p.m., free, Mad Decent Mausoleum, 531 N. 12th St. (between Spring Garden and Green St.)

Sunday: After a week of dancing, we understand if you’re a little partied out. Wind down with some fun folk-pop from Katie Herzig, a Colorado-via-Nashville native, Grammy nominee and member of the noteworthy Ten out of Tenn music collective. 7 p.m., $15, World Cafe Live. 3025, Walnut St., 215-222-1400