Good Grief (2009-11-05)

Lately, an overwhelming flood of media has turned grief-and-catharsis into an industry. Sudsy Lifetime movies, maudlin Jodi Picoult novels, countless hours of reality TV have reduced loss to a series of clichés. How can we separate art from Oprah-tainment?

Great Migration (2009-10-29)

Arthur Miller once quipped, "The structure of a play is always the story of how the birds came home to roost." It's an idea that takes flight in the Wilma Theater's affecting production of Athol Fugard's new drama, Coming Home.

Burn Notice (2009-10-29)

A menu that offers no dish exceeding 500 calories sounds more like part of a sadistic Top Chef challenge than the centerpiece of a real-life restaurant — especially when said restaurant is owned and run by a radio DJ.

Sëla (2009-10-22)

It's tempting to call Sëla's "Pedal to the Side" a hip-hop anthem for the Philadelphia cyclist circa 2009.

BYOTY Book Fair (2009-10-15)

The gallery is hosting a BYOTY ("bring your own table, yo") book fair, featuring more than 25 vendors selling books written backward, zines, self-published poetry and psychedelic art books — all for about $5.

Do It Again? (2009-10-08)

In October, you can't hit off the ladies tees.

Feedback (2009-10-08)

"Frankly, I'm tired of these trust fund hippies who have nothing better to do with their time than jet around the world to lodge protests that nobody pays attention to."

Men's Mezz (2009-10-08)

"Not everyone has the need to purchase pillows as much as they would a new belt and scarf."

TimberLand (2009-10-08)

The full scope of the show exemplifies an approach to art in which the goal is to continually seek new possibilities. The same may be said of the Center itself.

Third Man Trio (2009-10-08)

It's been more than 10 years since Trio Clusone last graced the world with its playful, abstract-swing Dada-jazz.

Le Loup (2009-10-08)

The new album, Family (Hardly Art), even rocks, rocks hard, in a mushroomy, haunted bonfire kinda way.

Thee Oh Sees (2009-10-08)

John Dwyer's oral fixation can only be satisfied with instruments.

Repertory Film (2009-10-08)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Clef Club (2009-10-08)

Although the kitchen does hit a few sour notes, Tropea demonstrates an ability to orchestrate simple ingredients into sophisticated, satisfying compositions.

Women's Fall Festival (2009-10-01)

When DJ Klembott got tired of the nightlife scene, she decided to throw a different kind of party altogether — a family-oriented celebration of autumn. Her idea morphed into the first Women's Fall Festival, where female business owners, artists and musicians can get together to showcase their accomplishments.

Taller Puertorriqueño Books And Crafts Fair (2009-10-01)

"We want our children to be able to look up to authors who look like them, so they know that they can achieve."

Paco Peña (2009-10-01)

With renowned virtuoso guitarist Peña at the helm, flamenco comes in a steady, smoldering pace that keeps edging toward the big bang.

The Dénouement (2009-10-01)

It felt about right to be settling down into fall after a final, frolicsome summertime fling: the citywide whirlwind that was the 13th annual Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival.

Lebowski Fest (2009-09-24)

The event kicks off at the Electric Factory with soul/rock band The Black Diamond Heavies, which covers soundtrack songs by Kenny Rogers and "the fuckin' Eagles, man!"

A Supreme Court Preview (2009-09-24)

This month's lecture series at the National Constitution Center will allow you to vent your governmental frustrations, concerns and questions to fellow community members, as well as politicians.

Repertory Film (2009-09-24)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Arcadia Boutique's Second Anniversary Party (2009-09-17)

After she takes down the balloons, McCloud is looking to grow her mission to create and support sustainable fashion even further.

Kaleidoscope (2009-09-17)

Shakesploitation II: Iambic Boogaloo | Company | 7 (x1) Samurai | Who Will Carry the Word?

Dance (2009-09-17)

Fall Arts Guide: Dance Listings

Roots (2009-09-17)

Fall Arts Guide: Roots Listings

Jacqui Cunliffe (2009-09-17)

Each salon operator interviewed for this story spent time and lent devotion to my slew of questions — much like they do at their salons.

Megan Bridge (2009-09-17)

Each salon operator interviewed for this story spent time and lent devotion to my slew of questions — much like they do at their salons.

Andrea Clearfield (2009-09-17)

Each salon operator interviewed for this story spent time and lent devotion to my slew of questions — much like they do at their salons.

Dance with the Devil (2009-09-10)

"That's what Vanity Fair said of the film. That they were like Danny Glover and Mel Gibson except better dressed."

Letters to the Editor (2009-09-03)

"Is it hot in here? Or am I just dressed like it's 19th-century Poland."

From Washington to Waterloo (2009-09-03)

Despite the nonthreatening white tights, Napoleon was one heck of a military leader.

SA VA Opening (2009-09-03)

A homegrown sensibility informs SA VA's inventory, 65 percent of which is made in-house. Collections, all in women's sizes 2 to 16, are sorted by events.

What About Bobcat? (2009-09-03)

"I hate this character. I hate the persona. So I started performing out of character. Sometimes it goes well, and sometimes there's people in Des Moines yelling, 'Do the voice!'"

Charlotte's Web (2009-09-03)

"Right now, I'm playing Priscilla, a legally blind cowgirl; Ronnie, a cashier with a mean streak and an underbite; and Sharon, a shit-kicking, mulleted divorcée doomed to an eternal lovers' spat."

Comic Energy's 10th Anniversary (2009-08-27)

Ten years later, Comic Energy is one in the city's sea of sketch groups.

The Crying Clown (2009-08-27)

"People literally treat movies like they're their teams. They treat filmmakers like they know them — 'Oh, I think he's really going to pull it out this time.' They get into the lives of their heroes."

Repertory Film (2009-08-27)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Femme Fatale (2009-08-20)

"I think for folks who haven’t necessarily thought about gender and queer identity before, they might come away with a message about the importance of finding your own voice and being yourself."

Crafts for a Cause (2009-08-20)

This fundraiser will bring in 30 vendors from the tri-state area, who'll peddle items including LPs that've been recycled into dishes, organic dog treats, vegan human treats and playful skirts and brooches from local brand Chloe and Boo.

The After Party (2009-08-20)

In the cemetery's current incarnation, dark realities are turned into dark humor, enabling us to enjoy life before time's up.

Avant (2009-08-20)

Unfortunately for Avant, the R&B singer emerged at a time when the market was flooded with male voices.

Comics in Print (2009-08-13)

The comics in the paper.

Top Tees (2009-08-06)

Fortunately for you, we're Good Samaritans here at CP, and have found a way to prove your die-hardism without shelling out a couple hundred for a Sarge Matthews throwback.

First Friday Focus (2009-08-06)

Bambi Gallery | Area 919 | Clay Studio | Academy of Natural Sciences

Summer Organ Series (2009-07-30)

The Summer Organ Series, which continues with recitals on July 30 and August 6, is an easy way to check it out, with open seating for a mere 10 bucks a pop.

Pterodactyl (2009-07-30)

Pterodactyl isn't as tough as it thinks it is.

Icepack (2009-07-16)

Don't worry, Icepackers, I won't become a crepe hanger — promise. No more than my usual griping and torturous lamenting.

How To Host a Garden Party (2009-07-16)

Paloux says you can make cocktails with your garden's herbs, and have guests pick tomatoes off your indoor potted plants to eat them like hors d'oeuvres.

Icepack (2009-07-09)

Say a prayer for Eda before you go to sleep, dear readers. And thanks.

Repertory Film (2009-07-09)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Get Free (2009-07-09)

How can a heterosexual person win a Gay Icon Award? Sharon Gless will find out firsthand when she receives her statuette at this year's QFest.

Fly on the Wall (2009-07-09)

"I realized maybe musicals aren't for everybody, and that attracted me even more."

Blobfest (2009-07-09)

The fest's main event, of course, is the reenactment of the running-out scene, which anyone can partake in.

Philadelphia Record Fair (2009-07-09)

"Think of the most obscure genre, such as psychedelic religious music played by long-forgotten cults from middle America. All of this and more will be there."

Japandroids (2009-07-02)

Brian King and David Prowse always meant to make their garage rock outfit a trio but never got around to finding a lead singer.

Lilliam Bernal (2009-07-02)

"I didn't talk to my mom, I didn't consult with my boyfriend. I just went and did it."

Tim Johnson (2009-07-02)

"When the mortar passed overhead, I said, 'Fuck 'em, if they do me they do me, I'm going outside to smoke a cigarette.' And that's exactly what I did."

RJ Ernst (2009-07-02)

"We have some TVs, we hear what’s going on. But, we’re already there, no matter what people thought."

Galleries (2009-07-02)

Collaboration 26 (2009-07-02)

Francine Shore has brought together a diverse group of colleagues of different ages and professions and whose passion transcends mere hobby.

Sonic Youth (2009-07-02)

There was probably a time when it seemed that Sonic Youth might deconstruct rock music into nothingness.

Bicycle: People + Ideas In Motion (2009-06-25)

The exhibit features vintage, folding and hand-built bikes; photographs and videos of the Philadelphia International Cycling Champion Race and Neighborhood Bike Works; and the unveiling of the bicycle prototype for Bike Share Philadelphia.

Vane Glory (2009-06-25)

The idea is to make and present music and videos with artists Brian McTear believes have depth and meaning, but little means to express it.

Last Chance (2009-06-18)

Gold Mountain | The Rose Tattoo | Houston and Bowery

Repertory Film (2009-06-18)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Games/Quizzo (2009-06-18)

Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad (2009-06-18)

We don't normally condone the type of ethnoreligious jokes that Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad thrives on. But since they're being dished out by the very people who've been the punchline of the past, oh, 10,000 years or so, we'll make an exception.

Patrick Wolf (2009-06-18)

The androgynous facial features, the bleach-blond pixie haircut: Patrick Wolf looks like he's from another planet.

Shopping Spree:
Fashion > Forward (2009-06-11)

Egloff refurbished the retail space with chic white wainscoting and white floors, the better to display a carefully edited selection of men’s, women’s and children’s vintage apparel.

Free Association (2009-06-11)

"The best way to introduce teenagers or someone who's been bored by old-fashioned theater would be to bring them to see a Lepage."

The Lepage Project (2009-06-11)

"Even though what I do tends to draw audiences or is very popular, there is this sense of isolation or sense of having the impression of not being understood or well perceived, and that's the main aspect that I could read from doing my research on the life of Andersen."

The Tallest Man on Earth (2009-06-11)

Dusty folk rambles and country blues are hardly typical fare for year-end lists, so Shallow Grave, Kristian Mattson's understated 2008 debut, made an unlikely candidate for critical love.

And Then There's This by Bill Wasik (2009-06-11)

Wasik connects the dots between the overstimulation that we perceive as boredom and our Internet-driven culture's short attention span.

Rave Culture by Tammy L. Anderson (2009-06-11)

This review of a review of a city's rave scene is not my review of this city's rave scene; another place, another time, perhaps.

What's Cooking (2009-06-04)

Pinot First Friday Wine Art Opening | Hava NaGrilla Kosher Barbecue Contest and Festival | Noche de Flamenco Café Apamate | Chocoalte Dinner at Zahav

Lucretia Mod (2009-06-04)

Still in her 20s, Curtis-trained singer Karen Jesse is one of America’s most promising dramatic sopranos.

Up To the Task (2009-05-28)

"It's a little like that Walt Disney quote where he says something like, 'We don't make our movies for kids, we don't make our movies for adults. We make our movies for the child part in each one of us that maybe that world has caused us to forget about, but our films could help us remember.'"

Hide and Seek (2009-05-28)

Rudo y Cursi (2009-05-28)

The stars of Y Tu Mamá También are well-matched as love-hate rivals, although Bernal's talent has blossomed more fully than his erstwhile co-star's.

Hair Of The Dog Craft Show Sundays (2009-05-21)

Dubbed Hair of the Dog Craft Show Sundays, it differs from Raboczi's past events because it offers workshops for attendees. Last month, people made paper art, and in June they'll whip up wallets from tape.

Repertory Film (2009-05-21)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

City Chase (2009-05-14)

City Chase has been called the "urban Amazing Race," but that metaphor falls flat for at least one reason: No one ever had to strip for the TV show.

Get Physical (2009-04-30)

What stops Avatard from being merely a hokey, if energetic, novelty piece, what makes it not just reflexively entertaining but engagingly artful and actually provocative, is of course the dancing.

An Evening With The Honorable Condoleezza Rice (2009-04-30)

When Condoleezza Rice opens her mouth, the first thing that comes out should be an apology.

Hyperbolic Crochet (2009-04-30)

This First Friday, visitors will be able to make coral reefs, chemical structures and single-celled organisms — all out of yarn.

The Living Things (2009-04-30)

Lyricist/singer Lillian Berlin — inspired by the wily beat writings of Kerouac and Jim Carroll — and the rest of the Berlin family were showing off their brand of American rage before Green Day got ripe.

Peter, Bjorn and John (2009-04-30)

Living Thing is PB+J's fourth or fifth album, depending on how you count, but it plays like a classic "difficult third."

Junior Boys/Max Tundra (2009-04-30)

On the bedroom electronic pop spectrum, Max Tundra's giddy, fractured Day-Glo excesses mark a near-polar opposite from the Junior Boys' elegant, restrained tech-soul.

Del tha Funkee Homosapien (2009-04-30)

The Monkees-inspired "Mistadobalina" carried his 1991 debut album, and "Clint Eastwood" made that Gorillaz CD a must-have in 2001.

Riding Dirty: Kayaking Down the Schuylkill River (2009-04-16)

How Not to Write a Play (2009-04-09)

"Unless I totally screw up a play, it stands a very good chance of getting at least one production. Movies, who knows? But if I start something, I finish it."

The Shackletons Get Casual (2009-04-09)

Redding is uneasy walking the line between style and substance, since he wants it both ways; he wants people to be engaged, to be part of the experience, to feel what he's feeling. But he wants the songs — the most basic means of communicating that feeling — to remain in the forefront.

It Is What It Is: Conversations about Iraq (2009-03-26)

Sat., March 28, exhibit 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Fifth and Arch sts.; public forum 6:30-8 p.m., free, Slought Foundation, 4017 Walnut St., 215-701-4627, slought.org

Just Do It (2009-03-26)

Tue., March 31, 7:30 p.m. ,free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org

Repertory Film (2009-03-26)

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Free Will Astrology (2009-03-26)

Chicken of Myth (2009-03-19)

The "Zuni Method" may sound a bit like a sort of breathing technique a SCUBA diver might employ to alleviate decompression sickness. And it may seem daunting on paper — in the cookbook, the recipe spans more than four pages. But really it's so simple that it can be broken down in a single paragraph.

The Traveler Has Come (2009-02-26)

"Music is all just visual to me," says K'Naan. "Its lyrics and words are power. And when combined with the right melody, they have infinite potential. I am an artist not a journalist or a politician."

Further South (2009-02-19)

Copabanana's Bill Curry talks about how the idea for a free store front South Street got started the first time around.

On Mamma Mia! and Machu Picchu (2009-01-29)

"The role is as fun as the people I'm playing with and they've all been great, so it's still fun. Sixteen hundred shows later. No really, it is. If you don't believe me, come see for yourself. Can you sing? I can't."

Databot Listamatron (2009-01-01)

It's a data explosion!

"The Oldest Profession" by Shannon Frost Greenstein (2009-01-01)

"Demolition Woman" by Anthony Rosato (2009-01-01)

Just Do It (2008-12-25)

Fri., Dec. 26, 10 p.m., $3, 12th Air Command, 254 S. 12th St., 12thair.com.

Somebody Told Me (2008-12-11)

"He looks like an orange gremlin coming out at you. It's almost like a fat chick driving you home at 9 in the morning, where you know its just not going to turn out well. He may be able to kick my ass, but at least I can tan, so fuck him."

Journeyman (2008-12-11)

The movement Doug Varone makes is serious and weighty, experimental yet accessible. No one at Annenberg last week needed to know about his honors because his choreography and beautifully trained troupe said it all.

Government Issue (2008-12-11)

There's so much to enjoy in Lantern's production that I can't imagine anyone going home disappointed. The show is offered up as a family piece, which is rather daring and inspired — the kids at the matinee I saw were eating it up.

Just Do It (2008-12-04)

Iyengar Yoga Party | Fri., Dec. 5, 7-10 p.m., $10 suggested donation, Studio 34, 4522 Baltimore Ave., 215-387-3434, studio34yoga.com

All Smiles (2008-11-27)

"The difference between America and England? America has Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Stevie Wonder — England has no cash, no hope and with the Conservatives about to get back in, it's no fucking wonder."

Behind the Scenes (2008-11-20)

"It's always a challenge to keep the romantic story in the forefront. Opera is so wonderful because the music helps this process and gives it a 'soundtrack,' as it were."

Starry Night (2008-11-13)

Does celebrity support mean anything in an election?

Just Do It (2008-11-13)

The slightly raunchy and definitely satirical show, which hasn't been performed before, will feature a stripping Princess Leia, seductive Martians and "sexy space cats." Meow?

Bobby Sanabria Quartet (2008-11-06)

Although his Quarteto Ache is small in size, Sanabria drives the band with fervor, so expect a playful, feverish evening.

Philadelphia Classical Symphony (2008-10-30)

The schlocky pop group Mannheim Steamroller is not nearly as innovative and bold as the original Mannheim Orchestra, the 18th-century ensemble that inspired their name.

Gee is for Grievous (2008-10-30)

Here, the topical treatment is iconic and sweeping. There are too many obvious metaphors and too much one-dimensional character writing.

Just Do It (2008-10-23)

After L Word series regular Jennifer Beals toured Mazzoni during a visit to Philly this summer while stumping for Obama, she met with executive director Nurit Shein to speak about LGBTQ issues. The rest is herstory.

Social Skills (2008-10-23)

"I hope we've helped make an impact on a lot of different fronts. I firmly believe that we are just a part of the puzzle — that we work alongside good grass-roots organizations to help them tell their story in really effective ways."

Outside the Box (2008-10-16)

"Philadelphia's tipping point is a triangulation between available land, great location, affordability and an influx of creative-class types. All of the projects we show speculate on how this energy can help to produce infill activity in key areas."

Excerpt from Black Philosopher, White Academy (2008-10-16)

In 1932 [William Fontaine] earned his M.A. from Penn. A year later, after continuing to take courses, he spent the summer studying philosophy at Harvard, easily the commanding institution of higher learning in the United States.

Just Do It (2008-10-09)

The whimsical convention caters to all sorts, from postmodernist fantasy mavens to those who just dig Tinkerbell.

Greendale (2008-10-09)

Our film critic Sam Adams contributed two essays to The B-List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love, out now on Da Capo Press.

Two-Lane Blacktop (2008-10-09)

Our film critic Sam Adams contributed two essays to The B-List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love, out now on Da Capo Press.

Say It Ain't So (2008-10-02)

So while her debate performance against Biden may not have been the total catastrophe we'd all been hoping for, it reinforced the catastrophic choice by the McCain campaign to have Palin play hide-and-go-f&*k-yourself with the media for the past month.

Park It (2008-09-25)

Zimmerman applauds Nutter because he appointed a director of sustainability and recognizes the importance of city planning, she says. This much is for sure: When Zimmerman told the infamously vigilant Parking Authority about Park(ing) Day, the event was granted approval immediately.

Hot and Bothered (2008-09-25)

Kathryn MacMillan's expertly crafted production seems to push the comedy at first, but that just lulls us into false comfort as the struggles within this microcosmic hothouse turn increasingly grotesque.

Unzipped (2008-09-25)

The most fundamental rule of art collecting is this: Buy what you like. It's that easy.

Hamburger Eyes Zine Workshop (2008-09-25)

"I think people will always love zines. It's one thing to scroll through blogs, but its another thing to pull something from a shelf and flip through it."

Jenny Lewis (2008-09-25)

On her brand new Acid Tongue, Lewis wraps her flaws up in pretty strings, belts them out from on high and hires some angelic backup singers to underscore the message.

Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip (2008-09-25)

The song also informs us that the Beatles (among others) were "just a band." It's a bold proclamation for two white dudes from the outskirts of London whose instrumental prowess runs no further than a Mac and a microphone.

Running Numbers (2008-09-25)

I haven't made fun of Jersey in a while. But this is for a good cause.

Give 'Em an Inch ... (2008-09-18)

I made friends with a head-spinning array of gadgets before making my way into a ceilinged room containing one big, bad, noisy grain mill — step one of the brew, where much of the heave-hoing takes place. The Yardsies dragged out sack after cut-open sack of German pilsen base malt to pour into a fixed funnel. I feebly tossed in two sacks myself, so I can now make the entirely specious claim that I helped.

In The Event That... (2008-09-18)

The Independence Seaport Museum is providing two days of corny pirate jokes, contests, trivia contests and, of course, lessons on how to talk like a proper pirate.

Raw Entanglement (2008-09-18)

See, they're both Geminis, and if she didn't already have a twin brother, you'd almost swear Alanis and Ice Cube were separated at birth. Still can't choose between them? Read the facts and decide for yourself.

VI Degress (2008-09-11)

This new play by Lincoln University grad Kash Goins dangles an intriguing juxtaposition.

They Said, He Said (2008-09-04)

The organizations are against nursing homes completely: They see them as depressing layaways for human beings, where dignity is lost in a vacuum and independence is mythical.

The Rowengartner Gambit (2008-09-04)

Facing certain defeat at the hands of the guy conservatives (jealously) call the "Obamamessiah," McCain tried to do what Rowengartner did — use a gimmick to win even when the odds are hopelessly stacked against him. It would have been a great strategy if presidential politics were a Hollywood fairy tale.

On the House (2008-09-04)

The price to see the most talked-about contemporary art in the city? The cost of a subway ride to West Philly.

The Singer Comes First (2008-08-28)

Labor Day weekend is this country's time for honoring working people. It's also the traditional time for the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, celebrating its 37th birthday this year.

Heads of Skate (2008-08-21)

There was so much more to the story behind Oedipus at FDR, I asked City Paper to run the rest of my interviews online.

The Shape of Things (2008-08-07)

The Shape of Things is a love story between Evelyn, a beautiful, ballsy art student, and Adam, the geeky boyfriend whose life she transforms for better or worse.

Bridging the Gap (2008-07-31)

On August 1, 2007, the nation awoke to its hidden infrastructure crisis: Mid-rush hour, the I-35 West Bridge in Minneapolis collapsed, killing 13 and injuring 144. Suddenly, news reports across the country called attention to the deficiencies of local bridges.

Pelecanos, Less Brief (2008-07-31)

"A few weeks before the invasion I signed a full-page petition in The New York Times against the invasion and I paid the price for it. I had a lot of nasty things said about me on the Internet. I think that when it counted, I came out and now it's just another voice."

Nutter's Gay for the Gays (2008-07-17)

Politically charged films were showcased at the opening week of the 14th annual Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which began last Thursday night.

Just Do It (2008-07-17)

"I majored in mathematics and I always think of joke writing as a bit of a math equation. I also did a lot of drinking in college, which brought out the performance side of me."

Camden, Immigrant Haven? (2008-07-17)

Camden, N.J., may be a portrait of urban despair. But one neighborhood in this downtrodden city is slowly coming back to life. Federal Street in

PARC: Stephen Starr gives us the grand tour (2008-07-10)

Dorian Lam (2008-07-10)

How do you get people to care about sweatshops, which are often so far away?

Mpozi Remembered (2008-07-10)

Tuesday night, ?uestlove, Chuck Treece, King Britt, Schooly D, Rich Medina and other Philly all-stars came together at Silk City to celebrate the life of Mpozi Tolbert.

Flying Colors (2008-06-26)

As The Color Purple moves on, the spoken dialogue takes on central importance, and the songs more conventionally punctuate big moments. It might be uneven, but somehow it all works together.

Repertory Film (2008-06-26)

Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net.

Ahleuchatistas (2008-06-19)

The trio, named for both a Charlie Parker song and a Mexican revolutionary organization, is at its best when keeping its music lean yet rhythmically complex.

Arden Apprentice Showcase (2008-06-12)

Arden Professional Apprentices wrap up one tough year with one hilarious send-off performance.

Berserker's Holiday (2008-06-05)

The lawn outside the American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia looked like a scene from another century.

African Queen (2008-06-05)

People's Light & Theatre Co.'s area première reveals an uplifting personal drama about two tortured souls.

Blind Ambition (2008-05-22)

Few operas deal so openly with questions of what it means to grow up, awaken to sexuality and learn to trust someone.

Get Sordid (2008-05-01)

When Sorted! DJs Dave Pak and Mike Z observe their first decade with a party subtitled "Celebrating 10 Years in Front of the Big Speakers," what comes to mind is that these motherfuckers won't be able to hear my questions.

Brits and Pieces (2008-05-01)

All the characters are undressed, gunshot, drugged, drunk and (still) horny in Joe Orton's perfectly silly finale, which mixes Shakespearean recognition with the recovery of a piece of Winston Churchill's statue — and no, it's not his cigar.

Spring/Summer Shopping Calendar (2008-04-24)

Full-Court Prestige (2008-04-24)

While he was also the Harlem Globetrotters' promoter in the 1940s, Gottlieb expressed reservations about the NBA integrating in the 1950s. "Your players will be 75 percent black in five years," he warned the owner of the Knicks, "and you're not going to draw people."

Big Moves: The Big Top (2008-04-24)

Marina Wolf Ahmad's Big Moves troupe focuses on larger-than-thin performers.

Katsura Kan/Jack Wright (2008-04-24)

Butoh dance and improvised music share a kinship in their inclination toward limitless experimentation.

Prom (2008-04-24)

Prom is what New Paradise Laboratories artistic director Whit MacLaughlin terms "a work of fake anthropology for young adults."

Rebecca Davis Dance Co. (2008-04-17)

The routine is set to modern rock music, including songs by A Perfect Circle, Apocalyptica, Damien Rice and The White Stripes, while a multimedia projection of American streets juxtaposed with Sudanese desert terrain serves as the background.

Boandanz Action: Voyeur (2008-04-10)

Voyeur is a provocative duet about marriage danced by two of the city's best.

Wrong Number (2008-04-10)

Third becomes a compendium of clichés about liberalism, takes a wishy-washy stance on Ivy League elitism and offers a string of second-rate jokes.

On The DL (2008-04-10)

Sat., April 12, 5:30 p.m, free, Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th St., 215-923-2960, giovannisroom.com

Electile Dysfunction Preview (2008-04-03)

See a preview of Mary Patel's new documentary Electile Dysfunction.

The Hacktory (2008-03-27)

Philly's new "hacker studio" is part of a global trend combining technology and art.

Congested Development (2008-03-20)

To know these guys — despite likable performances by Tom McCarthy and Kraig Swartz — is to find them tedious.

Soundadvice (2008-03-20)

Brother Ali | The Philadelphia Orchestra | Fonda/Stevens Group | James Fei Alto Quartet | Amp Fiddler

Lizz Wright (2008-03-13)

After 2003's Salt and 2005's Dreaming Wide Awake, some were calling Georgia native Lizz Wright the voice of jazz's future.

Set into Motion (2008-03-13)

Whatever the interpretation, this production offered moving art of the highest order.

Off the Deep End (2008-03-13)

Solid efforts can't inflate this flaccid kiddie pool.

Pierre-Laurent Aimard (2008-03-13)

Looking for a stand-out classical pianist? Pierre-Laurent Aimard fits the bill in spades.

Glade Runners (2008-03-06)

Though their evocative, ominous sonic sculptures would surely sound alien and disturbing to John Bartram, they are as much a study of modern landscapes as the Quaker naturalist's specimens were during his own time.

Curtis Symphony Orchestra (2008-03-06)

The Curtis Orchestra is back home on Locust Street in a voluptuous program of music for strings only.

Ghost Mice (2008-03-06)

Chris Johnston and Hannah Jones were itching to tour the country and make some noise, but those big amps and drum kits were just too much to carry.

Mia Doi Todd (2008-03-06)

Todd, who's nearly as deft at establishing intimacy with processed electronics as with a single acoustic guitar, has discovered the weary drone of the harmonium.

Add to Shopping Cart (2008-03-06)

There's a bunch of new recordings out that are gratifyingly compelling — even the ones that include well-worn material.

Learning to Survive (2008-02-28)

Wearing a hand-me-down school uniform and a pair of bedroom slippers cut from rubber tires, Lual walked with a growing number of boys to Ethiopia, 500 miles away. On the emotionally painful and physically dangerous journey across the desert, the boys were plagued by starvation, thirst and wild animal attacks. Lual carried only a water container.

Inside WinterFest (2008-02-28)

We take you inside the General Lafayette Inn's celebration of all things beer.

Five Minutes With (2008-02-21)

"The prison population will never decrease unless the city gets a handle on crime."

GIY (Green It Yourself) (2008-02-21)

Lynne Templeton, director of design for Old City's Greenable, had more ideas than we could cram into our "Design on a Nickel" Home and Design

Love Conquers (2008-02-21)

From all three plays, one might conclude that the love of love leads to heartbreak — and that what alleviates love's misery is the chance to laugh at ourselves.

Now See This (2008-02-14)

Vito Acconci | Kariamu & Company | Baby

In Khartoum, I was the enemy. (2008-02-14)

It was not until years later, after many nights staying up with my father listening to Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) news reports, when I would come to know of Islamic government soldiers burning villages and bombing cattle camps in the south. Leir, my home region, became a battleground.

Frida Choose (2008-02-14)

Philadelphia is the only East Coast venue for "Frida Kahlo," a traveling show organized around what would have been the artist's 100th birthday.

The Sound of Silence (2008-02-14)

Degani was disturbed by what transpired. He witnessed, and participated in, the inhumane treatment of large numbers of people, because — and this is a key point — there was no other way to carry out his orders.

Soundadvice (2008-02-07)

Sole and the Skyrider Band | Delaware Symphony Orchestra | Deb Callahan Band | Vampire Weekend

When There is a Peace That I Agree With (2008-02-07)

Fatima Haroun's delicate handshake reveals nothing of her tormented life back in Darfur. Today she is a social worker for the City of Philadelphia, a mother, and the vice president of the Darfur Alert Coalition, a nonprofit based in Philadelphia.

Born-Again Christian (2008-02-07)

"My first opera was La Bohème at the Met, my second year as an undergrad. I didn't know what the story was, or even the music, but when I saw the production I fell in love with opera and decided that's what I want to do with my life."

Back for Blood (2008-02-07)

Bloodcount create music on a huge, sprawling canvas, compositions that travel and evolve, gathering momentum and scale like a snowball in an avalanche.

Ledisi (2008-02-07)

It's impossible not to love Ledisi Young.

Rebirth of a Saylesman (2008-01-24)

John Sayles has written and directed whip-smart budget-conscious maverick flicks such as Lonestar, The Brother from Another Planet and Matewan with his producing partner of

Rock Bottom (2008-01-24)

Just Do It (2008-01-24)

Sat., Jan. 26, 4 p.m., free, Pearl Theatre, 1600 N. Broad St., 215-222-4201, scribe.org. Even if you're aware of the worst that the history of American racism has to offer, you may be shocked by Marco Williams' Banished.

Rock Bottom (2008-01-10)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (2008-01-17)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the 7-foot-2 former center who sky hooked his way to an NBA record 38,387 career points (not to mention being on a team that bested a certain Philadelphia squad for the 1982 title) and then authored six books, was in town last weekend for the American Library Association's Midwinter Meetings.

Share and Share a Bike (2008-01-17)

BCGP members need to print and distribute postcards to inform the public of the forum's date. Their typical PR campaign strategy: Walk the streets, stick cards in the spokes of parked bikes and drop off additional stacks of cards in area bike shops. There's one bike shop that BCGP will not be visiting, however.

Little 'Duce Coup (2008-01-17)

DB: I'm not trying to sound or seem tough. It's just a fact of life that I've learned the hard way. Just because I'm sober now doesn't mean you get to be a loud-mouthed drunk and not lose a lot of teeth.

Who's Watching the Watchers? (2008-01-10)

Edwin Pace, deputy director of the city's most powerful law enforcement watchdog, is used to sorting through stacks of police documents, using that information to author reports that exceed hundreds of pages.

The Unsung Singer (2008-01-10)

Jazz In jazz, the second a singer enters the picture, the picture itself tends to change. Landscape becomes portrait, with the vocalist front and center,

Sister Cities (2008-01-03)

Philadelphia's incoming police commissioner is a veteran cop who looks just as comfortable chatting up President Bush as he does making routine traffic stops.

Butterflies and Toiletbowls (2008-01-03)

First, I must state that where a kindergartner sits on the noontime bus is no reflection of his or her social status. Social status suggests there is a pecking order, beginning with the coolest and ending with the lamest. Honestly, in a world where the most together person just licks the paste rather than eats it, such a hierarchy cannot exist.

Two Hours With... John Street (2008-01-03)

JS: I think the only statewide office I would be interested in running for is governor, but that would be the natural office that I would run for. But by the time that election comes, I am three years older and I have four children and four grandchildren and, at some point in time, I got other stuff that I want to do. I don't know there's any John McCain in me, you know?

Best of the Rest (2007-12-27)

When news broke in Philly, we made jokes.

Databot Listamatron (2007-12-27)

It's a data explosion!

citypaper.net exclusive: Holiday Q&A with Lynn Rosen (2007-12-20)

If a diner's religious persuasion is one where gifts are gifted, when's the best time for presents?
I'd say after the meal, or maybe during a break between dinner and dessert. If you're giving presents at a dinner party, make sure you have something for everyone — or if you're only giving presents to the kids, then for every child present — so no one feels left out. If you don't have something for everyone, save giving out the presents for later.

Gone Fishing (2007-12-13)

Stenton Avenue Reprise (2007-12-13)

citypaper.net exclusive: In this week's City Paper, photographer Michael T. Regan and reporter Rick Valenzuela brought you a photo essay documenting jazz pianist Orrin Evans' neighborhood-transforming weekly jam sessions at East Mount Airy's Reuben's Marc bar. See the sights and hear the sounds in the duo's multi-media slideshow only on citypaper.net.

Ever Green (2007-12-06)

Despite its color, the Christmas tree is far from a "green" tradition. In fact, you could probably light a small village with the energy used to illuminate the holiday centerpiece you uprooted from Mother Earth.

But Will There Be a Concierge Decathlon? (2007-11-29)

For the "Fajita Flip," participants were given a shallow stir-fry bowl for catching while their partners threw plastic veggies and a large rubber chicken over their shoulders with a skillet. Then, there was the "Martini Dash," a server's worst at-work nightmare. Participants carried a full tray of martini glasses filled with coffee beans through an obstacle course of bright yellow Caution — Wet Floor signs while wearing goggles and flippers.

Bush Tetras (2007-11-15)

With 1980's "Too Many Creeps," Bush Tetras invented the brand of scabby lo-fi punk-funk that DFA, LCD, NYPC and other initial-happy dance teams currently crave.

Mango Seasons (2007-11-08)

My grandfather's lips quiver. He is obstinate in refusing to wear dentures, and cannot nibble through even these thin-skinned mangos. I bite off a little piece from one mango and hand it to him.

The City Paper Milton Street Reader (2007-11-01)

Soundadvice (2007-10-25)

Rob Price | The Whigs

Joey Vento (2007-10-18)

City Paper: Did last year's controversy affect business at all?

Joey Vento: It increased it. I get a lot more people coming in and when they're coming in, it's to show support.

On The DL (2007-10-18)

Tue., Oct. 23, 4 p.m., free, Margaret Gest Center for the Cross Cultural Study of Religions, Room 101, Haverford College, 370 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, 215-673-2120, www.kabbalah.info

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (2007-10-18)

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is one of a handful of dance companies that regularly appear in Annenberg's Dance Celebration series, and for good reason.

Suzanne Roberts Theatre Open House (2007-10-18)

The Philadelphia Theatre Company's new home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on the Avenue of the Arts — that's what we call Broad Street south of

New Buffalo (2007-10-18)

Outside of Fatboy Slim and Dido, secular music hasn't had much time for praise. Gospel's full of it, but why should Jesus get all the adoration?

The Philadelphia Orchestra (2007-10-18)

Finland, of all places, has become something of an orchestra-conductor factory in recent years.

Danzig (2007-10-18)

metal Even though I find 2002's 777: I Luciferi to be an icon of wickedness, a truly totemic watershed of evil noisemaking — the Citizen

Health Craze (2007-10-18)

It's no secret that obesity is a major epidemic in the United States, and Philadelphia is not immune to this outbreak. In response, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has started the Food and Fitness Initiative, giving grants to nine U.S. communities to make plans for creating access to healthy local food and safe facilities for physical activity.

Soundadvice (2007-10-04)

MOKA | Qui | Johnette Napolitano | The Brunettes | Mic Check Thorsday | Paradise Island

Two Minutes With… (2007-09-27)

CP: Why did the Caucus initiate the rainbow signage in the Gayborhood?
TS: There are no markers that distinguish it. Boystown in Chicago has markers and in San Francisco, the Castro has flags. If you’re welcoming people here you should indicate it better for people when they are here

Thom's Table Series: Rum Tasting 101 (2007-09-27)

Native son Thom Cardwell is as ubiquitous as the gourmets at DiBruno — and twice as prolific.

Just Like a Dream (2007-06-07)

Tchaikovsky gave Sleeping Beauty one of his greatest scores and Peter Cazalet's costume and scenic design make the production look as good as it sounds.

Leaving A Mark (2007-06-07)

How much carbon does walking to work, driving a bus, taking a cab, driving to work and going to the shore emit?

citypaper.net EXCLUSIVE: Now See This (2007-05-24)

Skin in Flames | Anne-Marie Mulgrew and Dancers Company | Project X/X... The City of Sisterly Love | Koresh Dance Spring Performance

V for Victory (2007-05-10)

Commentary on the art of theater occurs throughout Shakespeare's plays, but nowhere are audiences tutored so clearly as in Henry V: "Let us, ciphers to this great account/On your imaginary forces work."

Leonard Part 41 (2007-05-10)

"I'm always making it up as I go along," says Leonard. "I don't want the plot to be obvious. I want the reader to be surprised at what develops."

Philadelphia Film Festival: Week One Reviews (2007-04-12)

The Weekly in Review (2007-04-05)

After 20 years of running Philadelphia Weekly, with newspapers everywhere losing readers to digital competitors, Anthony Clifton is looking for an alternative to owning it.

On the LAM (2007-03-29)

LAM, a crippling lung disease that first appeared in medical documents in 1919, is so rare that the foundation dedicated to its research knows of just one woman in Philadelphia who's been diagnosed.

Now See This (2007-03-22)

theater One of the most exciting productions in Arden Theatre's history was the 2001 world premiere of Baby Case, with words and music by Michael

Ted Leo (2007-03-22)

Ted Leo should consider himself lucky that, while he can write a song like Shane MacGowan, he looks nothing like him.

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 (2007-03-22)

Less than a fortnight after his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Peter Buck is playing a midsize club in Philadelphia as part of Robyn Hitchcock's backing band.

Refugee All-Star (2007-03-08)

"My book has been banned in Cuba," says Carlos Eire bluntly. The work in question is the author's memoir, Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy, this year's official "One Book, One Philadelphia" selection.

Twelfth Night (2007-02-22)

Theater Directors can have a ball with Shakespeare's comedies, and since fun is what Wilmington's City Theater Company is all about, I predict a raucous rendition of Twelfth Night.

Green Tips (2007-02-22)

Jared Carter (2007-01-25)

Are the risks of trans fats what they seem? Will banning them produce unintended consequences?

Rain: The Beatles Experience (2007-01-04)

Thu.-Sat., Jan. 4-6, 8 p.m., Sun., Jan. 7, 2 p.m., through Jan. 14, $34.75-$55, Academy of Music, Broad and Locust sts.

21st Annual City Paper Writing Contest (2007-01-04)

In this life, I have perfectly pressed panties. I'm thirty-three years old and my mother still irons my underwear. My sister, Angela, is twenty-seven. My brother, Joey, is thirty-six. Ma irons their underwear, also.

21st Annual City Paper Writing Contest (2007-01-04)

It's a warm evening tonight. The last snow in the parking lots has melted and run along the curbs for the drains, and Philadelphia, City of Spitters, feels cleaner.

Databot Listamatron (2006-12-28)

It's a data explosion!

Children's Crusade (2006-12-28)

My Children! My Africa! through Jan. 7, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St.

Night to Remember (2006-12-28)

Twas The Night, through Dec., 31, Azuka Theatre, St. Stephen's Theater, 10th and Ludlow sts.

Snow Fairies (2006-12-28)

They announced their breakup last winter, but anybody with two ears knows The Snow Fairies are still in love.

Red Rocket (2006-12-28)

The five guys in West Philly's Red Rocket clearly do whatever they want, whether that means playing inexplicable music, booking shows at their residential venue Danger! Danger!, or putting out CDs on their nonprofit Starpower City label.

Free At Last (2006-12-21)

Candles burned and the scent of incense flowed as talkative activists squeezed chairs around small tables at Saturday’s Kuwasi Balagoon Memorial Dinner.

Performing Arts (2006-12-07)

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information. dance THE 48-HOUR MISSION Susan Hess Modern Dance resident

International Intrigue (2006-11-23)

Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal bring a welcome, European viewpoint to experimental dance, and once again featured challenging work from choreographers we'd not normally see.

Golden Oldie (2006-11-23)

Curtis Opera Theatre is to be commended for exposing its talented students — and local audiences — to the pre-Mozart works of the operatic canon: last season Handel's 1735 masterpiece Alcina and this year, for the third time in 17 years, Francesco Cavalli's L'Ormindo, first heard in Venice in 1644.

Green Light (2006-11-02)

After the violence, success and nudity of last season's spectacular Killer Joe, one might expect the same from Theatre Exile's equally raw Red Light Winter.

CP Choice Goes to Hell (2006-11-02)

City Paper's annual round-up of Philadelphia's superlatives.

Day Tripper (2006-10-19)

Tired of the same old vintage stores and flea markets?

Paul Taylor Dance Company (2006-10-19)

Local Support 017 (2006-10-19)

Gone Fishing (2006-10-12)

Post Post-Punk (2006-09-28)

John Huston's got a line in Chinatown that reminds me of Bunnydrums: "Politicians, ugly buildings and whores all get respectable

Repertory Film (2006-09-28)

Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net. ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES 19th St. and the Parkway, 215-923-9161, www.chestnutmtnproductions.com. Telluride Mountain Film

Rock Temp (2006-08-24)

YEAH

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