Frugal in Philly: No Matter How You Spell It, Comics Are Culture

Frugal in Philly is a weekly celebration of all things Philly that are fun, frugal (costing $10 or less) or free! Stop here each week to see what Philly's got to offer for those of us who haven't quite mastered the art of becoming Independently Wealthy (although believe me, we're trying).

Featured Pick of the Week: Comix 101
Art Spiegelman, author and artist behind the ground-breaking, best-selling, Pulitzer Prize winning graphic novel Maus (you read that correctly - Maus is a comic book that garnerd a Pulitzer) will be lecturing at Penn's Irvine Auditorium (3401 Spruce Street). Speigelman, who also authored Maus II and the September 11th inspired In the Shadow of No Towers, will be speaking about the history of comics and their changing role in society and popular culture. (And, we hope, explaining why he insists on spelling the word "comics" as "comix." Phillyist is a fan of Speigelman and has great respect for him as a storyteller and innovator - but we're not altogether sure that his Pulitzer gives him the right to change the spellings of words willy-nilly.) The program starts at 8PM, and costs $8 ($5 for students).

Also This Week:

Tuesday:

Sex Dwarf
80s dance extravaganza at Fluid (614 S. 4th Street). Starts at 10PM - is FREE until 11PM, and just $5 anytime after.

Comedy Open Mic Night:
Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom St.) offers 2 hours of comedy every Tuesday night for just $5. PRICE ALERT: Be aware that on top of the cover there is a "2 item minimum." The two items needn't drinks - it can be any two menu items (sodas, for example, seem to count.) Depending on your items - this jaunt could easily go from frugal to frivolous. It's still included here because $5 for 20 performers seems like a good deal to us. Just be sure to order wisely.

Wednesday:

Felicidades
As part of their on-going Cinme Tropical series, International House presents Felicidades, directed by Lucho Bender.The show starts 7:00 PM at 3701 Chestnut Street. Cost: Free!

Friday:

Free Friday Noon Concert:
Each Friday XPN offers a free concert at noon at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St). Next show - Bruce Cockburn and Philly local, Amos Lee on Friday September 30th. Cost is free - an RSVP is required.

Saturday:

Peoplehood Giant Puppet Parade and Pageant
Throughout September, puppeteers Spiral Q has been working with the Philadelphia community to conceive, design and build a unique puppet experience. Come see the culmination this Saturday at 1PM, when
the puppets go on parade at 1PM (starting at the Paul Robeson House, 4951 Walnut Street) - and then perform their pageant at 2:30 PM in Clark Park (Chester Ave. between 43rd and 45th Streets). Free!

Pas/Cal
Detroit indie-pop band will be appearing at The Manhattan Room (15 W. Girard Avenue) with Spinto Band, National Eye and Illumina. See all these bands for a mere $7 (but only if you're 21 or older, and carrying appropriate ID). 10PM

Guns 'n' Roses vs. Motley Crue:
Students from The Paul Green School of Rock Music perform at Indre Studios (1418 Darien Street) for $10.

Sunday:

Philly Songwriters Project:
In the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza, hear Tribal Scream, John Conahan, Stephen DiJoseph and Phyllis Chapell perform for Free and for your pleasure.

Photo Credit: World News