Phillyist

Extra, Extra

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-10T17:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user ratterrell

Seriously, people. Stop trying to beat people to death in bar fights. Next time, an Upper Darby police officer might not be around to come to the rescue, and you could be charged with murder instead of just assault.

We like to think that there are some teenagers out there who can be trusted with the keys to a car. This one, not so much.

And speaking of crappy things teenagers do (well, technically he's 20)...

Gee, it's been a happy news day today. A fatal accident closed 676-North just outside of Camden earlier today. The highway reopened early this afternoon.

The FBI is looking for the man accused of robbing multiple banks on Rising Sun Avenue in the Northeast.

PAWS Cat of the Week

Ross Currie — 2009-11-10T15:00:00-05:00

PAWS is in constant need of support, both personal and financial. Click through for information on volunteering, fostering, or making a donation. If you have specific questions about fostering, you can e-mail the PAWS foster parent coordinator Robin at robin@phillypaws.org.

And don't forget—Phillyist still has two of the Phillyist fosters who are looking for a forever home!

Dr. Moyer (ID# A08845169)

Dr. Moyer is a lovable young tabby, about 6 months to 1 year old. She would love to be adopted with her good friend Sammy (pictured—sort of—in the background). At the very least, Dr. Moyer needs to go to a home with another cat who she can play with, as she really loves other kitties. She's a curious, affectionate girl who has taken to spending her days at the PAWS Adoption Center playing with other cats and giving baths to kittens. This darling is FELV/FIV/Heartwom negative, spayed, microchipped, and up to date on her shots. Now all she needs is a wonderful forever home!

If you'd like more information about Dr. Moyer, e-mail alamond@phillypaws.org. You can find Dr. Moyer at the PAWS Adoption Center, which is located at 100 N. 2nd Street (the corner of 2nd and Arch). Also, make note of Dr. Moyer's ID number above, and bring it with you when you go to the adoption center. Adoption hours are Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

About Tonight

Ross Currie — 2009-11-10T14:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user rleigh

Phillyist's quick-picks for your evening agenda.

Maryland rockers The Dangerous Summer and North Carolina's Mercy Mercedes will be doing an emo-riffic double bill at the Troc (1003 Arch St.) balcony bar. Between the Trees (MySpace) and Single File (MySpace) will also perform. 7 p.m., all ages, $12.

Folk-rockers The Bridge (MySpace) and progressive bluegrass outfit Cornmeal (MySpace) should make for an entertaining evening at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.). 8:30 p.m., all ages, $10.

It's open mic night at Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom St.), so head on down for some good laughs from local talent. Sign-ups begin at 6, the performers' list is posted at 7:30, and the laughs begin at 8. 21+, free.

Tonight's Quizzo is at: El Camino Real (1040 N. 2nd Street), starting at 9; Fergie's (1214 Sansom Street), starting at 9:30; Liberties (705 N. 2nd St.), starting at 9; and Rembrandt's (741 N. 23rd Street), starting at 9.

Any events tonight that you think Philadelphia should know about? Let us know and leave details in the comments. And if there's an upcoming event you think we should share in About Tonight, e-mail us or Tweet us @phillyist!

Phillyist Reviews... Early in the Mourning

Daniel Wallace — 2009-11-10T14:00:00-05:00

Left to right: Mark Cairns, Helen McCrane, John Devennie.
Photo credit: Shawn O'Shea.

Early in the Mourning is a new play by P. Seth Bauer, currently showing at the Plays and Players Theater. On a howling New Year's night in Massachusetts, an elderly Jewish couple try to come to terms with the loss of their son—a middle-aged, homosexual teacher of writing—whom they never quite accepted during his life. Their grieving process is first complicated by the fact that the dead son has appeared and is hanging around the house, unsure what he is supposed to be doing, and second because one of his former students, an aspiring and tortured writer, pays a late night visit, and has powerful, conflicted feelings for his old mentor.

The four cast members of Early in the Mourning gave remarkable performances, and while Helen McCrane, playing the sorrow-crazed mother, had the meatiest part, John Devennie (playing the much more restrained father) was also impressive. The play, on its opening night, was polished and well-directed, and it moved smoothly from comedy to despair and back again. P. Seth Bauer deserves credit for creating such a powerful and convincing mother and father and letting us get deep into the different stages of their grief.

However, I spent much of the night wondering about how the supernatural element in the script was ever going to resolve itself: I left the play not completely convinced of its value. The first problem was that the ghost, Daniel, rarely got beyond the "virtuous gay son" archetype—he simply wanted his parents to accept his teaching career and his partner—and this made it hard to see what the play was actually "saying." As Daniel rarely felt like a fully fleshed-out person, with the selfish, self-contradictory goals and beliefs we all struggle with, this absence left the play with little to do but show us two stuffy Jewish parents rather predictably coming to accept their son's homosexuality. Additionally, whatever his visiting student had been meant to see by the end of the play was also unclear: it seemed like "main character" status had been too liberally spread between the dead son (trying to get his mother to let him go), his mother (trying not to do so) and the student (who seemed to have no clear goals at all). Had I been Bauer's writing teacher, I would have asked him to make the ghost more of a real person, and to give the student some kind of purpose. I also noticed that the most powerful and disconcerting moments of the play often occurred when Daniel merely watched his student and parents talk, when he simply observed—when, in other words, the metaphor of lingering presence that he represented was allowed to just be a metaphor.

Early in the Mourning
Now through 11/22/09
Shows at 4 p.m., 8 p.m.
Plays and Players Theater, 714 Delancey Place
Tickets: $10-$20

Playlist Rewind: Stevie Wonder

Leigh Simpson — 2009-11-10T13:30:00-05:00

Photo by author

When I previewed Stevie Wonder's upcoming performance at the Borgata, I was excited to say the very least. The event center at Borgata is large enough to hold the crowds that an artist like Stevie can draw, but it still feels intimate. My husband and I had fantastic seats and while we waited for the show to start we passed the time people-watching, which was a treat as everyone seemed to really dress up for this show. Maybe it was being at the Borgata or maybe it was the thrill of seeing Stevie Wonder in person but we felt under dressed—me in a black dress and heels and him in a suit, that's for sure. The Borgata, by the way, is one of our favorite places to catch a show when we we're down the shore. They always treat people well, especially Phillyist people, and although it's still a casino with casino-like pricing at some of their restaurants, we had no problem heading to Metropolitan and totally annihilating one of the greatest grilled cheese sandwiches we've ever had in our lives. Dinner for two (including a glass of wine apiece) was under $50.00.

When the show began at 8:06, Stevie took the stage immediately (because really, who can open up for Stevie Wonder?) He was escorted by his daughter Aisha—the Aisha mentioned in "Isn't She Lovely"—and started in on a Latin chart that got the crowd up on their feet and moving. It didn't hurt that he had two percussionists, a drummer, three backup singers, two other keyboard players and a killer horn section. Throughout the evening, Stevie alternated between his piano and a Yamaha Motif keyboard. About midway through the show, he stood up and played a few of his hits on harmonica, lifting up the audience with that gorgeous sound quality that only Stevie has.

Stevie interacted with the crowd all night, getting some call-and-response action in "Ribbon In the Sky" and "My Cherie Amour" to name a few, as well as cracking a few jokes and telling a few stories. He gave a small tribute to Michael Jackson by inviting the audience to sing with him to the little-known Off The Wall song "I Can't Help It". Little did Stevie (or the people around us) know that my husband and I, long-time MJ fans (we have the Off The Wall and Thriller albums proudly hung in our music room) knew every word to that song, and sang it at full volume.

The night was complete when Stevie played "You and I" into "Overjoyed" and later on played snippets from a lot of his earlier hits such as "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" and "Sir Duke," capping the evening with a 10-minute version of "Superstitious," which left the crowd singing along and dancing the whole night. All told, he and his band played for just under three hours. It was well worth it to catch this living legend in person—we only wish it could have lasted forever.

Playlist Rewind... Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

Daniel Wallace — 2009-11-10T13:00:00-05:00

Photo credit: Greg Allen

Last week at the Annenberg Center, Phillyist attended a performance by trumpeter Herb Alpert and vocalist Lani Hall. Upon hearing about the show, this Phillyist's mother expressed surprise that Herb Alpert could still be alive, and indeed, the average age of the audience was remarkably high. Alpert began the show inviting these gray-haired fans to shout out questions, and by the end of the night he had realized his mistake: voices yelled, unprompted, "We love you!" or "Herb, I just want to say this: I love your music and I love your art!" Phillyist began to worry if Alpert and company would be allowed to leave the theatre at all, or whether he would be consumed in an elderly version of the finale of the movie Perfume.

Alpert and Hall had come to perform tracks from their new album, Anything Goes, a collection of Brazilian songs and jazz standards, and from the first number of the night, "Fascinating Rhythm," something was obvious about Lani Hall's singing: while her voice was powerful and rich, she was taking us to a very kitschy, loungey place. While no one could complain about the technical quality of her performance, there was equally little hint that these old songs described something real and meaningful to her, that there was something in her life that these words allowed to her to convey. Her theatrical expressions, her wide eyes, her frequently deployed jazz fingers—these said, "Look, I'm singing the classics!" rather than conveying any real depth of emotion or pathos. This was a shame because whenever the re-working of a classic felt off, there was little to pull us back to the performance, and during the Portuguese songs of the night, this particular audience member felt less than interested: they seemed only to be verbal tours-de-force.

There were moments, however, where Hall and the band moved beyond such questions. During her renditions of "Let's Face The Music" and "That Old Black Magic," we seemed to travel through and beyond kitsch to some supra-personal level, some place where "over the top" had no meaning—where Hall's voice deepened in some electrifying way and we the audience could only worship the original genius of these jazz standards. The same was almost true of "Anything Goes," the title track of their album. However, it was slightly ruined by Alpert introducing the song by remarking in a sage, sad voice that its moralizing message was as true now as it had been in the thirties. Phillyist would have preferred Alpert to keep such grandfatherly statements to himself.

Jonathan Safran Foer at the Free Library

Jenn DiSanto — 2009-11-10T11:15:00-05:00

Author Jonathan Safran Foer is probably best known for his works of fiction, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and Everything Is Illuminated. Foer's latest effort, Eating Animals, is a new and, some say, risky non-fiction look at our food industry.

Phillyist got a review copy of Eating Animals from the publisher. Since a few of us are dabbling in various forms of vegetarianism (with the obvious hindrance of cheesesteak addiction), and even more of us are filthy whores for any food book, we were eager to read it.

From the start, we feared this book would be one of those holier-than-thou hippie screeds, making omnivores feel like horrible people for enjoying bacon-wrapped bacon with bacon sprinkles and a side of bacon. (If you read Skinny Bitch, you know what we're talking about. Also, BACON!)

And we were right... at first. In the first couple chapters, yeah, he's a little haughty. A little Skinny-Bitchy, if you will. Plus, he's one of those people who started thinking seriously about his diet only when he had a child, which... yuck. Seriously, you're important, too—you should probably work that kind of thing out before you spawn.

But then Foer starts to win us over with charming descriptions of his family dog, and forces us to look more closely at our Wawa hoagie habit by posing the question: Why is it OK for us to eat cows, pigs, chickens, etc., but socially taboo to eat dogs, as they do in other cultures?

Stumped, we could come up only with, "Because it IS, you wank!" And then we went home to hug our dogs.

As the book goes on, it becomes more clear: Foer doesn't want to bacon-block us. He just wants us to know where the bacon comes from, to make an informed decision with all the facts on hand. (Sure, sometimes he also wants to ruin Thanksgiving for us all on the Ellen show, but that's fine, sir. You underestimate the conscience-quieting properties of stuffing.)

A well-balanced blend of Foer's personal stories, reporting, and insider perspectives from all sides of the debate, Eating Animals is a thoroughly researched, sometimes stomach-turning, but most importantly honest examination of, for better or worse, where our food is coming from, and it really does make you stop and consider what you're consuming.

(If you're unable to make tonight's event at the Free Library, Foer will be coming back to the area on December 15 for another free signing at the University of Pennsylvania.)

Jonathan Safran Foer on Eating Animals
Tuesday, 11/10/09, 7:30PM
Philadelphia Free Library Central Branch (1901 Vine St.)
FREE

Yo, Philly in the News

Ross Currie — 2009-11-10T09:00:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user j_bischoff

Will the SEPTA strike and eventual contract agreement embolden the city's municipal unions, which currently do not have contracts themselves?

An ex-cop who used his badge to rob drug dealers was sentenced to 30 years in prison, and the dishonored badge will be destroyed.

The city is expected to end its fiscal year $31 million in the red. It's not looking as bad as it did at this point last year, but it's clear that Philly is far from economic stability.

The Phillies have declined to pick up Pedro Feliz's $5.5 million option. Although the team could attempt to negotiate a new deal with the hot-fielding/poor-hitting Feliz, it's more likely that the Fightin's will try to grab a new third baseman from the free agent market.

Speaking of potential Phillies' off-season moves, J.P. Ricciardi is out and Alex Anthopoulos is in as GM of the Blue Jays. With that change, and Roy Halladay now a half-season closer to free agency, might the Blue Jays lower the trade price for Halladay enough that the Phillies will take a run at trading for him?

The Sixers allowed Steve Nash to go absolutely nuts on them last night in a 119-115 loss to the Suns. Nash went for 21 points and 20 assists for Phoenix.

Today's AccuWeather forecast: Mild and cloudy, with showers tonight possible.

Extra, Extra

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-09T18:00:17-05:00

Photo by Flickr user LarimdaME

Three hikers, including Alex Fattal of Elkins Park, have been charged with espionage by Iran in connection with inadvertently crossing the Iran/Iraq border. We previously mentioned candlelight vigil held for the three hikers in late September.

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear arguments in two cases with local roots that will determine how harsh of penalties—including life imprisonment, without parole—can be imposed on juvenile offenders who commit violent crimes.
How is Mayor Nutter doing at the halfway point of his term? He has plenty of unfinished business.

City Solicitor Shelley Smith is accusing the Board of Revision of Taxes of "clearly" violating the Sunshine Act. City officials have asked the board to right the wrong by calling a public meeting and acting in accordance with the law. Nothing has happened since his request.

Do you want free SEPTA tokens? How about some courtesy parking meter payments? The folks from Stovetop (yes, the stuffing makers) will be giving out tokens and replenishing parking kiosks tomorrow from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at 15th and Market Streets.

Photoist

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-09T15:00:17-05:00

Title: Hark... I see a Hawk!
Photographer: vaduzuvunt
Location: Rittenhouse Square

This photo was submitted via email. Vaduzuvunt writes:

So, my boyfriend and I were down in Philadelphia for the weekend from Brooklyn. As we were passing thru [sic] Rittenhouse Square, yesterday around lunch, this hawk showed up near the lion sculpture. He (or she) was huge! After a couple minutes on the ground, it flew up into a tree, where an unsuspecting squirrel got up in arms about the unwelcome visitor.

Like to see your photo here? Submit it!

About Tonight

Ross Currie — 2009-11-09T14:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user sujohndas

Phillyist's quick-picks for your evening agenda.

Perhaps the most-hyped thing in music right now, aside from Them Crooked Vultures, is the aptly-named Monsters of Folk (MySpace) collaboration of Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Mike Mogis, and My Morning Jacket's Jim James. The Monsters will be at the Academy of Music (Broad & Locust) tonight. The Academy has also just released a limited number of $20 tickets for the show, so get on that! 8 p.m., all ages, $40.50-$50.50 (unless you get lucky and scoop up one of the $20 at the previous link).

Indie-emo rockers The Graduate headline a special all-ages show at the North Star (27th & Poplar) tonight, with PM Today, The Morning Of, Linden, and The Hoodies also to perform. 7 p.m., all ages, $12.

Tonight's Quizzo is at the New Wave Café (784 S. 3rd Street), starting at 9; and Ray's Happy Birthday Bar (1200 E. Passyunk Ave.), starting at 9.

Constitution Center Invites Artists to Revisit WPA

Colleen Clemens — 2009-11-09T12:00:44-05:00

Image Credit: Flickr user Marxchivist

In conjunction with their Posters for the People exhibition, the National Constitution Center is inviting local artists of all ages to contribute to the WPA Poster Contest. The Works Progress Administration, for those of you who don't remember learning about it in history class, was part of FDR's New Deal in an attempt to stimulate a depressed economy and included artists, musicians, and writers back when the arts where considered an important facet of the culture.

There are four participant categories: K-4, Middle School, High School, and Adult. One submission per artist. Posters must be 20"x30", mounted on heavy stock, and can use any type of media.

Entries can be mailed to or dropped off at the National Constitution Center, Attn: Marketing, 525 Arch Street, PA 19106 by December 1, 2009. Finalists' posters will be displayed the week of December 7, and the public will choose the winners who will receive a class trip, or in the case of the adult, a year's membership to the Center.

If you win, drop Phillyist a line. We'd love to hear about your or your students' successes!

For more info, call 215.409.6700 or visit the Center's site.

Now What?

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-09T11:00:36-05:00

Local 234 management seems to have finally gotten what they wanted. The union's rank-and-file is expected to approve the agreement today. But with unemployment at over 10% nationally, and most people's raises and bonuses being reduced or cut entirely, how will the citizens of Philadelphia react to the new TWU contract? Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts.

What to Do with Your Transpass

Ross Currie — 2009-11-09T10:45:00-05:00

As we mentioned last week, we went ahead about bought a November SEPTA transpass on the basis of reports that the SEPTA-Local 234 dispute would be resolved without a strike. Ummm, oops! So we forked over $78 for a pass that we couldn't use for a full week; ain't that a bitch? If you're in the same boat as us, fret not: SEPTA has posted the refund & exchange information for last week's weekly transpass and the November monthly transpass. If you have an unused November 2 weekly transpass, you can exchange it for another weekly transpass until the end of the year. If you have a November monthly pass, once this month is over, you can exchange that for $20 towards your next SEPTA purchase until February 10, 2010.

Phillyist Playlist: Bob Dylan at the Liacouras Center

Carrie Hagen — 2009-11-09T10:00:43-05:00

Image Credit: Flickr User cliff1066

The last time Bob Dylan went on tour in these parts, a police officer thought he was homeless and charged him with loitering. And judging from the reviews of his 47th album Christmas in the Heart, the icon's latest sound just might resemble a panhandler's plaintive tunes.

But honestly, who cares. A few bad critiques won't keep us from catching Dylan live, on Monday, at the Liacouras Center. His Never Ending Tour is in town for one night only (and considering the tour's last few set lists, we don't think he'll be singing much about Santa).

An Evening with Bob Dylan and His Band
Monday, November 9
Liacouras Center at Temple University (1776 N. Broad Street)
7:30 pm. All ages.
Tickets: $49.50 (Students with valid ID: $34.50)

Yo, Philly in the News

Ross Currie — 2009-11-09T09:00:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user pquan

The SEPTA strike is over after an agreement in principle was reached early this morning. After saying he was "done" and "[had] a state to run," Governor Rendell continued to help broker the agreement.

After ten years, shouldn't we be allowed to expect Andy Reid not to suck at clock management and Donovan McNabb not to consistently throw at receivers' feet? Apparently not, as the Birds dropped their Sunday night showdown with the Cowboys, 20-16.

The Sixers dropped their own Sunday night matchup, losing to the Pistons by a score of the 88-81.

Police arrested a man in Northeast Philadelphia accused of raping a woman and then crashing his car into a number of parked vehicles.

More than two dozen swine flu vaccine clinics are slated to open in and around the city today.

Today's AccuWeather forecast: Sunny and warm; partly cloudy tonight.

Across the Ist-a-Verse

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-08T16:00:47-05:00

Photograph by James So on Flickr

Gothamist had a week of big stories unfold—Mayor Bloomberg narrowly won his controversial third term while the Yankees won their 27th World Series Championship (yes, suck it, Philly) and celebrated with a ticker tape parade.
Seattlest talked about gay marriage, performing, and the sexiness of the Pacific Northwest with Rufus Wainwright.
Bostonist saw a near death experience on the subway.
Shanghaiist welcomed Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson to our town. To prove how Chinese they were, they proceeded to play a game of Chinese chess for us.
DCist watched as a local gay couple got engaged in the middle of a D.C. Council hearing on whether to legalize same-sex marriage in the nation's capital.
Torontoist learned what happens a big city paper announces plans to outsource 100 union editing jobs—an editor takes revenge by editing the crap out of the internal memo that made the announcement.
Chicagoist reveled in the beauty of its city in Autumn.
LAist eagerly reported that a prominent doctor was found guilty on multiple charges in a "road rage" incident in which he slammed on his brakes to deliberately block a cyclist riding behind him.
SFist continued to follow the details of the Richmond High School gang rape, where a student was beaten and raped on school grounds over a two-and-a-half-hour period.
Londonist completely geeked out with London's very own periodic table of trivia.
Phillyist didn't dwell too long on the Phillies' World Series loss, what with Philadelphia's transit workers on an unpopular strike, which has forced many Philadelphians to bike or drive to work.

See Ya Sundee...

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-06T19:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Jayel Aheram

This week, Miss Bee is back at it with her picks. She made them based on the median inner-city bus driver wage for each metropolitan area. For New England she used Boston. These numbers are taken from Department of Labor surveys.

HOME TEAMS in caps:

Washington ($17.06) over ATLANTA ($16.41)
CHICAGO ($17.40) over Arizona ($11.24)
Houston ($17.40) over INDIANAPOLIS ($16.55)
CINCINNATI ($19.43) over Baltimore ($14.55)
JACKSONVILLE ($17.33) over Kansas City ($13.10)
Green Bay ($16.97) over TAMPA BAY ($15.28)
NEW ENGLAND ($14.35) over Miami ($12.01)
NEW ORLEANS ($16.49) over Carolina ($13.52)
SEATTLE ($21.03) over Detroit ($14.56)
SAN FRANCISCO ($21.12) over Tennessee ($15.37)
NY GIANTS ($25.66) over San Diego ($19.73)
Dallas ($16.73) over PHILADELPHIA ($12.07)
Pittsburgh ($17.34) over DENVER ($14.63)

My picks:
JACKSONVILLE (-6.5) over Kansas City
Larry Johnson. Wow. JoePa isn't even dead and he's rolling over in his grave from how you act. Grow. The. Fuck. Up. Seriously. At least shut the fuck up and stop making our alma mater look like Florida State. Thanks.

CHICAGO (-2.5) over Arizona
It's Dark and Hell is Hot. No, wait, that's a DMX record. It's cold and Chicago is windy. That's the ticket. 38-year-old arms don't hold up well in cold wind. Jay Cutler's do.

Green Bay (-9.5) over TAMPA BAY
Rookie quarterback making his first start. Not going to go well. Green Bay's secondary is too tough for this kid to figure it out in one day. Rout.

ATLANTA (-11.5) over Washington
Much to Miss Bee's dismay, no more CC47 for the year. Washington's defense is pretty strong, but when you're constantly looked at to keep a struggling offense in a game you'll eventually break. Matty Ice breaks them this week.

Miami (+10.5) over NEW ENGLAND
*Puts on Chris Collinsworth hat* This Miami team. This is a team that just finds ways to win football games. Whether it's with the wildcat or in the return game, this team finds ways to win games in the National Football League. *Takes off hat* They won't win this week, but they will most definitely cover. Remember what they did to New England last year during the wildcat's inaugural game?

CINCINNATI (+2.5) over Baltimore
Home. Dogs. I don't care what happened last week. That was last week. I'm not here to talk about the past. Cincinnati played a tough game in Baltimore. They can beat these guys on their best day.

Houston (+9.5) over INDIANAPOLIS
I don't think that Houston will win this game outright. That breaks the golden rule, "Never pick an underdog you don't think can win outright." After watching the 49ers keep the Colts out of the end zone for almost an entire game, the Texans will try to do the same. No Owen Daniels, though. Ouch.

NEW ORLEANS (-14.5) over Carolina
At home in the dome
the Saints come marching downfield
Carolina stinks

SEATTLE (-9.5) over Detroit
Detroit just lost to the previously winless Rams. Seattle is a tough place to play. Matt Hasselbeck has a field day. Fantasy update: Nate Burleson catches 6 passes for 88 yards and 2 TDs.

SAN FRANCISCO (-3.5) over Tennessee
Michael Crabtree has only played in two games. He already has six more receptions than Darrius Heyward-Bey. I guess he was right when he said he deserved more money than Heyward-Bey. Even Alex Smith will light up Tennessee's secondary.

NY GIANTS (-4.5) over San Diego
The Giants will not lose four games in a row. For real. I know I probably said "The Giants will not lose three games in a row" last week, but that was bullshit. They're totally three-game-in-a-row losers. They are not, however, four-game-in-a-row losers. Especially to the Chargers. (Although, I do hope LaDanian Tomlinson has a lot of yards and touchdowns.)

PHILADELPHIA (-2.5) over Dallas
Phillies lose World Series. Fans lament. Eagles beat Cowboys. All is forgotten until next November. One thing I haven't seen this year, though, is the dude in Center City who sells the homemade t-shirts calling Tony Romo a homosexual. That dude is funny for the singular reason that he yells at the top of his lungs shit like "Romo is a homo" and "Dallas sucks; T.O. swallows" and "Fuck the Cowboys". This is a dude who actually doesn't care. In that respect, I admire him. I care too much.

Pittsburgh (-2.5) over DENVER
This is going to be a great Monday Night Football game. Jaws will be drooling over Big Ben the whole game. Jon Gruden will salivate over Josh McDaniels's play-calling. Mike Tirico will be the only dude who makes any attempt at being unbiased. Any analysis I provide will be passed off as homerism. Black and gold, bitch.

Last week: 4-9
Season: 62-54

Extra, Extra

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-06T16:30:48-05:00

Photo by Flickr user phillymads63

Brett Myers will not be a Philadelphia Phillie next year. Boom...Outta here. You've gotta give it to good ole Brett, though, as he said, "I’ll miss the guys on the team and the fans who have supported me. Hopefully I’ll be playing against the Phillies and when I do I want the roughest treatment the fans can give me—when I’m pitching. I’m an opposing player—you have to give it to me."

During his meeting with members of City Council yesterday, Willie Brown said he regretted calling for the strike at 3 a.m. "I regret calling [the strike] the time I did," he said after the meeting. "But I don't regret the strike."

A 15-year-old shot another student on a school bus en route to a high school for troubled students in West Philadelphia. The 17-year-old victim is in critical but stable condition at CHOP.

Al Gore spoke today at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. He gave a keynote address followed by signing copies of his book "Our Choice."

The jobless rate is 10.2%. Almost 16 million Americans are without work. Ironic that those who had solid jobs are on strike, isn't it?

Asshole of the Week

Erica M — 2009-11-06T16:00:05-05:00

Photo by Flickr user See-ming Lee

As promised, we hate TWU Local 234 now. The folks of TWU 234 have thoroughly established themselves as villains, and we'd like to recognize them for being bastardly sleazes out of a Medieval morality play. And now, the tour of vice!

1. Lust: Willie Brown, we're looking at you. Not for any action you may be pursuing from the ladies, but for your insatiable desire for power. You're up for re-election, and you aren't afraid to throw the entire city under the proverbial bus as you promise the sun and moon themselves to the workers you represent.

2. Gluttony: You wish to overstuff your pockets while the people around you are still in need. We've got no sympathy for your desires for more, more, and more.

3. Greed: Say what? A signing bonus, an eleven percent raise over the next five years, and no increase in contributions to health care isn't enough? Really? A signing bonus for going back to work after you chose to walk out? Not good enough? A raise and the promise of continued amazing health care—still not enough? Perhaps you'd like an amazing technicolor dreamcoat to go with that cushy job?

4. Sloth: Not working, huh? Some people might wonder how this is different from the normal state of affairs.

5. Wrath: Inspiring the rest of the city to frothing rage counts. We're blaming you.

6. Envy: Maybe it isn't a dreamcoat you want. Maybe it's the Taj Mahal? A Maltese Falcon? Whatever it is you want—it doesn't belong to you. The money you claim you need will come from the pockets of those least equipped to pay it.

7. Pride: Back down. What else but pride would allow a group of people to be so obdurate in their wrongheaded position. You're being offered a great deal, and really, almost everything you wanted. To believe that you deserve further reward is beyond us. Back down, and take the deal.

Love your neighbor, Local 234 dudes. Help a city out.

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-11-06T16:00:00-05:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Phillyist.

Pirate Radio, the new comedy starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, from the creator of Love Actually. In theatres 11/13.
American Apparel, with 3 stores in Philadelphia, you can look your best after dark.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

If you're interested in advertising on Phillyist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Proofreading Philly

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-06T15:30:28-05:00

Listen, MSNBC. We know you were in a bit of shock about the whole Democrats-losing-elections thing (we're equal opportunity pundit haters around here), but don't you think you still could have maybe proofread your screen titles?

Captured during The Rachel Maddow Show by the lovely and talented Jenn DiSanto.

Proofreading Philly tries to capture typos, wordos, and all other kinds of grammatical mistakes that we see around the city. But we need your help! Email photos to us from your computer or your phone, and show the city that you care about good grammar.

CinePhillyist Reviews... The Men Who Stare at Goats

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-06T15:00:00-05:00

Maybe it's because I love war movies. Maybe it's because I love George Clooney. But The Men Who Stare at Goats, based on a book by Jon Ronson and directed by Grant Heslov (a distant relative-of-a-relative by marriage, but that's not really pertinent), was definitely on my list of most-anticipated movies of 2009. The film, which is based on more truth than you'd like to believe (a paraphrase of the opening title card), follows a reporter's quest to learn more about an elite group of psychic soldiers, nicknamed "Jedi warriors," also features (as Allison so eloquently put it in today's CinePhillyist) "Obi-Won, Kaiser Soze, and The Dude"—a cast list that at once made me giddy with anticipation and totally nervous that the movie wouldn't do its cast justice.

My fears are now assuaged. Although Goats isn't a perfect movie by any means, it manages to entertain, delivering an amusing premise, well-timed lines, and solid acting out of the leads (even though Ewan McGregor definitely struggled to maintain his American accent throughout the film and ended up sounding slightly monotone as a result). As an added bonus, references to the Star Wars films and Jedi knights abounded—great on nerd factor on their own, but throw in McGregor, who played a major role in the prequels, and you get a kind of meta humor not usually seen in film. Easy and obvious? Yes, but that doesn't mean I didn't laugh at every one. And if Star Wars jokes aren't right for you, you'll probably at least laugh at Clooney's deadpan, at Jeff Bridges' transformation from hardened soldier to "New World Army" hippie-fighter, or at Kevin Spacey generally being Kevin Spacey.

But although humor can go a long way, a film needs substance to succeed, and there were a few problems on that end. The plot was told largely in flashbacks narrated by McGregor's character, even though the flashbacks weren't his own. While the film is supposed to be the character's reflections on his investigation into the Jedi warriors, things might have been more engaging if the other characters had the opportunity to tell their own stories—and it would have mitigated McGregor's aforementioned monotone. The film is also missing about twenty years of Bridges' character's personal history, connecting the flashback scenes to the film's "present," so it's hard to equate the broken man we see "now" with the confident, kooky soldier we saw "then." No doubt the years had been tough, but it might have been nice to see a few examples.

The ending is similarly missing something. Maybe I was just dissatisfied because it was just this side of cliched, or maybe I wanted a bit more action in the present leading up to it, but instead of leaving the theater blown away by the film, I left saying "that was fun," but not feeling fully satisfied. The writing was good; the acting was excellent; but in the end, something failed me. Which isn't to say I won't be eager to watch again when it hits HBO—just that I probably won't go out of my way to buy the DVD.

CinePhillyist

Allison Krumm — 2009-11-06T10:00:00-05:00

The Box
There are a few things that we find intriguing about The Box. Number 1: The story comes from an old Twilight Zone episode. Number 2: The score was composed by Arcade Fire. Number 3: It was helmed by Donny Darko writer/director Richard Kelly. With all of these indie cult elements involved color us confused as to the big-name casting choices. Can you say "identity crisis?"
Playing at... - Trailer - Reviews

Disney's A Christmas Carol
We admit, we're rooting for The Men Who Stare At Goats to come out on top this weekend. But underestimating a kid-friendly, animated feature would be plain foolish, so we're predicting a win for Disney's new interpretation of Dickens's holiday classic. And even though we still find Zemeckis's motion capture techniques a wee bit creepy we're down with 3-D ghosts and multiple Gary Oldmans. If Jim Carey manages to deliver restrained performances as Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas everything, Disney's A Christmas Carol should be at least as entertaining as ye olde Mickey Mouse version.
Playing at... - Trailer - Reviews

The Fourth Kind
Real or not real? Paranormal Activity or Blair Witch Project? Eh, we don't really care. But we do like Milla Jovovich, thrillers, and aliens. Might be worth a shot.
Playing at... - Trailer - Reviews

The Men Who Stare at Goats
In this based-on-a-true-story satire, American "Jedi" soldiers in the Middle East kill goats with a glance, attempt to walk through walls, and are downright determined to use their psychic powers to battle the evil terrorists. Starring Clooney, Obi-Won, Kaiser Soze, and The Dude, we jumped at a chance to get a sneak preview yesterday. Look for a full review later today.
Playing at... - Trailer - Reviews

Skin
Depending on if you count The Fourth Kind or not, Skin is either the second or third film out this weekend based on a true story. It is however, the only one that takes a direct approach to its subject matter. Sophie Okonedo plays the black daughter born to a white couple in Apartheid South Africa. A period tale of race, identity, love, and hate, Skin is currently carrying a 90% freshness rating. If you like good dramas, you might want to put it on your list.
Playing at... - No Trailer - Reviews

Yo, Philly in the News

Ross Currie — 2009-11-06T09:00:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Sean_Marshall

TWU Local 234 apparently thinks their pension should be the only retirement fund, pension, 401(k), etc. in the universe that is impervious to stock market fluctuations and a recession economy. According to the union's attorney, they're willing to stay on strike until SEPTA and the state go pull some cash off the magical money trees to pump the pension fund back up so that it can fulfill all potential outstanding payments. Apparently, the union's Martian leader hasn't alerted its members to how retirement funds work here on Earth.

And in other SEPTA strike news, the union is apparently considering a "revised offer" from SEPTA. Might the strike end by the evening rush hour, and perhaps more importantly, does the "revised offer" give in to some of the union's demands, which will pretty much require commuters to open up our checkbooks to cover increased costs?

Speaking of commuters, PennDOT says that traffic on local highways isn't really that much worse since the strike began, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Time to start thinking about what the Phillies may and should do in the off-season. We'll offer our own thoughts next week.

Penn homecoming is this weekend, and part of the festivities include today's ground breaking on the 24-acre Penn Park, which will include athletic fields, a bike path, and an elevated walking path.

Today's AccuWeather forecast: 49 degrees with less wind today than yesterday. Cold and clear tonight, and the weekend looks really good for this time of year.

Extra, Extra

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-05T16:45:10-05:00

Photo by Flickr user safoocat

Governor Rendell met with union leaders this afternoon in an attempt to expedite a contract agreement. The union has a news conference tentatively scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

Three men held up an armored car at a TD Bank in Abington Township. No word on how much the thieves wrangled from the car.

A female Danella employee was awarded $150,000 for having to wear diapers to work due to a lack of available restrooms for women. Four other female employees split $50,000.

Philadelphia Inquirer CEO Brian Tierney announced that over 420,000 pounds of food were collected for Philadbundance and the Food Bank of South Jersey. Tierney said that they will embark on another food drive, which will include the Daily News. The goal for the new drive is to collect one million pounds of food for the local food banks.

Cha-ching! Tomorrow's Mega Millions jackpot is at $63 million. The Powerball drawing on Saturday will be worth $80 million.

Photoist

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-05T14:00:04-05:00

Click here to see full version!

Title: Ironwork
Photographer: roemarshall

Like to see your photo here? Submit it!

No More Phillies, So Now What?

Ross Currie — 2009-11-05T13:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user yourFAVORITEmartian

The 2008 Phillies were a surprising and welcome departure from the Philly sports norm. Let's face it: We've gotten used to coming up short—whether way short or barely short. Not long after the Phillies paraded down Broad Street last Halloween, the Eagles returned the cosmos to their rightful balance. (Villanova's Final Four appearance was an unexpected bonus that threatened to upset the recently-restored natural order of things. Fortunately for the universe, North Carolina did not allow the end of days to come about.)

Whatever the haters say, Philadelphia is one of the top five sports towns in the country. (New Yorkers can bite me. In no particular order, it's us, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.) No one invests as much, personally and emotionally, in our athletes as we do. That said, we're not going to lose too much sleep over the Phillies' World Series loss. Not because we don't care—we do, we really do—but because living with defeat is old hat for us. And one of the things that makes us able to cry into our beers for one night, then go to sleep, wake up the next morning, and shrug it off is that we have a year-round cycle of teams on which we can pin our dreams of victory and fears of the inevitable next defeat. So while there's reason to be optimistic about the 2010 Phillies—more on that next week—it's time for Philadelphians to turn our attention, and our sports-lovin' hearts, elsewhere. So follow the jump and we'll tell you how you can best devote your energy, your love, and your tears for the next few months.

Penn State football: Although State College is about three hours away, Philly is booming with Penn State alums (including, in the interest of bias disclosure, this Phillyist) and folks from PSU families. After stumbling—badly—against Iowa in their Big Ten opener, the Nittany Lions have been rolling, albeit against a weak schedule. But Penn State is peaking at the right time, and even though their shot at winning the Big Ten and going to the Rose Bowl is remote, winning out will virtually guarantee the Lions an at-large invitation to a BCS bowl game. And if the right dominoes fall, that could mean a dream rivalry Penn State-Pitt Fiesta Bowl. But first things first: Penn State has to win out, and their biggest hurdle to doing that comes this Saturday, when always-tough Ohio State travels to Happy Valley.

Villanova basketball: Nova Nation may have been the most satisfied losers in history after the Wildcats got blown out by eventual-champion North Carolina in last year's Final Four. Nova's dramatic win over Pitt just to get to the Final Four, plus knowing that Jay Wright would start this season with one the top recruiting classes in the country and Scottie Reynolds and Reggie Redding returning, left Nova fans smiling, even though they didn't cut down the nets in Detroit. Now it's time to see if Wright's squad can live up to the high expectations coming off last season. The Wildcats will start their season—which officially begins next Friday—ranked in the Top 10. Unfortunately, Redding will be sitting out the first part of the season due to a marijuana possession-related suspension. But still, Nova is expected to be a top tier squad, and anything less than domination of the Big Five and winning the Big East is going to be a disappointment. But if there's something Philadelphians are used to, it's disappointment. Speaking of which...

Eagles: Okay, what the hell is up with this team? They looked completely inept against the Saints, and their total bed-shitting against the Raiders and lackluster win over the hopeless Redskins didn't do anything to change that impression. Then they come out and take the Giants into a dark alley and inflict all sorts of torture on them. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are starting to look like an impossible 1-2 wide receiver combination for teams to defend, especially because opposing defenses have to account for Brent Celek. A Birds' win over the Cowboys this weekend puts them, somehow, in the driver's seat for the NFC East title. This team just has an aura that somehow, some way, it's going to get into the playoffs, win one game, and then completely self-destruct. It's what Eagles fans have come to know and expect, and yet we all strap in for the ride. Here we go again.

Flyers: In case you haven't been paying attention for the last two years, and we know most of you haven't, the NHL is back—at least in terms of quality. (You can cat Flyers' games on CSN, but out-of-market games are stuck on Versus, which is kind of an audience killer. We miss ESPN's National Hockey Night.) Hockey games now are the most exciting they've been in about twenty years, and the league has all sorts of star power, and Philadelphia is one of the best hockey cities in the country. (Not coincidentally, the others are the aforementioned Boston, Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.) The Flyers made two big off-season signings, picking up hard-noser Chris Pronger and headcase goaltender—aren't they all?—Ray Emery. The Flyers are off to a slow-ish start and are in a very tough division—with the defending Stanley Cup Champion Penguins and model-of-consistency Devils—but the Flyers' roster is so deep and so talented that you have to expect them to get on a hot streak at some point. The NHL season is long, and you really don't know how things are shaping up until January, but the league and the Flyers are definitely worth paying attention to.

Sixers: Ummm, scratch that. Don't pay attention to the Sixers. Read a book, learn to knit, watch paint dry, or trim your nose hair. We're not even kidding.

]]>

More Unfortunate SEPTA News

amy — 2009-11-05T11:15:00-05:00

First there was the strike. Then early yesterday morning, a fire disabled service on the R5 and R6 lines. What more could possibly happen?

This: At 8:42 this morning, an otherwise unidentified male who may have been a track inspector was struck and killed by an inbound R3 train near Melrose Park. The R2 (Warminster), R3 (West Trenton) and R5 (Lansdale/Doylestown) lines going beyond Fern Rock are all suspended at the moment due to the accident, which SEPTA is politely calling "police activity" on its website.

We can only wonder what SEPTA related bad news tomorrow will bring.

Phillyist Playlist: The Get Up Kids at the Trocadero & TLA

Allison Krumm — 2009-11-05T11:00:00-05:00

Photo via The Get Up Kids Official Myspace

We've been waiting for this tour since the "Very Last" Reggie and the Full Effect show at the TLA in September of 2008. Back then The Get Up Kids reunion and Someting to Write Home About 10th Anniversary Live DVD was just a rumbling on the internet. Fortunately, a rumor fueled by James Dewees is a reliable one indeed. The Get Up Kids' keyboard player and Reggie founder dropped hints all along his tour that a reunion would be upcoming, and all but confirmed it during the encore at the TLA.

Widely acknowledged as the granddaddies of emo, The Get Up Kids' early brand of pop-punk somehow spawned a wild world of young musicians who wouldn't be caught dead without their guyliner and asymmetrical black hair-dos (*cough*Pete Wentz*cough*). Guitarist Jim Suptic even went as far as to apologize for for inpiring the trend saying "The punk scene we came out of and the punk scene now are completely different. It's like glam rock now... If this is the world we helped create, then I apologize."

Don't worry Jim, we'll forgive and forget the moment the Get Up Kids hit that first chord. We'll be transported back to a world before the advent of over-glamourized emo. A world where we snuck out of classes and into shows. A world without real, adult responsibilties. Only this time when we're jumping around trying not to spill our drinks, we'll have obtained those drinks easily and legally. There's something to be said for gaining a little bit of maturity, and this Phillyist, for one, can't wait to see what kind of grown-ups The Get Up Kids have turned into.

The Get Up Kids
Thursday, November 5th
The Troc (10th and Arch Streets)
7:30 p.m. All Ages.
Tickets: $23
&
Friday, November 6th
The TLA (334 South Street)
8:00 p.m. All Ages.
SOLD OUT! Find 'em on Craigslist

Phillyist Playlist: Ralph's World at the World Cafe Live

amym — 2009-11-05T10:15:30-05:00

Ralph Covert, from Disney's Ralph's World, is coming to Philadelphia on November 8th at the World Café Live and I'm hoping he's bringing Pickles.

Don't know who Ralph Covert is?

Then you, my friend, have yet to enter the world of mashed up carrots and 7 o'clock bedtimes.

For everyone else out there, living in the wasteland that is parenthood, we are happy to say that there is something interesting for us to do this Sunday besides watching Finding Nemo for the thirtieth time. Covert, proud father of two and prolific children's musician, is on tour and bringing his sing-a-long styling to Philly for a single show.

How does one describe such an artist?

Think of him as a kind of Raffi meets They Might Be Giants meets The Beatles (in the early, "Twist and Shout" years) blend. Ralph Covert is everything kids love. He is goofy, he makes fart noises in his songs, he encourages kids to dance and shout and bang things together—and he does it in a way that makes you want to bang stuff right along with them.

The crazy (and delightful) thing, for all his silliness, is that Covert is a talented musician and a damn fine song writer. We think he's made the same deal with the devil that Steve Perry made in the 80s. You don't want to love these songs, there is no good reason that you, a full-grown adult, should enjoy a song about a teddy bear... named Freddy bear.

But you do.

You do!

And you sing the songs in the car, even when your children aren't around, because the choruses are that catchy. Happy Lemons, Animal Friends... they're like delicious shots of music tequila, only you can share these quickly downed morsels with your toddler.

Tickets are still available, $16.00 for adults, $12.00 for kids, with the show starting at 11:30am, so do something great for your kids (and your sanity) this weekend and treat everyone to their first concert. We'll be there...shouting out requests.

Seriously, we love that Freddy Bear the Teddy Bear song.

Ralph's World
World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St)
November 8th, 2009; Doors at 11 a.m.; Show at 11:30
Tickets: $12.00 – 16.00

Yo, Philly in the News

Ross Currie — 2009-11-05T09:30:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user camera_obscura

The Phillies were unable to pull off a stellar comeback as the Yankees won their 27th World Series title, mostly thanks to six—yes, six—RBIs last night from Series MVP Hideki Matsui. The great thing about baseball, though: barely three months til pitchers and catchers report for the 2010 season.

There's any number of words you could use to describe Local 234 President Willie Brown, but this one says it all: "the most hated man in Philadelphia."

A Levittown couple was found dead in their home Tuesday, the result of an apparent murder suicide committed by the husband. The couple was set to appear for a divorce hearing Monday, but it's unclear whether the hearing actually occurred.

Two young men were killed in shooting incidents last night, one in Castor and one in Brewerytown.

Today's AccuWeather forecast: 55, with a possible afternoon shower. Cold and windy tonight.

Extra, Extra

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-04T16:30:28-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Somewhat Frank

Police have identified a person of interest in the hit-and-run that injured 8-year-old twin sisters. We mentioned this in the news this morning. Seriously. Hit-and-runs need to stop. By bike, trike, car, or segway.

The fire on the R5 train this morning was not strike related sabotage. The cause of the fire is officially listed as electrical.

The legislation pending to legalize casino table games could affect tuition at state universities. $688.4 million was left off of the budget and is contingent upon the bill passing.

Northeast High School's new uniform policy that went into effect today has irritated parents. They allege that the policy is directly related to the taping of the reality show starring Tony Danza as the reason for the policy.

Tonight's World Series Game 6 pits Andy Pettite against Pedro Martinez. The two future-Hall-of-Fame starters are a combined 75 years old. Go Phils!

Parking

amy — 2009-11-04T16:00:00-05:00

Photo by author.

Ah, Delancey Street... Always so pretty, particularly right now when the leaves are falling upon the cobblestone. That brings us to this week's park: Three Bears Park, or Delancey Park. It's a quaint little park located at 319 Delancey Street in Society Hill. The park offers a nice place of refuge if you're trying to get away from the hubbub of South Street (read: screaming and skateboarding teens) a few blocks away.

Three Bears is so named because of a sculpture of a family of bears, done by Sherl Joseph Winter in 1966. The bear family is located next to the park's playground, which gets rave reviews from parents across the Internets. I went to the park on a recent rainy Saturday, so there weren't many kids playing, but it seems this park is the place to be when it's nice out and you're a kid in the area. A sign forbade anyone other than children from playing on the equipment, so I can't rate the swings or slides, but I will say that the ground beneath the playground is so soft and boingy that were a kid to fall, he or she would probably bounce right back up without getting hurt.

The rest of the small park is idyllic as well. There are several tables, which seem perfect for pulling out a chess board or a picnic basket. On the eastern side of the park is a circular planter, which was still beautiful even on a damp, dreary fall day. The Friends of Three Bears Park work to keep the park beautiful and well-maintained. If you want to support them, you can purchase adorable t-shirts and onesies with 3 Bears logo on the front, or join the organization if you live in the area.

Upcoming Events in Parks:

Flea Markets:

Philadelphia Flea Market, Jefferson Square, 4th St and Washington Avenue. Saturday, 11/7, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Previous Parking).

Get Involved:

Dickinson Square Park Clean Up, 4th and Tasker Streets. Saturday, 11/7, 9 a.m. (Previous Parking).

Farmer's Markets:

Cliveden Park, Chew Avenue and Johnson Street. Wednesdays, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.
Schuylkill River Park, Wednesdays, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. (Previous Parking.)
Fitler Square, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Previous Parking),
Clark Park, Thursdays, 3 p.m-7 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. (Previous Parking),
Rittenhouse Square Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (Previous Parking)
Palmer Park, Frankford Avenue and East Palmer Street. Thursdays, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

If you know of anything exciting happening in your local park in the near future, please e-mail amy@phillyist.com!

I Have a Baby and Ten Dollars...Now What?

amym — 2009-11-04T15:45:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Phil Scoville

With weekends getting rainy and cold and just...horrible, the good city of Philadelphia has given anyone with children dozens of good reason to stay inside.

I've mentioned The Expressive Hand in this column before, what with their free babysitting and good times for stressed out parents who love to paint, but they're doing something so cool, we need to rehash the tip. Starting this Thursday, November 5th, at 10am this wonderful little pottery studio (and Sign Language school!) is starting a Read, Sign, and Paint class for preschoolers and their caregivers. Beginning with a reading of the A Very Hungry Caterpillar, with an American Sign Language interpreter so that kids can begin to learn some signs, the class moves on to painting your very own ceramic caterpillar in their workshop. All children ages 3 to 6 are welcome to attend with a very reasonable entrance fee of $10.00. Pre-registration isn't required, but if you have questions call 267-519-2626 or visit the website.

This week's "Free Fridays at the Kimmel Center" features Caryn Lin, an electric violinist. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the Commonwealth Plaza Stage, Ms. Lin gives your kids a reason to practice for concert band. If you don't believe me, check out her webpage. Caryn Lin is amazing; I'm talking truly incredible. Also gratis at the Kimmel Center this weekend, Bill and Tammy's Children's World Music Express will be rolling into town Saturday, November 7th. While the Friday night shows are obviously geared towards the older set, the Music Express, beginning at 11 a.m., is great for the younger ones. Welcoming any and all ages, Bill and Tammy bring together music and movement with a message of tolerance and cultural diversity. Pre-registration isn't required for either show, but it's best to get there early.

I am the self-proclaimed queen of over-protection. If it were up to me I would put sunscreen on top of my daughter's playground helmet. I'm just kidding, my daughter doesn't have a playground helmet, but a mother can dream can't she? Anyway, if you're like me, the Philadelphia Flyers Mini Rink at the Discovery Museum is for you. It's a mock ice rink with a slippery surface reminiscent of a bowling lane; it's open to kids ages 2 through 10. They can use their socks as skates and slide around the ready-made arena. Admission to the rink is free with museum admission ($9.95 for adults and kids). For more information visit the website or call 856-424-1233.

It's First Friday in Doylestown and these people take it seriously. Beginning at 6 p.m., many merchants stay open late (all they way until 9 o'clock! The craziness!) and play host to free, family friendly activities—some of them even have free hotdogs. A couple of highlights:

Michener Art Museum will be offering a scavenger hunt, face painting, Crayola Factory giveaways, a puppet show and live music.
The Busy Bee Toy Store will be hosting a fairy themed night of fun with crafts, shows, theater games, and a special appearance by a treat distributing fairy.
The Central Bucks Family YMCA will be giving away the aforementioned free hotdogs.
The Mercer Museum will be giving a presentation on American Indian Heritage.

Free parking for First Friday is provided at the county courthouse, the Doylestown Library, and the Michener Museum parking lots. The events are held rain or shine. You can get a full list of participating venues and activities here.

The Colonial Theatre is showing a classic this Saturday. For five bucks a head, there is no good reason to miss the masterpiece that is The Muppet Movie. If you are not familiar with The Muppet Movie, know this—your parents hated you. Show your kids you care and take them to check out the 3:30 p.m. showing of this amazing and inspired film. Rated G, The Muppet Movie is great for kids aes 4 and up. For directions and more information about the Henson series the Colonial is running this weekend, visit the website or call 610-917-1228.

If you've already seen The Muppet Movie, check out B. Someday Productions and the Neighborhood Parenting Program of By My Side's Theatre Production of The Runaway Bunny this Saturday at 11 a.m. An interactive performance based on the heart tugging book, the show skews young (think ages 2 to 7) and is being mounted in Hyperion Bank on Girard Street. Stick around after the show for a healthy snack and craft time. Registration isn't required and entrance is on a "pay-what-you-like" scale. For more information on the performance or the Walking Fish Theater (home to B. Someday Productions), check out the website or call 215-427-9255.

The Curtis Institute welcomes kids (ages 5 to 12) and their parents to come and learn the basics of composition and conducting. Students from the famed Institute will explain and then demonstrate with interactive performances designed to introduce kids to classical music. Advanced tickets are available online, but with demonstrations running from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., slots should be open at the door. Adult admission is $5, but children 12 and under are free.

Last week we mentioned that the National Liberty Museum is open for free on Sundays and well, what can we say, the Seaport Museum got a little jealous. Every Sunday is "Pay-What-You-Wish" admission at the Seaport Museum from 10 a.m. to noon. All ages welcome. Check out the website for exhibit information or call 215-413-8616 if talking to a real person is necessary.

That's it for me this week, but remember, if you have a tip (or a gripe—I like to judge others, it makes me feel better about myself) email me at amym@phillyist.com. Help a mother out.

Photoist

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-04T15:30:49-05:00

Click here to see full version!

Title: baby phanatic
Photographer: Melody Kramer
Location: Citizens Bank Park
Camera: Canon EOS 40D

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Monday* Manners: Rules of the Road

Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey — 2009-11-04T13:15:32-05:00

*Why yes—it is, in fact, Wednesday. And Monday Manners has been on hiatus for several months. But this seemed like an appropriate occasion to revive the post anyway.

Image Credit: Flickr user Matthew & Jenny

SEPTA's on strike. I'm pretty sure we mentioned it before. With no busses, trolleys, or subways, people are turning to their cars to get them to work—and generally acting like assholes while driving them. I thought it might be an opportune moment to remind you of a few traffic laws—not just because they're laws, but because following them will help make this strike a little less unpleasant for all of us.

Don't Block the Box.
You're in the front of a row of cars at a green light, but the traffic ahead of you isn't moving. What do you do? If you answered "go through the light and wait in the middle of the intersection for the cars in front of me to pull forward," you're wrong. Blocking the intersection is against the law, and it's also discourteous to opposing traffic if you're still there when the light changes. Plus, don't you think it's just a little dangerous to be hanging out in the middle of the intersection if one of those cars tries to maneuver around you and fails? Replacing that bumper won't be cheap.

They're Called Crosswalks for a Reason.
The light you're waiting at isn't going to change any faster if you're stopped in the middle of the crosswalk. SEPTA's strike has put a lot more pedestrians on the road in addition to the extra motorists, and they need to get across the road safely. That's why the crosswalks are there. Be sure to stop behind them and let the walkers pass, so they don't have to dodge between cars to get to the other side of the street.

One-Way Is Not a Suggestion.
While sitting in traffic yesterday, I saw a guy turn east on a westbound street. He was only going a few feet to the parking lot there, but it didn't matter. He put himself and everyone else on that street in danger because he didn't have the patience to drive around the block.

Stick to Your Lane.
Things that are not traffic lanes include: bicycle lanes (especially the new, used-to-be-traffic-lanes on Pine and Spruce); unoccupied street parking spaces (just because it's asphalt doesn't mean it's for driving on); and sidewalks. We have seen angry motorists veer sharply into all of these areas in the last couple of days, putting themselves and others at risk, and also generally annoying the other motorists who are waiting their turns. We're all frustrated that we have to wait—but patience pays.

Use Your Blinkers.
Turning? Changing lanes? Avoid getting rear-ended by letting the cars beside and behind you know your intentions. And hey, if somebody lets you in, don't forget to give the wave.

Stop Parking Where There Is No Parking.
Philly's parking laws seem to be a little liberal. Sure, the PPA can't wait to give you a ticket thirty seconds after your meter's expired, but they look the other way for "church parking" and most delivery trucks. When traffic's light, it's usually easy to navigate around the double-parked, the parked-in-the-turn-lane, and the waiting-for-a-friend-in-the-bike-lane. But when traffic's this heavy, it's harder to move over and avoid stopped vehicles, and doing so is really dangerous. If you must stop for any reason, make sure to put your hazards on so that traffic behind you sees you're not moving from a long way off—but I stress the word "must," as in "my water just broke all over my gas pedal." If you're picking up a friend, getting a cup of coffee, or delivering packages, find a real parking space or loading zone.

Hang Up Your Phone.
As of November 1, driving while using a handheld mobile phone is illegal in Philadelphia. It's illegal because it's distracting. And when in heavy traffic that can stop on a dime, you need to dedicate your full attention to the road, not be distracted by your BFF's bad date story.

Yo, Philly in the News

Ross Currie — 2009-11-04T09:00:00-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Matthew & Jenny

Welcome to SEPTA strike (or TWU Local 234 strike, depending on your point of view) Day Two. SEPTA and the union "could resume negotiations" today. We won't hold our breath.

We hope you voted yesterday. If you didn't, you have no right to complain (at least about the officials who were up for election) until the next cycle. Notable winners include Chris Christie in the NJ gubernatorial race and Judge Joan Orie Melvin in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court election.

With no World Series game to ~~give us a heart attack~~ consume our attention, we were able to give a look at the Sixers...and we really, really regret it.

As if pulling a hit and run on an eight-year-old child wouldn't be bad enough, how's doing it on twins for punching your ticket to the Seventh Circle of Hell?

Today's AccuWeather forecast: Another cool, crisp, clear day.

Extra, Extra

Andrew Johnston — 2009-11-03T17:00:01-05:00

Photo by Flickr user Matthew & Jenny

If you thought that there were going to be some negotiations in the Local 234 strike today you are wrong. No talks yet. What's more, even Ed Rendell thinks the union turned down a good deal.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority will expand cab service to work throughout the city during the Local 234 strike.

We mentioned this in the morning news, but there is still time to vote today. Get out and vote!

Philly could save up to $15 million per year if it eliminated four elected offices. The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority said that the independently elected "row offices" could be replaced by city agencies or within the court system.

What happens when everyone stays home from work or school with the flu? Let's hope it's not an Internet meltdown because of high rates of absenteeism and everyone using the Internets at home.

The Phillies hopped a 3:30 PM Amtrak train bound for New York City. The Fightins are back in action tomorrow night against the boys in pinstripes.

Foodsday Tuesday: Vegan Treats—The Sequel

Jenn DiSanto — 2009-11-03T16:30:00-05:00

Vegan Treats fall selections, photo by author

If the martinis article earlier didn't give you enough of a taste of fall, allow us to tempt you with some desserts.

Despite Phillyist's previous love for Vegan Treats Bakery, I couldn't contain my skepticism. Seriously? That ain't right. How can you make baked goods vegan and NOT have them taste like the box in which they arrived? More to the point: milk, eggs, and butter are gifts from on high — why would you even attempt to replicate treats without those ingredients?

Trying Vegan Treats for myself shut my carnivorous piehole, I'll tell you that. Why do they do it? Simply, because they CAN.

Vegan Treats hooked us up with a sampling of their fall offerings: pumpkin pie, caramel pecan cake, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate hazelnut pumpkin spice cake, caramel apple cheesecake, and pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing.

I'm not going to lie, the flavors are a little different. But their whipped cream is spot-on, the frosting on the caramel pecan cake is off the hook, and the cheesecakes are freakishly good. I've never met a pumpkin cheesecake I didn't want to marry, and this one is no different. If I didn't know it was vegan, I never would have guessed. It tastes like someone tweaked a standard recipe just a smidge, but not to its detriment in the least. Even better is the caramel apple cheesecake, which comes with gooey pecans on top. It's just sweet enough, and the texture and consistency are perfect.

The pumpkin pie is less sweet than what you'd normally find, and it's up to you if you think that's a good thing or not. (I do.) The crust is a little different, too, though I think it's something you could get used to.

The chocolate hazelnut pumpkin spice cake is not a flavor combination that had ever really occurred to me, and it wasn't really my favorite. But I think that was just the flavor combo. The chocolate flavor was dark and deep, but the cake itself was a tad dry. I much preferred the pumpkin spice cake, which was more moist and my favorite of the regular, non-"cheese," cakes.

You may ask what's in these things if there are no dairy products. But I do not ask. Ironically, much like when I consume a hot dog, it's all very "don't ask, don't tell."

Bottom line, and the best way I can put it — as a dessert junkie and a dairy/egg addict, I'd eat them again, and happily.

Quick Nosh:

Can't wait for the Cinco de Mayo and all its Mexican food-fueled goodness? Neither can Chef Alison Barshak, who'll be marking halfway to the next one on November 2 – 7 with a special "Cinco de Noviembre" menu at Alison Two.

Looks like potential Next Iron Chef Jose Garces has acquired the former Letto Deli on 13th Street and will be transforming the space to the next restaurant in his empire—with a "beer and brats" theme. Color us intrigued! (Via The Restaurant Club.)

Rittenhouse mainstay Rouge (which, oddly, doesn't seem to have a website of its own) has announced a new winter tasting menu that will include Macaroni and Cheese with fontina cream, chervil bread crumbs and Lancaster county goat cheese; Seared Day Boat Sea Scallops with mushroom-potato risotto and spiced red wine-golden raisin reduction; King Salmon with braised root vegetables and three meat glaze; Yellow Fin Tuna with eggplant and porcini mushroom chutney, olive oil and oregano; and Braised Beef Brisket with butternut squash puree, haircots verts and roasted garlic jus. Yes, please!

Dine for a cause this Saturday, as the Cambodian Children's Fund hosts its third annual fundraising dinner at Maxim Saigon Restaurant in South Philadelphia. Never had Cambodian food? We can't think of a better excuse to try it. $55 gets you in ($35 of which is tax deductible), but tickets aren't sold at the door, so be sure to book in advance.