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Normally when we go out in the world to review films, we end up in one of the smaller theaters at the Ritz 5 with a mere handful of other journalists and/or bloggers. For Twilight: New Moon, not so much.

To bring attention to the lack of proper sanitation that 2.5 billion people in the world must face every day, the World Toilet Organization (the other WTO!), is asking that people all over the world take a one-minute long squat Tomorrow, November 19. Hopefully all of you readers have been practicing your chair pose at yoga class, because a one-minute squat will get your thighs screaming. Lack of proper sanitation creates a breeding ground for disease. Sure, the bathrooms at some of Philly's bars aren't exactly vacation spots, but at least they work; it beats using a field or a train track. And women are gravely affected by this lack of sanitation. Because of culturally bound ideas of modesty, women often have to wait until sundown or relieve themselves before sunrise. These dark areas are also not safe places for women. So, consider it your workout for the day or a great way to get together with others to draw attention to a serious world issue. But give a squat!

So you may have heard: New Jersey has kidnapped the 2010 Dad Vail Regatta. Well, more like bought. Why Rumson, NJ has an extra $250,000 to throw around, we don't know. But what we do know is the Dad Vail has been raced on the Schuylkill River every year since 1953. Over those 50+ years it has become an integral part of Philly sports culture. To take it off the Schuylkill and move it into New Jersey is like taking the Bike Race out of Manayunk. Like defacing the Rocky Statue. Like imploding the Spectrum. Oh wait. We're actually going to do that.

I grew up thinking that I didn't like sweet potatoes. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I realized that it wasn't sweet potatoes, in and of themselves, that I had a problem with: it was the way they're served at Thanksgiving, sickly sweet and buried under marshmallows. (All due respect to marshmallows: I love you, but not in this particular instance.) Used with savory ingredients, however, sweet potatoes are nothing short of awesome. Plus, they're healthier than standard potatoes: high in fiber and vitamins and easier to eat unadorned by their white, starchier siblings. (Seriously, Yukon Golds have their place, but that place is usually under a large amount of butter or sour cream.) Once I discovered that I actually liked sweet potatoes, I was unstoppable, ordering them at any restaurant that had them on the menu and trying out every recipe I could find. Then, I started ignoring the recipes and experimenting. The below is basically a spicy hack of one of the first sweet potato recipes I tried, and it's still one of my favorite preparations for the bright orange tubers. Bring it to your Thanksgiving potluck for a twist on tradition: you may find yourself the most popular person at the party.

Phillyist alumni Jim took his brain where few brains had gone before, guiding his gray matter through a tour of the vicious William Shatners in Shatnerquake. Now you too can fend off evil Kirk, because author Jeff Burk is making the entire novel freely available today on his website (http://www.jeffburk.wordpress.com/) as a download. Why should you download this novel, you ask? Because it is awesome. Bizarre art made freely available is worth it, books about William F'ing Shatner are of course worth supporting, and obviously books featuring societies of Bruce Campbells are everything you need to make your day better. And it's free!

When watching a concert, there are many thoughts that may pop into one's head. "Oh, this is pretty cool, maybe I'll buy their album." Or, "This is putting me to sleep." When I saw Shonen Knife live at Johnny Brenda's on Monday, the thought that immediately popped into my head was, "I wish I could bake this band in to a cake so I could eat them!" That's a weird thing to say, but Naoko (guitar), Etsuko (drums) and Ritsuko (bass) would totally understand I meant it as a compliment.

Rather appropriately, Prince's "Party Like It's 1999" served as ring entrance music to the the main event at The Get Up Kids TLA show. The newly reunited band is currently touring to support their Something To Write Home About 10th Anniversary CD + DVD. After the new year they're off to see our friends in Australia and Japan, but it sure was nice to have them visit us in Philly for two dates.

You know we love BalletX. But have you had a chance to experience it for yourself yet?

Perhaps the sting of the Phillies losing has lessened. But wouldn't it be nice to wrap yourself in t-shirt touting the Phils as the World Champions? Clearly, all of those shirts had to printed before the results were determined. So where did they go? To developing nations. World Vision works with Major League Baseball to ensure that all of those new shirts don't go to waste. So somewhere out there, the dream of a Phils' win is alive and well and working for a good cause.

*Corrections have been made in this column concerning the Philadelphia Circus School Event*

Pip

A fence surrounds the park, leaving only an opening at the Carpenter/13th Street corner. A shrub with bright pink flowers grows over by the fence along Christian Street, an unexpected summery display standing in contrast to the the bare trees and fallen leaves all over the rest of the park. Ridgeway is one of a number of parks participating in this week's Fall for Your Park leaf clean up, see below for more details.

. . .and we're back! Did you miss us? Were you itching to know just what shows were up and running in Philly? Well, here you go. Our title quote comes from the , which opens next Tuesday at the Media Theater.

Remember that time when that cute little girl threw the foul ball away during that one Phillies game? Awwwww. Remember when Bruntlett had that amazing unassisted triple play and everyone forget how much he kind of sucked? Yesssss. The season may be over, but the voting and awards aren't yet! The 2009 This Year in Baseball Awards nominees have been announced and quite a few Phils are in the running. Take a gander and vote your brains out, Philly. It's what Jimmy's walk-off double would want you to do. Voting ends December 11th.

Only four new movie choices for this weekend, folks. Looks like Hollywood couldn't rustle up many opponents who wanted to do battle against the juggernaut that is Twilight. Cowards.

311 has always been a band that puts on a fantastic, high-energy show and tomorrow night's sold-out performance at The Borgata should prove to be no exception. This Phillyist was a fan of 311 when Grassroots came out and their sound has evolved so fluidly, keeping us interested ever since. This new fall tour seems to stem off the most recent summer tour, promoting their newest album, Uplifter.

Phillyist is a huge fan of Greensgrow, so much so that we've mentioned them bunches and bunches before, but just in case you can't place the name (or tear yourself away from this stellar article) we'll remind you of Greensgrow's fantastic mission. Dedicated to growing fresh veggies and fruits here in our fair city, making use of an otherwise barren super fund site, importing delicious local artisan groceries, and supplying ALL your urban gardening needs, Greensgrow provides a small oasis of agricultural calm in Fishtown.

Tonight The Trocadero is treating you to three acts sure to rock your soul and your socks.

So this week's asshole is coming not from Philadelphia, but from the internet. After last week's delve into the personal, we're taking it out into the tubes.

Seattlest reminded us that we don't watch Mariners baseball for the game, we watch it for the player-on-player bromance.

Not a big change, but still a big sexy demolition.

Author Ali Eteraz will read from his memoir Children of Dust: A Memoir of Pakistan tonight at the Brandywine Workshop. Lehigh University Professor Amardeep Singh will be moderating the event. Admission is free.