Fun around town, for $10 or less: Hard Core Barbie: Project Runway viewing party every Wednesday, with Barbie design challenge for all in attendance, at National Mechanics (22 S 3rd), 11PM. $7 Gay Catholic Erotica Author: Scott D. Pomfret reads from his new book Since My Last Confession: A Gay Catholic Memoir at Giovanni’s Room (345 S 12th), 5:30PM. Free PW Concerts in the Park: XPN welcomes Adam Arcuragi and The Capitol Years in Rittenhouse......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Medicine and Rats: Authors William Frankl and Harris Cohen read from their respective works The Merger and Rat Tales and Other Stories (the latter set in West Philly) at Robin’s Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free Folky: The Fairmount Park Commission sponsors a folk dancing session with instruction (no experience or partners needed) every Tuesday on the Art Museum Steps (26th and the Parkway), 8-10:30PM. $3 White Rabbits:......

Sure, one of the great pleasures in the world is curling up alone with a good book, but sometimes voracious readers need to leave the house and hear the authors of their favorite books bring their stories to life in person. At the Philadelphia Book Festival this weekend, held in the blocks surrounding the Free Library Main Branch, you have this chance with over 60 authors reading on six different stages this Saturday and Sunday.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Robert On Robbery: Drexel prof and author Robert Zaller discusses his latest book Theft of the Century: Who's Trying to Steal the Barnes, and Why It Won't Work at Robin’s Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free Knitty: Knitting circle every Wednesday at Vagabond (37 N 3rd), 6-8PM. Free Spinny: The Spinning Leaves, Birdie Busch, and Cowmuddy at Upstairs at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 8PM. $9 Quizzo Mania:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: The English Patient Guy: Author Michael Ondaatje discusses his latest novel, Divisadero, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Yuck It Up: Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom) presents twenty up and coming comics at 8PM. Free New Music Tuesdays: Young Gene Buffalo, Goodbye Etc, Beyond The Black, and Bushbomb at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 Local Shots Live: WMMR and......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Food!: Author Sara Roahen reads from her new book Gumbo Takes: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table at Café Nola (414 S 2nd), 7PM. Free Water!: "The Ocean and Earth’s Climate," a panel discussion on the history and likely future of the oceans, at the Franklin Institute (222 N 20th), 7-9PM. Free Haters!: Independent Television Service Community Cinema presents A Dream in Doubt, a documentary of......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: First Person Salon: How Philly Moves, a multi-disciplinary documentary of dance from photog JJ Tiziou and sculptor James Peniston, and featuring Andrew David Watson, Nicole Bindler, and Miss Koco, at the Gershman Y (401 S Broad), 7PM. $10 Sheets of Sound: Author Francis Davis will read from his biography of John Coltrane, Sheets of Sound, presented by Ars Nova Workshop, at the Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk),......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Free Funny: Helium (2031 Sansom) presents 20 up-and-coming comics at their Open Mic Extravaganza, 8-10PM. Free Local Shots Live: Stellabelly, Papa Midnight, Montoj, and Stillicide at Doc Watson’s (216 S 11th), 8PM. $5 RIP: Fred Is Dead, A Zero Complex, David Janes, The Greyjacks, and Sweetheart Parade at North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 Good Fences…: Author Brian Hall reads from his new novel Fall of Frost,......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Come With Suggestions: Local improv Tongue and Groove try out a new format at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 8PM. $10 These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things: PAWS fundraiser Wines, Canines, and Felines, a wine tasting you can bring your pets to, at Pinot (227 Market), 6-9PM. Free (10% discount on Pinot accessories, with all proceeds benefiting PAWS) While You’re Over There: Smak Parlour (219......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: If You’re Traitorous: Author Richard Price reads from his latest novel Lush Life, a story of Manhattan and its inhabitants, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine) Nicer Way to Pull the Trigger: Wellness practitioner Scott Yorker teaches the basics of trigger point massage every first Tuesday at Sweat Fitness Club (700 E Passyunk), 8-9PM. Home For a Hero: Home For a Hero, Hale Allen,......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Rise and Fall of the Comics: Author David Hajdu discusses his latest book, The Ten Cent Plague: The Great Comic-Book Scare and How It Changed America, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Fancy Pants: Fancy Pants Cinema, short films by local filmmakers, in the Lounge at North Third (801 N. 3rd), “starting long after 10PM.” Free every Tuesday (if you have a......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Friday: Better Late Than Never: Anne Lamott reads from her latest book Grace (Eventually) at the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Don’t Shoot First: Space 1026 (1026 Arch) converts their space into the Mos Eisley Cantina for their food show and potluck tonight from 7-10PM. $5 (Free with a dish to share—they request special brownies) Feeling Like Some Lebanese: "Improvisation and Emotion in......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: London Calling: Free dance party featuring Brit Rock from the '60s to today spun by DJs Jared Styles and Jim McGuinn at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 6PM. Free (pre-registration required) Exit A: Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead, reads from his latest book Exit A at the Penn Bookstore (3601 Walnut), 7PM. Free Deep Breath: Introduction to Buddhist meditation presented by the Menlha Buddhist Center at the Ethical......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Love Songs: Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series presents Love Songs: A Valentine’s Serenade at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia (2125 Chestnut), 7:30PM. Free Lopez: The Lopez, The Dollyrots, and Percocettes at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $8 Jazzy: Ars Nova presents Ben Ratliff, author of the new book “Coltrane: the Story of a Sound,” speaking on jazz history at the Kelly Writers House (3805......