Dear Philadelphia: I have lived here now for nearly six years. I made it through four and a half without buying pepper spray, and only acquired one from a friend when a string of sexual assaults last fall were a little too close to home. It remains attached to my keychain, except for when it isn't: before shows at the Electric Factory or TLA, I make sure to detach it and leave it somewhere......

F is for freedom. R is for relaxing. I is for imbibing. D is for designated driver. A is for after-party. Y is for, um, yodeling? Oh whatever, it's Friday people, so look alive and act like it! Get the blood pumping by singing along, to the tune of "This Is How We Do It": This is how we Fridaaaaay....this is how we fri-i-i-day. La da da da di da da da...this is how......

It'll probably be pouring tonight, but so what? The temperatures are on the rise, Daylight Savings Time starts again on Sunday, and it's time to get this Spring started! Where better than at First Friday? Here are our top three picks. Khmer Art Gallery & Museum, home of a millennium's worth of Cambodian art, welcomes an exhibition of the work of local photographer Angie Campano. The two-month exhibition, opening tonight, features photographs she took while......

Oprah’s said it. The helpful Victoria Secret clerks say it. Our great-aunt Holly used to say it all the time: a well-fitting bra makes the woman. Today you can acquire said well-fitting brassiere and help raise money for breast cancer research at the same time at Fit for the Cure. Wacoal certified fitters will be on hand in the lingerie department at Macy’s Center City today from 11AM-5PM; for every woman who participates in a......

Remember those makeshift stables in Strawberry Mansion that animal cruelty investigators raided yesterday? Well, the owners of about 40 of the horses living there removed their animals yesterday, as ordered. About 20 more horses were allowed to stay in three garages on Fletcher Street near 27th that had been made into stables while owners of those properties made repairs. The other structures will be bulldozed today. Yesterday, City Council gave final approval to a lease......

Did you ever get with someone you hardly know to “If You Don’t Know Me By Now?” Ever satisfy your love jones to “Me and Mrs. Jones?” Have you ever gotten some ass to Teddy Pendergrass? No? Well, that is probably because you had me as a wing man. But, if you have, you need to head down to Macy’s Center City at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7 and give some dap to the......

The new writers just keep on coming – this time, in the form of Stephanie Mannis, a chronic Yelper who won us over when she sent us a bit of marketing collateral she wrote for work about an American answer to the Beatles. Welcome aboard, Stephanie! Here's the buzz in the 215 blogs this week: Jeff Deeney over at Phawker sang the praises of author Susan Jacoby, who in turn railed against the dumbing down......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: There Goes That Spielberg Again: “Sharks, Spaceships and Spectacles: The Films of Steven Spielberg,” a presentation by Dr. Lester Friedman, with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, at the Prince Music Theater Independence Black Box (1412 Chestnut), 6PM. $10 As We Look Forward: Author Mitch Nathanson discusses his new book The Fall of the 1977 Phillies: How a Baseball Team's Collapse Sank a City's Spirit at the Penn Bookstore (3601......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed. Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's First District Plaza Sun, 4/13/08, 8PM $30-$40 On sale: Fri, 10AM, Ticketmaster Running Red Lights with Desoto Jones The Trocadero Thu, 5/13/08, 7PM $10 On sale: Fri, 12PM, Ticketmaster Time Again The......

Animal cruelty investigators raided some rowhouse stables on Fletcher Street yesterday, giving the owners 24 hours to relocate the 60 horses on the site. The Daily News paints a pretty horrific picture of the conditions the animals were living in. Chelsea Clinton was at Penn yesterday, stumping for her Mom, and said we should expect to see her and her family a lot in the near future. Which sounds like a threat to us. Beware,......

Phillyist VIP: Matt Nelson...

Don’t know about you, but when we think about driving in the city we start to get slight palpitations. Part of it could be that we’re used to walking and Septa; the thought of paying exorbitant amounts to park in UCity on a Friday night convinces us that the El isn’t so bad after all. Plus, there’s storage: when we were living on the outskirts of Center City a parking spot would have cost 2/3......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY D.L. Hughley Music Box at The Borgata, Atlantic City Fri, 4/4/08, 9PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Lisa Lampanelli Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre Fri, 5/2/08, 8PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Wayne Brady Music Box at The......

Highway Patrol Officers were passing a house on Jefferson Street near 26th on Friday night when they spotted a man who matched the description of someone who had robbed and shot another man earlier that night. When they arrested him, they discovered that the house had a cache of drugs, money, and weapons, including seven loaded handguns, an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun, two Kevlar vests, $3,000 in cash, and $25,000 worth of cocaine. In......

You know how Michael rolls – green. And not green like dollar bills with 19" wheels and reverse-spinning rims. Green like he's going to be reducing his carbon footprint. The new Mayoral wheels are a Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. And he even saved the city some coin, as he paid for the Tahoe with his leftover campaign funds rather than taxpayer money. Of course, we think that if Michael was really serious about helping save the......

Friday is the drug that keeps everyone going. Race, creed, political stance, and musical preferences all break down at the singularity that is Friday. Friday shares its first two letters with another word near and dear to every American's heart: freedom. And what better place to celebrate Freedom Fridays but Philadelphia? If Elton sang it, it must be true. AFRICAN FOOTPRINT: PHILADELPHIA PREMIER! This South African born-and-bred song and dance performance is already 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......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Most Likely to Rule: Penelope We should have a review of this Christina Ricci/James McAvoy fantasy romantic comedy a little later on today. Trailer - Freshness Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse City of Men A kind of follow-up to City of God from producer Fernando Meirelles features two teenagers who become fast friends growing up in a culture of violence and street gangs. As their......

Governor Rendell said that he would back the indicted Senator Fumo's reelection bid if Fumo just asked him. Ed says: "We would be lost in Harrisburg without him because of his skill. He has done great things, and we are lucky to have him." The Inquirer is getting excited about the Philadelphia Flower Show, which will have a preview opening for selected guests tomorrow, and then open to the general public on Sunday. Catherine......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. The upcoming print edition of Empire Magazine has a couple of cool new pictures from The Incredible Hulk. Looks like William Hurt makes a kick-ass General Ross! Rumor is that a sequel to The Last Starfighter is on the way, focusing on the son of the titular character from the first movie, and featuring the talents of the original writing, directing, and acting......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Fillmore at the TLA Sun, 4/6/08, 8PM $27.50 ($30 day of show) On sale: Fri, 12PM, Live Nation Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour co-starring Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain,......

Teamsters plan to rally outside the Four Seasons Hotel at 18th Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway at 1:30PM today because AmerisourceBergen Corp.'s annual shareholder meeting is being held there at that time, and the teamsters are accusing the company of unfair labor practices. Remember how Rick's Steaks was fighting to stay in the Reading Terminal Market? Well, the fight continues. A recent court ruling dismissed most of Olivieri's claims against Reading Terminal, but Olivieri's......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Poemergency: Local poets Frank Sherlock and Paul Siegell read selections from theirs works at Bubble House (3404 Sansom), 8PM. Free Get Your Law on: “Auteurism on Trial: Spielberg and Copyright Law,” a lecture by Penn Professor of Cinema Studies Peter Decherney, at the Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia City Institute (1905 Locust), 6PM. Free Jam Wednesdays: Circadian Rhythms, Saudi Arabia, Lexington Down, and The Highball Kids at the......

Phillyist's favorite news item this morning is this one: twin 25-year-old internet hardcore gay porn stars Keyontyli and Taleon Goffney (apparently known as Keyon and Teyon in the biz), of New Jersey, have been arrested for a series of robberies in Philadelphia and New Jersey wherein they gained entry to businesses by cutting holes in the roofs using a handsaw and ax. In Nether Providence, they broke into Wawas, and Chief Richard Slifer of......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY Chris Rock No Apologies Tour Borgata Casino, Atlantic City Fri, 5/16/08, 8PM; Sat, 5/17/08, 8PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation (Fri show, Sat show) MUSIC Sasha & John Digweed Fillmore at the TLA Thu, 4/3/08, 9PM $30......

SEPTA will announce its "Go Green Go SEPTA" initiative this afternoon at Market East Station. (We've already seen the ads up there; they're posters with real moss or grass glued to them.) The idea is to increase ridership to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming, and they've timed it for the Philadelphia Flower Show, which runs March 2-9 at the Convention Center and is typically a time of increased ridership. General manager Joseph......

When the United States finally gained its freedom from King George III, the Founding Fathers went down to the historic City Tavern and got wasted on Thomas Jefferson’s special ale and Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richard’s Shooters." OK, not really, but freedom from tyranny is a damn good reason to celebrate with a drink. That is why Cube Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar is offering complimentary "Cuba Libre" cocktails from Sunday, February 24 to Thursday, February......

Two things with regard to this post. 1. Sorry the post didn't go up last week. The author was out of town on business and flaked out and didn't get someone to cover the post. 2. We're abandoning the day-by-day format that we'd adopted for our first several recaps of the goings-on in the Nutter Administration, and will be doing a more streamlined list of the previous week's highlights. The change is mainly because it......

Today is not a snow day for us here at Phillyist. We are still working hard to bring you the best the city has to offer. Well, maybe not that hard. But we're still busier than ever today, so here comes your first lean helping of Can't Miss This, Lite! Lite as in brief, but also Lite as in, all about drinking! As for the children, well, word on the street is that you......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Famous Films II: The Secret Cinema presents a second installment of their Famous Films series, including A Trip to the Moon (you've seen clips, trust us), at the Moore College of Art and Design (20th and Race), 8PM. $7 Jeannie Gagne: Jeannie Gagne at the Unitarian Society of Germantown (6511 Lincoln Drive—West Mt. Airy), 8PM. $10 Cold: Absolute Zeros, Parsnip Revolt, and Dylan McGuire at Fergie’s Pub......