Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Flamenco Jam: First Friday Juerga, a flamenco jam session featuring collective playing, singing, and dancing hosted by Pasion y Arte at the Casino Free Philadelphia Office (230 N 2nd), 7PM. Free Bossa Nova: Bucks County native Avi Wisnia celebrates the release of his new Brazilian Bossa Nova inspired album at Tin Angel (20 S 2nd), 7:30PM. $10 The N Crowd: Improv comedy troupe the N Crowd perform......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Nymphs Welcome: Marathon reading of Nabokov’s Lolita, marking the 50th anniversary of its American publication, at the Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk), Noon. Free Another Film Festival: Nextframe International Film Festival is giving a sneak peek at short films from around the world at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 7PM. $7 Count Von Count: Count Von Count, The Murderkill 100, Fall of Man, and Backwoods Payback at......

A steaming hot pile of our favorite things from around the internets. Check out this sweet poster for Takashi Miike's latest project, Sukiyaki Western Django. Here's hoping they manage to get a copy of this one for the Philadelphia Film Festival... We think we've already said this before, but each successive trailer for Iron Man makes us exponentially more excited about seeing the film, and the latest one is no exception. Hot damn, this movie......

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: 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......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Most Likely to Rule: Be Kind Rewind Expect our review of this Michel Gondry comedy, starring Jack Black, Mos Def, and Danny Glover, later on this morning. Trailer - Freshness Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse The Band's Visit A fish-out-of-water comedy about the Ceremonial Police Band of Alexandria, Egypt arriving for a gig in Israel, only to find that their hosts and transportation have failed......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Some Art for the Wall: 5th Annual Emerging Artists and Emerging Leaders Art Auction, with entertainment by local guitarist Marisol Rampolla and an open bar, at Drexel University - Paul Peck Alumni Center (32nd and Market), 7PM. $10 There Are Some Who Aren’t?: Local author Lynn Hoffman reads from his novel bangBANG, the story of “a feisty Philly waitress,” at Molly’s Bookstore (1010 S. 9th), 7:30PM. Free......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Stealing Klimt: Showing of the documentary Stealing Klimt, part of the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad), 7PM. $10 Does That Mean… Nevermind: Animal Style, Porktamer, and Joe Not Joe at Tritone (1508 South), 10PM. $5 Movie Monday at the Troc: Bring your balls to polish and come to the 10th anniversary party for The Big Lebowski at The Troc (1003 Arch), 7:30PM.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Really, It’s Comedy: Die Actor Die hosted by Don Montrey and Juliette Pryor at the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), 8PM. $5 Double Feature: Two Hands and Beethoven’s Hair, part of the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad), 7PM. $10 Fitting Tribute: The Philadelphia Orchestra, with the Philadelphia All City Choir, perform at Martin Luther King Jr. High School (6100 Stenton Ave), 7PM. Free......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY On the Highwire Tonight: Fire Museum Records presents MaryClare Brzytwa, Dominique Leone, and Ashley Deekus at Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.), 8PM. $5 The Other New Wave: Screening of Francois Truffaut’s 1959 The 400 Blows at Molly’s Bookstore (1010 S. 9th), 7PM. Free Oh the Drama: The Drama Club, The Grundles, The Peace Creeps, and The Miners at Grape Street (4100 Main St.), 8PM. $10 We'll Remember:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: You've Heard of Her Now: Judy Toll: The Funniest Woman You've Never Heard Of, presented by the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, at the Gershman Y (401 S. Broad), 7PM. $10 CD Release Party: Nicole Reynolds performs from her new CD at Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd), 7PM. $10 Suddenly Last Summer: As part of a reading series of Tennessee Williams, Lantern Theater presents Suddenly Last Summer at the......

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2008 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know! 5. After kidnapping her two children, Britney Spears goes on the lam before being finally caught in Old City, Philadelphia, attempting to stuff her sons into the Liberty Bell. Seems she thought it......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains - A documentary by director Jonathan Demme following Jimmy Carter on his recent book tour for his controversial book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. A great director and an interesting subject should make for a good film. Trailer Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten - Another documentary opening at the Ritz at the Bourse this weekend......

What's new and/or interesting in theaters this weekend. Most Likely to Rule: Gone Baby Gone - Ben Affleck's directorial debut is based on a novel by the guy who wrote Mystic River, and stars Ben's brother Casey as a private detective investigating a young girl's disappearance. As one might expect, nothing is what it appears to be and he must risk everything to find the girl. The film also stars Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, and......

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week. Samantha Who? (Mon, 9:30PM-10PM, ABC) - Christina Applegate's new show (this is the pilot) features her as a woman who wakes up from a coma with amnesia and discovers that the person she used to be was a bitch, a cheater, an alcoholic, and had no friends. We remember a little movie called Regarding Henry that had a similar premise, but starred Harrison Ford instead of Applegate.......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Dedication - Billy Crudup plays a malicious, misogynistic children's book author who, when his long-time collaborator and only friend (Tom Wilkinson) is taken ill, is forced to work with a beautiful, scattered young illustrator (Mandy Moore) to complete his latest book on time. Hey, you know what - we bet the illustrator will find a way to bring out the good person inside him, and they'll......

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you. Here is a cake that you might not want to make for Timmy's 6th birthday party. But for the 40th birthday party of that creepy guy who works at the comic book store, absolutely. (Via) Hewlett-Packard is licensing a medical patch, designed based on their inkjet technology, with up to 90,000 microscopic needles per square inch, microprocessors, and a thermal unit.......

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week. What Perez Says About the VMAs (Tue, 9PM-10PM, VH1) - Everyone's favorite internet celebrity gossip master turns his wit upon MTV's Video Music Awards. Moving from the internet to TV seems like a backwards step to us. Although of course we wouldn't turn down the offer of a Phillyist TV show if somebody wanted to help us make one... P.O.V. (Tue, 10PM-11:30PM, PBS [WHYY]) - The film......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Inside Paris or Dans Paris - The story of a man who is left suicidal and depressed after his marriage breaks up. He goes back home to live with his divorced dad and his younger brother. Although they try to cheer him up, the only thing that actually makes him happier is a visit from his distant mother. Eventually, of course, he finds something to live......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Labyrinth - Woah! Here's a blast from the past. It's the 1986 classic wherein a young Jennifer Connelly has to travel into a weird fantasy world and face-off against a charming, well-hung, singing, dancing, evil David Bowie - not to mention a bunch of Jim Henson puppets - in order to save her kidnapped baby brother. Of course, it's ostensibly a kid's movie, so she has......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Becoming Jane - English majors around the world are either cringing or jumping for joy over this historical drama about the personal life of Jane Austen, which heavily influenced her work. Normally, this Phillyist would be rolling his eyes and thinking of any and every excuse imaginable to avoid seeing this movie, but if push comes to shove, he might suffer through it. After all, Anne......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. The Boss of It All - A comedy about working in an office by... Lars von Trier?! It seems impossible, but here it is. This film was at the Philadelphia Film Festival; you can read our reviews of the film here, here, and here. Trailer Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse Vitus - The story of a child genius who also happens to be a piano......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Broken English - This romantic comedy by first-time writer/director Zoe Cassavetes, and starring Parker Posey and Gena Rowlands, already hit Philly a while back during the Film Festival; you can read our review right here. Trailer Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse Brooklyn Rules - The story of three life long friends set against the backdrop of mobster John Gotti's rise to power in the '80s.......

LAist was comped front row seats by the Dodgers due to Malingering being struck by a foul ball last week, and she came back with some great photos, and earlier made fun of 4th of July on Venice Beach. But the biggest stories of the week was that the Mayor's Hot Tamale was revealed, and that a Kwik-E-Mart was erected in Burbank. Phillyist was busy doing the Fourth of July up right, exercising their......

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. Being the nation's capital, DCist felt especially proud to let freedom ring this week by exposing the really important issues, like how sad they......

The 13th Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (PIGLFF) won't be here for another couple of weeks (it runs July 12-24), but the website is already up and running, featuring the complete schedule for the festival, and online ticket sales begin today, so it's time to get it together if you want to check out your share of gay movies this year! This year's fest features more than 200 films from over 28......

What's new and/or interesting at Philly theaters this weekend. Eagle vs. Shark - This film, about the quirky romance between two misfits, was screened at the Philadelphia Film Festival this year; you can read our review right here. Trailer Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse A Mighty Heart - This is the dramatization of Mariane Pearl's memoir about her husband Daniel Pearl, the journalist who was murdered in 2002. Angelina Jolie stars as Mariane, and......

What's new and/or interesting in local theaters this weekend. Brand Upon the Brain! - Odd Canadian (is that redundant?) indie filmmaker Guy Maddin puts out another puzzler. We don't feel capable of paraphrasing the plot summary; we recommend you click here and read it for yourself. The film appears to be black and white, silent, and very, very strange. But it's also sitting at 93% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and it sounds incredibly creative and......

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you. As we all know, because it is front page news across the country for some reason, Paris Hilton is currently in jail. No doubt there are cameras recording it all for a future reality TV show, but just in case there's not, you can experience her time in prison for yourself right now via the online game The Prison Life: Paris.......

Seattlest has a talk with the photographer from last week's "Segway Mom" and then experiences some dissension in the ranks over the question of wine vs. beer. It's not West Side Story, but about as close as they'll get. They're also still waiting on some inbox relief after a spammer is arrested. As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried......