The City of Philadelphia still has police officers—at least temporarily—thanks to a deal struck this week. Michael referred to the deal as buying time to work out the details of a longer-term agreement. Maybe he's right, or maybe he's just postponing the inevitable. Only time will tell. Michael's slogan for Philadelphia's soon-to-be-effective law requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours: "If you lose your piece, call the police." Somewhere, Johnny......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Elsa & Fred Two aging Spanish widowers find their fading passion for romance unexpectedly rekindled during a visit to Rome's Trevi Fountain. That doesn't sound like our cup of tea, and the mixed reviews aren't exactly thrilling us. We'll stay away. Trailer - Freshness Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse The Wackness The Mystery Film from this year's Philadelphia Film Festival finally hits theaters "for real"......

Photo of Cody by Dan Bergeron Torontoist took a look at Regent Park, a low-income neighborhood whose soon-to-be-demolished buildings are being graced with huge wheatpastes of the area's displaced residents. (On that note, they also tried to find a legal middle ground for street art.)Phillyist curated their first art exhibition, and posted pictures from its opening.Gothamist was shocked when surveillance footage was released of a Brooklyn hospital's staffers repeatedly ignoring a patient—who had waited......

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For the first time in almost ten years, fewer people in the Philadelphia area are predicted to travel 50 miles or more this Fourth of July weekend than did the previous year. The change is believed to be due to high gas prices, increases in the price of food, and other expenses. And it's probably just as well, because cops are hiding out there on the roads in PennDOT trucks, ready to tip off other......

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week. 46664: A Concert for Nelson Mandela (Mon, 9PM-10:30PM, VH1) Highlights of a concert held in London's Hyde Park to honor Nelson Mandela as he turns 90, and to benefit his charity, 46664 (named after Mandela's prison number). The concert's hosted by Philly's own Will Smith, and includes performances by Amy Winehouse, Queen and Paul Rodgers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, and a variety of African artists, including the......

The Phlash Center City trolley will have special hours this Friday and Saturday to accommodate Independence Day celebrations. The Phlash will operate until 7PM on Friday and until 11PM on Saturday. (Via RJ) The Inquirer tells the story of how a plan to convert an empty convent in Germantown into apartments for formerly homeless men went south, in order to underscore the problems Mayor Nutter is likely to face with his initiative to fight......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. If you, like this Phillyist, went to see The Incredible Hulk this weekend and were completely unable to spot the Captain America cameo, even after staying through the entire end credits sequence, well... there's something you should know: the director recently revealed that the cameo scene he'd promised us in a previous interview had to be cut out because it was......

Sixteen men will receive fatherhood awards from the Father's Day Rally Committee at a reception in North Philadelphia tonight. In case you were wondering, no, SEPTA transit police did not strike yesterday. About an hour before the 2PM deadline, negotiations began at SEPTA headquarters in Center City, and continued until about 10 before ending for the night. Nothing has been resolved, but they were scheduled to meet again at 9 this morning, which means they'll......

Philadelphia police were questioning Leroy Townsend, 53, about possible narcotics violations on May 18 when an officer noticed red dye on his pants and then recognized him (from wanted photos broadcast on television) as a serial bank robber believed to be responsible for five Center City heists. He was, of course, arrested. A group calling itself the Keystone State Skinheads has taken credit for a series of racist posters put up in Port Richmond......

Hey, Greensgrow, a North Philly urban farm, got profiled in a New York Times article! Go them! (Via Dexter) A plan made public yesterday reveals the city prisons commissioner's strategies to reduce prison overcrowding, fight recidivism, and improve prison-staff morale. Meanwhile, an as yet unreleased study of the Philadelphia prison system reveals that recidivism has less to do with prison overcrowding than first-time offenders. "A member of the Eagles Pep Band will be walking 90......

The Inquirer takes a look at local folks and aid organizations trying to send help to China in the wake of the earthquake. All U.S. and Pennsylvania flags at state facilities will be flown at half-staff today for Peace Officers Memorial Day. And since it was Governor Rendell who gave the order there shouldn't be any complaints... "The Philadelphia Orchestra leaves Monday for a three-week tour of China, Japan and Korea." Eric DeShawn Floyd......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. The Smithsonian Magazine has an interesting article about a museum of bogus artwork in Italy. (Via Jill) A pic of Goku from the Dragonball Z movie. It's been recorded rather poorly, but this Dark Knight TV spot is still pretty cool. Check out Nerd World's hilarious burger-centric deleted scenes from Iron Man, then take a look at this screenshot from the......

Don’t go out in sweats; you never know who you’ll run in to. Make your own money. Know how to make one really great dinner to entertain guests. Live on your own, at least once. Don’t be afraid to fall in love. When someone says, “Is Melissa there?” Say “This is she,” not “This is her.” Always, always write a thank-you note; even if you say “thank-you” in person. Know when to end a......

A steaming hot pile of our favorite things from around the internets. Papa John's has surpassed $1 billion in online pizza sales. Even though ordering pizza online is obviously attractive (it's kind of a nerd's dream, actually), we're still kind of blown away by that number. $1 billion worth of pizza! (Via Jill) A dude in Illinois had his coffin made to look like a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. He's not dead yet (he's......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. Check out the trailer for Global Metal. Metal's taking over the world! Beware! Tom Cruise is in talks with Paramount to star in a fourth Mission: Impossible movie. For some reason, they're making yet another film adaptation of Jane Eyre, and this time it looks like Ellen Page will star as the titular character. Moviesonline has more new pics from The Mummy: Tomb......

While touring Pennsylvania yesterday touting his health care plan, John McCain also got in a dig against Obama for failing to endorse the proposal, supported by himself and Clinton, to suspend the federal gasoline tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. "City officials yesterday embraced the concept of bicycle sharing as a way to reduce traffic and pollution, but said many questions must be answered before Philadelphia becomes the first U.S. city to institute public......

This week's New York Times Magazine features an article entitled "Why Bother?" by Michael Pollan (the author of must-reads The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto). In "Why Bother," Pollan states that the bleakest part of watching An Inconvenient Truth for him was "during the closing credits, when we are asked to . . . change our light bulbs. That’s when it got really depressing.......

And no, we're not talking about roughage. We're talking green like local foods, which ensure that you're protecting natural resources and getting the freshest meats and produce available, prepared by some of Philadelphia's top restaurateurs. That's right—you don't have cook your own meals to make sure you're eating local, organic ingredients. Restaurants like the White Dog Café have been keeping it local for years, and popular and well-reviewed places like Farmicia, Fork, Vetri, Standard......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Ultimate crossover! Some screenshots from the upcoming Wrath of the Lich King expansion to World of Warcraft have leaked online. Activision chairman and CEO Bobby Kotick says future installments of Guitar Hero will feature a lot of other instruments and vocals. They will also be called Rock Band. OK, probably not, but still. Joystiq has a bit more......

The Eagles' 2008 schedule has been released, and one of the more exciting games will be the one they'll they'll play at home versus the Arizona Cardinals on Thanksgiving night. It will be nationally televised on the NFL Network. (Via Sarah) Barack Obama's wife, Michelle Obama, was apparently well received when she spoke at a rally at Haverford College yesterday. A new Daily News/Franklin & Marshall poll has Clinton still in the lead with......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. Those guys at Google are freaking hilarious. (Via Jill) New Iron Man photos! Take a look at Movie Blog's copies quick, because Paramount has already gotten the site that originally posted them to take them down. If you head on over to the Adult Swim site, it appears that you can now watch the entire Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie online for free.......

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you. Well, another April Fools' Day has come and gone, but there's plenty of leftover material to talk about today. The Movie Blog celebrated with the "cast list" for Transformers 2, and a list of the 15 funniest movie scenes they could remember. George R.R. Martin pulled a pretty amusing gag for his fans on his Not a Blog. Geekadelphia and Download......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. It is, if you hadn't noticed, the first day of April, which is a day on which it is traditional to prank people, lie to them, and just generally wage war on them psychologically and physically. We promise not to do any of these things to you, less because we respect you too much as people, and more......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. Fantasy/humor author Terry Pratchett recently donated over a million dollars for research into the causes and cures of Alzheimer's Disease, and now an effort to match his donation has started. It's appropriately called Match It for Pratchett, and fellow fantasy author George R.R. Martin has details on how you can participate on his Not a Blog. You might want to consider......

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week. FOX 29 News at 10 (Mon, 10PM-11PM, Fox) We hear tell there's going to be a special segment during tonight's news featuring anchor Kerri-Lee Halkett—appropriately entitled “Kerri-Lee TV”—which will take a look at the Internet scene in Philadelphia, "focusing on how stories of the day are covered by local online sites, including community information, personalities, events and breaking news." We sure hope Kerri-Lee doesn't forget Phillyist... Great......

The story of Roger Band, Bill Clinton's travel doctor, and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania ER doctor. A look back at Easter in Philly—specifically, Philly's Easter Promenade & Finery Contest. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell agree that the Democratic campaign has become too negative and that it's getting to be about time to just pick a candidate and get behind that person. The problem is, they don't agree on......

Yet another Christian holiday comes to pass on this bright and sunny day. Today is Good Friday. It marks the day Jesus suffered and died for the sins of humanity. But look at that face—He doesn't let it get Him down! It's Good Friday because He knew how much Friday would always mean to us, and asked His publicist to put a good spin on the otherwise gloomy fact that He died today. The......

The Inquirer reminds us that Monday is the last day to register for Pennsylvania's April 22nd primary. They also include a list of locations you can go to register, and a link to a site with more information. Meanwhile, the Inquirer has another primary-related article which reveals that since last November, according to state registration numbers, the Democratic Party has gained 111,227 new voters, and the Republican Party has lost 13,391. A helpful list......

Note: We realize that while not everyone celebrates Easter, hopefully this post can be taken as motivation to make greener choices in preparing for any future celebration or holiday. In these days of the over-holidayization (yes, we made that word up) of everything, it's easy to get wrapped up in the consumerism of it all. It's also easy to go the other way and turn into a big Grinch, not wanting to revel in the......