Holy Thursday, Batman! No, seriously, today is a sacred day for Christians everywhere. For many of us who aren't terribly religious, it's the new Friday! If you don't have off tomorrow, though, that doesn't mean you have to stay in and play the martyr card. Get out just to spite us, lucky havers-of-tomorrow-off. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Yes, you've seen it before. Maybe you even read it. But at the very least, anybody who......

The Daily News takes a closer look at one of the programs that Philadelphia Safe and Sound will have to shut down, thanks to Nutter's budget cuts: the anti-truancy program. Meanwhile, the Inquirer takes a closer look at a federal lawsuit filed by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, implicating Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson, a Bush cabinet member. A profile of Phyllis Beck and Alice Beck Dubow, the first mother-daughter judges in the......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Friday: Shohei Imamura Retrospective: The Making of a Prostitute, part of the Shohei Imamura Retrospective, at the I-House (3701 Chestnut), 7PM. $5-$7 Oslo: Oslo, at Upstairs at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut), 8PM (doors 7PM). $6 cash, $8 credit Beretta 76: Beretta 76, Dirty Sweet, the Donuts, and Foxy Contin at The Fire (412 W. Girard), 9PM. $8 Saturday: Damage is Fun: Freaks of the Beat and Freshout......

My freshman year of college, I spent Valentine’s Day wearing black. My friends, who are of the “We Love This Holiday Because We LOVE love!” camp, dragged me to the The Bridge to see How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days. Then they did everything in their power to stop me from throwing things at the screen. Now, I’m normally a sucker for romantic comedies, but bitter single chic + chipper friends + a......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Both FRIDAY and SATURDAY: The Little Prince at Penn's Houston Hall (3417 Spruce Street). $5 for adults, $3 for children. FRIDAY Free Friday at Noon Concert: at XPN's World Cafe (3025 Walnut Street). Today's artist is Josh Rouse. Admission is free, but RSVP is required. Don't Need No Thought Control?: Movie night at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street) presents Pink Floyd's The Wall. Free at 8PM -......

Frugal in Philly is a weekly celebration of all things Philly that are fun, frugal (costing $10 or less) or free! Stop here each week to see what Philly's got to offer for those of us who haven't quite mastered the art of becoming Independently Wealthy (although believe me, we're trying). Featured Pick of the Week: This week, we're highlighting an activity beyond our city borders. But as it's (a) easily accessible by PATCO and......