A few months ago, we asked readers to tell us where we can eat cheaply and quickly in Old City. We got some great feedback (this Phillyist eats at Gianfranco Pizza Rustica at least once a week, much to the chagrin of her personal trainer), and now we'd like to add another spot to the list: Independence Al Fresco, next to the Independence Visitor Center. Now, we're not endorsing the spot, mostly because we......

If you're in work and actually working, you're probably in the minority. ISEPTA/RIPIT LAUNCH PARTY AT NATIONAL MECHANICS Independents' Hall is a homegrown collective of tech-savvy brains dedicated to breaking up the monotony of their work-a-day lives with challenging and innovative feats of awesomeness. Tonight, they're partying at National Mechanics in Old City. The occasion? The simultaneous launch of iSepta and Ripit. iSepta is an elegantly simple alternative to Septa.org that was originally cooked up......

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The weather is causing a flare-up in our SADS and we aren't too optimistic for much improvement before the big V-Day tomorrow. It's a busy day in IstVille, and we can't promise the same amount of wit (we are witty, aren't we?) and substance we usually offer to our Can't Miss This! readers, but we hope you find something below to keep you busy tonight. Here are a few things to do inside, away......

Photo from the Ben Franklin Bridge walkway. Photo by author, SkyscraperSunset.com, November 25, 2007.......

Oh, man. Did you see that Rick Santorum is writing an opinion column for the Inquirer now? Ugh. In vaguely related news, John Street's post-mayoral employment, beginning in January, will be at Temple University as a professor of urban politics and policy. Governor Rendell, who himself is an adjunct at U. Penn, encouraged Street to make the move. Officials responding to a report of a fire at a home in Upper Darby yesterday discovered......

WHYY-TV first got on air as the second educational television station in Pennsylvania (WQED in Pittsburgh was the first two years before) in September of 1957, broadcasting locally produced educational programs from the old WCAU studios. However, they weren’t on channel 12. The station started off on channel 35, which meant they didn’t have a lot of viewers, since they were a UHF station and most televisions of the era had no UHF tuners.......

A college student died in West Chester over the weekend from an unusual strain of meningitis called meningococcal meningitis, which is not one of the five or six strains covered by the vaccine recommended for college students. The death has prompted some fear and panic in the area, but only two people have been identified who had close enough contact with the student to warrant antibiotics. The source of the student's infection remains unknown. News......

When you look at the averages and statistics, this past winter was a pretty normal one, a fact which outrages the Inquirer. Also, it turns out people know crap about the weather and how it works. Get on that, scientists! Jeez. A third-grade girl has been suspended from Highland Park Elementary School in Upper Darby, and may be expelled, apparently because she thought the authentic-looking replica of a German Luger that she'd brought with her......

Hey, Philly, this Sunday, September 17th, is National Constitution Day! That's because on September 17th, 1787 the Constitution was signed right here in our very own Philadelphia. The 17th is a Sunday this year, which means some folks are observing on Monday, so there are events and celebrations throughout the weekend and into next week. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the National Constitution Center has a particularly large number of events going on, and most of them......

by Sarah M. GranlundWhen Ed Bacon planned Independence Mall, it was lauded as visionary. It was to be a green, open space in the middle of the city's historic district, providing an area for public gathering and a place to view the historic buildings of the area. But, as with many of Bacon's visions, Independence Mall did not stand the test of time as well as it could have. Soon after it was built,......

Cindy Sheehan is coming to the Philadelphia area later this week for a panel discussion, memorial service for U.S. troops who have died in Iraq, and several anti-war rallies. According to Philly, the schedule of events is as follows:Thursday, September 15th 3.30 - 5pm Panel Discussion The George School, State Road 413, Newtown, Bucks County School contact: 215.579.6500. More info: 215.547.2656 7pm Ecumenical service in honor of the men and women killed in Iraq First......