What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend Witnesses or Svjedoci Set in a small town in Croatia during the civil war of the early '90s, this film adaptation of the novel Plaster Sheep tells the story of the investigation into the murder of a Serbian smuggler and loan shark. The story is told from multiple perspectives and only slowly does the reason for the murder become clear. Sounds interesting, and the majority of......

Thursday has often been called a day of thirst, probably because we need an excuse to drink on a week night, and the wordplay writes itself. We wish we could refrain from suggesting at least one bar, just to rebel against the 'thirsty' designation. Well, we can't refrain. We just plain can't. But at least we have some music to serve before the booze. THE FOO FIGHTERS AND SERJ TANKIAN AT THE WACHOVIA SPECTRUM......

Around 2AM yesterday, Joseph Kelly Sr. was driving along the Vine Street Expressway when he saw a homeless man in a wheelchair marooned on the median. He pulled over and crossed three lanes on foot to try to help the man across the street. As one car slowed down to let them pass, another struck that vehicle and then ran into Kelly and the other man, killing them both. A 17-year-old male knocked on the......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Two friends and roommates in Communist Romania in the late '80s find themselves with a problem: one of them is pregnant and needs an abortion, but abortions are illegal. They find a man who will perform one anyway, but he won't accept money, and demands an "alternate" commodity instead. Eeww. This is getting great reviews, but it also sounds......

We are torn. We are not usually torn. Usually, when something makes us rather uncomfortable, we use our prerogative as a (unpaid) blogger to ignore it. We have taken great license with our Phillyist byline, in that we write about what we like and think is important; we don’t pick up on the stuff that is out of our league or seems boring to us. Hence you’ll find a lot of arty stuff, charity......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Sam Raimi will executive produce a new syndicated, live-action weekly series titled Wizard's First Rule, which is based on Terry Goodkind's fantasy book series The Sword of Truth. Cooper Lawrence, the author who criticized Mass Effect on a now infamous Fox News segment, has finally actually seen the game and is admitting she made a mistake, and that......

Will Smith is one of Philadelphia's great "local boy makes good" stories (and Philly hasn't forgotten that, either; I'm pretty sure I sat next to his school teacher at the preview screening of this film that I attended, and even though she was asleep for a good portion of it, she seemed happy to be there). He's come a long way, and although he doesn't always make the best choices, he does always put in......

Tuesday The Academy of Vocal Arts opens its season with Mozart's witty and timeless Così fan tutte. Academy of Vocal Arts (19th and Spruce); 7:30 PM; $48 Yo-Yo Ma comes to the Kimmel Center with Kathryn Stott, piano for an evening of Schubert, Shostakovich, Piazzola, Gismonti and Franck. Verizon Hall (Kimmel Cetner); 8 PM; $38-$94 Thursday Temple University faculty members Lawrence Wagner, clarinet, Jeffrey Solow, cello, and Charles Abramovic, piano give a concert of......

Plan Philly has an article about that roundtable discussion amongst bloggers, reporters, and academics about the future of Philadelphia. Our own Jill Ivey was there to offer her insights. Go Phillyist! An 18-year-old former Philadelphian has admitted guilt in two armed bank robberies in April in South Jersey, as well as an attempted carjacking and a home invasion following the second robbery. The Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute is on track "to break......

Lawrence Richette, 48, the son of veteran Common Pleas Judge Lisa A. Richette, was arrested Tuesday for beating his 79-year-old mother at her Center City home. "He was released on his own recognizance yesterday - his birthday - pending a preliminary hearing Oct. 29." He was also ordered to stay away from his mother, for obvious reasons. But the story gets worse (better?). When NBC10 reporters knocked on his door for a comment, he......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. Check out this post by a Croatian comic-book artist about his favorite manga. It's as good a way as any to step into the weird and wild world of Japanese comics. Also check out the comments of the Drawn! post that led us to that list, as they contain even more recommendations. (Also, we second the recommendations of Death Note and Uzumaki, which......

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.......

by William J. Hayes For years, music scribes kvetched and moaned about Meg White’s juvenile drumming, wondering how great White Stripes leader Jack White would sound with a Stewart Copeland-esque percussionist and an ever-elusive bass player. In 2006, they got their wish when White formed The Raconteurs with Detroit singer-songwriter Brendan Benson, and the Greenhornes’ rhythm section of Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. Many gleefully predicted a severe drop in the production of red, white......

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. Camera Obscura Fillmore at the TLA Wed, 8/22/07, 8PM $16 ($18 day of show) Pre-sale: Today, 10AM - 10PM, Live Nation Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Crocodile Rock, Allentown Tue, 6/19/07, 8PM $16 On sale: Today, 10AM, Ticketmaster Brotherly......

I think my fascination with Orson Welles started when I was really young and Tiny Toon Adventures did a Citizen Kane spoof. Not long thereafter, I read an abridged-for-kids version of The War of the Worlds, and my grandparents told me about Orson Welles' radioplay of the work—of how people who tuned in late thought that New Jersey really had been set upon by aliens. By the time I was in middle school, I'd already......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. The song "Thou Shalt Always Kill" offers us some new commandments for a new age. Pretty brilliant! (Via) Anthony Hopkins says he might end up in that Wolfman movie with Benicio Del Toro. We're not sure how to feel about that. We don't really trust Hopkins anymore... A remake of Clash of the Titans written by Lawrence Kasdan?......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Puccini for Beginners - The concept: an operatic screwball romantic comedy. A New York writer and opera addict (Elizabeth Reaser) gets dumped by her lesbian lover because she can't commit, and ends up starting secret relationships with two other people - a philosophy professor named Phillip and a girl who used to be straight named Grace (Gretchen Mol). Little does she know that Phillip and Grace......

It takes a lot to make me literally go slack-jawed, especially when I'm watching a play. I'm well aware that, not only is it unflattering, it can actually be quite frightening as an actor to look out and see certain reactions from your audience. The Act One finale of Nerds://A Musical Software Satire, Philadelphia Theatre Company's offering at the Philadelphia New Play Festival, however, caught me in a rare moment. My mouth was open......

You won’t be able to stop crooning "Summertime" after this week. Yes, Porgy and Bess is opening at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Tuesday Temple professors Lawrence Indik, baritone, and Charles Abramovic, piano, will perform a recital of works by Temple faculty and students. Rock Hall Auditorium, Temple University; 7:30 PM; FREE Hailing from Germany, the Artemis Quartet has made a big name for itself all around Europe and has studied with several prominent string......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Streamers: Staged readings of Streamers start tonight at the Triangle Theater (1220 N. Lawrence) and continue each night at 8PM through the weekend. Supports Operation Helmet. $10 admission. Includes wIne and cheese reception. Andrew's Video Vault: Tonight at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut Street), local film fanatic Andrew Repasky McElhinney presents free back to back to back screenings of Boarding House Blues, Kansas City & Moon Over Harlem. 8PM......

This week's quote is from the always-clever, very talented Peter O'Toole (a.k.a. Lawrence of Arabia), who said: "I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me quite nicely for an exit." Now, on with the listings! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - Once upon a time, we were in a spelling bee. You weren’t allowed to sing......

What's new and/or interesting at Philly theaters this weekend. Time to Leave (Le Temps Qui Reste) - A French film, directed by Francois Ozon, about a young, successful fashion photographer who learns that he has a malignant brain tumor that will soon kill him. He deals with this by keeping it a secret, and alienating his lover, his friends, and his relatives. Luckily, a short stay with his grandmother (played by screen legend Jeanne Moreau)......

We seem to have hurt our sister site to the north by not including them in Elite -ist these last few days. To show that it was nothing personal, we present this extra-special Elite -ist, dedicated to you, Torontoist! If you don't like it, readers? Well, blame Canada. Torontoist: Canadians rule at kickball. Kickball was invented in the Czech Republic, not Canada. Austinist: Austin's getting a new high-rise. The tallest building in Canada is......

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 us, we're trying). Featured Pick of the Week: Free King Kong! It may have been beauty that killed the beast...but the anticipation for Peter Jackson's version King......

We’re still Deep in the Heart of Texas, as it were, but our love for performing arts in Philadelphia knows no bounds. Keep reading for exciting upcoming events! Hairspray - Those of us who are fans of the Fox summer hit So You Think You Can Dance have heard the producers say on more than one occasion that they’d like to be able to say that big girls can dance. Hairspray proves that at least......

Even while on vacation in Texas, we’re still keeping track of what’s going on in Philadelphia’s Theatre Scene. Read on! The Marriage Play - The Triangle Theater brings you a very limited run of this Edward Albee play before it continues on to the Deertrees Theatre in Maine. Performances will be August 17-20 at 8 PM. Tickets are $20, or $15 for seniors and students with valid IDs, and can be purchased over the phone......