Nothing quite says summer like the foods we eat: ice cream, water ice, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon. And what better time to eat those foods than July 4th. In fact, Americans will consume roughly 150 million hot dogs this Independence Day. That's a lot of processed meat! If hot dogs aren't your thing, or you're just looking for something fun this holiday weekend, read on for a list of events down the shore: Fireworks,......

You think the Fourth of July party stops on the 5th? Hell no! You got a whole weekend’s worth of patriotism to work through… not to mention food… Saturday: If you haven’t shaken those pesky kiddies off yet, you could take them back to Franklin Square, or change it up and get their faces painted and energy expended on Independence Mall from 10AM to 1PM. When you get hungry, head to the Great Plaza on......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. Clutch is putting out a live CD/DVD called Full Fathom Five. It's due out on August 12th on the band's own label, Weathermaker Music. You can get an MP3 download of a song off it right here. (Via Matt) Thanks probably in large part to the tireless work of The official McFLY 2015 project, Nike is finally going to put out "Air McFlys,"......

No debate: there’s no better, or more appropriate, place to celebrate the birth of our nation than right here in Philly. Here are a few things to help you enjoy your freedom this weekend. The best part? Most of it’s free. Today: Forget lunch, there’s cake! A reading of the Declaration of Independence is followed by an eight foot cake that’s needs some eating. Head over to the Independence Visitor Center at noon to snag......

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. Valencia with Sing It Loud, Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer, Single File, and Cash Cash The TLA Sun, 9/21/08, 6:30PM $12.50 ($15 day of show) On sale: Today, 1PM, Live Nation Chaka Khan and Musiq Music Box......

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you. Want to win a trip to the San Diego Comic Con to meet the cast of Death Race, and maybe even appear in the DVD as a casualty of the race? Sure you do! Just click here and fill out the form to enter. (Via Jill) A look into Harvey Weinstein's recycle bin. Check out the very creepy red band trailer......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Swinging: John Clark Big Band sponsored by the Chestnut Hill Community Association at Pastorius Park (Abington and Lincoln Drive), 7:30PM. Free Local Flavor: Wednesday Night Out, featuring 15 local performers including Bunny Sigler, MFSB, Soul Survivors, and others on the Avenue of the Arts and in The Kimmel Center (Broad between Locust and Pine), 6:30PM. Free Quizzo Mania: Get your Quizzo on at 12 Steps Down (831 Christian),......

Generally, we don't listen to the Jimmy Buffett or The Beach Boys in January. We don't listen to the Charlie Brown Christmas album in the summer. (Although, Eric Hutchinson would probably disagree with us.) And normally, we don't really listen to Type O Negative (MySpace) except for roughly a month before and after Halloween. We've seen them twice before on Halloween night, or the night before Halloween, and we believe that time of the year......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Hope You Like Outdoor Movies: Screening of Shawshank Redemption at Eastern State Penitentiary (2124 Fairmount), 9PM. Free (space limited, first come first served) Lady DJs: The Philly Reggae Girls will be spinning ska, reggae, rocksteady, and dancehall at Tritone (1508 South), 9PM-2AM. Free New Music Tuesdays: Acts of Violence, One with Nothing, Corner Store Espionage, The Tea Club, and Down to One at North Star Bar (2639 Poplar),......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY Richard Lewis & Susie Esserman Harrah's Resort Atlantic City Sat, 8/16/08, 10:30PM $30-$50 On sale: Wed, 10AM, Ticketmaster MUSIC Manuel Gottsching St. Mary's Church Sat, 8/16/08, 8PM On sale: Today, 12:05AM, TicketWeb Stephen Marley w/a special guest appearance......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. Cinematical's review of Hellboy II is encouragingly positive. You can check out the new, third trailer for the film right here (via). Two Greek mythology movies are on their way and are likely to end up fighting it out at the box office. One is a remake of Clash of the Titans, to be directed by Louis Leterrier and written by......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Movies + Philly: Philly @ the Movies presents 12 Monkeys at City Hall’s Dilworth Plaza (Market between 13th and 15th), 9PM. Free (bring your own lawn chairs and snacks) Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays downstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal......

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......

Photograph of one of the man-made waterfalls under the Brooklyn Bridge by Jake Dobkin Gothamist enjoyed watching New York City's latest big public art project--four multi-story man-made waterfalls--rise up in East River and the debate about whether it's art or folly (but they sure look pretty at night).Londonist handed out advice on how to queue for Wimbledon tickets, then embarked on a gruelling fact-finding tour of drinking-holes at the capital's main terminus rail stations.Seattlest......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY: We Were Framed!: Phillyist Framed, a photo exhibit with works from Phillyist readers, at Studio 34 (4522 Baltimore), 7PM. $5 suggested donation (plus free beer) Hype: the HYPE! presents Boy Wonder, Nicole Lynn, Steve Hackman, Swift Technique, Laura Cheadle, and Half Evil Half Good at Upstairs at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 8PM. $9 The N Crowd: Improv comedy troupe the N Crowd perform at the Actors......

In a jumble of misunderstood credential arrangements, I arrived at the Popped! Philadelphia music festival last Saturday more or less as a spectator with a photo pass. No interviews, no all-access backstage pass, no video cameras, and not even an idea to give the Phillyist world an artsy camera perspective of the small details involved in being there. Despite my skepticism of the changed nature of this festival, and the frustratingly unorganized course leading......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: We Can Yap With the Best of Them: Inaugural Yappy Hour featuring a full dog menu for your furry friend and specialty cocktails for you, proceeds of which benefit the PA SPCA, at Tavern 17 (220 S 17th), 5-7PM every last Thursday through September. Free + food and drink Nice Way to Wind Down: Music on the Mall, a free summer concert series, featuring local four-man vocal group......

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. The Kooks Electric Factory Mon, 9/15/08, 8 pm $18 On sale: Sat, 10 am, Live Nation Cold War Kids Theater of the Living Arts Fri, 10/17/08, 8 pm $18 On sale: Fri, 12 pm, Live Nation Joe......

Less Than Jake saxophonist JR...

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Whenever Wednesday: Bardo Pond performs, and horror-film aficionado Trenton Doyle Hancock presents The Driller Killer, at the ICA (118 S 36th), 7PM & 7:30PM. $6 Local: Local singer-songwriter Jeff Kessler and Sarah Marie White at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 9:30PM. $8 By R5: Grails, Nadja, and Serpent Throne, brought to you by the fine folks at R5, at Johnny Brenda's (1201 N Frankford), 9PM. $10 Quizzo Mania:......

Never wear a short-sleeve button-down shirt and a $300 tie at the same time. You just look like a wealthy classless fool! PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA: BEST OF...CZECH MIX We're not entirely sure that this program's name isn't offensive. But we do love a good reference to the mix to end all mixes. But anyway, if you like classical music by the likes of Dvorak, Strauss and Bartok, than get thee over to the big KC for......

Some artists seem just born to entertain. They're not gonna wow you with their musicianship. They're not writing the most stirringly beautiful songs. They're just really freakin' fun. And that pretty much sums up Locksley (MySpace). We've really dug their latest album, Don't Make Me Wait, but we still weren't expecting much. Not that we thought Locksley would be bad. We just kinda figured that they wouldn't give us much reason to endorse their live......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Amazon.com has an exclusive preview of Beck's new album, Modern Guilt. The video is more of the lame experimental stuff Beck's been doing lately, but the music is pretty cool. PC Magazine picks the best websites for movie fans, and do a pretty good job of it; included are some of our favorites, like Rotten Tomatoes, Apple's movie......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Free Plays: Free public staged readings of 6 new plays by Peter Bonilla, Jennifer Haley, Lila Rose Kaplan, James Mclindon, Gregory S. Moss, and Silva Semerciyan at the Playground at the Adrienne (2030 Sansom), 8PM. Free (runs through June 27) Slamming: First Person Arts Story Slam with an “On The Road” theme at L’Etage (624 S 6th), 7:30PM. $5-10 Night of Quiet: Hezekiah Jones, Chris Bathgate, John Francis,......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY Frank Caliendo Tower Theater, Upper Darby Sat, 10/11/08, 8:30PM $41.75 On sale: Fri, 10AM, Live Nation Brian Regan The Hershey Theatre, Hershey Fri, 8/22/08, 8PM $36.50 On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Bob Newhart The Hershey Theatre, Hershey......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. So, anybody want to pool their cash and buy Phillyist a deluxe LEGO Death Star? (Via Amy) Cinematical takes a look at the pros and cons of Netflix's recently released set-top box, the Roku. Yay! Finally a new episode of GameTrailers' Star Wars Retrospective! Spider-Man video games have generally been a disappointment, but we've gotta say this preview for Spider-Man: Web......

A steaming hot pile of our favorite things from around the internets. Mmm! Bacon floss! (Via Amy) You can download Girl Talk's new album, Feed the Animals, for any price you choose. Although if you pick 0.00, you will have to explain yourself. (Via D-Mac) The next episode of Cinematic Titantic is now available! This time the MST3K alums are making fun of a lame sci-fi flick called The Doomsday Machine. You can download it......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY The N Crowd: Improv comedy troupe the N Crowd perform at the Actors Center (257 N 3rd), 8PM. $10 Ah, Faerie: Faerie Elaine Silver performs at The Philadelphia Society for Art, Literature and Music (5841 Overbrook Ave), 8PM. $10 Wild Nights: Jerzy Skolimowski: Inside/Outside presentation of Deep End at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 7PM (opening reception at 6PM). $5-7 Oh, the Anonymity: Toiling in Obscurity, with......

Have you ever gotten into a debate about music with a hardcore Rush (MySpace) fan? If not, here's what you need to do. Next time you feel compelled to take your life in your hands, try to convince a Rush fan that Rush is not the greatest band ever. The loyalty they engender in their fans is something unmatched by, well, anyone. We'd always looked on Rush fans' fervor with a grain of salt, no......

A tall, icy glass of our favorite internet junk, just for you. An amusing music video from Mindless Self Indulgence, directed by Jhonen Vasquez. (Via) A recent Wii update closed up a loophole that allowed hackers to run homebrew software through Twilight Princess, but apparently hackers have already broken the new code and opened up the loophole again. Good old hackers. Sienna Miller has confirmed that she will play Maid Marian in director Ridley Scott’s......