Fun around town, for $10 or less: Hard Core Barbie: Project Runway viewing party every Wednesday, with Barbie design challenge for all in attendance, at National Mechanics (22 S 3rd), 11PM. $7 Gay Catholic Erotica Author: Scott D. Pomfret reads from his new book Since My Last Confession: A Gay Catholic Memoir at Giovanni’s Room (345 S 12th), 5:30PM. Free PW Concerts in the Park: XPN welcomes Adam Arcuragi and The Capitol Years in Rittenhouse......

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Happy birthday Mulder, uh, we mean David! GEEKS AND TOYS AT NATIONAL MECHANICS The Hacktory (cohosts of May's Battlestar Gallatica Party) is presenting a range of projects tonight, from the visually stunning to the robotically inclined. Oh, and it's at a bar. We like geeks, we like tech, and we like bars. So, a bar full of tech geeks is really kind of a no-brainer. There will be live chiptune music by Animal Style. Also,......

Dear National Mechanics: Two weeks ago tonight, I found myself at your door. I'd had some blood work done earlier in the day and I hadn't had much to eat, so I probably shouldn't have been drinking. But there were margaritas, and then there was sangria, and then I just really needed something of a more solid nature in my stomach. A friend suggested you. We walked to the door and were told it would......

Phillyist VIP Don Shump...

Fun around town, for $10 or less: XPN Presents: Griffin House and Sons of William at Tin Angel (20 S. 2nd), 8:30PM. $10 Japan/USA: Dance and music as part of the ongoing Sound Space: Japan/USA project at the Mascher Space Coop (155 Cecil B. Moore Ave), 8PM. $10 Kulu Mele: West African dance workshop with Kulu Mele at the South Philadelphia Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1700 S. Broad), 6PM. Free Quizzo Mania:......

Looks like we're in for some flooding tonight, so bring your galoshes. But don't let the forecast foil your fun. There's plenty to do in Philly tonight, and a good swim is an excellent cardio workout, gets the endorphins pumping, and leaves one feeling fit and invigorated. Or, you could just get a cab home. THE PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK ALL-STARS WITH SPECIAL GUEST JON ANDERSON FROM YES You remember Yes, no? Well......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Poemergency: Local poets Frank Sherlock and Paul Siegell read selections from theirs works at Bubble House (3404 Sansom), 8PM. Free Get Your Law on: “Auteurism on Trial: Spielberg and Copyright Law,” a lecture by Penn Professor of Cinema Studies Peter Decherney, at the Free Library of Philadelphia Philadelphia City Institute (1905 Locust), 6PM. Free Jam Wednesdays: Circadian Rhythms, Saudi Arabia, Lexington Down, and The Highball Kids at the......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Iron Ladies: The Independent Television Series presents Iron Ladies of Liberia, a documentary of Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, followed by a discussion at the National Constitution Center (525 Arch), 6:30PM. Free Jazz Premiere: Famed jazz-pianist Dave Burrell performs four new works, all inspired by the works of poet Marianne Moore, at the Rosenbach Museum (2008 Delancy), 6PM. $5-8 Crashers: Fatal Seduction, a Dumpsta Players production, wherein celebrities crash......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Love Songs: Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series presents Love Songs: A Valentine’s Serenade at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia (2125 Chestnut), 7:30PM. Free Lopez: The Lopez, The Dollyrots, and Percocettes at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $8 Jazzy: Ars Nova presents Ben Ratliff, author of the new book “Coltrane: the Story of a Sound,” speaking on jazz history at the Kelly Writers House (3805......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Mercy Blue: Mercy Blue, Somerset Project, Countervision and The Siren Thesis at the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), 8PM. $6 Nouveau Riche: Nouveau Riche, Tu Phace, and Patty Crash at Silk City (435 Spring Garden), 9PM. $5 Exercise Your Rights: Planning and instructional meeting for protesting the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis at LAVA Space (4134 Lancaster), 7PM. Free Organic Chemistry: The Schuylkill Center goes dowtown to celebrate an......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Small Changes: Smells Like Teen Spirit and Building a Broken Mousetrap, two films by Jem Cohen, presented by the Small Changes film screening series at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 7PM. $7 Solstice Film Series 07: Third installment of the Solstice Film Series, a showcase for short independent films, at National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd), 8PM. Free Single Mingle: Perfect Pairings Tasting Event, benefiting Philly PAWS (the Philadelphia......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Puppets!: Doug and Mike’s Adult Entertainment at the Institute of Contemporary Art (118 S. 36th), 6PM. $6 Further Afield—But Worth It: The Best of Black Lily Film and Music Festival 2007 at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (824 W. Lancaster), 7PM. $9.25 It’s Just a Flesh Wound: Fred Is Dead and Joe Jordan’s Experiment at Tritone (1508 South), 10PM. $5 Quizzo Mania: Get your Quizzo on at 12......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: If the Opera’s Not Your Thing: Cyrano de Bergerac with Gerard Depardieu at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute (824 W. Lancaster Ave), 7PM. $9.25 Jeff Kessler: Jeff Kessler, Kyle Herring, and Sarah Marie White at Upstairs at World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut), 7PM. $8 Feel Bad About Your Shoes: Fashion’s Environmental Footprint, a talk about the real cost of cheap clothing by Heather Iwanow at Ruth Auditorium/Nesbitt Hall......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: The Kids Are All Right: High Ball Kids, Black Souls, C of Cortez, The Karma Whores, and Qwirk at the Khyber (56 S. 2nd), 8PM. $8 (21+) Foxy: Foxy Shazaam, Karate High School, Peachcake, and Blue Collar at the Troc Balcony (1003 Arch), 6PM. $10 College Jazz: The Oberlin College Conservatory Jazz Septet at Chris’ Jazz Café (1421 Sansom), 9PM. $8 “Art Is Just a Way to Think”:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Mechanics Karaoke: Karaoke at National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd), 9PM-1AM. Free In Flux: Flux Capacitor at Tritone (1508 South), 10 PM. $5 Which One?: Certain Tragedy, 9 Crown Monarch, and The Siren Thesis at Grape Street (4100 Main St), 8PM. $5 We Used the Glass Houses Joke Before: Marc Silver and The Stonethrowers, mixing Bluegrass, Americana, and Roots Music, at The Fire (412 W. Girard), 9:30PM. $7 Got......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Talking About Dancing: Shen Wei, artistic director of Shen Wei Dance Arts, will appear with Philadelphia artist Sebastienne Mundheim to discuss the creative process in dance and visual arts, sponsored by Dance/USA and the Kimmel Center (260 S. Broad, Rendell Room on the First Tier), 6:30-8PM. Free (You can check out the non-Frugal Shen Wei Dance Arts performance at the Kimmel February 15-17) Further Afield: Jersey Justice, a......

National Mechanics is about to learn what we already know: librarians know how to get down. We are indeed, as the copy notes, “rockstars who can read,” and contrary to popular opinion, we’re not all that quiet or shy. Come see for yourself at Dance Dance Library Revolution: Bibliodiscoteque tomorrow night from 9PM-2AM. The Desk Set will be in town for the ALA conference, and they’re bringing their dancing shoes with them. To join in......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Solstice Film Series 07: Second installment of the Solstice Film Series, a showcase for short independent films, at National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd), 8PM. Free Alex Radus and the Sad Bastards: Alex Radus and the Sad Bastards Upstairs at the World Café (3025 Walnut), 9PM. $8 ($6 cash) Jason Loughlin: Jason Loughlin at Dawson Street Pub (100 Dawson), 10PM. Free Come out and Play: Bobby Zankel and the......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Bring a Flashlight: Winter Nighthike for Adults sponsored by Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, 5:30PM. Call to pre-register and to learn the meeting place (215-482-7300). $7 Solstice Film Series 07: First installment of the Solstice Film Series, a showcase for short independent films, at National Mechanics (22 S. 3rd), 8PM. Free The Campbell Apartment: The Campbell Apartment, Griz, and The Goodnightlights at The Manhattan Room (15 W. Girard),......