Fun around town, for $10 or less: Damn Near Impossible: Damn Near Impossible with Bring Me Solace & Life In Mind, 8PM at the M Room (15 W. Girard Ave.), $8. Call 215-739-5577 for more information. Stare Syndicate: Stare Syndicate with Paraffin, 12 Horse, Controlled Storms, & Jared Costa, 8PM at the North Star Bar (27th & Poplar sts.), $5. Call 215-787-0488 for more information. Val Emmich: See Val Emmich with Matt Lowell at the......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Holiday Concert: Featuring a heart-warming mix of favorite songs, arias, and Christmas classics, all sung by the big, beautiful voices of the Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company, at the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd (3820 The Oak Road), 7:30PM. $10 Monday Poets Reading Series: Featuring Ann Michael and Daniel R. Collins, at the Skyline Room in the Parkway Central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia (1901......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Ain't No Thing: Harrison Webb Blues Thing at Chris' Jazz Café (1421 Sansom), 5-8PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy! Send it here and share the wealth!......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Jazziest: Book release party for Ben Ratliff's The Jazz Ear featuring critically-acclaimed Philadelphia pianist Orrin Evans, presented by Ars Nova at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 8PM. Free Constantine's Sword: Screening of Constantine's Sword as part of the Jewish Film Festival at the Gershman Y (401 S Broad), 7PM. $10 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Who's Afraid?: As part of the Scribe Video Center's 25th anniversary celebration, screenings of Rouch in Reverse and the Philadelphia premiere of Who's Afraid of Ngugi with director Manthia Diawara at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 6PM. $10 Open Up: Open Mic Extravaganza with 20 up-and-coming performers at Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom), 8-10PM. Free Nice DJ: Von Iva, MC Digga, DJ CB34, and DJ Nattie Ice at......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Never Too Early for Xmas: Screening of Christmas on Mars, directed by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, at National Mechianics (22 S 3rd), 9PM. Free Time for the Recap/Rehash: "2008 to 2012: Where We’ve Been, Where We're Headed," a talk with Democrat Ezra Klein and Republican Reihan Salam about the past and upcoming presidential election (yup, already) at the National Constitution Center (525 Arch), 6:30PM. $9 Blue Monday:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things: The Secrets, offering a look at feminism, sexual awakening and lesbianism in the world of the ultra-orthodox, part of the Jewish Film Festival at the Gershman Y (401 S Broad), 7PM. $10 It’s On: The Comic Vs. Audience comedy show at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 8PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Strings: Sexcop, Sweet Soubrette, and Erin & Her Cello at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 8PM. $10 Home Stretch: History of Philly's stints hosting politicians seen through student filmmakers' eyes at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Griffith Auditorium (600 S 43rd), 7PM. Free Moonstone Poetry Series: Poets Allison Wittenberg and Justin Vitiello, followed by an open mic, at Robin's Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free Got a......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Two Rose, One Not: The Rosewood Thieves, Look Mexico, and Adam Rose & The Gallants at M Room (15 W Girard), 8PM. $8 (21+) Open Up: Up and coming comics at Open Mic Night at Helium (2031 Sansom), 8-10PM. Free You Can See Britain from Robin's: Creative Freedom Writer's Tour, featuring UK authors Tanya Chan-Sam, Khadijah Ibrahiim, Simon Murray, Seni Seneviratne, Rommi Smith, and Jack Mapanje, at Robin’s......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Jazzy: Dan Loomis at Chris' Jazz Café (1421 Sansom), 8PM. $10 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy! Send it here and share the wealth!......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Holiday: Columbus Day readings by Italian-American poets at Robin's Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6-8PM. Free Young'uns: Student recitals at Curtis Institute of Music (1726 Locust), 8PM. Free Ellipsis: Ellipsis with Andy Keenan and Jon Thompson reinterpret Neil Young's Harvest at Tritone (1508 South), 9PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays......

Vladimir Putin is celebrating his birthday today. We wonder if Vladdy can get any privacy these days, what with Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin watching him from afar and all... THE KHYBER PRESENTS: DEATH IN THE PARK AND THE APPRECIATION POST Death in the Park features former members of Hot Rod Circuit and The Appreciation Post supposedly draw their name from the fact that they're a band of bloggers, which we can, well, appreciate.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: New Music Series: Running Red Lights, No Risk, Alice Adventures, Except After Sea, and By Surprise at North Star (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy! Send it......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Writers, Live!: Live at the Writers House, featuring poets Tom Devaney, Randall Couch, Trapeta B. Mayson, Scott Edward Anderson, and Ish Klein and musical guest Hezikiah Jones, hosted by XPN's Michaela Majoun at the Kelly Writers House (3805 Locust Walk), 7-9PM. Free With the Music: Emmett Lindsay Band, Cortez Cortez, iNFiNiEN, and Brackets & Arrows at Tritone (1508 South), 10PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Via bowerbird: Bowerbird presents John Wiese, New Monuments, Morally Gray, and Kudler/Fraser Duo at Circle of Hope (1125 S Broad), 8PM. $10 Classic Reading Series: The Jacob Burns Foundation Classic Reading Series kicks off with the symposium Expressionism in Contemporary Theater at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia (1906 S Rittenhouse), 7PM. $10 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Puppy Puppet!: Festus, the 3-Legged Wonder Dog, part of Philly Fringe, at Projects Gallery (629 N 2nd), 7 & 8:15 PM. $5 Funny Ha Ha: Up-and-coming comics in the Open-Mic Extravaganza at Helium (2031 Sansom), 8-10PM. Free I, Crime: I, Crime, Conversations with Friends, Ghost vs. Sanne, and Kill You In the Face at Millcreek Tavern (4200 Chester Ave), 9PM. $8 Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy!......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Onstage Philadelphia: Philly Fringe Preview Series featuring Brat Productions, Nice People Theatre Company, Philadelphia Dramatists Center, The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, and more at Plays and Players (1714 Delancey Place), 8PM. $10 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Onstage Philadelphia: Philly Fringe Preview Series featuring Brian Sanders/JUNK, Crescent Moon Entertainment Co., Don Montrey & Juliette Pryor (Go Don! And Julie!), Zombies Ain't Shit Theatre Company, and more at Plays and Players (1714 Delancey Place), 8PM. $10 Music Showcase: The beta hi-fi Music Festival featuring David Janes, Grahm Brown, Gillian Grassie, Joshua Park, and Clarity at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 7PM. Free (Different bands every night......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Onstage Philadelphia: Philly Fringe Preview Series featuring Aboveground Theater, IdRatherBeHere, Malleable Dance Theater, and more at Plays and Players (1714 Delancey Place), 8PM. $10 Comedy Show: The Comic vs Audience at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 8PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second),......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Open Up: Open Mic at Wooden Shoe Books (508 S 5th), 7-10PM. Free Hush Up: Outdoor screening of Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 8PM. Free Quiet Down: Intro to Buddhist meditation presented by the Menlha Buddhist Center at the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia (1906 S Rittenhouse Sq), 7-8:30PM. $10 Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy! Send it here and share the......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Doom!: DVD release/screening party for Doomsday at the Troc (1003 Arch), 7:30PM. $3 Good Cheap Comedy: The Comic vs. Audience Comedy Show at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 8PM. $5 (Oops! This event actually takes place next Monday, 8/11. Sorry, folks.) We Heart Iggy: Screening of Iggy and The Stooges—Escaped Maniacs featuring filmed performances from the 2005 Lokerse Festival at the Khyber (52 S 2nd), 8PM. Free Open......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Hop on the Ferry: Sunset Jazz Series presents Spyro Gyra at Wiggins Park (Mickle Street and Riverside Drive, Camden), 8Pm. Free Tuesday Night Raw: Comic Energy hosts the weekly standup and open mic at Tori’s (119 South), 9:30PM. $5 Look Up: Yoga with Kristin Shipler every Tuesday and Thursday at the Unitarian Society of Germantown (6511 Lincoln Dr), 6-7PM. $10 Saint Joan: Weekly free feminist film featuring The......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Metal!: Iron Maiden and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal DVD screening at the Khyber (52 S 2nd), 8PM. Free Yoga in U City: Vinyasa Yoga with Maryte Curran every Monday at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut), 7PM. $10 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Q!: Spiral Q Puppet Theater at Philadelphia City Institute branch of the Free Library (1905 Locust), 6:45PM. Free Breaking Rule One: Movie Monday hosted by Spike presents Fight Club plus some raffle prizes at the Troc (1003 Arch), 6:30PM. $3 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: We Know You Are: Pee Wee’s Big Adventure is better drunk and with raffle prizes at the Troc (1003 Arch), 7:30PM. $3 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy! Send it here......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Unnatural: The Chimeras, Captain of Industry, Busses, and Anti Emz at the Khyber (56 S 2nd), 8PM. $8 If It’s Not Funny, At Least It’s Free: Open Mic Extravaganza featuring 20 up-and-coming comics at Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom), 8PM. Free On the Eve of the Olympics: Film screening and discussion about the relationship between the United States and China with journalist Elisa Rubin at the National Constitution......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Fight!: The Comic Vs. Audience Comedy Show, featuring Joey Dougherty, Josh Bennett, Aaron Hertzog, and Steve Gerben at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 8PM. $5 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal tip? Don't be stingy!......

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......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Further Afield: An Evening with Laurel and Hardy: A Chump at Oxford presented by The Two Tars Tent at Bryn Mawr Film Institute (824 W. Lancaster Ave), 7:30PM. $9.25 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!: Karaoke With DJ Sara Sherr Mondays upstairs at the Khyber (56 S. Second), 9PM - 2 AM. Free (21+) Got a frugal......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: It’s That Time Again: 16th Annual Bloomsday celebration starting at noon in and around the Rosenbach Museum (2008 Delancy). Free We Thought There Were Five: 4 Sides to Every Story, a dramedy set in a Center City psychologists office, at the Shubin Theatre (407 Bainbridge), 7PM. $10 (runs through June 22) Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your Life!:......