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......

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,......

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......

You know it's bad when the dry cleaning lady gives you a disapproving look and tells you she can't guarantee success on the first try. REAL PIRATES AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE Well, sort of. Their historically significant stories and wares are on display over at the Franklin Institute. The exhibit specifically features artifacts from the Whydah, including a full-size replica of the ship. The show runs until 8pm tonight, so you'll have time to head......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Are You Experienced?: The Erotic Literary Salon invites you to share your original or favorite erotica at L’Etage (624 S 6th), 8:30. $10 (registration required: 215-840-5830) They’re Bi: Bipolaroid at Tritone (1508 South), 10PM. $5 New Music Tuesdays: The Hot Spots, The Blahs, Stone Thrown, 3 Js in the AM, and Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies at North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 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!:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Bordellos Are Good: Opening reception for “Peep Show,” featuring work from five interdisciplinary artists examining eroticism, set in a space resembling a 19th-century bordello at Airspace (4013 Chestnut), 6-10PM. Free Firk It: Get to the only Friday the Firkinteenth of 2008, featuring 13 or more firkins of cask conditioned ale, at the Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford), 12PM- when the firkins run out. Free + cost of......

Happy Portugal Day! ANDRE DUBUS III: THE GARDEN OF LAST DAYS We had to list this reading/signing because we had heard on NPR that the novel is about "terrorists and strippers." The author himself is most notable for coming down with a severe case of fame after Oprah implored her minions to read The House of Sand and Fog and they did so, in rabid droves. According to the Library's web site, a group of......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Poems, Then Open Mic: Poet Kyle Kwhy Myers reads from his collection Born by a River, followed by an open mic, at the Plays and Players Club (1714 Delancey), 7PM. $3 Good Ole Retribution: The Retribution Choir, Bear in Heaven, and Voodoo Economics at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $8 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+) Sing Your......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Outdoor Music: Friday Night Summer Jazz Concerts every Friday in Cedar Park (50th and Baltimore), 6-8PM. Free The N Crowd: Improv comedy troupe the N Crowd perform at the Actors Center (257 N 3rd), 8PM. $10 Brakes CD Release Party: XPN welcomes The Brakes with Ben Arnold and Carney at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 N Frankford), 8PM. $10 SATURDAY The Kids Are All Right: Paul Green School of......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: What It Is: Cartoonist and author Lynda Barry presents her new book What It Is, exploring channels of creativity, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Wide Open: Grand Opening of Walking Fish Theater with ribbon cutting and reception at the Theater (2509 Frankford), 5PM. Free Chill Out: Buddhist meditation classes at Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Sq), 7-8:30PM. Free Martyrdom: Last Martyr......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Medicine and Rats: Authors William Frankl and Harris Cohen read from their respective works The Merger and Rat Tales and Other Stories (the latter set in West Philly) at Robin’s Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free Folky: The Fairmount Park Commission sponsors a folk dancing session with instruction (no experience or partners needed) every Tuesday on the Art Museum Steps (26th and the Parkway), 8-10:30PM. $3 White Rabbits:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Play and Food: Reading of Jimi Cook’s “Hey Champ,” about a professional boxer and love, at Abbraccio (820 S 47th), 7:30PM. Free Johnny Miles: Johnny Miles at the Dawson Street Pub (100 Dawson), 10PM. $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......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY We Heart Toy Theater: Adaptation to aforementioned toy theater of Howard Zinn’s Emma at the DaVinci Art Alliance (704 Catherine), 7PM. Free (donations accepted) The Wimyn: Wimyn’s Original Rock Festival featuring Phyllis Chappell, Cris Valkeria, Kate Foust, Nicola Visaggio, Urbana, and more at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut), 8PM. $10 The Last: Last Friday at the Philadelphia Art Alliance featuring local artists Katie Ford and John Conahan at......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Jazzy: The Summer Heritage Jazz Series kicks off with Glen Bryan at Malcolm X Park (52nd and Pine), 7PM. Free Temptation: Drexel’s lit magazine Painted Bride Quarterly celebrates the release of its Temptation issue in the Sanctuary at the First Unitarian Church (2125 Chestnut), 7PM. $10 Drexel Again: Catalyst, a dance showcase featuring seven student choreographers and others at the Mandell Theater (33rd and Chestnut), 8PM. $8 Eggs!:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: They Mean Nexus: Monthly series paraphrase/NEXUS presents violinist Katt Hernandez, dancers/choreographers Michele Tantoco and Liza Clark, and visual artists Rebecca Gilbert and Virginia Batson at the Nexus Gallery (1400 N American), 8PM. Free Grind For Life: 4 Skateboarders, a show that features four skateboarders and a band, raises money for Grind For Life, an organization that raises money for uninsured skateboarders, at the M-Room (15 W Girard), 7PM.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Bring a Shovel: James Frey of A Million Little Pieces fame speaks about his “first” novel at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Slamming: First Person Story Slams: Secrets at the Gershman Y (401 S Broad), 7PM. $10 Spades: The Spades, Sunday’s Murder, Gene Micofsky, Drop Anchor, and Dinner and a Suit at North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 Got a frugal......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Filthy Liberals: Washington Post political correspondent and NPR commentator E.J. Dionne, Jr. reads from his new book Souled Out, on the history and present of liberalism in America, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Om: Buddhist guided meditation class at the Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Sq), 7PM. Free Get on the Train: Whiskeytrain, Enter the Rooms, Kill the Alarm, and Mercy......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Are You Experienced?: The new Erotic Literary Salon invites you to share your original or favorite erotica at L’Etage (624 S 6th), 8:30. $10 (registration required: 215-840-5830) The Griefs: The Griefs, Dark Horse & the Carousels, and Love City at Tritone (1508 South), 10PM. $5 Ewww: Ingrowing, Squash Bowels, Nueropraxia, Inhuman Dissilency, Defleshuary, and Psytoxia at the Khyber (56 S 2nd), 8PM. $10 Got a frugal tip? Don't......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Readings in Restaurants: Free reading of the play Three Precious Rings by Walt Vail at Abbraccio Restaurant (820 S 47th), 7:30PM. Free More Plays: Shakespeare in Clark Park presents a reading of Any Other Name by George Brant at the Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S 18th), 7PM. Free And Free Music: The Monday Night Club featuring The Armchairs at the Balcony at the Troc (1003 Arch), 10PM. Free......

Sure, one of the great pleasures in the world is curling up alone with a good book, but sometimes voracious readers need to leave the house and hear the authors of their favorite books bring their stories to life in person. At the Philadelphia Book Festival this weekend, held in the blocks surrounding the Free Library Main Branch, you have this chance with over 60 authors reading on six different stages this Saturday and Sunday.......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Sounds Like Diplomacy in Our Office: Author Gregory Levey reads from his memoir Shut Up, I'm Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government, detailing his time as a speechwriter for the Israeli delegation to the U.N. and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, at Robin’s Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free MadDragon Showcase: Love Like Pi, Univox, Greyhound, and Except After Sea at Upstairs at World......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: We’re Really Not Sure: Tyler grad and art world phenom Trenton Doyle Hancock talks about mounds and vegans at the Institute for Contemporary Art (118 S 36th), 7PM. $6 First Person Salon: First Person Arts hosts another Salon at the Gershman Y (401 South Broad), featuring photographer Christopher Paquette, poet Tamesha Hawkins, Performer Martha Kemper, and musician Matt Davis and his band Aerial Photograph, 7-9PM. $5 Revolting: Colour......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Robert On Robbery: Drexel prof and author Robert Zaller discusses his latest book Theft of the Century: Who's Trying to Steal the Barnes, and Why It Won't Work at Robin’s Bookstore (108 S 13th), 6PM. Free Knitty: Knitting circle every Wednesday at Vagabond (37 N 3rd), 6-8PM. Free Spinny: The Spinning Leaves, Birdie Busch, and Cowmuddy at Upstairs at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 8PM. $9 Quizzo Mania:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: The English Patient Guy: Author Michael Ondaatje discusses his latest novel, Divisadero, at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Yuck It Up: Helium Comedy Club (2031 Sansom) presents twenty up and coming comics at 8PM. Free New Music Tuesdays: Young Gene Buffalo, Goodbye Etc, Beyond The Black, and Bushbomb at the North Star Bar (2639 Poplar), 8PM. $5 Local Shots Live: WMMR and......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: The Mogul: Author Rich Westcott signs copies of his book The Mogul, chronicling the life and work of Eddie Gottlieb of Philadelphia Warriors fame at the Central Branch of the Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Warm Up: Center City Residents' Association present their Chili Challenge, part community potluck and part chili cook-off, featuring beer from the Philadelphia Brewing Company, at the Philadelphia Ethical Society (1906 Rittenhouse Sq),......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: New Play Reading: Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company stages a reading of company member Paul Parente’s Rage of Achilles at the Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S 18th), 7PM. Free If You Didn’t Get Enough Baseball This Weekend:The National Constitution Center presents baseball historians discussing the place of the game in American culture at the Kirby Auditorium (525 Arch), 6:30PM. Free Digital Leather: Digital Leather, Faux Slang, El Diablos Blancos,......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Zodiac at the Library: Poet and performance artist Jaamil Olawale Kosoko will read from his new poetry collection Ninth Sign of Zodiac at the Central Branch of the Free Library, Skyline Room (1901 Vine, 4th Floor), 7PM. Free (RSVP for light refreshments) Yoga at the Library: Yoga for Teens and Adults at the Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. branch of the Free Library (1935 Shunk), 5PM. Free Get Oral:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Center City District Gallery Night: Special exhibitions and complimentary cocktail receptions at participating galleries, 5-8:30PM. Free Not a Crock, Nor a Croc: Local poet Peter Krok reads and signs copies of his new collection Looking for an Eye at the Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford), 6-8PM. Free The Terror!: Welcome to the Terrordome, a night of local comedy featuring Animosity Pierre, Meg and Rob, and Secret Pants......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Food!: Author Sara Roahen reads from her new book Gumbo Takes: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table at Café Nola (414 S 2nd), 7PM. Free Water!: "The Ocean and Earth’s Climate," a panel discussion on the history and likely future of the oceans, at the Franklin Institute (222 N 20th), 7-9PM. Free Haters!: Independent Television Service Community Cinema presents A Dream in Doubt, a documentary of......