To hear John Dougherty tell it, Michael Nutter is a self-aggrandizing opportunist who takes credit for others' accomplishments, plays politics even when it comes to eligion and hypocritically cries for ethics reform despite having no-bid-contract skeletons in his closet. And that's just off the top of his head.

When the 2007 primaries become part of political lore, the Bob Brady vignette will likely center around how he ambled into his Inquirer editorial-board meeting and declared, "I already know you're going to endorse Nutter."

But every candidate is not a perfect fit for every elected office, and there is no way a candidate is going to point out his own flaws.

As the longtime chairman of the city's Democrats, he is the face of the party and, every four years, consistently gets voted back by the 67 ward leaders. But will the party be able to carry him to City Hall?

It is in a similar spirit that we, as a paper, decided to lend our support to a particular mayoral candidate, someone who would (metaphorically) pull on a pair of tights and swing right into the fray.

Every politician will preach about your right to know, promising transparency in government. But from most, they're just words. From Nutter, I learned firsthand that his rhetoric is real.

Rendell cannot run for governor again and perhaps may never again run for any political office. Term limits as mayor of Philadelphia and as governor have forced him to produce and move on within eight years each time.

Why do we need to pay a streets commissioner who blames the public for what she doesn't do? | Have you been to Chicago lately? I love Philly, born and raised here, but unfortunately we don't measure up. | The only reform candidate in the Philadelphia mayoral election is Al Taubenberger.

Charleston, SC, mayor Joseph P. Riley spoke at length about the importance of building public housing that is an architectural match for its surrounding area, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.

Bob Shannon: It was an honor. And it's something that we've been working for, because we're not as recognized as other activities within the city. Knowing that we've finally broken some of the ice — that's a big one.

More than 30 musicians, writers, performers and directors will gather here, ready to form five groups, and each will have five days to whip up a short play powered by rock music and dramatic surprise.

When I was a child, I raised a type of pigeon called a Birmingham roller, which performs aerial stunts.

In 1992, the Institute of Contemporary Art organized "Scatter Art," Karen Kilimnik's first major museum show.

The Life Of Galileo, Through May 13, Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., 215-546-7824

Glengarry Glen Ross, through May 13, Theatre Exile at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American St., 215-922-4462.

Penn Ballet Modern Masters Program, April 25, 8 p.m., Merriam Theater

Manon, April 27, Academy of Vocal Arts, Helen Corning Warden Theater.

In the alternative-rock early '90s, every brainy girl with a Breeders record, a thrift store dress and riot grrrl moxie read Sassy magazine.

Twenty-one years later, the radiation level at Chernobyl is still unsafe and officially, the only residents there are the nuclear plant personnel.

Mon., May 7, 5:30-6:30 p.m., free, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.

he downside of DVD availability is that the titles that don't make it to disc start to seem like bruised fruit. It may gall Robert Altman completists that a few of his features remain unavailable even after last year's post-Oscar clearing of the vaults. But surely they must have gotten to all the good stuff by now, right?

Mstislav Rostropovich might have been the last link to a generation of Russian intellectuals whose aesthetics were forged in the hellish cauldron of Stalinist tyranny and the most devastating war ever endured by a single nation.

The good thing about this Slavic soul party is that — unlike Gogol Bordello's Eugene Hutz and his marble-mouthed mien — you can understand most of what the Brooklyn-based Balkan act is saying.

Romanticism is alive and well in classical music, but it is only one of many stylistic choices today, and no longer an all-engulfing movement.

It's almost embarrassing how much of an embarrassment of riches has tumbled down from the mount of Rick D. in the wake of his passing.

"I think most people think of sushi as a sensory experience that removes them from the hectic modern world," says Issenberg. "My [goal] was to go beyond that."

Sly Fox's Bock Festival and Goat Race | Cinco de Mayo | Beer and Cheese Tasting | Beer vs. Wine Dinner | Philadelphia Food: Past, Present and Future

Bistro 7 chef/owner Michael O'Halloran's spring menu reveals the potential for some unconventional pairings with a California white — the Franciscan Chardonnay Napa Valley 2005 (PLCB No. 16506, $11.99).

1) 1225 RAW Sushi & Sake Lounge 2) Paradigm 3) The Oceanaire Seafood Room 4) National Mechanics Bar and Restaurant 5) POD

You still have four days to take in concerts, seminars, barbecues and parties, parties, parties.

"We are planting honeysuckle, butterfly weed and small plants that will continue to grow throughout the season — all friendly for butterflies, for nectar and for caterpillars."

Not everyone is psyched for the flip-flops and espadrilles of summer.

Maybe you loved the Spider-Man and Fantastic Four film adaptations but don't know Captain Marvel from Captain America.

The New York-based relationship coach aims to spread the word of David Deida, author of the underground sexual-spirituality classic The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work and Sexual Desire.

Yosi and the Superdads| Celebrate Africa! Festival | The Billy B. Show | Summer FunFest | Mummy Day

It's been used to settle disputes of all sizes, from who eats the last piece of cake to which auction house — Sotheby's or Christie's — gets to sell a $20 million art collection (Christie's won with scissors).