Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

4 Number of hours teams will have to collect items in the city May 19 during the Singles Urban Scavenger Hunt, sponsored by singles club Meet Market Adventures. Register at www.meetmarketadventures.com. Note to participants: Pickup lines won't help when trying to pick up scavenger hunt items. Or ever.

5 Number of nominees to be elected to three-year terms on the Philadelphia Folksong Society Board of Directors May 20 at the monthly meeting and concert. Absentee Ballots received by 5 p.m. May 18 will also be counted. Visit www.pfs.org for details. Don't forget: writing in the names of losing mayoral candidates is a perfect consolation.

31% Fare hike proposed by SEPTA in the event the state doesn't fill its funding gap before July 1. The SEPTA board will vote on an operating budget of approximately $1 billion � and possible fare increases, service cuts and layoffs � May 24. I say fare hikes should equate to a fair amount of hiking. Buy some new walking shoes, Philly � it's boycott time!

40 Approximate number of pieces of art that will be displayed in Philadelphia this fall for The Red Bull Art of Can contest � in which participants are asked to create artwork using Red Bull cans. Register at www.redbullartofcanusa.com by June 13 for a chance to have your work displayed at F.U.E.L. gallery from Oct. 19 to Nov. 2. SEPTA should run the same contest, except with the scrap metal from its trains and buses after it runs itself into the ground.

76 Number of the current issue of Painted Bride Quarterly literary magazine, which will hold its Second Annual Fundraising Party, an evening of literature and music, at World Café Live May 17 at 7:30 p.m. Regular tickets are $15, and passes for an intimate cocktail party before the show with authors and performers are $50 and include open bar, appetizers, a gift bag and VIP seats for the show. Both are available at www.worldcafelive.com. One can only hope that VIP seats means David Dye won't be there stammering half-questions in your ear.

Can I get your digits? I want to hear about the numerals you need to see. Let a number runner know at runningnumbers@gmail.com.