Riley was singing Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" a cappella around 9 p.m. when Philadelphia Police Officer Greg Wilkinson of the Center City District told him he had to stop. Riley refused to stop singing, noting that the city ordinance governing street musicians lets him sing until 10 p.m. Wilkinson disagreed, and as a crowd began to form around their argument Wilkinson reportedly said, "I create the law in this park."

Bouchelle has had some pain in her life — grew up poor, dad died when she was young, lost mom to alcoholism — but she doesn't ruminate much on such things in her lyrics. Even when her songs are heartsick and broken, Bouchelle lines her words in silver.

Oh yeah, I've gone charcoal.

by Duane Swierczynski

Trust me, you don’t want to be interesting to a physician.

by Bruce Schimmel

Rape isn't as simple as good boy vs. bad guy.

by Amy Jersild

What You Say

When Bee bought Silk City last April — the long-heralded diner and bar (and someday-soon beer garden) he reopened last week — he let Scott Johnston have all the fun doing mosaics. "Man, it was disgusting in here; the pipes, the kitchen," says Bee who pretty much ripped out and put back everything from wires to pipes.

You've kept track of comic Danny Ozark's panty-stirring exploits with NBC 10's Lu Ann Cahn. Danny says he's sorry over his joke gone wrong. He even had to sit and watch Cahn's Ozark investigation with fellow comedians at The Dive where he was roundly humiliated.

1 Selection number of Penn State midfielder Pat Heim — by the Chicago Machine — in the Major League Lacrosse draft earlier this month. If

A year and a half after they started, activists still gather at Senator Arlen Specter's East Falls home to protest the war.

by John Oliver Mason

There was an alarm system in the living room of Fatima Williams' foster home, and her foster mother wouldn't give her the code. On weekend mornings, teenaged Fatima would sit in her room while the woman slept in — she couldn't start her day, even visit the kitchen, for fear of setting off the alarm.

South Philly man finds snake's head inside can of green beans. "That's no snake head," says Green Giant. "Ow ow owww." Plus 10  

Local mobsters say it's wacked to worry whether Tony got whacked.

by Brendan McGarvey and Gabriele J. Valentine

Phillies Shortstop

by Brian Burke

Some crimes shouldn't be forgotten.

by Brian Hickey

State House and Senate members clock long hours to get the budget in on time.

by Mary F. Patel

Ex-CP staffer's new book resets the middle class trap.

by Doron Taussig

The Four of Us | Shakes the Clown | Fever | Popems

Brooklyn's Nick Z. gets real.

by Ashlea Halpern

Shakespeare's power to amaze and the human heart's ability to endure

by Mark Cofta

Clearly BalletX knows its home is the stage.

by Janet Anderson

Tue., June 26, 7 p.m., Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St.

by Ashlea Halpern

Undaunted: Five American Explorers, 1760-2007, June 22, 2007-Dec. 28, 2008, Museum of the American Philosophical Society, Philosophical Hall, 104 S. Fifth St.

by Mickey Jou

Fri., June 22, 10 p.m., with Randy Shine, Arts Garage, 1516 Parrish St., 215-765-2702

by Deesha Dyer

June 22-30, E.O. Bull Center, West Chester University, High St. and Rosedale Ave., West Chester

by Mark Cofta

Antiques of the Future | Anonymous Artist 2.0 | Chris Caccamise and Jonas Wood: Primitives

Inside Presidential Politics with Robert Shrum

by Termeh Mazhari

You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll All Night

by Deesha Dyer

201 GALLERY , 1400 N. American St., Suite 201, 215-236-2872. HEADSHOTS, Features encaustic-on-board work by Jeff Schaller, which is inspired by pictures found on MySpace

ABINGTON ART CENTER , 515 Meetinghouse Rd., Jenkintown, 215-887-4882. THE HANDMAKING, Features 22 works by contemporary artists including Polly Apfelbaum, Jim Isermann, Maria Kalman and

dance RENNIE HARRIS: PUREMOVEMENT This retrospective program is a celebration of Harris' 15-year career, elevating hip-hop to high art. Runs through June 22, $34-$46, Kimmel

ALISON BECHDEL The graphic artist talks about her best-selling graphic novel, "Fun Home," the story of her life in the family funeral business. Tue, June

Given the twin pressures of real-life fidelity and movie-star power, the end result of A Mighty Heart looks like a Michael Winterbottom movie.

Have trouble separating fine art from artistic cinema? Never fear: Over the summer, Tower Gallery is screening films that will allow gallery goers to immerse themselves in film as art.

Angel-A, Luc Besson's latest live-action direct-orial effort, harangues the viewer with its quaintness, wielding its fairy tale Paris as a charming cudgel.

The ambitious new multimedia song cycle called 5 Simple Worlds...and Ways of Getting There will premiere this weekend with an eight-piece band plus two vocalists and three guest soloists

If you were a baby dyke in the mid-'90s, Team Dresch probably saved your life.

The artists who knew and loved Zan Gardner will have a chance to give refined artistic expression — including a bit of open mic — at a memorial this Saturday.

Paula Cole

"City Morning Song"

by Patrick Rapa

Howard Fishman | The Fray | Lebanese Festival | Straylight Run/Sparta | Pay-to-Play Organ Fundraiser | School of Rock Festival

Mon., June 25, 7 p.m., World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St.

by Nicole Pensiero

Thu., June 21, 9 p.m., with El Toro De Oro and Big Business, The North Star, 2639 Poplar St.

by A.D. Amorosi

Thu., June 21, 7 p.m., Avant Gentlemen's Lodge, 4028 Filbert St.

by Shaun Brady

Sat., June 23, 10 p.m., with Under Not Over, Canine 10 and DJs Kit and Glitz, Tritone, 1508 South St.

by John Vettese

There's been a fascinating archaeological discovery in Philadelphia — and it has nothing to do with the dig at Sixth and Market streets.

Restaurant School alums Ashley Maxwell and Sarah Fried are keeping your expectations low so they can ambush you with surprisingly good eats.

>> NOW SEATING: Vidalia Marketplace  >> WAITING LIST: Good Karma Cafe | Andro's  >> LITTLE VITTLES: Jonathan McDonald , head chef at Snackbar

Get Out!

by Jena Williams

Small Wonders

by Termeh Mazhari

It's Where We Drink

by Ted Hesson

Will Durst is not your regular 9-to-5.

by Ben Kharakh

Celtic Fling and Highland Games

by Tami Fertig

Your Catholic School Uniform Is Gathering Dust

by Adam Lipper

Big Fun for Little Ones

by Donny Sheldon

Mew Gallery Fundraiser

by Molly Dickinson

The Fear Date

by Holly Otterbein

Da Bottom United

by Will Dean