His real name was Warren L. Wiggins, but everybody up in Strawberry Mansion knew him as "Pop the Cop." He was a beat cop when the job didn't end at serving and protecting. They taught the kids that there's more to life than the drug-addled streets of North Philly, and teaching them what it really means to be a man.

"Daddy, why are skyscrapers only downtown?"

by Duane Swierczynski

A response to last week's Slant on the death penalty.

by Andrew E. Mathis

"Put in a bench and they'll just go in and smoke crack."

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

There is something altogether surprising about the pulse one feels from so many people in one place. You might be walking down the street, on your way to buy some yogurt to settle your stomach from all the spicy food, and pass a school where children are singing. You might visit a Jain temple and listen to the rhythmic chants. Or you might just be trying to find your way out of an overcrowded street, squeezed out like toothpaste from no effort of one's own.

"My first concert was Elvis in 1974, and I'd do a duet with his mic stand, so I get Lisa Marie for wanting to do this," says Skip. "But choosing 'In The Ghetto'? Has Lisa Marie ever seen a ghetto? Oy, gevalt."

Topics at the event hosted by the IEEE Council on Superconductivity (badass!) will include, but of course are not limited to, magnets for particle and nuclear physics, fusion magnets, Cryogen-free magnets, natural magnets in the outer space and accelerators for hadronterapy. Not that I can prove it, but I'm pretty sure magnets are magical. Attempt to refute that out loud and listen to how foolish you sound.

After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans cleared all public school teachers and staff from the civic payroll as the city struggled to cope with colossal damage and diaspora. The public school system was restructured and former Philadelphia School District chief Paul Vallas was hired this May to manage the Recovery School District.

There are a few things that Charles Casey always has within reach while sitting in his Port Richmond living room: his five electric and acoustic guitars, his artwork and his dossier on his neighbor, the hazardous waste dump.

Philly congressmen get serious about the war before taking a month off.

by Paul Fain

Obama and Edwards: Beefcakes!

by Mary F. Patel

Cop killer and/or political prisoner Tom Manning paints from behind bars.

by Shaun Brady

The Wire | RajniKanth | Jersey corn | Myartspace.com

Another Old City gallery says so long

by Robin Rice

Philadelphia deserves a crime novelist who'll do her justice

by Char Vandermeer

Sat., Aug. 25, 5 and 7 p.m., starts at top of steps at 24th and Walnut (across from Sweat gym)

by Deni Kasrel

Sat., Aug. 25, noon-midnight

by Kelly White

Opening reception Fri., Aug. 24, 5:30-8 p.m., runs through Sept. 29, Esther M. Klein Art Gallery, University City Science Center, 3600 Market St.

by Patrick Rapa

Harmony | Words | It was easy. It was all new.

Isaac Bushkin

by Tami Fertig

First Person StorySlam

by Carolyn Wyman

Galleries are usually open Tuesdays through Saturdays; please call the gallery for exact days and hours. Receptions are denoted with Reception 222 GALLERY , 222

Museums and exhibits have varying schedules; please callfor exact days, hours and prices. ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES , 19th St. & the Parkway, 215-299-1000. THE

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information. dance FLAMENCO DEL ENCUENTRO This traditional flamenco cuadro led

D. L. WILSON The author reads from his new book, "Unholy Grail," the story of one man on a quest to protect the secrets of

To Annie Sundberg, a documentary is no different than a feature film. It needs a plot, a character arc, a series of twists and revelations.

The comparison is inevitable, so let's put this up front: An Inconvenient Truth is a much better movie than The 11th Hour, but The 11th Hour is a far more important one.

Who showed to see the battle epic being sold as a new take on Arthurian legend?

by Drew Lazor

Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net. THE BALCONY 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, www.thetroc.com. Hairspray (1988, U.S., 92 min.) John Waters' playful paean to the teen-dance

Joe Annaruma never dreamed he'd return to Philly to play only charity gigs. But that's exactly where he and his current band, Man Is Doomed, are at today.

Aug. 12, McCarren Park Pool, Brooklyn, New York

by Jesse Delaney

Leave it to the experimental music community, where sonic perfectionism takes a back seat to the spontaneous manipulation of happy accidents, to embrace the cassette in all of its flawed glory.

Tiny Vipers | taragirl with Burndown Allstars | Pink Reason | The Puppini Sisters | John Spillane

Sat., Aug. 25, 9 p.m., with Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Nicky Click, Red Skate Red and DJ Bunnystyle, Tritone, 1508 South St.

by M.J. Fine

WingDom Fest, Sat., Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. Mandrill/War, Sat. Aug, 25, Mann Music Center, 8 p.m., 5201 Parkside Ave.

by Deni Kasrel

Sat., Aug. 25, 8 p.m., with DJ Caliph-NOW, DJ Primetime, King Magnetic, MAGr, Scanz, hosted by Slim DSM, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.

by Deesha Dyer

To see a cannoli coming out of a once-dormant kitchen is a beautiful thing.

Behind the simple scene set by casually dressed servers and teenage busboys in the dark red dining room, the self-taught cook is blending French and Italian elements into the classic recipe for a Philly BYO.

>> Now Seating: The Coffee House | Dock Street Brewery & Restaurant >> Waiting List: Swallow

Get Out!

by Ciana Hardwick

Butterball

by Monica Weymouth

It's Where We Drink

by Will Dean

Greg Fitzsimmons has some serious baggage.

by Ben Kharakh

Manly Vintage Belt Buckles

by Salihah James

Midwives Gallery Benefit Party

by Sarah Westbrook

Bluebond Arts and Music Festival

by Helen I. Hwang

Laugh-tastic Sketch-o-Palooza

by Monica Weymouth

Celebration of Life

by Deesha Dyer

You're Bloodthirsty

by Molly Dickinson