It's a shame we've yet to have the kind of honest, open discussion about casinos that we have about other issues.

With Brian in charge, City Paper is about to become even more relevant than it has been.

With Barack Obama trouncing her all over, Clinton is running out of excuses for why particular losses don't count or aren't important.

Sticker Sentiments | Curtain Call | She Is Sooooo Not in His Leauge | If That's the Case, We'll Be Right Over

Unable to hold back her tears, Amira Tiban speaks of the recent government-backed attacks in Darfur that killed her uncle and left 200 people dead.

After more than a year of door-knocking and fundraising, Larry Farnese has dropped out of his race for a state House seat.

What's the message today? I can't say — something about light and dark, good and evil? What would good do if evil did not exist? — but gee, these guys sure work hard.

"I never thought I'd own a rodent much less fall in love with one" | "I secretly want to be a martial arts warrior." | "Bernie Mac loosens me right up." | "The writing is powerful and takes you into the heart of an exciting time of change."

Surely some painter would have eventually explored her own body, but Kahlo, the subject of a solo show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, did it so beautifully.

But Menagerie is so much more: funny, tragic and, best of all, sly.

Tolan's script is all arch moments, with nothing to pull them together.

From all three plays, one might conclude that the love of love leads to heartbreak — and that what alleviates love's misery is the chance to laugh at ourselves.

Gaetano Donizetti's 1832 Elixir of Love remains one of opera's miracles.

AVA had the inspired idea to invite Wilma Theater's gifted co-founder Blanka Zizka, a Czech native, to direct her first operatic project

Villanova Theatre's revival keeps the 25-year-old confection by David Shire and Richard Maltby Jr. in the glorious '80s.

Indiana doesn't appear in every one of his short stories, but I bet we're looking at a .750 batting average at least.

Runs Feb. 28-March 1, $12-$15 (free for school groups), Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St., 215-985-0420, phillyyoungplaywrights.org

Opening reception Sat., Feb. 23, 5-9 p.m., exhibit runs through April 6, Art Star, 1030 N. Second St., 215-238-1557, artstarphilly.com

Boom P is the kind of rapper who behaves as if the '90s never ended, and as such will always find a place in the heart of certain critics (i.e. this one).

Adam Arcuragi has always shown a fondness for the old-timey.

A vet of the indie orchestra scene, Clark's approach as a solo artist is a highly deliberate mix of delicate euphony and pure creepiness.

The Austerity Program are my kind of nerds because the full statistical analysis of the components of their songs.

Reinventing the punk wheel is a futile set-up for backfire; making that wheel sturdy and strong is a smarter plan in the long run.

There is a lot of Carter in the air these days, as the great American composer closes in on 100 years of life.

Cosmic Cantina: A 1026 Food Show | WMGK Comfort Food Fest | Dinners Express | How to Taste Wine Like a Pro | Souper Bowl

1 Shrimp Puff | 2 Duck Rolls | 3 Fried Stuffed Bean Curd | 4 Tiger Roll | 5 Crispy Spring Rolls

It's been seven years since k.d. lang has penned an album. Not that we haven't loved hearing her perform the hits of her finest fellow

Sat., Feb. 23, 9 p.m., donations encouraged, Fiume, 229 S. 45th St., 484-222-1231, pedalcoop.org

Sat., Feb. 23, 1-2 p.m., free, Belmont Mansion, 2000 Belmont Mansion Drive, 215-878-8844, belmontmansion.org

Pillow Talk Sun., Feb. 24, 3-6 p.m., free, Philadelphia Home Art Garden (PHAG), 1225 Walnut St., 215-627-0461, thephagshop.com

What: Philadelphia Community Cats Workshop Who: Presented by the Philadelphia Community Cats Council and sponsored by City Kitties and Project M.E.O.W. (Make Every One Wanted)

In short, we've fallen head over pumps for modcloth.com, billed as an online destination for "mod, retro indie clothes" as well as unique vintage finds.

Sun., Feb. 24, 9 a.m., $55 in advance, $75 day of climb, Mellon Bank Center, 1735 Market St., active.com

Walking Fish Theatre Hypnosis Benefit Sat., Feb. 23, 7 p.m., $20, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave., 215-427-WALK, walkingfishtheatre.com