City Paper's coverage of the 2008 Pennsylvania presidential primary.

At the end of each call, we pressed "star" and the corresponding number so the computer could tag each response. When one young man yelled "OBAMAAAAA" into the phone, I pressed "star, 4": definitely Obama. When one older woman said, "I wouldn't vote for her in a million years. The Clintons are hussies," I pressed "star, 5": not supporting Hillary or Republican. It was tedious.

I signed up to volunteer under a fake name — back in January, I covered the New Hampshire primary for this newspaper, and any time I flashed my reporter credentials in a campaign office, I was quickly shown the door. I wanted a more honest look at things. A friend said the name I chose, Mike Kelly, made me sound like a detective in a bad cop flick. Whatever.

Obama should be regarded as the preferable candidate. His track record is more assuring, and, at this moment when the country seems prepared to rebuke the Republican party, his ceiling so much higher.

We are well aware of the tightrope we're walking.

by Brian Howard

A lesson for Philadelphia magazine about gay pride and leather bike shorts.

by Natalie Hope McDonald

It's shocking how Rendell is losing his grip on the city.

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

"You can do two haircuts in the time it takes to do one shave, so barbers just kind of stopped," says John Simonton. In a service economy trying to turn American men into metrosexuals with a potent appetite for pampering, that decades-long pause has given the barber shave a new allure.

It's a shame voting for a Dem isn't like VH1's ¡Viva Hollywood! The candidates would slap each other while reliving the "Seven deadly sins of telenovelas" and the loser would have to watch his-or-her own death scene upon elimination.

Thank you, from the bottom of our puppet-making, casino-eliminating and democracy-producing hearts.

God knows Love Park will need a good scrubbing after the pillow carnage.

Back in October nearly every major media outlet believed the 76ers had a chance to be historically bad. ESPN asked 10 of its NBA experts to predict how teams would fare; nine picked the Sixers to finish last in their division, and seven said they would be the worst in the entire Eastern Conference.

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

by Mary F. Patel

"When you implement as many tax cuts as I did ... "

HeartWorks gives back to an LGBTQ health center that saved one artist's life.

by Mary Wilson

Spring Garden Market | SparkPeople.com | Micropedia Great Civilizations | Lindy Hop and blues dancing

Frozen draws from the power of simple, awful facts.

by David Anthony Fox

Rag and Bone stumbles in the dark.

by Mark Cofta

1812 Productions makes it better the second time around.

by Mark Cofta

Tragedy is beauty in Jeanne Ruddy's Breathless.

by Janet Anderson

Though inconsistent, Norma packs a punch.

by David Shengold

Through June 1, $14-$30, Arden Theatre, 40 N. Second St., 215-922-1122, ardentheatre.org.

by David Anthony Fox

Fri.-Sat., April 18-19, 8 p.m., $25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914, paintedbride.org.

by Janet Anderson

Broken Levees: New Orleans | These Ghosts That Haunt Us | Anne Boysen/Jim Condron/Amy Evans

by Nadia Stadnycki

paraphrase/NEXUS

by Shaun Brady

You're Not Afraid of Needles

by Annamarya Scaccia

Galleries are usually open Tuesdays through Saturdays; please call the gallery for exact days and hours. Receptions are denoted with Reception 13 NORTH ART GALLERY

Museums and exhibits have varying schedules;please call for exact days, hours and prices. ABINGTON ART CENTER , 515 Meetinghouse Rd., Jenkintown, 215-887-4882. METAMORPHOSIS, Features work

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information. dance BREAKING POINTE West Chester University Dance Co.'s spring

CAL RIPKEN JR. The former Baltimore Orioles shortstop signs copies of his new book, "Get In the Game: 8 Elements of Perseverance That Make the

Blueberry Nights is Wong Kar-Wai's first movie in a decade to be set in the present day, but it still feels as if it were retrieved from some other time and place.

"My wife has said that my next movie has to be about flowers or fish, something nice. I'm sure it'll be something less dangerous, but hopefully still dealing with a pressing topic."

Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net.

"All the music on the label shares a spirit of sonic inquiry, and often times elements that to my mind are psychedelic, as overused as that term has become. I suppose I'm referring to the altered and intensified sensory perception meaning of that word."

While each of the members have non-traditional approaches to jazz vocals, they're extremely different from one another — hardly fitting for a fivesome meant to blend harmoniously.

J. Edward Keyes on Shuffle

by J. Edward Keyes

Scream Club | Lez Zeppelin | Lou Reed | Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard | The Philadelphia Trio

Thu., April 17, 9 p.m., $9, with the Shirks and the Three 4 Tens, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by James Saul

Sat., April 19, 8 p.m., $30, Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., 412-401-3919, phillyhiphopawards.com.

by Deesha Dyer

Fri. and Sun., April 18 and 20, 2 p.m., $10-$113, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, philorch.org.

by Peter Burwasser

Pearl, a new lounge and restaurant at the corner of 19th and Chestnut streets, casts its lot with class over kitsch, but it also aims to envelop its dinner service in a hip bar scene.

Betty's Speakeasy | Maia | Homemade Goodies by Roz | H.O.M.E. Page Café

Café Coláo is one of those places where you need to be flexible. But if you keep your expectations in check, you'll be satisfied with what you get.

What's On Tapout?

by Drew Lazor

Get Out!

by Dena Merlino

Menopause the Musical closes shop.

by Annamarya Scaccia

British Invasion | Phyl Couture Trunk Show | Mrs. Pleasant Vintage Opening Party | LUSH Poetry Jam

Green Partying

by Danielle Zimmerman

Take It All Back

by Annamarya Scaccia

Rally in the Valley

by Sam Tremble

Pillow Fight Club