Running Numbers

A scholarly look at the digits that matter.

by Nick Norlen

Philadelphia public schools return to session Sept. 4, but the Running Numbers Absurdly Gifted Pupils Program does its learnin' outside the classroom. Here's your syllabus.

24 Number of hours — starting at 10 p.m. on Sept. 19 — that filmmakers will have to create an original short film during the 2008 Diesel Film Racing Tour. The results will be screened Sept. 23 at International House, 3701 Chestnut St. Registration is $95 and must be completed by Aug. 28 at filmracing.com. Assignment No. 1: Bring the Running Numbers story to the big screen.

$100 Amount of the honorarium that artists will receive if their handcrafted book is selected for the Banned Books Week juried exhibition sponsored by Philadelphia Center for the Book at the Rosenbach Museum & Library from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5. Artists are invited to submit books on themes related to censorship by Sept. 2. Visit philadelphiacenterforthebook.org for details. Assignment No. 2: Tell the controversial history of Running Numbers in graphic novel form.

1776 Name of the musical movie that will be screened on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. — the last showing of the season — at the Independence Living History Center, Third and Chestnut, where attendees will be treated to an interactive experience featuring sing-alongs and props. Tickets available at onceuponanation.tix.com. Midterm: Combine Ben Franklin with Rocky Horror. (Not that it's a stretch.)

$2,000 Amount of cash prize that will be awarded to the winner of the Ed Bacon Foundation's Rebuild/Revive student competition, a contest to develop "fresh design solutions" for the revival of North Philadelphia's Ludlow neighborhood. Registration is due by Sept. 30 at edbacon.org/rebuild. Penultimate project: anything involving bacon.

3,500Dimensions, in square feet, of the workshop at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, 2126 W. Moyamensing Ave., which will again hoost its B.U.I.L.D. Afterschool Program starting Sept. 15, in which Philadelphia teens will spend three afternoons a week learning how to hand-build traditional, full-size wooden boats. Visit woodenboatfactory.org for application forms. Final project: Render the spirit of Running Numbers in boat form.

Hey ... 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.