Slots-only gambling parlors located in highly populated areas are precisely the model that Foxwoods and SugarHouse casinos hope to replicate here in Philadelphia. If they do, we will be the largest city in the United States to host them. Gov. Ed Rendell and others have portrayed slots as a safe medium. The opposite is true.

"It sucks that I got hit by a car, but it's led to such an outpouring of emotion, I can't even dwell on it."

by Brian Howard

What You Say

by Bruce Schimmel

Philly, in all its tumbling mess of democracy, strife, toil and glory, is the kind of place where the greatest American writer needed to be, to hone his vision, to perfect his craft.

Man, am I scared. Fuck it. Stay classy. Welcome to 2009.

"Do you have night fever?"

"I don't know why this happened. I want justice. I want to know who did it."

by E. James Beale

Civilians are regularly getting caught in the battles between Hamas and the Israeli army. Soldiers on both sides are young kids who would be in college if they were Americans. Babies are dying because they have the bad luck to live next door to Hamas members. The scene, no matter how you look at it, is bad.

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

Joanna Quigley forgoes technology in favor of something more tangible.

by Aaron Moselle

Pig Iron In-hog-ural Ball | Da Vinci Art Alliance | One Book, One Philadelphia Kickoff | Lar Lubovitch Dance Co. | Orange Flower Water

Sabine Friesicke's "Gold" and Simon Frost's "Oculus" at Gallery Joe

by Lori Hill

Robin Rice on Visual Art: The Spirit of the Figure: Four Views at Snyderman Gallery

by Robin Rice

Randy's time is wearing down, along with his body — which he keeps toned, tanned and topped by a signature, now thinning, blond mane. Still, he resists the end of his story, encouraged by his friends in the business, low-rent as they are, to look ahead.

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

When it comes to crystal-balling 2009's music, this year should be more of an epoch than '08 if my instincts are right.

Franz Nicolay | Electric Tickle Machine | Ryan Banks & Friends | Composer Portrait: Julius Hemphill | North Lawrence Midnight Singers

Tracy Chapman

Fri., Jan. 9, 9:30 p.m., $10, with Gildon Works and Jotto, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

by M.J. Fine

Fri., Jan. 9, 10:30 p.m., $10, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0978, tinangel.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

Thu., Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m., $16-$24, with The Fractals and The Spinning Leaves, World Cafe Livé, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Patrick Rapa

TCNF's dishes have the depth of flavor to allow it to stand tall among its peers. All it has to do is recalibrate its barometer as to how much spice we can take.

Golden-hued bread is packed to the bursting point with the North African equivalent of a Southern meat-and-three plate. Hot fillings range from stew-tender lamb to perfectly spiced meatballs and come with a trio of veggies — green beans, zucchini, carrots, splendid stewed white beans and half a dozen other options.

Get Out!

Crêpe Maker | Closings: Brasserie Perrier, Raindrop Café, Azul Cantina | Lunch at Mémé, liquor license at Joe's Peking Duck Original 1984, Primo Hoagies in Wayne, free wine at Du Jour Symphony House

American Idol Ruben Studdard gets rowdy.

by A.D. Amorosi

Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival

by Dianca Potts

George McGovern on Abraham Lincoln

by Shaun Brady

Mutter Museum 150th Birthday Celebration

by Alli Katz

Safe Clothing Online Sale | Nicole Miller Semiannual Sale | Duross & Langel Sunday School | Winter Wonderland Sale at Bus Stop