ISSUE .
January 15th, 2009 other issues :
Second Season Arts Preview by Carolyn Huckabay
Notes to SelfAnthony Campuzano deals with mortality and memory in bits and pieces.
by John VetteseSome pieces in Campuzano's "Touch Sensitive" are the product of a forward-looking
artist experimenting with scale and presentation in a way previously
unseen in his work. Others are based on sketchbook designs and mementos
he collected over the years, ideas that have finally reached critical
mass.
Flash ForwardBucks band Illinois unleashes a digital divide-and-conquer strategy (and flirts with Catastrophe).
by John VetteseThe Bucks County folky fuzz rockers are putting out their current release, The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe,
in stages. Fans buy the flash drive at one show, remember to bring it
back a month later, and fill it up with more music from either the
merch stand or the band. Commence difficulty.
Erin Go Broadway?Philly's new Irish theater strives for serious amid leprechauns and dancing lords.
by Mark Cofta"This show was produced without the use of any shamrocks, green beer or blarney stones," reads a Skin Deep program note. "No leprechauns or 'lords of the dance' were harmed in the making of this production."
Theater by David Anthony Fox
Dance by Janet Anderson
Opera/Classical by Peter Burwasser
Rock/Pop by Jakob Dorof
Jazz by Shaun Brady
Roots by Mary Armstrong
Visual Art by Robin Rice

Editor's Letter:
Loose Canon:
Can We Tawk?To see Jew screaming at Jew is as embarrassing as any family feud.
by Bruce SchimmelThere were Jews at Love Park who were not supportive of Israel's actions. These protesters, pushed to the perimeter by a cordon of
police, held handmade signs that read, "Stop the attacks on Gaza,"
"Philly Jews: Not in my name" and "We didn't survive genocide to commit
another."
Feedback:
Letters to the EditorWhat You Say
"A lot of us don't seem to be all that interested in all the facts and
the big picture, preferring instead the pretty lies of the industry and
many politicians. Thanks for laying it out plain."
Game TheoryIn Northeast Philly, the U.S. Army is waging a war for our hearts and minds.
by Daniel DenvirHordes of young men race toward the three rows of Xboxes, playing tournament games of Halo, America's Army and Madden,
as well as to the Apache and Black Hawk attack helicopter and Humvee
combat simulators. Smiling recruiters chat with the gamers and provide
a running commentary on the tournaments. One tall, muscular man with a booming voice speaks into a
wireless microphone, eerily projecting his encouragement over an
invisible speaker system.
IcepackAmorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. AmorosiNo green vegetable dye (wimps) and nothing spray-on. Shout Hallelujah and come get hairy.
Running NumbersA scholarly look at the digits that matter.
by Nick NorlenThe Running Numbers Pet Peeve and Petty Complaint Department airs its grievances.
Game ChangerThe library battle could accidentally transform Philly's government.
by Isaiah ThompsonIn early 2005, when then-mayor John Street tried to save money by
slashing funding for branch libraries, it was then-City Councilman,
now-Mayor Michael Nutter who led the charge to stop him.

Sports:
A Front-runner's Guide to the NFC Championship Game by E. James BealeSo you all but forgot the Eagles existed these last couple of months. Maybe you were really busy; maybe you gave up on them. That's OK — your decision has saved you plenty of confusion and heartbreak.

Dispatch:
Sustainable Claire by Mike NewallClaire does not always tell people about her program, since people's
eyes tend to glaze over when you start talking about sustainability.
But this was a doctor.

Citizen Mom:
Pull It Off Your Bumper, BabyWhere are you going to be when Barack Obama takes the oath of office? Supposedly, it'll be one of those moments our grandkids are going to ask about, so it might be worth taking a second to consider how you'll mark the occasion.

The Bell CurveCity Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter
When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.
Revolutionary RogueBenicio Del Toro and Steven Soderbergh take on the epic life of Ernesto "Che" Guevara.
by Cindy FuchsIn an abstract sense, the film is about this dissemination, the saga of
Che refashioned. Each half of the film is based on a book by Guevara,
but neither takes a single perspective or tells one story. Taken apart,
the halves suggest a conventional narrative split (say, rise and fall,
promise and failure), but together they form a beguiling sort of
disorder.
Guerrilla FilmmakingDirector Steven Soderbergh talks Che.
by Sam AdamsSoderbergh has described himself as something of a fiend for pacing. But after
the massive success of Dark Knight, he
says the conventional wisdom that audiences won't see long movies no
longer holds true. Besides, he points out, "We told the story of the
Cuban revolution in less time than it took to tell Sex and the City."
Temper, TemperProhibition Taproom brings great food and drink to an under-the-radar neighborhood.
by David SnyderOutside, the arrow in Prohibition's towering, neon-red one-word sign
("BAR") points locals
to a rotating selection of eight U.S. brews on tap (with another on
hand pump) and 50 international bottles. But is this blazing beacon
bright enough to draw a citywide crowd? Yes — much of the food deserves a neon sign, too.
Faux What It's WorthBig changes are afoot at popular vegan restaurant New Harmony.
by James SaulTwo weeks ago, owner Ming Chu
upgraded the menu, adding items like vegetable tempura, peanut beef and
a vegan-friendly deep-fried cheesecake. New Harmony is also turning its
basement into a VIP room, complete with big-screen TV and 10,000-song
karaoke selection.
Top 5:
Top 5 Chinatown Bakery Eats for Under $1The Cent-urion
by Isaiah Thompson1 Fried Happy Ball (70 cents) | 2 Swiss Roll (65 cents) | 3 Fried Taro Dumpling (70 cents) | 4 Vegetarian Egg Roll (75 cents) | 5 Cornet Sponge Cake (75 cents)
Feeding FrenzyRestaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor943 | BREW | Chipotle | Marty Grims and Judy Wicks team up | Swallow Bistro reopens | Dinner at Teri's restaurant
What's Cooking:
The Week In EatsGet Out!
by Nikki VolpicelliFree Burritos at Chipotle | Chima Inauguration Special | Philadelphia Brewing Co. at Earth Bread + Brewery | Caribou Café Brews & Crus | Oceanaire Seafood Room Five-Course Wine Dinner

Agenda Lead:
Holy HoaxSex, lies and videotape with installation artist Virgil Wong.
by Jakob Dorof"It's all connected. Just one big experiment of looking at and communicating with the world."
Agenda Picks:
Just Do ItMLK Day of Service
by Dianca PottsNeighborhood Bike Works Shape Up the Shop | Guadenzia Centro Primavera Read-a-Thon | Outward Bound Fairmount Park Cleanup | Unitarian Society of Germantown Bowl-Making | ACORN Fights Foreclosure
Just Do ItFixed Gear Conversion Class
by Dianca PottsFri., Jan. 16 and 23, $100, reservations required, Neighborhood Bike Works, 3916 Locust Walk, 215-386-0316,
neighborhoodbikeworks.org Just Do ItSpeaking Radically
In The Event That...You Don't Think Musical Theater is Gay Enough
by Gary M. KramerThe Keith, Melissa and Tom Show! | Fri., Jan. 16, 7 and 9 p.m., $15, William Way Center, 1315 Spruce St., 215-847-2820,
tomwilsonweinberg.com