Some longtime residents sigh about the neighborhood's glory days being far behind it. But there are others — those who point to the "good bones" of a once-thriving commercial district, the central park with ties to Philadelphia's very foundation, the steady influx of immigrants from all corners of the world — who say the best is yet to come.

Is America ready to cash in on immigrants?

by Brian Howard

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

"This South Street Headhouse District is finally coming around to seeing the need for the street to recapture its artistic flavor. The major landlords know that during the economic meltdown they need to make the street attractive and not have empty stores."

The Icepack of yore said A.C. would never rule as a big spender's mecca. It's in Jersey. Who's spending big bucks to go there?

by Rob Brezsny

Copabanana's Bill Curry talks about how the idea for a free store front South Street got started the first time around.

All I'm saying is I'm over 18 and I have $45 and a dream.

Whether Wright, the Chawlas and Teitelman are guilty depends not just on what they did, but on who they are and what they were thinking.

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

Last week's death of officer John Pawlowski has cued finger-pointing at the criminal justice system for failing to spot a dangerous man like Scrugs. But it's hard to pinpoint where the system failed.

by E. James Beale

by Amy Z. Quinn

by Mike Newall

Stephen Sondheim opens up to the unlikeliest of collaborators.

by Natalie Hope McDonald

Fri., Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Feb. 21, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; $34-$44, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

by Janet Anderson

Pub Theatre Fest @ Fergie's | The Great Lincoln! Memorial Tableaux | Ballets Jazz de Montreal | Turandot | Secret History: The Philadelphia Story

David Harrower's Blackbird

by David Anthony Fox

John Vettese sees what develops

by John Vettese

The Pennsylvania Ballet's "Love & Longing"

by Janet Anderson

Feb. 22-March 18, $18, L'Etage, 624 S. Sixth St., 215-285-0472, idiopathicridiculopathyconsortium.com.

by Mark Cofta

Even the greatest of celluloid treasures can't measure up, spec-wise, to a hi-def episode of CSI: Miami.

The film's pristine black and white — represented in a new print struck by the tiny, discerning outfit The Film Desk — subliminally embodies the certainties Itard attempts to pass on to his unsocialized subject.

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

Aderbat isn't turning away in defeat, and fans can still hear the new music. They handle new material the same way as The Walkmen: Once it's ready, into the setlist it goes, meaning their show at Johnny Brenda's this weekend should be mostly unreleased songs.

"I remember when we showed up in Philly, reviews were like, 'Drunken pirates! Marching bass drums! Lots of crap on stage! Bells strapped to their legs! Group vocals!' which was awesome and fun to be seen as. But honestly, our band has always been better at writing down-tempo, more melancholy stuff. The type of stuff you can listen to with headphones, maybe cry a little bit into your pillow because of it."

Sat., Feb. 21, 7 p.m., $40 ($30 advance), Fleisher Art Memorial, 719 Catharine St., pianoculture.com.

by Shaun Brady

Pomegranates | Hesta Prynn/Folklore | Chris' Guitar Week | Laubrock/Halvorson/Rainey Trio | Vertigo String Quartet

Sun., Feb. 22, 3 p.m., $16, Trinity Center for Urban Life, 2212 Spruce St., 215-735-6999, astralartists.org.

by Peter Burwasser

Sun., Feb. 22, 8 p.m., $5, Gojjo, 4540 Baltimore Ave., scifiphilly.com.

by Shaun Brady

All told, Tiedhouse is not co-opting the gastropub title just to get in on a trend — I believe it genuinely wants to be one, and just hasn't figured out how to do that yet.

My pub loyalties lie on the other side of the Schuylkill, but Local 44's beer service is bound to test them.

Get Out!

by Nikki Volpicelli

Stogie Joe's | Naked Chocolate | Food at Pub Webb | Expansion at The Happy Rooster

Talking dirty with Louis C.K.

by A.D. Amorosi

PBR Crafting Challenge

by Dianca Potts

You Choose to Be Chosen

by K. Ross Hoffman

You Wear Your Art on Your Sleeve

by Dianca Potts

"New York vintage is insanely overpriced. Now that I live here in Philadelphia, I don't want to pay that."

Challenging the Chåtelaine

by Ptah Gabrie

Redcap's Corner

by Lauren F. Friedman