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ISSUE . June 4th, 2009

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Biketopia

How to make Philly a cyclist's paradise.

by Isaiah Thompson

Among bike advocates, there's a sense of excitement, of possibility. Plans are being made, visions laid out, funding sought. The question to ask right now isn't whether Philadelphia can be a good bike city — it already is. The question is whether Philadelphia can be a great bike city.

Opinion

Loose Canon:

Compost We Must

Who wants my food waste? Anybody? Anybody?

by Bruce Schimmel

In the matter of composting, Philly lags well behind San Francisco, Boston and even counties in our own backyard.

Editor's Letter:

Amsterdam

The more people bike, the safer it is.

by Brian Howard

"People in cars are promised everything and they get less than ever. Car ads promise you high speed, easy parking spaces, nothing ever in your path. The reality is that in Center City, driving a car is just a stupid thing to do most of the time."

Feedback:

Letters to the Editor

What You Say

"Who writes this crap? Is this supposed to be funny? Witty? Pithy?"

News

Comeback Kidd

The deposed shock jock tries his hand at Internet radio.

by A.D. Amorosi

"Kidd Chris" was flying high with his WYSP-FM morning show. Then, on March 21, 2008, he aired a song called "Schwoogies."

Dispatch:

Eviction Party

One man's mission to get his house back.

by Mike Newall

He'd negotiated the rental agreement from L.A. and had been arguing with the deadbeat tenants over the phone for weeks. Now he would confront them. Figuring a show of force would prevent fireworks, Todd had asked friends to meet him. He promised everybody beer and pizza, and called it an eviction party. All of his friends thought this was a dumb idea.

A Million Stories

A good kind of shooting in West Philly | How can you influence same-sex marriage in PA? | Goodbye, Lincoln High

Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

It's best to catch things you love and people you dig while you can. Things crumble. Folk move on. Like I really meant to watch

The Bell Curve

City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

Arts

First Friday Focus

First Friday Hit List

by Carolyn Huckabay

Theater Review:

Down the Garden Path

REVIEW: Grey Gardens

by David Anthony Fox

Everything about this show clicks, including a smart book by Doug Wright, and music and lyrics by Scott Frankel and Michael Korie that capture an extraordinary range of styles and emotions.

Kaleidoscope

Julianna Holowka | Seth | Adrian Tomine | Iron & Wine | Zach Galifianakis

Arts Picks:

Lucretia Mod

Karen Jesse talks collaborations, Christina Aguilera and corned beef specials.

by David Shengold

Still in her 20s, Curtis-trained singer Karen Jesse is one of America’s most promising dramatic sopranos.

Avenue X

Through June 21, $11-$22.50, 11th Hour Theatre Co. at Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival Theater, 2111 Sansom St., 267-987-9865, 11thhourtheatrecompany.org.

by Mark Cofta

11th Hour Theatre Co. turns the clock back to 1963: Two young men yearn to sing at the legendary Fox Theater — but one's black and the other's white, which spells trouble.

Pennsylvania Ballet

June 5-13, $24-$129, Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., 215-893-1999, paballet.org.

by Deni Kasrel

You likely wouldn't go to the ballet just for the music, but you might make an exception for Pennsylvania Ballet's latest program, featuring Peter Martins' Barber Violin Concerto.

Back on My Feet Benefit

Opening reception Fri., June 5, 6-8:30 p.m., exhibition through July 31, free, Bridgette Mayer Gallery, 709 Walnut St., 215-413-8893, mayerartconsultants.com.

by Lauren F. Friedman

Bridgette Mayer's eponymous gallery — opened when she was just 27 years old — has remained an influential local fixture.

Matthew Palladino and Eric Shaw: New Works

Opening reception Fri., June 5, 7-10 p.m., exhibit through June 25, free, Space 1026, 1026 Arch St., second floor, 215-574-7630, space1026.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

San Francisco's loss will become Philly's gain when painter Matthew Palladino moves here this autumn.

James Frey

Thu., June 4, 6 p.m., free, Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., 215-665-0716, barnesandnoble.com.

by Molly Eichel

In his latest book, 2008's Bright Shiny Morning, Frey constructs a collage of Los Angeles characters — from a runaway couple to an in-the-closet movie star.

Movies

The Hangover

City Paper Grade: B+

by Drew Lazor

The Hangover is sophomoric and preposterous, and will repeatedly offend those with sensitive crass-o-meters. It is also so funny that you will rupture your pancreas laughing.

Repertory Film

Your weekly guide to local film events, festivals and under-the-radar screenings.

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

Music

Bring the Noise

Philadelphia, you've got some decisions to make.

by Patrick Rapa

There's always some kinda big old music thing going on in this city, but the next few days look particularly nuts.

Music Picks:

Robes

Tue., June 9 (and every Tuesday in June), 10 p.m., Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 215-592-8838, myspace.com/phillysilkcity.

by John Vettese

If we were to evaluate Robes solely on melodies and lyrics — which pine over routine personal failures and misspent romantic desire — well, we'd be a lot less impressed. It's not bad, but certainly commonplace.

Amadou and Mariam

Tue., June 9, 8 p.m., $30-$40, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia have traveled a long way from the spare guitar-and-vocals Malian blues they began playing together three decades ago.

Suite Spot:

New Made Old

Vespers is almost preternaturally beautiful.

by Peter Burwasser

It is something of an open secret that Philadelphia is home to one of the finest renaissance ensembles in the world, Piffaro.

Music Picks:

Art Brut

Sat., June 6, 9 p.m., $15, with Cymbals Eat Guitars, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by Michael Pelusi

On their new song "Slap Dash for No Cash," Art Brut take dead aim on the rich bands with their expertly buffed and polished discographies.

Red Heart the Ticker

Fri., June 5, 7 p.m., $7, with Joshua Marcus and Noa Babayof, Green Line Café, 4426 Locust St., 215-222-3431, greenlinecafe.com.

by John Vettese

Majestic highway serenades mix with surreal lullabies for serene lovers, not across tracks, but within them.

Doves

Fri., June 5, 9 p.m., $23.50-$25, with Wild Light, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

by Michael Pelusi

Doves open their fourth album, Kingdom of Rust (Astralwerks), with the most sonically daring track. On "Jetstream" dreamy guitars and intense dance rhythms collide, yielding a tantalizingly unresolved melody.

Food

Liquid History

If not for Prohibition, would we have root liquor instead of root beer?

by Trey Popp

What if Prohibition had stalled? Steven Grasse thinks the drink that's come down to us as root beer might have evolved in a completely different direction — one ending not in sugary soda but something rather stiffer. Local tipplers will soon get the chance to taste his theory. It's an 80-proof organic liqueur called ROOT, and it's debuting in Philadelphia liquor stores this month.

Red Dawn

Red tea espresso makes its way to Philly.

by Drew Lazor

Red tea espresso looks to obliterate the philosophical divide separating caffeine addicts weaning off the legal drug and timid tea drinkers who secretly yearn to hitch a ride on the java train.

What's Cooking

This Week in Eats

by Lauren Fleming

Pinot First Friday Wine Art Opening | Hava NaGrilla Kosher Barbecue Contest and Festival | Noche de Flamenco Café Apamate | Chocoalte Dinner at Zahav

Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

Oyster House | Arch Gourmet | Sweet Ending | Di Bruno Bros.' wine bar

Agenda

Agenda Lead:

Reign of Fire

Philly's won national championships since '92?

by Lauren F. Friedman

Dragon-boat racing, which involves 50 million people worldwide each year, is a bit like crew — except that the boats measure 40 feet long, weigh 850 pounds and are adorned with, well, dragons.

Agenda Picks:

Tibet Fest

Help build greenhouses halfway around the world.

by Sherri Hospedales

"More and more schools wanted greenhouses. And the benefit brunch will hopefully provide us with the money to build it for them."

A View From a Window From the Outside

Music ... from space!

by Adam Scavette

Former NASA satellite engineer Joel Mellin's "process" is pretty intense — he crafts his own music systems, plugs algorithms into them and then plays the resulting tunes on sonar-based instruments.

North Philadelphia Puberty Survivors Support Forum

Puberty sucks.

by Molly Eichel

Connecticut-based artist John O'Donnell will ask participants to share their deepest, darkest, most hilarious story about puberty, whether it's being the last girl to move from training to actual bras or noticing you're the only boy in the locker room still sporting tighty whiteys.

Last Chance

Catch it or Regret It

by Holly Otterbein

Naive American Art | My Dog Speaks | The Edelscheins: A Closer Look

Agenda Picks:

Kelly's Ride

You don't have to be Lance Armstrong to volunteer.

by Niesha Miller

Founded in 2006, Kelly's Ride raises money for disadvantaged girls and young women. The Vogdes family established it in remembrance of their daughter, Kelly Marie, who died in a car accident in 2004.

Day for the Animals

Less celebrated critters get their 24 hours of love.

by Lauren Fleming

Every dog has its day — but what about the cats, rats, horses and caterpillars?