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ISSUE . July 23rd, 2009
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Cover Story


Gimme What You Got
Brash and ballsy MC Amanda Blank is here to take what's hers.
by A.D. Amorosi
Bonus Web Content
The spotlight's been on the cocky-voiced MC — not just because she's a lovely, animated girl whose long-worn torn-T glamour punk look has inspired knockoffs across Philly's dancefloors. Rather because with equal connection to Philly's electronic music and hip-hop worlds, Blank is an anomaly: Laurie Anderson with a dirty mouth and better dance steps, Karen Finley without the yams.

Songs from the Sixth Borough
Talking with Downtown Records boss Josh Deutsch about his label's love affair with the sound of Philly.
by A.D. Amorosi
"I've been in Philly a lot since I crossed into the dark side of the record industry 19 years ago. I've long enjoyed your landscape. We have a strong Philly presence because of that."


Opinion


Editor's Letter:
Playing Footie
by Brian Howard
Last week's cover story was not a hit piece on a soccer team, developers or even Chester (some readers felt we were singling out the city for being gullible). This was an examination of a process.

Loose Canon:
Green ... with Envy
Beaten by Vegas? We wuz robbed.
by Bruce Schimmel
Other cities are collecting kudos, and not just from NRDC — which could translate into more green from Washington for them, and less for us.

Feedback:
Letters to the Editor
What You Say
"I question your agenda when I read a story like this."


News


News :: The CulpritThe Culprit
Bet you didn't realize who's responsible for all the bad stuff that's been happening lately.
by Morgan Davis
Almost two months after its launch, more than 9,000 people have tweeted on blamedrewscancer.com. Lance Armstrong blamed Olanoff's cancer for his recent shoulder injury. ("That was weird," laughs Olanoff.)

Sports:
Get Roy or Die Trying
What's it going to take to get Doc Halladay on our side?
by E. James Beale
I'm not here to convince you that the Phillies should trade for Roy Halladay. That part should be obvious. I'm here to let you know they will.

Icepack
Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
"I want my celebrity friends to come here, not for the social factor, but to help make a change, to make differences in kids' lives and to galvanize a community."

A Million Stories
Our new Director of Sustainability | Introducing the Mighty Writers |  The elephant in Nutter's room

The Bell Curve
City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter
When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.


Arts


Arts :: Death Becomes Her
Full Exposure:
Death Becomes Her
John Vettese sees what develops
by John Vettese
Bonus Web Content
The book seems like it could easily be misread as twisted or offensive. In staging shots, especially the more graphic scenarios, Cassidy said the group tried to be aware of the reality of suicide and violence as societal concerns. But he also didn't see any reason to self-censor.

Arts Picks:
Chris Hedges
Tue., Jul. 28, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.
by Shaun Brady
There's no mistaking whose lead Hedges follows, as he bemoans the dumbing-down of America via reality TV, gonzo porn and irrelevant intellectual-speak.

Kaleidoscope
The State | Technicolor Hell | Lauren Graham | Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters

Arts Picks:
Shakespeare in Clark Park
Wed., July 29-Sun., Aug. 2, 7 p.m., free, Clark Park, 43rd Street and Baltimore Avenue, 215-462-2115, shakespeareinclarkpark.org.
by Molly Eichel
To tell the story of identical twins separated at birth, Torra introduces a new vocabulary of heightened, cartoony reality influenced by mambo and bossa nova.

Into the Open
Through Sept. 7, free with $12 admission, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6700, constitutioncenter.org; free, Slought Foundation, 4017 Walnut St., 215-701-4627, slought.org; intotheopen.org.
by Brion Shreffler
While social responsibility and informed design are championed through "Into the Open," so is an understanding of the complex socioeconomic issues that make some of these projects necessary.

Art of the Gecko
Sat., July 25-Mon., Sept. 7, free with $12 admission, Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000, ansp.org/artofthegecko.
by Kristen Humbert
Geckos aren't formidable creatures, but they are beautiful, and the Academy of Natural Sciences is giving them some much-deserved due.

Remembering Arthur Lipsett
Fri.-Sat., July 24-25, 7 p.m., $7, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, ihousephilly.org.
by Shaun Brady
Lipsett's damning collages are dizzying condemnations of a rapacious species at play while civilization collapses around them.


Movies


Movies :: (500) Days of Summer(500) Days of Summer
City Paper Grade: B+
by Sam Adams
Unlike Napoleon Dynamite or Juno, (500) Days of Summer hurts.

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


Music :: Fox ConfessionsFox Confessions
A three-song Neko Case study.
by Patrick Rapa
Bonus Web Content
"Star Witness" | "This Tornado Loves You" | "Letter from an Occupant"

Music Picks:
Amanda Diva
Wed., July 29, 9 p.m., $8, with Hezekiah, Muja Messiah and 8thW1, Silk City, 435 Spring Garden St., 215-592-8838, silkcityphilly.com.
by Holly Otterbein
Her lyrics are cool as a cucumber, socially insightful and funny. So you best not call her a diva.

Reconsider Me:
Fresh Hell
Rancid's ...And Out Comes the Wolves vs. Let the Dominoes Fall
by M.J. Fine
If you can stand native Californian Tim Armstrong's British-Jamaican accent and Matt Freeman's slurred growl, you've got to appreciate the fortysomethings' energy as they plow through songs about plugging away, whether you work at a warehouse, in a tank or onstage.

Music Picks:
Jazzheads
Fri.-Sat., July 24-25, 8 and 10 p.m., $15 (Fri.), $20 (Sat.), Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.
by Shaun Brady
The pics on the inside of the Avant Wot Not sleeve may feel something like yearbook photos, but the four members of Jazzheads weren't in quite as nascent a state as that would imply.

The Photon Band/The Capitol Years/Robes
Fri., July 24, 9 p.m., $10, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.
by John Vettese
If you're any kind of Philly music fan, you will be at this show.

Zee Avi
Thu., July 23, 7:30 p.m., $10, First Unitarian Church Chapel, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by Holly Otterbein
You will hear Zee Avi's self-titled debut album in a coffee shop this summer, but that doesn't mean it's completely unsexy or free of quirks.

Malajube
Thu., July 23, 9 p.m., $8, with Remote Islands and XYZ Affair, The M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577, themanhattanroom.com.
by John Vettese
On Trompe-l'œil, Malajube wore pop like a badge of honor.

The Armchairs
Thu., July 23, 8 p.m., $8, with Oso and The Tamboureens, Milkboy Coffee, 2 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, 610-645-5269, milkboycoffee.com.
by John Vettese
When South Philly newcomers The Armchairs sent us their organ-led demo this past winter, we were intrigued.


Food


Food :: Eiffel PowerEiffel Power
Bibou is the best French bistro in a city teeming with them.
by David Snyder
The intense juxtaposition of earth and sea elicited an emotional reaction so acute I had to pretend my allergies were acting up to avoid embarrassment.

The Bush Doctrine
Mango Bush
by Trey Popp
Rainford's jerk chicken is aromatic with allspice, and has a heat that builds up into a haunting presence rather than smacking you into a sweat at first bite.

What's Cooking
Get Out!
by Lauren Fleming
ROOT Cocktail Competition at silk city | Weeping Phoebe's Debutante Ball at chick's café | Slow Food Dinner at Kanella | Summer Ale Festival at the philadelphia zoo | University City Dining Days

Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Sonata | P.Y.T. | Good Food Market | The Cupcake Truck | Tastee D's


Agenda


Agenda :: Blank Slate
Agenda Lead:
Blank Slate
Two local filmmakers focus on prisoners working for the Mural Arts Program.
by Molly Eichel
Bonus Web Content
Their purpose was to document the prisoners' creation of a mural — from idea to completion — about issues surrounding both criminality and victimhood.

Agenda Picks:
Reshaping The City
Wed., July 29, 5 p.m. reception, $15-$20; 6:30-8 p.m. panel discussion, free; Academy of Natural Sciences, 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-299-1000, ansp.org, americancity.org.
by Holly Otterbein
Harris Steinberg, along with urban thinkers from around the country and world, will meet next week at PennPraxis' headquarters to discuss creating a rail line around Philly.

Shopping Spree
Fashion > Forward
by Felicia D'Ambrosio
Urban Outfitters' Build-Your-Own-Bike S hop | Sneaker Pimps Tour | Philly Makes! Blog | Uhuru Flea Market

Agenda Picks:
Pop's Playground
Grand opening Sat., July 25, 3-5 p.m., free, Pop's Playground, Huntingdon Street and Trenton Avenue, popsplayground.org.
by Kristen Humbert
North Philly residents were eager to transform the space into a skate park because it was once a run-down rec center, known for attracting drug dealers and littered with graffiti. Come this Saturday, though, it'll be a mixed-use skaters' haven.

Handmade Market
Sat., July 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (rain date: Sun., July 26), free, Memphis Taproom, 2331 E. Cumberland St., 215-425-4460, memphistaproom.com.
by Chelsea Calhoun
Memphis Taproom is hosting its first-ever Handmade Market, where more than 50 local artists will hawk their wares.

Dragon Gate USA Wrestling
Sat., July 25, 8 p.m., $20-$30, The Arena, 7 Ritner St., 267-519-9744, dgusa.tv.
by Chelsea Calhoun
"The guys set up the very ring they wrestle in. They do it out of love and don't bitch and complain."

Drawdio
Sat., July 25, 1-4 p.m., $15, The Hacktory, 1524 Brandywine St., 267-687-9996, thehacktory.org.
by Morgan Davis
At The Hacktory's drawdio workshop, members will teach students how to make a musical pencil by soldering a synthesizer to it.


 
 
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