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ISSUE . July 30th, 2009
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Cover Story


Little Kid, Life Sentence
Pennsylvania has more juvenile lifers than any other state in the union. Stacey Torrance knows. He's been in jail since he was 14.
by Matt Stroud
Stacey Torrance is an inmate at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Chester. Though he didn't pull the trigger, he's serving a murderer's sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is one of the youngest criminals ever to receive such a harsh sentence in the state of Pennsylvania.


Opinion


Editor's Letter:
Five Shots
No one was quite sure who was the shooter and who was the target.
by Brian Howard
It was odd, as we all stood there, sort of amazed and sort of befuddled. "The neighborhood is changing," said someone glumly. "Good thing grandma didn't pick this weekend to visit," laughed another.

Loose Canon:
Who Killed My Bees?
There's something sublime about a beehive
by Bruce Schimmel
A dying beehive is a sorry sight. Like a small town after a neutron bomb — houses still standing and pantries filled, but with survivors who are too sick to eat, or care.

Feedback:
Letters to the Editor
What You Say
"Maybe when she wrote, 'Why you showin' them coochie lips/ Gettin' up out your car,' she just hadn't had her coffee yet that day."


News


News :: Down the WellDown the Well
A Philadelphia documentarian gets sucked into a real El Salvadoran murder mystery.
by Isaiah Thompson
The police seemed reluctant to investigate Rivera's disappearance. So a group of friends and family began looking for clues. They came across an abandoned shack in which they found some of his clothes. Then, nearby, they found the well. A local fireman was recruited to descend and look for a body. He found one.

Dispatch:
An Indecent Proposal
by Mike Newall

At the bail hearing, Jared lunged at Amy, screaming, "I love you! Marry me!"


A Million Stories
Real people with real problems lobby Arlen Specter | Jobs With Justice make progress | "The most retarded adult film ever"? | Dogs <3 NoLibs

Icepack
Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
Isn't it rude to screen porn in a restaurant? "Porno should always play at restaurants," notes Spock Buckton. "Customers'll be hot, bothered and most likely banging in their bathroom."

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


Arts


Arts :: KaleidoscopeKaleidoscope
Matthew Prescott | theuniformproject.com | La Belle et La Bête| I'm Alan Partridge

Arts Picks:
Have a Nice Life
Mon., Aug. 3, 8 p.m., $5 (online)-$10 (at the door), Nice People Theatre Co. at The Power Plant, 233 N. Bread St., 202-744-3362, nicepeopletheatre.org.
by Mark Cofta
Helping Nice People make a nice trip to perform Nice Life — nice, right?

White Light/White Heat
Tue., Aug. 4, 7 p.m., free, Moonstone Arts Center, 110 S. 13th St., 215-735-9600, robinsbookstore.com.
by A.D. Amorosi
White Light/White Heat: The Velvet Underground Day-By-Day (Jawbone Press) — the dirt that made the squeal, thump and monotone ooze that was the 1960s' most innovative avant-act.

Paul Newman: Behind Blue Eyes
Weds., Aug. 5-28, 8 p.m., free, International House courtyard, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, ihousephilly.org.
by Molly Eichel
The International House's Ibrahim Theater hosts outdoor Newman-centric screenings throughout August.

Radlands
Opening reception Fri., July 31, 6-10 p.m., free, through Aug. 16, Pure Gold Gallery, Piazza at Schmidts, 1050 N. Hancock St., puregoldgallery.wordpress.com..
by Sherri Hospedales
Bonus Web Content
Philadelphia artists Matthew Gribben and Sheldon Abba were inspired to construct a tepee like the ones they saw on their adventure. But it's become so much more than that.

Zooman and the Sign
Thu., July 30, 7 p.m.; Fri., July 31, 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Sat, Aug. 1, 2 and 8 p.m.; $20, Freedom Theatre, 1346 N. Broad St, 215-978-8497, freedomtheatre.org.
by Brion Shreffler
Written by native son/La Salle alum Charles Fuller, this traditional story with an avant-garde twist bravely examines inner-city violence, exploring a horrible murder and the community apathy that follows.


Movies


Movies :: Death and the ComedianDeath and the Comedian
Judd Apatow's Funny People is his most mature — and unfocused — film yet.
by Shaun Brady
Jokes serve as bonding device, defense mechanism, confessional. The recurring standup segments serve the same function as the song-and-dance numbers in a good musical, entertaining unto themselves while obliquely adding depth to the characters.

In the Loop
City Paper Grade: A-
by Sam Adams
The movie has its share of zinger, but at its heart is a pitch-black and utterly true-to-life portrait of the modern political era.

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 :: Who Were The Book Of Love?Who Were The Book Of Love?
by A.D. Amorosi
Between 1984 and 1993, New York City's Book of Love created sweet, craft synth-pop across four deliciously twisted albums.

Music Picks:
Gang Gang Dance
Tue., Aug. 4, 8 p.m., $12, with Hex Message and Mincemeat or Tenspeed, Kungfu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 866-468-7619, kungfunecktie.com.
by John Vettese
Dymphna was a grower in every sense of the word: a progressive sonic patchwork that elevated the band's profile, but in a slow-burn kind of way.

Suite Spot:
Revelations
Was it a science experiment or a concert?
by Peter Burwasser
So smack in the middle of this sultry, sauntering summer, indulge me as I relate two such occurrences in my experience, both live events, and utterly different.

Music Picks:
Cass McCombs
Fri., July 31, 9 p.m., $8, with Jennifer O'Connor and Mike Bones, Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 866-468-7619, thekhyber.com.
by Jasia Kaulbach
He sounds like a full rock band, but Cass McCombs has always been a solo singer/songwriter.

Gildon Works
Fri., July 31, 7:30 p.m., $10, with Soft Power, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 866-468-7619, kungfunecktie.com.
by Holly Otterbein
This six-piece from Philly can't climax. Instead, they work dreamy guitars and breathy vocals into a crescendo that just keeps growing, leaving you to think they've surely broken some law of physics.

Foreign Born
Fri., July 31, 9 p.m., $10, with The Veils and Faces on Film, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.
by Holly Otterbein
It's always encouraging when a forgettable band — or a forgettable anything — suddenly becomes great.

Herbie Hancock/Lang Lang
Thu., July 30, 8 p.m., $15-$75, Mann Music Center, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, manncenter.org.
by Peter Burwasser
A bit of roughhouse in this staid world might be fun, and Lang Lang, one of the biggest showboats in the business, is just the guy to bring it on.

Polvo
Thu., July 30, 9 p.m., $14, with Obits, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com
by Brian Howard
In Prism is part comeback and part unified field theory for a sound born of two restless guitarists who met in a college Spanish class.

Web Exclusive
Summer Organ Series
Thursdays, July 30 and Aug. 6, 7 p.m., $10, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org
by Peter Burwasser
The Summer Organ Series, which continues with recitals on July 30 and August 6, is an easy way to check it out, with open seating for a mere 10 bucks a pop.

Web Exclusive
Pterodactyl
Thu., July 30, 8 p.m., $5, with Street Gnar, Tiny Fights and Serpents of W.I.S.D.O.M., Danger Danger Gallery, 5013 Baltimore Ave., myspace.com/dangerdangergallery.
by Holly Otterbein
Pterodactyl isn't as tough as it thinks it is.


Food


Food :: Mealing and DealingMealing and Dealing
A guide to the best eating happy hours in the city.
by Drew Lazor
We've put together a guide to some of the best happy hour food deals in Philly.

Pop Culture
There's only one place in the city to get Moxie.
by Felicia D' Ambrosio
The Franklin Fountain sought out the beverage because, like the Old City scoop shop itself, it's "as old-fashioned a soda as it gets."

What's Cooking
Get Out!
by Lauren Fleming
McGillin's Century and a Half Party | 20th Annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival | Fourth Annual Doo Wop Car Show and Street Festival | National Cheesecake Day

Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Paul | Sphinx Café | Trios Trattoria


Agenda


Agenda :: Out of Hand
Agenda Lead:
Out of Hand
The DIY crafting world gets a spokeswoman.
by Holly Otterbein
One of the dirty little secrets that Handmade Nation reveals is that if you want to go DIY, you have to go all the way — and that means DIY toilet-cleaning, too.

Agenda Picks:
Phillies Gay Community Night
Tue., Aug. 4, 7:05 p.m., $24-$30, Citizens Bank Park, 1 Citizens Bank Way, 215-463-5000, phillies.com/gcn.
by Chelsea Calhoun
It won't take three strikes to be out Tuesday — at least not in the stands of Citizens Bank Park.

Last Chance
Catch it or Regret It
by Holly Otterbein
Bonus Web Content
Vox V | Damn the Valley | One Mile

Agenda Picks:
Philly's Phunniest
Preliminaries, Thu. and Sat., July 30 and Aug. 1, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Tue.-Wed., Aug. 4-5, 8 p.m.; Thu., Aug. 6, 8 and 10:30 p.m.; Semifinals, Sat., Aug. 8, 7:30 and 10:30 p.m.; Final round, Sun., Aug. 9, 7 p.m.; $10-$20, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com.
by Chris Monigle
More than 150 aspiring comics, from touring comedians to those who've never set foot on stage, will try to snag reigning champ Kent Haines' crown in this fourth annual competition.

Prison Break Weekend
Sat.-Sun., Aug. 1-2, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., free with $8-$12 admission, Eastern State Penitentiary, 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, 215-236-3300, easternstate.org.
by Chelsea Calhoun
This weekend, Prison Break attendees will be able to scale a 24-foot inflatable rock-climbing wall over Eastern State — an homage to the prison's only successful escape in 141 years.

DIY Days
Sat., Aug. 1, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m., free, University of the Arts, 211 S. Broad St., 800-616-ARTS, diydays.com.
by Adam Scavette
Nowadays, thanks to the almighty Internet, you can release a film, album or game without much help. Skeptical? Just ask the speakers at Philly's installment of DIY Days.

A Conversation with Samuel Delany & Avery Brooks
Fri., July 31, 7 p.m., $5, Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., 215-448-1254, fi.edu.
by Kristen Humbert
Professor Samuel Delany and actor Avery Brooks will present at the Franklin Institute, in accordance with its dual exhibits on Star Trek and race.


 
 
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