Justin Faulkner played his first gig professionally at 13, when bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma hired him for a weekly spot at Café Harlem in Yeadon. By that time he'd already been playing the drums for more than a decade, ever since his mother brought an Ohio Arts "Rock the World" toy kit (and a new set of pots and pans, to replace the one belonging to his grandmother that the infant drummer had destroyed) back to their West Philly home near 51st and Baltimore.

I love the smell of ink, the feel of paper.

by Bruce Schimmel

A $14 case of Schlitz was purchased as an anti-slug measure.

by Brian Howard

What You Say

Recently, municipalities have begun clamoring to attract video game studios by offering tax rebates, credits and other incentives (as they previously did for movie productions). The reason? Video games are a good industry to have around. They have a two-to-three-year production cycle, and bring high-skill, high-earning employees. Philly might be an ideal city to take advantage of this opportunity.

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

When Jeremy Piven appeared at the Prince Music Theater for a preview of his new movie, you know what nobody asked him? No, not "where did you get such great hair plugs?"

Who really misses the city pools? | He likes Gilbert and Sullivan, and he can break your ankles | Like the real Olympics, except way more Jewish

Our picks for the five best nonregistered Phillies tees.

by E. James Beale

Joe Pernice switches gears from songwriting to novel-writing and back again.

by Michael Pelusi

Tue., Aug. 11, 7 p.m., free, Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St., 215-898-7595, upenn.bncollege.com.

by Matt Jakubowski

She-Ra | We Love You So | The Moth | Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Opening reception Wed., Aug. 12, 6 p.m., free, through Sept. 11, Leonard Pearlstein Gallery, 3215 Market St., 215-895-2548, drexel.edu/westphal/about/facilities/pearlstein.

by Kristen Humbert

Through Jan. 24, free with regular admission of $18, Winterthur Museum & Country Estate, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Del., 800-448-3883, winterthur.org.

by Shaun Brady

Bambi Gallery | Area 919 | Clay Studio | Academy of Natural Sciences

Fri., Aug. 7, 6 p.m., free, Michener Art Museum, 138 S. Pine St., Doylestown, 215-340-9800, michenerartmuseum.org; Sun., Aug. 9, 1 p.m., $10, Grounds for Sculpture, 18 Fairgrounds Road, Hamilton, N.J., 609-586-0616, groundsforsculpture.org; Wed., Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., $8, First Person Arts Salon, Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St., firstpersonarts.org.

by Carlene Majorino

Opening reception Fri., Aug. 14, 5-8 p.m., free (R.S.V.P. requested), through Aug. 23, Bartram's Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, 215-729-5281, davinciartalliance.org.

by Kyle Press

Julia's outrageous charisma is also the main appeal of Nora Ephron's movie. When it cuts away from her to the other titular character, Julie, it loses energy; she seems more a distraction than a focus.

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

Obama was born on Tatooine.

by Rodney Anonymous

Wed., Aug. 12, 8 and 9:45 p.m., $12, Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.

by Shaun Brady

Sun., Aug. 9, 9 p.m., $10, Sandman, Scholar, Adlib, Microphone Tone, Friascanb, 2ew Gunn Ciz, Nico the Beast, Authentic and Unique, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE, thetroc.com.

by Deesha Dyer

Sat., Aug. 8, 8 p.m., $18, with The Clipse, They Live, J. Cole, Stalley and Hustle Simmons, Starlight Ballroom, 460 N. Ninth St., sneakerpimps.net.

by Deesha Dyer

Sat., Aug. 8, 10 p.m., $5, with DJ Cru Cut, Bubble House, 3404 Sansom St., 215-243-0804, thebubblehouse.com.

by Deesha Dyer

Sat., Aug. 8, 9 p.m., $12, with Black Landlord, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.

by Kyle Press

Fri., Aug. 7, 6 p.m., $5, with Shot x Shot, Eric Carbonara, Lillie Ruth Bussey, Druid Circles and The Spooks, The Caterpillar, 2205 Frankford Ave., museumfire.com/events.

by Patrick Rapa

Thu., Aug. 6, 10 p.m., $10, with Sean Bones, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Patrick Rapa

Thu., Aug. 6, 8:30 p.m., $25, with Kid Cudi, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., ticketmaster.com.

by Deesha Dyer

I don't usually go looking for raw oysters in late July — when a warm link in the cold supply chain can do real damage, and when the throes of spawning can reduce the bivalve to a shrunken shadow of its optimal self — but it was hard to go wrong here. I had them almost every way they come.

To serve its diverse community, the Gold Standard is attempting to be all things to all eaters, serving a far-reaching array of items across breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Stephen Starr and Garry Maddox BBQ Challenge | Allagash Beer Dinner at fork | Vegetable Garden Party at the national constitution center | First Friday Main Line's Dessert Island

Avril | Sakan Sushi Café | Shank's Original | Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar

The biggest mixed martial arts organization makes its Philly debut.

by Charles Cieri

Warm-weather sales at: South Moon Under | Retrospect | Arcadia Boutique | Anthropologie.com

Wed., Aug. 12, 6-8 p.m., free (registration required), Penn State Great Valley, 30 E. Swedesford Road, Malvern, 610-648-3219, sgps.psu.edu..

by Lauren Fleming

Sun., Aug. 9, noon, free, Fairmount Park, Sedgley and Lemon Hill drives, makephilly.com.

by Carlene Majorino

Sat., Aug. 8, 6 p.m., $5, Girard College, 2101 S. College Ave., 215-789-4879, girlsrockphilly.org.

by Carolyn Huckabay

Sat., Aug., 8, noon, free, Lonnie Young Recreation Center at 1100 E. Chelten Ave., Norris Square Park at 2141 N. Howard St., and DiSilvestro Playground at 15th and Morris streets; and 4 p.m., free, Community Education Center at 3500 Lancaster Ave.; 215-438-2077, griotworks.com.

by Chelsea Calhoun

Opening reception Fri,. Aug. 7, 6-10 p.m., free, through Aug. 31, Brave New Worlds, 45 N. Second St., 215-925-6525, bravenewworldscomics.com.

by Kristen Humbert