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ISSUE . October 29th, 2009
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Cover Story


The Milkmen Cometh
From the barely edited journals of Rodney Anonymous
by Rodney Anonymous
When we heard that the Dead Milkmen were officially back in the picture — playing shows, making new music — and blowing it out with a big Halloween bash at the Troc, we gave frontman Rodney Anonymous a word count and set him free.


Opinion


Loose Canon:
Everybody's Market
Steinke made a move of breathtaking political dexterity.
by Bruce Schimmel
The market sees more than 100,000 shoppers weekly. As the site of their first dates and the foundation of their feasts, many feel they've got a stake in the old place. A stake, if you will, they'd drive through Steinke's heart, should he upset their particular applecart.

Feedback:
Letters to the Editor
What You Say
"What we have here is a failure to communicate."

Editor's Letter:
Anonymously Yours
"The holiday used to be all about the children — you know, sacrificing them."
by Brian Howard
We'd been itching to set Rodney loose on something longer; telling the inside story of the return to active duty of The Dead Milkmen as they prepare for their big Trocadero Halloween gig seemed like just the thing.


News


News :: Go West, Young ManGo West, Young Man
Our writer traverses Pennsylvania on bicycle, and (barely) lives to tell the tale.
by Isaiah Thompson
Finally I do it: I announce my vacation, pack up the bike, and start pedaling the 380 miles to Pittsburgh with the notion of seeing something of this "Pennsylvania."

Sports:
Know Your Enemy
You, NewFan, have got problems.
by E. James Beale
Bonus Web Content
Unlike last year, when the Phillies faced the undeniably annoying (cow bells? Rayhawks?) but ultimately unimposing Tampa Bay Rays, the 2009 Phils are facing off against the most despicable professional franchise this side of the Dallas Cowboys — the New York Yankees.

A Million Stories
If you've lived here long enough, you've probably heard this story before.
by Carolyn Huckabay
Instead of calling 911 I spent the evening combing the streets of South Philly in a PhillyCarShare car with my supportive but annoyed boyfriend. This is so ridiculous, he said. This city is so screwed up, I said.

Man Overboard!:
666
There's slightly demonic stuff everywhere you look.
by Isaiah Thompson
The microwave started beeping. And with each beep — and I swear this is true — a "6" appeared on the screen: "6," it beeped. "6." "666." The numbers wouldn't clear. I tried again; same thing. So Satan controls my microwave, big whup.

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

Icepack
Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
I neither like nor read Nick Hornby. If I wanna know about bad things the '80s gave us, I have a diary and a shattered nervous system to reference.


Arts


Arts :: Great Migration
Web Exclusive
Theater Review:
Great Migration
THEATER REVIEW: Coming Home
by Mark Cofta
Arthur Miller once quipped, "The structure of a play is always the story of how the birds came home to roost." It's an idea that takes flight in the Wilma Theater's affecting production of Athol Fugard's new drama, Coming Home.

Arts Picks:
Save the Deli
Tue., Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.
by Carolyn Wyman
David Sax celebrates Jewish food and chronicles his visits to more than 140 surviving Jewish delicatessens in six countries and 16 states in Save the Deli.

The Good Puppet of Szechwan
Nov. 4-22, $16, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave., 215-427-9255, walkingfishtheatre.com.
by Lauren Seibert
Not all puppets are innocent — but Walking Fish hopes you can trust them anyway.

Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
Through Nov. 14, $10-$12, Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., 215-545-4400, pjff.org.
by Shaun Brady
Leave it to a Jewish festival to shoulder the burdens of the world before allowing itself to enjoy a little pleasure.

The Weir
Through Nov. 20, $10-$15, Curio Theatre Co. at Calvary Center, 4740 Baltimore Ave., 215-525-1350, curiotheatre.org.
by Mark Cofta
The Weir is "a play about people in a room telling stories that have affected them to the core and shaped them, for good or bad, as the adults they are now."

Kaleidoscope
TV Casualty | The Batman Vault | The Perfect Square | Overnight

Dance:
On Pointe
CP Dance Reviews: BodyVox, Pennsylvania Ballet

Arts Picks:
New Edge Mix
Fri.-Sat., Nov. 6-7, 8 p.m.; Sun., Nov. 8, 3 p.m.; $12, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911, cecarts.org.
by Deni Kasrel
Like punch at a prep-school party, this mixer's most definitely spiked.


Movies


Movies :: StrutterStrutter
Filmmaker Tom Quinn brings his film, The New Year Parade, to the Ritz.
by Mark Maurer
Bonus Web Content
The story of The New Year Parade is loosely based on oral histories Quinn conducted with friends who have divorced parents and reflects one year in the life of the McMonogul family, whose patriarch leaves his adulterous wife. The McMonogul family and the Mummers' tales examine how tradition functions in times of struggle.

Antichrist
City Paper Grade: B+
by Sam Adams
Born out of Lars von Trier's bout with clinical depression (which, to judge from recent interviews, he's not quite over), this harrowing two-hander is an ordeal by design.

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 :: Helen Money
One Track Mind:
Helen Money
"In Tune"
by Patrick Rapa
The cello's already a moody piece of work, but in Chicago solo artist Helen Money's hands, the supposedly classical instrument is all over the mental map.

Music Picks:
The Very Best
Tue., Nov. 3, 9 p.m., $10 ($22 includes signed CD), with Javelin, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.
by K. Ross Hoffman
Very best album you'll hear all year? Highly probable.

Islands/Jemina Pearl
Tue., Nov. 3, 8 p.m., $12-$13, with Tori Y Moi, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by A.D. Amorosi
Jamie Thompson and Nick Diamonds' new Vapours is all rich anthemic pop hooks, mood-swinging attitude and drum machines.

Fuck Buttons
Tue., Nov. 3, 8 p.m., $10, with Growing, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com.
by K. Ross Hoffman
Fuck Buttons have a way with paradox, an uncanny aptitude for smoothing over uncomfortable juxtapositions.

Herman Dune
Wed., Nov. 4, 8 p.m., $9-$11, with Julie Doiron, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.
by K. Ross Hoffman
Ostensibly, this Parisian outfit (yeah, it's a duo, not a person; weird, right?) plays anti-folk, but that's pretty much the only thing "anti-" about them.

Hang The DJ:
The Devil Made Me Do It
Miranda Lambert and Marduk
by J. Edward Keyes
The point's been made many times and in many ways already, but we'll spell it out for you: Miranda Lambert likes guns.

Music Picks:
Making Time Halloween
Sat., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., $25-$30 (includes open bar), with Simian Mobile Disco, Skybox/2424 Studios, 2424 E. York St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by Patrick Rapa
My fraidy sense isn't tingling at all about this weekend's big huge Halloween monstrosity.

Network for New Music
Sun., Nov. 1, 3 p.m., $20-$25, Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., 215-848-7647, networkfornewmusic.org.
by Peter Burwasser
In the quarter-century since Network for New Music has emerged as a world-class ensemble, they've attracted many world-class composers.

Dethklok/Mastodon
Sun., Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m., $34.50, with Converge and High on Fire, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 215-336-2000, ticketmaster.com.
by A.D. Amorosi
Gods of hellfire, fans of Viking helmets and crunching prog-metal-ites, unite!

King Khan & BBQ Show
Sun., Nov. 1, 5 p.m., $12, with Dum Dum Girls and Teenage Whore Moans, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by A.D. Amorosi
Doo-wop garage rock with a little bit of soul.


Food


Food :: Firing BlanksFiring Blanks
A lack of focus is holding Avril back.
by Trey Popp
When not hampered by lapses in execution, Gatti's cooking is full of fresh ideas.

Web Exclusive
Burn Notice
Fuel
by David Snyder
A menu that offers no dish exceeding 500 calories sounds more like part of a sadistic Top Chef challenge than the centerpiece of a real-life restaurant — especially when said restaurant is owned and run by a radio DJ.

What's Cooking
Get Out!
by Erin Mae Szrankowski
Dia De Los Muertos Menu at Xochitl | Giro in Abruzzo: Le VirtuSlow Food Philly | Home Brew Event at Mémé | Edible World: Foobooz Burger Cruise | Blackfish Guest Chef Series: Ideas in Food

Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Chew Man Chu | Bella Sera Café | Beck's Cajun Café


Agenda


Agenda :: Playing Dead
Agenda Lead:
Playing Dead
Don't know what to do this Halloween? Why don't you start with zombie hunting?
by Lauren Seibert and Holly Otterbein
Bonus Web Content
Undead Invasion | Hallowen & Day of the Dead Dance Party | Nosferatu Screening (with live organ music) | Yellow Fever Tour | Day of the Dead Festival | Burlesque Barbarian From Beyond Infinity

Shopping Spree
Fashion > Forward
by Felicia D'Ambrosio
As I surveyed the selection, Tricia Fleishman, who owns the business with her husband, Stanley, approached. "If you have time, I have a thousand more costumes on the third floor." Say what? How many?

Agenda Picks:
UniverSoul Circus
Runs through Nov. 15, $12-$28, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd Street and Parkside Avenue, 800-316-7439, universoulcircus.com.
by Lauren Seibert
Along with the traditional circus lineup of clowns, tigers, acrobatics and magic, UniverSoul features hip-hop dance, the "Soul Train Line" and ringmaster Aunt Maggie's gospel music.

Philadelphia Comedy Festival
Wed.-Sun., Nov. 4-8, various times, $15-$25, Laff House, 221 South St., 215-440-4242, laffhouse.com.
by Kristen Humbert
In addition to showcasing brand-name comics like Paul Mooney, Michael Blackson and Teddy Carpenter, the fest will also hold a "New Faces of Comedy" competition, whose winner will receive a trip to Jamaica.

Afro-Punk Festival
Fri., Oct. 30, 9 p.m., $18-$21, all ages, Theatre of the Living Arts, 334 South St., 215-922-2599, afropunk.com.
by Nicole Saylor
This music/literature/sometimes sports tour, which promotes a more diverse interpretation of the word "punk," is touching down in Philly for the first time ever.

Michael & Michael Have Issues
Thu., Oct. 29, 8 p.m., $24, with Kumail Nanjiani, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888, thetroc.com. Postponed until Feb. 2010
by Scott Yorko


 
 
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