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ISSUE .
other issues :
A Voice For The Fallen
; "Cover Story :: A Voice For The Fallen")
One man's quest to memorialize the 4,600 gay men who died of AIDS in Philadelphia.
by Christopher Wink
The Gay History Wiki is a community-edited, online encyclopedia of the people, places
and things that made up this city's gay community during the AIDS
epidemic, from 1981 until a new cache of treatment methods made the
disease more manageable in the mid-1990s. Though local gay histories
exist in several others cities, none are opened to the masses. In that sense,
Bartlett's is unique.
Editor's Letter:
38 Ounces of Joe
Biden's kinda wacky.
by Brian Howard
Bleary-eyed, shirt tucked in and press credentials around my neck, I
met up with similarly under-caffeinated news editor Jeffrey Billman at
7:30 at the Bellevue for the Committee of Seventy's annual bigwig
breakfast, this year featuring veep Joe Biden.
Feedback:
Loose Canon:
Good Kitchen Karma
"Clean the sinks! Clear the drains! Be friends with your friends!"
by Bruce Schimmel
In the interest of less petulance in the holiday pantry, I consulted with a
legend of good kitchen karma, master chef and Buddhist priest Edward
Espe Brown.
Pipe DownDear Temple nurses, please don't tell anyone about any of our problems. Thanks, Management.
by Joshua Fernandez
If hospital employees don't speak out for their patients, who will?
IcepackAmorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
Before the tryptophan hits, I'd like to share things that MY
Philadelphia is thankful for this week — besides snagging bragging
rights to having two Iron Chefs.
A Million StoriesIn related news, local pop-rock musician/obvious Beach Boys aficionado Charles Ramsey (no relation, presumably) has a new record out, good morning & good night. It's not terrible, and — added bonus! — it won't destroy your civil liberties.
The Bell CurveCity Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter
When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.
Sports:
Trade Ryan Howard
This writer thinks we should deal the Big Man.
by E. James Beale
If there were no Ryan Howard, there would have been no WFC in 2008, and
there would have been no World Series berth in '09. No Phillie should
ever wear No. 6 again. Trade him. Trade him now. Here's why.
Man Overboard!:
Going Rogue
There's too much wrong with Council's proposed bike bills.
by Isaiah Thompson
For perspective, the fine for running a red light — in a freaking car —is only $119.50; the city's penalty for reckless goddamn driving — $294.50 — is less than what Kenney wants you to pay for sidewalk-biking.
Full Exposure:
Anything Goes
John Vettese sees what develops: "The Photo Show" at My House Gallery
by John Vettese
To outsiders, the group might come off as a bunch of Boho art school
grads living collectively on a rough-ish block in deep South Philly
because rent is cheap, thus giving them the freedom to comfortably turn
their living space into a show space. But using these identity traits to dismiss their shows would be a mistake.
Arts Picks:
Anne Carson
The :nv:s:ble Play
Tom Judd: Evidence of a Collected Past
Marcel Wanders: DAYDREAMS
Wed., Dec. 2, 7 p.m., free (registration required), ARCH Building, 3601 Locust Walk, 215-573-8280, humanities.sas.upenn.edu.
by Julia West
Reading Anne Carson's poems is like searching through a box of someone else's trinkets.
The :nv:s:ble Play
Through Dec. 13, $15-$18, Philadelphia Theatre Workshop at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St., 215-316-1361, philadelphiatheatreworkshop.org.
by Mark Cofta
In Philadelphia playwright Alex Dreman's The :nv:s:ble Play, Existential Publishing Co. workers are literally vanishing.
Tom Judd: Evidence of a Collected Past
Through Jan. 10, 2010, Allen Sheppard Gallery at Globe Dye Works, 4500 Worth St., 212-989-9919, allensheppardgallery.com.
by Lauren Seibert
To Tom Judd, nothing is more fascinating than someone else's life.
Marcel Wanders: DAYDREAMS
Through June 13, 2010, $16, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.
by Julia West
I'd love to decorate my place with ornate Marcel Wanders pieces.
Dance Review:
New Wave
REVIEW: BalletX
by Janet Anderson
BalletX wound up its fall 2009 season at the Wilma with
three exquisite original works of choreography, demonstrating not only
the wide range of the Xers' talents, but exactly why they'll be back in
the spring playing to more full houses.
Theater Review:
Sweetness and Light
KaleidoscopeREVIEW: The Light in the Piazza
by David Anthony Fox
Composer/lyricist Adam Guettel and playwright Craig Lucas adapted Light
as a musical. I'll admit I was surprised at the prospect. What would two contemporary artists make of it? Something simply gorgeous, that's what.
Bleach | Planes, Trains and Automobiles | Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital | There Goes That Idea
Arts Picks:
Upcycle: Sk8lamps
Opening reception Sat.-Sun., Nov. 28-29, noon-8 p.m., free, through Dec. 28, VGroove Studio, 306 E. Girard Ave., 267-296-5098, sk8lamps.com.
by Lauren Seibert
Two years ago, artist and former skater Victor Perez had a lightbulb moment and decided to collide his two passions.
Less TraveledJohn Hillcoat's The Road detours from the bleak beauty of Cormac McCarthy's source material.
by Sam Adams
There may be no cinematic equivalent to the stark obscurity of Cormac
McCarthy's prose, etched in sentences as hard as rock and sometimes as
impenetrable.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
City Paper Grade: A
by Shaun Brady
For all their cuddly charm, Anderson restores a core wildness to his
anthropomorphized critters, as they claw viciously into family dinners
or bare fangs and growl during friendly disagreements.
DIVE in
The vital role Philly played in John Hillcoat's The Road.
by Molly Eichel
It's apt that we're responsible for making the end of the world look believable.
Your weekly guide to local film events, festivals and under-the-radar screenings.
Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.
Aid or Invade:
Russia!
Rodney Anonymous vs. The World
by Rodney Anonymous
Songs Unrecantable, the sophomore effort (or The Ol' Number Two,
as it's known in the music industry) from Ersatzmusika, is a truly
mesmerizing piece of work.
Music Picks:
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists
Sam & Ruby
Ellery Eskelin-Erik Deutsch-Allison Miller Trio
The Mountain Goats
Jay Reatard
Free Energy
Mike Doughty
Wed., Dec. 2, 8 p.m., $12, with The So So Glos, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by Patrick Rapa
Last time he was here, Ted Leo was fronting a bunch of Philly punks in
TV Casualty, a just-for-Halloween Misfits tribute act. (Yes, they
played "Mother," too.)
Sam & Ruby
Sun., Nov. 29, 8 p.m., $13-$15, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.
by Mary Armstrong
Technically Sam Brooker and Ruby Amanfu are not sweethearts, but you
can't tell that from the songs they write together or the dreamy-soft
close harmonies.
Ellery Eskelin-Erik Deutsch-Allison Miller Trio
Sun., Nov. 29, 8 p.m., $12, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, arsnovaworkshop.com.
by Shaun Brady
Saxophonist Ellery Eskelin has his share of ongoing projects,
but his primary mission seems to be constantly seeking out new contexts
for his wiry, inventive tenor.
The Mountain Goats
Sat., Nov. 28, 9 p.m., $18-$21, with Final Fantasy, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011, livenation.com.
by Patrick Rapa
The latest album is The Life of the World to Come and it's as beautiful a musical and lyrical statement as Darnielle has made in all his 20 years at the mic.
Jay Reatard
Sat., Nov. 28, 9 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.
by Julia West
Heavy with guitar fuzz, manic energy and raw grit, Jay Reatard's music is the kind you want to listen to at a dangerous volume.
Free Energy
Fri., Nov. 27, 8 p.m., $10, with Tough Shits and Post Post, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com.
by K. Ross Hoffman
This decade and its impressively persistent '80s obsession have to come to an end sometime. How's January 2010 sound?
Mike Doughty
Fri., Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m., $30-$40, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.
by K. Ross Hoffman
Following a few more wanly received, instrumentally fleshier intervening releases, Doughty's agreeably glib Sad Man Happy Man oughtta perk up a few neglectful ears.
Vine RipenedThe revamped, newly casual Meritage gets nearly everything right.
by Trey Popp
Four years after buying the place, owners Michele DiPietro and Irene
Landy have finally exorcized the formality that made it too forbidding
to really click as a neighborhood restaurant.
A Lucid Dream
REVIEW: Louisa Shafia's Lucid Food
by Felicia D' Ambrosio
Shafia's non-preachy tone and sparkling enthusiasm make the book an
inspiring read, and even the converted can learn a thing or two.
Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Pho Saigon | Burger Maestro | Jose Garces on Iron Chef America | Han Dynasty | As-yet-unnamed Fishtown beer bistro | Zama
Agenda Lead:
Family Matters
Half-baked comic Jim Breuer finally grows up.
by Scott Yorko
"Philly fans can come out busting my balls, I don't care — they're gonna love my opening bit on the Mets."
Agenda Picks:
Blow Your Own Christmas Ornament
Shopping SpreeBy appointment through Jan. 7, noon-7 p.m., $35, Hudson Beach Glass, 26 S. Strawberry St., 267-319-1887, hudsonbeachglass.typepad.com.
by Josh Middleton
Hudson Beach Glass is letting customers who have a little cash and a
healthy set of lungs blow their own Christmas ornaments in their Old
City studio.
Fashion > Forward
by Felicia D'Ambrosio
Crafty Balboa Holiday | Morihata Holiday Pop-Up Shop | Ruffles and Heels | Traveling Wares
Agenda Picks:
Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational
Blue Redo Reprise
Tibetan Festival and Bazaar
Night of 1,000 Hexes
Sat.-Sun., Nov. 28-29, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., free, Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., takii.pdnmz.com.
by Kristen Humbert
If Hello Kitty and Ryan Seacrest had a one-night stand, their child might be the Asian Karaoke Idol Invitational.
Blue Redo Reprise
Sat., Nov. 28, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., $20-$25, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888, thetroc.com.
by Josh Middleton
The blue-wigged performers Azure, Perriwinkle and Cobalt haven't graced the party scene since 2004's official Blue Ball closing
party, but now they're itching for a comeback.
Tibetan Festival and Bazaar
Fri., Nov. 27, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; free, Ethical Society Building, 1906 Rittenhouse Square, 215-701-7018, tibetanbuddhist.org.
by Nicole Saylor
Skip picking up Buddha figurines at Pier 1 and shop for authentic
Tibetan gifts instead at this festival, showcasing Tibetan-American
artisans selling everything from silk brocades to Buddhist prayer items
to silver jewelry.
Night of 1,000 Hexes
Fri., Nov. 27, 7 p.m., free, Germ Books + Gallery, 2005 Frankford Ave., 215-423-5002, germbooks.com.
by Julia West
Yoder's presentation with Patricia Hall will cover the history and culture
of hexology, as well as the superstition that hex signs provide good
luck and protection from evil.
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