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ISSUE . January 21st, 2010

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One Small Step for Robots

A Drexel lab has big plans for its little humanoid.

by Brian James Kirk

There's a bit of pressure on the shoulders of Drexel's Jaemi HUBO, an adorable, anthropomorphic robot runt that acts like it just rolled out of bed.

Sweetest Taboo

Monell scientists are studying the way one food additive affects your body's secret taste receptors.

by Lauren F. Friedman

For a long time, lactisole — which has been tested on rodents and is generally accepted as safe — was the only compound known to block the sweet receptors. But that just changed.

Old Salt

A West Chester U scientist finds ancient DNA — and new hope in the search for life on other planets.

by Andrew Thompson

What he found when he brought them back to the laboratory at West Chester University wasn't just old DNA; it was the oldest DNA ever discovered, clocking in at about 419 million years.

Clams Casino

A mollusk scientist at the Academy hits the jackpot.

by Will Dean

Few summertime shell collectors pause to consider the briny creatures that once lived inside — unless they're hungry. But that could change, thanks to new research, done in part by the Academy of Natural Sciences here in Philly, which points to these ocean denizens as sources of new drugs and fuels.

Pretty on the Inside

A medical film fest wants to get under your skin.

by Shaun Brady

The two decided to bring together medical and film scholars, filmmakers, archivists and programmers to explore the widely defined genre, which encompasses experimental and narrative films, educational pieces, medical imaging and documentations of actual medical procedures.

Opinion

Editor's Letter:

Lane Rage

Stu Bykofsky's attacks on city bike lanes are flawed.

by Brian Howard

Why he failed to point out that the report's AM rush hour counts support the idea that auto traffic at Broad Street is being snarled is a mystery to me. I guess a rigged system makes a better story.

Feedback:

Letters to the Editor

What You Say

"If you are going to write about urban agriculture, I wanted you to have the correct facts."

Loose Canon:

Confidence Game

"I'm in the trust business."

by Bruce Schimmel

Talking to this young man, I want to believe him. But there's an issue, because Rob is not only an ex-con, he was also a con man.

News

Grumpy Old Men

Want to criticize Jack Kelly during a political campaign? Be careful. He'll sue.

by Andrew Thompson

Until you saw the pettiness of what was at stake in the defamation lawsuit that City Councilman Jack Kelly filed against one of his constituents in 2008, and which he lost Jan. 15, it's difficult to understand the magnitude of the frivolity at hand.

Sports:

Do Something

Let's be there for Samuel Dalembert.

by E. James Beale

Dalembert first burst onto the scene in 2001, when he literally jumped onto the stage at the NBA draft as his name was called. Coming out of the poverty that was Haiti, "It is just tough not to be happy every day," he says. "You know?" We don't.

The Bell Curve

City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

A Million Stories

All the news we care to print.

Man Overboard!:

Policy is Policy

America is fickle.

by Isaiah Thompson

Even as the Obama administration extends temporary protection status to Haitians here illegally — a move not just humane but practical — the feds promise to detain and deport any new illegal Haitian immigrants. Cubans are still welcome.

Arts

Art:

Lovely Bones

Slought unearths the fruits of a deadly obsession.

by Shaun Brady

The thousand-plus pieces that make up Harris' personal collection have an end built right into them — from nearly every canvas, print, sculpture, carving and Grateful Dead T-shirt stares the hollow eyes of a skull.

Theater Review:

Feelin' Single, Seein' Double

Mauckingbird Theatre Co.'s Tru. and The Treshing Floor

by Mark Cofta

Devoted to gay themes, the two one-man shows produced by Mauckingbird Theatre Co. are an inspired pairing.

Dance:

Are We Human, or Are We Dancer?

DANCE REVIEW: River North Chicago Dance Co.

by Deni Kasrel

A nimble troupe of highly athletic performers who play to their audience, this corps is composed of real people with real bodies who also happen to be in fantastic physical shape.

Last Chance

Catch it or regret it

by Holly Otterbein

Knapp Gallery | Lorenzo Homar Gallery | My House Gallery

Kaleidoscope

All Around Us 2010 | Tender Mercies | I Am Ozzy | Teddy Pendergrass

Re-View:

Blahg Humbug

"I won't be happy if you print my name."

by Robin Rice

It is intriguing that one of the blahgger's pals, a writer with a regular Philadelphia gig and occasional contributor to a national publication, has not been a target. Perhaps the blahgger hypocritically hopes she'll remember what frenz are for.

Arts Picks:

Concrete Dinosaur

Through Jan. 24, $20-$25, Plays & Players Theater, 1714 Delancey St., 215-735-0630, playsandplayers.org.

by Mark Cofta

Only one weekend left to catch this new play by Nicholas Wardigo, ambitiously produced by Plays & Players, who also premièred the local playwright's Exit, Corpse last year.

Movies

The White Ribbon

City Paper Grade: B

by Sam Adams

The film's visuals lend an air of eerie calm to the disturbing series of attacks that begin to infect the town's serene and self-righteous surface.

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

Suite Spot:

Lost Keys

I have no explanation for the current obscurity of pianist Richard Farrell.

by Peter Burwasser

The 1950s was a dangerous decade to be a classical musician.

Music Picks:

Freelance Whales

Fri., Jan. 22, 7 p.m., $10, with Animal Tropical and Faces on Film, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 215-291-4919, r5productions.com.

by Patrick Rapa

The quirkiness level is way elevated. Not a problem yet, it's just ... be careful. I worry is all.

Nanci Griffith

Sat., Jan. 23, 8 p.m., wait list only, with Susan Werner, Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100, mediatheatre.org.

by Carolyn Wyman

Probably no one was happier to see the '00s go than "folkabilly" singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith.

Jeff Antoniuk and the Jazz Update

Fri., Jan. 22, 5:45 and 7:15 p.m., free with museum admission of $16, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Pkwy., 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.

by Shaun Brady

Suggesting a refresher on the sounds originally broadcast by the Jazz Messengers, the Jazz Update, Canadian-born saxophonist Jeff Antoniuk's Annapolis-based quartet, is aptly named.

Ken Vandermark Septet

Fri., Jan. 22, 8 p.m., $12, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 215-387-5125, arsnovaworkshop.org.

by Shaun Brady

Ken Vandermark has never been shy about trumpeting his influences.

The Inbetweens

Thu., Jan. 21, 8 p.m., free, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., arsnovaworkshop.org.

by Shaun Brady

The Inbetweens are a guitar-bass-drums trio of ex-New England Conservatory students who have doubled as the rhythm section for the Brooklyn Qawwali Party and Philly soul singer Candice Manson.

Food

Build-a-Bar

Drinking in is the new drinking out, so stock your home like a cocktail champ.

by Felicia D'Ambrosio

Assembling the elements of a home bar doesn't have to be difficult.

Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

Crust Punk

Sweetie's Pie Diner

by Trey Popp

Waitresses are quick with smiles, plus crayons for the pint-size set. And the dessert pies don't hold back on the empty calories. As Thaw puts it, "People really do come wanting sugar."

Agenda

Agenda Lead:

Orientation Ritual

A new poetry workshop helps younger LGBTQs navigate the tricky path to sexuality.

by Natalie Hope McDonald

Some are questioning their gender. Others are coming out or dealing with sexual abuse. But there’s a shared thread for each person who attends the poetry workshops at The Attic Youth Center — they’re all LGBTQ-identified women meeting in a much-needed safe haven to talk about sex.

Agenda Picks:

Wounded Warriors

Mon., Jan. 25, noon-2 p.m., free, Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St., 215-573-0917, cphi.upenn.edu.

by Mandy Bee

A good veteran's story will take you to the unfamiliar deserts of Afghanistan or Iraq, and make an often-unfathomable war real. Sadly, most Americans don't get a chance to hear these tales firsthand.

Queer Bait

Josh Middleton on the LGBTQ scene

by Josh Middleton

"My Right Self" | Scene's One-Year Anniversary Party | Hydrate

Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

Icepack can't stress enough the continued need to take care of our Haitian brethren. See hpphilly.org for worthy efforts accepting donations.

Agenda Picks:

Elvis Birthday Bash

Fri., Jan. 22, 8 p.m., $34.50, Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, 215-572-7650, keswicktheatre.com.

by Brendan Bianowicz

Why celebrate the birth of a man who died on his toilet 33 years ago?

Bye, Bye Big Boobies

Sat., Jan. 23, 9 p.m., $6 (dancing only)-$10 (dancing and show), Sisters, 1320 Chancellor St., 215-735-0735, sistersnightclub.com.

by Josh Middleton

If anyone knows boobs it's Sisters, the Gayborhood's premier lesbian nightclub.

Patrick Swayze Tribute Party

Thu., Jan. 21, 6-9:30 p.m., $25, Zesty's, 4382 Main St.; Society Hill Dance Academy, 4401 Cresson St.; 215-482-1611, philadelphia.singlesevents.com.

by Anna Lockhart

When Patrick Swayze died last September, so, too, did the hope that America might ever make another respectable dance movie.