On Jan. 14, 2012, City Council President Anna Verna is scheduled to retire from office and collect a going-away present from the city — a lump-sum cash bonus of $584,777. But she doesn't have to stay retired for long. If Verna runs for office again in 2011 and wins, she can retire for one day, make a deposit at the bank, and then go back to work the next day, Jan. 15, 2012, and resume collecting her salary of $148,090.

In recent years, both the city of San Diego and the county of Milwaukee adopted DROP programs, just as Philadelphia did. But in San Diego and Milwaukee, publicity over DROP bonuses sparked taxpayer revolts, criminal indictments, court battles, recall drives and a negligence lawsuit. Philadelphia, it seems, could learn a lot from those experiences. But, so far, it hasn't.

Two Penn grads with a big plan for potable water.

by Brian Howard

I imagine Sarah Palin as a hormonal monarch for the misbegotten.

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

While candidates have come and gone from the race, Dan Onorato has been like a rock. As much as it's lamented, money matters, and Onorato has a ton of it — he finished March with 10 times the amount of campaign cash that rival Auditor General Jack Wagner has. He's the only candidate with staffed-up field offices throughout the state.

In what ass-backward place do the Green, Constitution and Libertarian parties all have the same goal? Pennsylvania, of course!

It's screw or be screwed, apparently.

by Isaiah Thompson

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

Robin Rice on Visual Art: Women's Work at Sande Webster Gallery

by Robin Rice

Kristian Matsson's The Wild Hunt | Juelz Santana | Party Down | Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake)

THEATER REVIEW: When We Go Upon the Sea

by David Anthony Fox

DANCE REVIEW: BalletX at the Wilma Theater

by Deni Kasrel

THEATER REVIEW: Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre's Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream

by Mark Cofta

Téchiné's choice of zag over zig certainly succeeds in upending the audience's expectations, although it's not clear to what end.

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

It's not that American Gong is a happy record. Like every album in Quasi's 17-year history, it's full of privilege-baiting rock songs, odes to the disappointed and anthems of worker-bee drudgery. But there are a couple moments of pure, wild resilience.

Sun., April 25, 7 p.m., $10, with Hezekiah Jones and Chris Kasper, Yards Brewing Co., 901 N. Delaware Ave., pfs.org.

by John Vettese

Sun., April 25, 8 p.m., $14, with Snowblink, First Unitarian Sanctuary, 2125 Chestnut St., 877-435-9849, r5productions.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Wed., April 28, 8 p.m., $18-$21, with Kaki King and Steph Hayes and the Good Problems, TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011, livenation.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

"Brothers"

by K. Ross Hoffman

Rodney Anonymous vs. The World

by Rodney Anonymous

When the conversation turns to Puzzlebox's epic "6:25 PM" on the new A Place to Be CD, pianist Anam Owili-Eger says something puzzling.

Fri., April 23, 5:45 and 7:15 p.m., $16, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org.

by Shaun Brady

It starts and ends with three simple ingredients: high durum flour, fresh eggs and water. But what separates fresh-made pastas and the dried stuff you get at the supermarket, as any master will tell you, are flavor and feel.

Flavors of the Avenue | Second Anniversary Bash at Memphis Taproom | Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundaraiser at Yards Brewing Co. | South African Wine Tasting at Lacroix Rittenhouse | River & Glen Seafood Dinner at Bar Ferdinand

Old City Asian Bistro | Twenty Manning Grill | Unitea

From the 1700s through the early 1900s, catching shad as they made their way up the Delaware for springtime spawning was the neighborhood's main industry.

David Milch, creator of NYPD Blue and Deadwood, speaks.

by Sam Adams

Considering Janeane Garofalo has an ear (and mouth) for serious political discourse, it's this comment that strikes me as the most controversial: "I actually would prefer to be well-liked."

Tue., April 27, 8 p.m., $11, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Julia West

While eating along other avenues in anticipation of this weekend's East Passyunk Flavors of the Avenue restaurant-a-thon (Ridge and Elmwood aves are but shreds of

Bridal Showcase at Manayunk Brewery | Unbridaled Wedding Style Expo by The Career Wardrobe

Fri.-Sun., April 23-25, 8 p.m., $10, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, 5900A Greene St., 215-849-1991, phillycircus.com.

by Emily Currier

Sat., April 24, noon-7 p.m., $20, Strongbox Lounge, 2029 Walnut St., 856-264-7406, phillytecmotourney.com.

by Sam Kaplan

Reception/performance, Sat., April 24, 6-10:30 p.m.; exhibit through May 15; free, FLUXspace, 3000 N. Hope St., 914-806-4889, www.thefluxspace.org.

by Alexandra Harcharek

Fri., April 23, 7:30 p.m., free, First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, 201 S. 21st St., 215-567-0532, fpcphila.org.

by Sam Kaplan

Thu., April 22, 8 p.m., $25, L'Etage, 624 S. Sixth St., 215-592-0656, creperie-beaumonde.com.

by Josh Middleton