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ISSUE . July 29th, 2010
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Khyber Last Show Ever
Philly's most storied rock club pulls the plug.
by Brian Howard
Bonus Web Content
The epicenter of the evolution was The Khyber Pass Pub. The narrow room with the low ceiling in which bands played with their backs to a plate glass window looking out onto Second Street was in many ways imperfect. But it had a mystique. It was legend.

Web Exclusive
The Constant
In a citypaper.net exclusive, Jason Giballo, The Khyber’s longtime door man, cleaning man and spiritual center, in his own words about the club’s legacy.
What’s that famous saying? "When it comes to the legend and the truth, always print the legend." With The Khyber, it's always the truth. People aren't waxing your car when they tell you the stories about when Iggy Pop played that special show.



Feedback:
Letters to the Editor
What You Say
"As long as soccer keeps serving up those enthralling 1-0 and 0-0 games, the sport will never see the advertisers, TV time and, most importantly, attendance."



News :: A Million StoriesA Million Stories
All the news we care to print.
by Jeffrey C. Billman, Holly Otterbein and Will Stone
Ipso facto, when bee news comes along, we are required to care, even if we don't want to.

A Waste of Time
The city's about to release its long-awaited DROP report. Are you excited, too?
by Ralph Cipriano
Mayor Michael Nutter has waited four months for a Boston College study of the city's Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) program.

Man Overboard!:
Putting out the Call
What else might be repaired with a little nudging?
by Isaiah Thompson
A hunk of ice spontaneously dislodged itself from my frozen heart and drifted gently downstream. It was a small matter in a big city, sure — but to some people, it will make a difference.

Soapboxer:
A Modest Proposal
Jeffrey C. Billman tells you what to think
by Jeffrey C. Billman
Facts and reason are now irrelevant, and things that would once have been derided as fringe conspiracy theories, even by mainstream conservatives, are discussed as if both sides are equally meritorious.

Kids Are Different
Should Joseph Ligon spend the rest of his life in jail for a crime he committed at 15?
by Matt Stroud
"When you commit a crime as a juvenile, you probably wouldn't make those same choices when you're an adult. I want to give people the chance to become better people and to be rewarded for that."



Arts :: Magic Number
Re-View:
Magic Number
Robin Rice on Visual Art: "RSVP" at LGTripp Gallery
by Robin Rice
LGTripp Gallery is worth the wait. Airy with a vaulted ceiling and large arched windows, it is home to a stable of 14 respected area artists; however, right now the gallery is hosting an invitational summer show (hence the title "RSVP").

Last Chance
Catch it or regret it
by Holly Otterbein
Bonus Web Content
Locks Gallery | Moore College of Art & Design | Seraphin Gallery

Arts Picks:
Shakespeare in Clark Park
Through Aug. 1, 7 p.m., free, 43rd Street and Chester Avenue, 215-462-2115, shakespeareinclarkpark.org.

by Mark Cofta
For Shakespeare in Clark Park's fifth annual summer production, all director Maria Moller did was look around.

Kaleidoscope
Packing for Mars | Mad Decent Block Party | Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum | "Let's Go Enjoy Nature!"

Arts Picks:
Rick Moody/Larry Doyle
Thu., July 29, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.

by Will Stone
Rick Moody and Larry Doyle's latest novels transport a common earthling trope via spaceship into an orgy of sci-fi gimmicks.



Movies :: Dinner for SchmucksDinner for Schmucks
City Paper Grade: C
by Shaun Brady
Carell's character combines the delusional naïveté and lack of self-awareness of Michael Scott, but dumbs it down to the degree that you want less to laugh at him than find a nice institution that will care for his needs.



Music :: 'Cause I'm a Creepoid'Cause I'm a Creepoid
How four Philly indie thugs found their sound.
by John Vettese
"Indie thug." If all you know of Creepoid is the drifty, echoing folk tones on their Yellow Life Giver 7-inch, the descriptor might strike you as dead wrong.

Music Picks:
Arcade Fire
Mon., Aug. 2, 7:30 p.m., $29.50-$49.50, with Spoon, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, manncenter.org.

by Patrick Rapa
The Suburbs won't be released until the day after Arcade Fire plays the Mann, but that's not important for two reasons.

Robyn/Kelis
Tue., Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m., $20-$22, with Dan Black and Far East Movement, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-336-2000, thetroc.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman
This is truly the dance-diva double bill to beat this summer.

Reconsider Me:
Jewel Schmewel
Jewel's Sweet and Wild
by M.J. Fine
Say this much for Jewel: She doesn't just stick to the sound that made her rich.

Music Picks:
Wailin' Jennys
Sun., Aug. 1, 8 p.m., $22-$38, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Mary Armstrong
How the Wailin' Jennys' latest album landed on the Billboard bluegrass chart is a mystery to anyone who knows what bluegrass sounds like.

The Black Keys
Fri., July 30, 7:30 p.m., $32, with The Morning Benders, Great Plaza at Penn's Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street, delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman
The dynamic duo is back with Brothers, a triumphant, swampy burner cut at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

The Shackeltons
Thu., July 29, 9 p.m., $8, with The Cringe, Morning Teleportation and This Temper, The Khyber, 56 S. Second St., 215-238-5888, thekhyber.com.

by John Vettese
The band is a tight unit, Redding playing a charismatic frontman by dancing, spinning, gesturing and howling.

One Track Mind:
La Roux
"Bulletproof"
by K. Ross Hoffman
La Roux sure do lead a thrilling, treacherous life. Or so the titles of their singles would have you believe.



Food :: Well EnoughWell Enough
Sporadically good food is keeping the Wishing Well out of the gastropub conversation.
by Elisa Ludwig
All of the elements for gastropub success — daring dishes, beer nerdery, nostalgic '80s soundtrack — would seem to be in place here. But so far, the food, divided into "plates," salads and burgers, is not rising above average old-school bar fare.

Web Exclusive
What's Cooking:
The Week in Eats
Get Out!
by Eric Henney
Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival | Dogfish Head "Hoppy Hour" at Morton's | Crab Week at fish | Second Annual Heritage Conservancy Farm-to-Table Dinner | Kenzinger Clambake at Johnny Brenda's | Pumpkin Market Community Festival

Splitting the Adam
Introducing CP's new restaurant critic, Adam Erace.
by Drew Lazor
Trey Popp, who started reviewing restaurants for City Paper in 2006, has moved on to become the restaurant critic at Philadelphia magazine. While we'll certainly miss Trey and his devilishly erudite stylings, I'm extremely excited to introduce his replacement.

Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Tutti Frutti | Crocodile Philly | Le Bec-Fin



Agenda :: Video Drones
Agenda Lead:
Video Drones
The bloggers/video scavengers of Everything is Terrible! go live with Magick and monsters.
by Lauren Macaluso
For the past year, the EIT! bloggers have mastered their editing skills and experimented with psychedelic visuals to present a feature-length mash-up of their best clips called 2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift, which the seven friends have taken on a tour dubbed The Quest for the Magick Crystal.

Agenda Picks:
Philadelphia Dance Day
Sat., July 31, 11:30 a.m.-mid., various GradHo and Rittenhouse Square venues, 215-645-2717, phillydancefitness.com.
by Julia Askenase
It's the ideal commitment-free opportunity for dancers of any skill level to test out a variety of styles.

2nd Street Festival
Sun., Aug. 1, noon-9 p.m., free, Second Street from Germantown Avene to Green Street, nolibs.com.
by Will Stone
Beer gardens and soundstages will sprout in the summer heat of NoLibs this weekend, showering Second Street love on locals and neighborhood newcomers alike.

DooWop Car Show and Street Festival
RESCHEDULED FOR SUN., AUG. 8, NOON-5 P.M. Sun., Aug. 1, noon-5 p.m., free, East Passyunk Avenue between McKean and Dickinson streets, 267-307-8662, visiteastpassyunk.com.
by Stephen Rose
Gearheads, start your engines!

The Black Women's Arts Festival
Thu.-Sun., July 29-Aug. 1, $7-$10, The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.; Big Blue Marble Bookstore, 551 Carpenter Lane; bwafphilly.org.
by Katy Bergen
Now in its seventh year, the Black Women's Arts Festival includes workshops, book readings, parties, vendors and performers, all celebrating the artistic contributions and accomplishments of black women.

Icepack
Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
This has been a cruel summer for those we love, those we know, those we hardly know but get what they meant to those around them.

Agenda Picks:
PhillyIMC
Fri., July 30, 6 p.m., free, LAVA, 4134 Lancaster Ave.; Sat., July 31, 6 p.m., free, Puppet Warehouse, 4100 Haverford Ave.; phillyimc.org.
by Jen Rini
PhillyIMC celebrates their right to party with an extravaganza marking its 10-year anniversary.

Life During Wartime
Fri., July 30, 8 p.m., $10-$12, The Manhattan Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577, themanhattanroom.com.
by Marielle Mondon
Vintage Muse's quest is to create costume parties, taking inspiration from historical events and encouraging more dress-up among Philadelphians.

Randy Flash
Thu., July 29, 6 p.m.-2 a.m., $20, w/ DJs Terrell Clark, Lee Jones, Dirty, DEL, Mike Maserati and more, Octo, 221 N. Columbus Blvd., 215-923-6286, octophilly.com
by Gair Marking
As evidenced by the outpouring of support from all walks of the community, Randy Flash's presence in Philly club culture will be sorely missed.

Planet Earth with the Philadelphia Orchestra
Thu., July 29, 8:30 p.m., $10-$55, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 5201 Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999, manncenter.org.
by Stephen Rose
Lose yourself in the sights and beauty of our world as the Mann Center screens BBC's critically acclaimed Planet Earth.




 
 
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