You can't help but wonder what drove him here: from troubled, drug-addled youth to felon to college student to devoted activist to homeless dropout, from avowed pacifist to suspected, would-be terrorist; a man who, in just one year, became so wrapped up in a cause that he isolated himself not only from his family, but also from the friends who tried to help him and fellow activists who, now, aren't quite sure what to make of the case against him.

Be careful, Tom: You're almost in Frank Rizzo territory.

"It's the moment you've all been waiting for!"

by Isaiah Thompson

It's the definition of throwing good money after bad.

Sans her longtime collaborator, Blanka Zizka takes on a new partner: Shakespeare.

by A.D. Amorosi

Oct. 6-Nov. 7, $15-$26, Underground Arts at the Wolf Building, 340 N. 12th St., 215-627-2577, bratproductions.org.

by A.D. Amorosi

Philadelphia Artists' Collective's The Duchess of Malfi

by Mark Cofta

Through Oct. 17, $10-$38, Act II Playhouse, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, 215-654-0200, act2.org.

by Mark Cofta

Through Oct. 29, free, Slought Foundation, 4017 Walnut St., 215-701-4627, slought.org.

by Shaun Brady

Vincent Michael Gallery's "Luxuria et Avaritia: The New American Grotesque"| RiverCity Festival | Wild Nothing | A.L. Kennedy and Gary Shteyngart

Opening reception Fri., Oct. 1, 7-10 p.m., free, through Oct. 31, studio: christensen, 333 S. 20th St., 610-248-1943, gambini.info.

by Juliana Reyes

Oct. 1-3, 8 p.m, $15, Tiberino Museum, 3819 Hamilton St., 800-838-3006, brownpapertickets.com.

by Daniella Wexler

The reach of the allegedly egalitarian Internet has upended the social order, as easily as ignoring a friend request.

Send repertory film listings to carolyn.huckabay@citypaper.net.

Van Dyke Parks has been at the epicenter of American pop since the dawn of the '60s.

Mon., Oct. 4, 8 p.m., $24-$50.50, with Jolie Holland, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Wed., Oct. 6, 8 p.m., $22-$29.60, with Dom and Bobby Birdman, Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St., 800-745-3000, electricfactory.info.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Otello is a stringing together of strokes of genius.

by Peter Burwasser

Sun., Oct. 3, 8 p.m., $18, with Jeffrey Lewis, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 877-435-9849, r5productions.com.

by Patrick Rapa

Fri., Oct. 1, 9 p.m., $18.50-$21, with Radar Brothers, The Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888, thetroc.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Thu., Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m., $12, with Lonely Forest, Cameron McGill and What Army, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 877-435-9849, r5productions.com.

by John Vettese

Thu., Sept. 30, 9 p.m., $13, with Efterklang and Esben and the Witch, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 877-435-9849, johnnybrendas.com.

by Patrick Rapa

The Washington Post spirits contributor and Drexel professor gets paid to drink amazing liquor, and we should hate him accordingly.

What makes Rybread the city's cutest little sandwich shop? After breakfast, lunch and lunch again, I still can't put a finger on it.

Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin Event at The Institute | Midtown Village Fall Festival | Fall Fundraiser with Philadelphia Magic Gardens | DOCKtoberfest | Dig In! Slow Food Philly Event

Sat., Oct. 2, noon, free, 11th to Broad streets from Spruce to Market, midtownvillage.org.

"Philly doesn't have the platform for companies to show off their products. I've seen some companies go to other cities for their [product] launches. We're putting a stop to this right now."

This autumn truly starts — as all falls in Philadelphia should forevermore — with a block party and parade on Walnut Street hosted by my-man-pots-n-pans Jerry Blavat.

Sept. 30-Oct. 3, $10 (per show), $20 (per day) or $50 (entire festival), Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., duofest.com.

by Brian Howard

Sun., Oct. 3, noon-5 p.m., $20-$50, Urban Outfitters, 5000 S. Broad St., 215-465-3890, sorrphilly.wordpress.com.

by Daniella Wexler