Issue Browser :: 2011-02-24 :: Philadelphia Events, Arts, Restaurants, Music, Movies, Jobs, Classifieds, Blogs

Kevin Brockmeier's got a talent for a sucker punch, working quickly and carefully with a well-sketched character or a chance encounter before opening up and drawing blood.

Hawaiian Punch

Book Quarterly Reviews

by Lee Stabert

Vowell is more of an essayist than a straight historian. With this book, you could even say she's a tour guide.

Day of the Oprichnik by Vladimir Sorokin

Book Quarterly Reviews

by Bianca A .Brown

The Oprichniks indulge in some peculiar vices.

Opinion

Man Overboard!:

Slummin' It

Among our findings were that a handful of local banks were all too happy to grant Coyle vast sums of money on the house.

News

A Matter of Conviction

If Philly cops were fabricating evidence, what happens to the people they sent to jail?

by Matt Stroud

It's been more than two years since the Philadelphia Daily News first published allegations by a longtime confidential informant that Philadelphia narcotics officer Jeffrey Cujdik had fabricated evidence used to obtain search warrants in drug cases.

What’s the cost of DROP?

by Ralph Cipriano

“There’s no advantage to taking DROP.”

A Million Stories

The Bell Curve

CP's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

When news breaks, we make jokes.

Arts

Exile On Reed Street

In a hail of fake blood and bullets, Theatre Exile rises to the challenge with Studio X.

by A.D. Amorosi

The last 12 months have been challenging for Theatre Exile

Of A Feather

Bowerbird and Ladybird flock together to draw local artists out of their comfort zone.

by Shaun Brady

The music that Dustin Hurt has been presenting under the Bowerbird banner over the past five years has traversed a remarkably wide range of styles.

Kaleidoscope

The Pale King | A**holeology: The Cheat Sheet | Sweet Valley Confidentia | Bossypants

Re-View:

Static Cling

Robin Rice on Visual Art

by Robin Rice

The recognition that science is fashion-driven fascinates many artists today.

Arts Picks:

Don Juan

Through March 13, $30, Quintessence Theatre Group, 7137 Germantown Ave., 877-238-5596, quintessencetheatre.org.

by Mark Cofta

Don Juan turns lying, seducing, dueling and blaspheming into a lifestyle.

Arts Pick:

The Ugly One

Through March 13, $30, Walnut Street Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St., 215-574-3550, walnutstreettheatre.org.

by Mark Cofta

The Ugly One, hailed as a plastic surgery absurdist nightmare, couldn't have been set anywhere more appropriate than Southern California.

Alvin Ailey

Sat., Feb. 26, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., Feb. 27, 2 p.m., $26-$72, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, kimmelcenter.org.

by Deni Kasrel

Even people who know next to nothing about dance consider Alvin Ailey a household name.

Movies

Vanishing on 7th Street

[ CITY PAPER GRADE: C- ]

by Sam Adams

John Leguizamo fumbles his way through an underwritten role haplessly.

Music

Music Pick:

The Low Anthem

Fri., Feb. 25, 8 p.m., $15, with Bobby, Daniel Lefkowitz, First Unitarian Sanctuary, 2125 Chestnut St., 877-435-9849, r5productions.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

This Rhode Island band built itself up the old-fashioned way.

Marc Copland

Sat., Feb. 26, 8 and 10 p.m., $20-$22, Chris' Jazz Café, 1421 Sansom St., 215-568-3131, chrisjazzcafe.com.

by Shaun Brady

Angle for a seat near the stage for this one.

Yemen Blues

Tue., March 1, 8 p.m., $36, Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St., 215-627-6747, ari@friendsofofanim.org.

by Mary Armstrong

If you like music that transports you, Yemen Blues ought to do the trick.

Jonathan Richman

Tue., March 1, 8 p.m., $17.50, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 877-435-9849, r5productions.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

Rock 'n' roll's patron saint of childlike wonder, Jonathan Richman has been many things to many people over many years.

The Philadelphia Trio

Sun., Feb. 27, 3 p.m., $13-$18, Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, 610-664-0346, philtrio@aol.com.

by Peter Burwasser

Was this Cliff Lee or a classical music composer?

Music Picks:

Ray Benson

Wed., March 2, 8 p.m., $15, Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St., 215-928-0978, tinangel.com.

by Mary Armstrong

Maybe you know his professional moniker, Ray Benson — founder of Asleep at the Wheel.

Revolver

Fri., Feb. 25, 9 p.m., $10, with Jác and When I Was 12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 877-435-9849, johnnybrendas.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

You might find it hard to get past how terribly nice it all is.

Food

Kennett Work?

This neighborhood restaurant is capable of doing everything — and doing it well.

by Adam Erace

"There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing," the Scottish poet famously said, but in the case of Kennett's staying power, the bard just might be wrong.

Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

Fathom Seafood House | Far From Home Café | Port Richmond Pour House | Cook

Portion Control:

True Blood

BOOK REVIEW: Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef

by Drew Lazor

Hamilton's lush, roundabout journey through the bowels of professional cooking is outlined with incredible wit, lyricism and candor.

What's Cooking

The Week in Eats

by Laurel Rose Purdy

Tour de France: Gascony Dinner at Bistrot La Minette | Ninth Annual Chili Challenge at Victory Brewing Co. | Behind the Scenes Tasting at R2L | The Mentor and the Protege Collaboration at Blackfish | Art In the Age Spirited Beer Dinner at N. 3rd

Agenda

Shopping Spree:

For the Love of Shoes at Bus Stop

Fri., Feb. 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m., free, through April 1, Bus Stop, 750 S. Fourth St., 215-627-2357, busstopboutique.com.

by Julia West

Some shoes inspire outfits, others inspire stories and, in the case of artist Aubrie Costello, shoes have been the muse for an entire art installation.

Agenda Pick:

Stitch 'n Bitch

Thu., Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.

by Julia Askenase

BUST magazine has maintained an independent voice for smart, passionate women known to let their freak flags fly.

Tomas Mournian

Fri., Feb. 25, 5:30 p.m., free, Giovanni's Room, 345 S. 12th St., 215-923-2960, giovannisroom.com.

by Gary M. Kramer

"I wanted to talk about issues of queer youth today," Mournian says of Hidden 's LGBTQ teens.

Rat Pack Live

Sat., Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $20, Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St., 215-731-9230, pgmc.org.

by Kala Jamison

Sporting vintage duds while belting '50s-era Vegas tunes?

Walk for Choice

Sat., Feb. 26, noon, free, Market East Station, 1170 Market St., walkforchoice.tumblr.com.

by Emily Apisa

Philadelphia has all the more reason to get rowdy at the International Walk for Choice 2011.

Quest for Freedom

Sat., Feb. 26, 1 and 3 p.m., free, Philadelphia History Museum, 15 S. Seventh St., 215-685-4827, philadelphiahistory.org/quest.

by Matt Cantor

Philadelphia played a key role in the long road to abolishing slavery, and the Philadelphia History Museum has the goods to prove it.

Jennifer Fox

Sat., Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $12, Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., 215-545-4400, pjff.org.

by Shaun Brady

Fox rarely takes on small projects; instead, her work examines the evolution of a life, the implications of a complex idea, or the repercussions of a major event.

Activist Training

Sat., Feb. 26, 7 p.m., free, Wooden Shoe Books, 704 South St., 215-413-0999, woodenshoebooks.com.

by Diana Palmieri

"There are small ways to make a difference," says Peace Advocacy Network's Ed Coffin.

The Waitstaff

Sun., Feb. 27, 7 p.m., $20, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by Diana Palmieri

For their first show at World Café Live in more than a year, the 'Staff shares the stage with standup star Dave Terruso and comical country crooner Jaylene Dulap.

Icepack

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

by A.D. Amorosi

'Twas a stink pit and all those who sailed her should be glad she died an unceremonious death.

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