Click Here To Join The Celebration!
ISSUE . August 21st 2008
 

We Need A Hero
Mild mannered off the mound but a bulldog on it, can young Cole Hamels save our fair metropolis?
by E. James Beale
It was the fifth inning, and young Cole Hamels was throwing a no-hitter. His team, nationally ranked Rancho Bernardo, was facing Torrey Pines, a rival high school in San Diego's prestigious Palomar League, and Rancho Bernardo was up by a run.



Editor's Letter:
Hero Worship
by Brian Howard
Phillies ace Cole Hamels was a unicorn. The tooth fairy. Santa Claus. From August 2002 till May 2006, the man — a boy, really — was a mythical figure for Philadelphians. A sasquatch. He may as well not have existed.

Slant:
For Whom the Tolls Toll
by Jay Nachman
I'm normally no daredevil, but I took my life into my hands a few weeks ago. Multiple times. I had to traverse Interstate 80 for

Loose Canon:
Blight Inside City Hall
"Why can't they write citations?" asks SCRUB's Mary Tracy.
by Bruce Schimmel
Mary Tracy, renowned billboard battler, is confused. She finally has a mayor she really likes. So how come, she wonders, is she still fighting City Hall?

Feedback:
Letters to the Editor
What You Say
"I suppose the disembodied breasts [I submitted] are not funny enough for CP. Oh well! Love ya anyway. Where else would I go to get my tranny hooker services?"



Naked City :: Strange Lab PartnersStrange Lab Partners
God, science and a $1.6 million prize intersect in a Conshohocken office park.
by Alicia Puglionesi
Tucked into the fifth floor of a generic office park in suburban West Conshohocken, the Templeton Foundation's unlikely headquarters belies its financial potency.

Icepack
Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.
by A.D. Amorosi
Sure, I started to feel a little creepy hanging around kids with that particular tip of hot red in my hair. But more than that, I realized there were a few things I haven't done yet with summer 2008 that I needed to get done.

Running Numbers
A scholarly look at the digits that matter.
by Nick Norlen
Why should you go to the job fair? Because you just spent the last week playing Dance Dance, looking at model trains and pretending to be a pirate ... and decided to combine those activities into an exciting new career!



News :: Where the Beef IsWhere the Beef Is
A labor dust-up at an area meat-packing plant ends where it began.
by Tom Namako
They usually received a Christmas bonus, about 20 hours of extra pay that could go toward gifts. But as they took their seats in the cafeteria and opened their envelopes, the workers found just their normal paychecks.

The Bell Curve
City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter
When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

God Goes Viral
When the Lord speaks through billboards, does anyone listen?
by Boyce Upholt
God, apparently, has decided to speak to us through billboards — and the medium may be persuasive.

Political Notebook:
Where It's At
by Mary F. Patel
Convention fever hits this week as state delegates prepare for the national conventions.



Arts :: Oedipus Rec
Art:
Oedipus Rec
Live Arts' first sold-out show ramps up Greek tragedy.
by A.D. Amorosi
If you stand at Pattison Avenue and listen through the cool of the evening at The Lakes — South Philly's FDR Park — you can hear the echo of skateboard wheels clacking and whirring.

Web Exclusive
Heads of Skate
Bonus interviews with the creators of Oedpus at FDR.
by A.D. Amorosi
There was so much more to the story behind Oedipus at FDR, I asked City Paper to run the rest of my interviews online.

Full Exposure:
Zoom In, Trip Out
John Vettese sees what develops
by John Vettese
Bonus Web Content
It's much easier now for casual photographers to come away from vacation with exceptional shots than it was under the slide-show regime.

Arts Picks:
The Art of the Brick
Opening reception Sat., Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with artist Nathan Sawaya; through Nov. 30, $4-$8, American Swedish Historical Museum, 1900 Pattison Ave., 215-389-1776, americanswedish.org, brickartist.com.
by Aaron Moselle
Bonus Web Content
In 1978, Nathan Sawaya's parents gave him his first set of Lego bricks. Sawaya's childhood passion for Legos hasn't waned.

Miro Through the Lens
Thu., Aug. 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m., free, Miro Dance Theatre, Girard College, 2101 S. College Ave., mirodancetheatre.org.
Don't wait around for a velvet curtain to part at Miro Dance Theatre's Open Studio next Thursday night.



Arts Agenda :: Last Chance
Last Chance:
Last Chance
Catch it or Regret It
Art & the City | Between Two States: Trenton Duerksen & Ryan McCartney | Until I Reach My Home ...

Arts Agenda Picks:
On The DL
Date Night
by Tami Fertig
Say what you will about Ghost, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore nailed that four-handed clay-throwing thing.

Just Do It
Parenting 101: The Musical
by Helen I. Hwang
Now at the Kimmel Center's Innovation Studio, Parenting 101 is a series of musical vignettes touching upon the pain of giving birth, the nasty accidents of potty training, the trauma of kindergarten, the perils of your child's first date, the foibles at their wedding and the witnessing of the cycle turning full circle when your offspring becomes a parent.

Galleries
Galleries are usually open Tuesdays through Saturdays; please call the gallery for exact days and hours. Receptions are denoted by a * . 13 NORTH

Museums/Exhibits
Museums and exhibits have varying schedules;please call for exact days, hours and prices. 12 STEPS DOWN , 831 Christian St., 215-238-0379. MEGAN BROWN, Features recent

Performing Arts
specific dates, times and ticket information. theater FIRST PERSON ARTS STORYSLAMS This month's theme at the competitive storytelling showcase is "Worst Ever." Puppeteer Beth Nixon

Readings/Book Signings
BIG BLUE YOUNG ADULT BOOK DISCUSSION This month, the book young adult book club will be discuissing "Changeling" by Delia Sherman. Thu, Aug. 28, 7pm,



Movies :: From Bard to WorseFrom Bard to Worse
Steve Coogan suffers the slings and arrows of being a dopey Shakespeare hopeful.
by Shaun Brady
Here, Fleming chucks his every idea at the screen, content that enough will stick even if the result is complete tonal incoherence.

Where There's a Will
by Shaun Brady
Dana Marschz is a horrible actor, a lousy teacher, an indifferent husband and a textbook case of repressed anger. That said, he's also essentially a decent guy — which instantly separates him from the bulk of Steve Coogan's characters.

Drum Come True
Rainn Wilson on hitting it big in The Rocker — and in his own life.
by Sam Adams
With his towering frame and Frankenstein forehead, Wilson is hardly a cookie-cutter leading man. "I like to play outsiders," he says, "and misfits and geeks and weirdos. I don't know how to play popular, well-adjusted people. That's my tribe."

Repertory Film
Your weekly guide to local film events, festivals and under-the-radar screenings.
Send repertory film listings to tami.fertig@citypaper.net.



Music :: What a RushWhat a Rush
Ports of Call was in the mood — so why wait?
by Patrick Rapa
Bonus Web Content
Depending on how you look at it, Ports of Call either rushed its debut album or took its sweet, sweet time.

Suite Spot:
For the Records
Peter Burwasser on Classical
Records sound better than CDs. I was going to say they sound different, but that would be wishy-washy. CDs are more convenient in almost every respect, and cover a wider frequency range, but in terms of musicality, they are inferior to their vinyl forefathers.

Soundadvice
Get Out!
Liz Phair | Herculaneum | Defiance, Ohio | The West Philadelphia Orchestra | The Meatmen

Music Picks:
Ponytail
Fri., Aug. 22, 8 p.m., $10, with Don Caballero and An Albatross, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave., 866-468-7619, johnnybrendas.com.
by Kevin Pearson
Don't let the name fool you. The members of Ponytail know how to let their hair down. Touted as one of today's best live bands, the Baltimore foursome plays prepubescent math rock with enough energy to power a small plane.

Nico Muhly
Fri., Aug. 22, 7 p.m., $20, all ages, with Sam Amidon and Doveman, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.
by Shaun Brady
Rock/Experimental/Classical Fanatics like to tout their favorite thespians' abilities by claiming they can recite the phone book and make it interesting: Composer/keyboardist/blogger Nico Muhly has

Schwervon!
Thu., Aug. 21, 7 p.m., $5, with Charles Latham and Brook Pridemore, Green Line Café, 4426 Locust St., 215-222-0799, greenlinecafe.com.
by Tami Fertig
Anti-folk's got a reputation for being all gentle boy-girl vocals and ditties about bikes and cartoons, but Schwervon!'s nothing like that.



Food :: City of ManyCity of Many
Genuine Bread and Specialty Shoppe serves in more ways than one.
by Joel Tannenbaum
Tucked away on a quiet block of Springfield Avenue, the Genuine Bread and Specialty Shoppe accomplishes much more than its name suggests.

Feeding Frenzy
Restaurants opening, closing and pending
by Drew Lazor
Du Jour Symphony House | Cactus Restaurant and Bar | Mémé| Bar 210 at Lacroix

Back to El Futuro
by Trey Popp
First, our belongings freshly transferred from California to a walk-up on Walnut Street, my lovely and I went out to find a six-pack. Two useless grocery stores and one $11 deli purchase later, the reality of state-controlled suds had us in a daze. How were we going to live in this place?

Top 5:
Free Bar Snacks
Amazing Graze
by Kelly White
1 Chips | 2 Pizza | 3 Popcorn | 4 Oyster Crackers | 5 Olives

What's Cooking
Get Out!
by Claire Bullen
Seventh Annual Garry Maddox Barbecue Challenge | Epicurious Farmers Market Tour | Summer Cooking and Wine with Christina Dimacali | Beer of the Bike | Drink Like a Fox Night



Agenda :: Icing Breaker
Agenda Lead:
Icing Breaker
Sweet Talking with the Film Bandits
by Monica Weymouth
When Rosalie Kicks starts talking about her latest project, Pinheads!, it's hard to imagine she 9-to-5s it in human resources.

Shopping Spree
Fashion > Forward
by Monica Weymouth
Compassion in Fashion | Reward | 4th on 4th at Bus Stop | Give Festival Vendors

Agenda Picks:
Been There/Done That
Runway Project
by Rebecca Grites
After entering National Mechanics last Wednesday, I knew the task at hand wouldn't be simple. A large group of Runway Project vets had already assembled, and my dear friend and fellow fashionista Amber and I were new to the game.

What We Heart
by Rebecca Grites
Hey hot pants, keep your thong to yourself with the help of Sailor Jerry's tattoo-art-inspired belt buckles.

Just Do It
Monster-Mania Con
by Aaron Moselle
Halloween isn't due up on the calendar for another two months, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to get your zombie fix.


Recent Comments
Classifieds
Advertisements
 
Search Restaurants


search restaurants by name
search by neighborhood
Search
search by cuisine
Search Movies
title
theater

Search