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With the help of City Paper film critics, Josh Middleton counts down the weekend's seven new-movie releases, from least- to most-worthy of your precious time and hard-earned dollar bills.
» More REEL TIME: Madonna screws up a perfectly lovely story and The Rock is gross
Art-geek extraordinaire Courtney Sexton presents a weekly selection of Philly's must-see gallery exhibits. This week: Giant cans of pink soda at Napoleon, "Hands On" prints at Projects, and the darker side of Sugarhouse at Crane Arts.
Every Friday, Ryan Carey covers the people and events that are giving Philly the giggles.
David James has been entertaining Philly for seven years. He was Helium Comedy Club’s first-ever Philly's Phunniest in 2006, and today he frequents standup stages all over town.
City Paper: What's the difference between working Helium and 
working Laff House?
David James: At Helium, the audience is usually there to see a specific comic. They'll go out to see someone they recognize from TV or a movie. Or maybe they heard someone funny promoting on the radio. Either that or big name comics like DL Hughley or Bill Burr. The Laff House, it's not no-names, but it's not A-list names. So when [people go there], they go to see a comedy show.
CP: Is there any good way to promote the idea of just going out to see a comedy show when the comedians aren't famous?
DJ: Not really, the thing about comedy clubs is that they don't have to give a shit about you as a comic until you can put butts in seats. You can be getting standing ovations every night, but if you're not selling tickets because people don't know who you are, it doesn't matter. There are guys who will sell out shows because they've been on TV or movies. Then you go to the show and you're like, “This guy's not really a comic, he's just on the stage." … I'm not saying they can't grow into a good comic, but you're not really supposed to be in front of 300 people if you've been doing comedy for nine months. If Will Farrell or Mike Meyers … tried to do standup for an hour, they would eat shit, because it's different and they're not used to it. … I read an article about how Mike Meyers tried doing standup, and he had no idea how hard it was, and he was like, "Fuck this, I'm not doing this anymore!"
» More LOL WITH IT: Q&A with Philly comedian David James
For 14 years, Philadelphia’s Art Sanctuary (628 S. 16th St., 215-232-4485) has been providing a much-needed outlet for African-American creativity. The gallery space functions as classroom, studio and community center while striving to unite communities in an artist’s sanctuary. For the month of February, the Center is getting creative with music and literature, offering new insights into black history.
» More BLACK HISTORY MONTH: A monthlong celebration @ Art Sanctuary
If you’re pissed at the current state of affairs, get off that sad high horse and create your own reality. According to the hedonist masterminds at Swellco & Swellco, it's really that simple. Through performance, video, music and commentary, the Swellco crew has carved out a unique space between fiction and reality. Their psychodelic spin on subversion has often led viewers to ask the question, “What is this?”
Get in on the crazy this Saturday for their highly anticipated Anti-Inhalant Educational Outreach Event, featuring performances from drag queen Needles Jones (pictured), Louise LaTease and her fabulous Huffing Glue Dancers, and an extra-extraordinary Drug Jawn Live Disco Dance Party from Philly's own Jawn Band. As Swellco exec. R.E. Brown says, “Swellco is the voice of the people, because sometimes the people are high and don't know what they're saying.”
Sat., Feb. 11, 9 p.m., free, PhilaMOCA, 531 N. 12th St., swellco2000.com.
Emily Flake's Lulu Eightball comic — animated!
LuLu Eightball Series: What Does Your Bank Have to Offer from Dawn Fidrick on Vimeo.
Our resident DJ on his most boogie-worthy pick of the week.
WHO: DJ Royale, Lee Jones, Tom Charles
WHAT: Every Monday for a year, these guys have been holding down this spiffy party at a different venue each week. So you get the consistency of a weekly event with resident DJs along with the variety of a different place to hang. Keep track of their whereabouts via roverphilly.blogspot.com.
WHEN & WHERE: Mon., Feb. 13, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., free, Trestle Inn, 11th and Callowhill streets, 267-239-0290, thetrestleinn.com.
WHY: Variety is the spice of life, and Mondays suck so make ‘em better with some vibes and drinks.
Devoted poet/avid concert-goer/nerd-grrrl extraordinaire Jane Cassady’s weekly horoscopes run in this space every Friday morning.
Aquarius (Jan 21-Feb. 19): As long as the weather stays mild, put a walk on the calendar with someone you sort of know. See what you can learn, how much can change each other.
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20): Like everyone, you need to be liked, loved, and snuggled in lots of different ways. Send frilly Valentines to every valued member of the team, including pets. Maybe chocolates for the MVPs.
Aries (March 21-April 18): This Valentine’s Day, give yourself a reward for each of your love milestones this year—every couch you’ve slept on, every walk of the-opposite-of-shame, every movie watched while snuggling, every prolonged series of flirty texts. You’ve accomplished a lot, and this coming year will be even better.
Each week, Nina Willbach puts together a rundown of book-centric events that’ll keep you “lit” like a funeral pyre all week long. This week: Literary speed dating, Judy Blume's birthday, and pussy galore.
» More BOOKISH: Literary speed dating, Judy Blume and pussy galore
Al Harris on the week's top five comedy shows.
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