BEEN THERE/DONE THAT: May 10

The Web site for the award-winning alternative weekly, the Philadelphia City Paper.

options

BEEN THERE/DONE THAT: May 10

POSTED: Monday, May 10, 2010, 5:15 PM

Filed Under: Been There, Done That

Photo | Drew Lazor

From "Give Pizza Chance" at Rocket Cat

When we're not editing and writing and proofing and stressing, we A&E editors keep busy getting our culture on. Since we (that'd be Patrick Rapa, music editor; Carolyn Huckabay, arts editor; Molly Eichel, movies/agenda editor; and occasionally Holly Otterbein, staff writer/arts patron) know Philly's teeming with artsy happenings, we'll give you a weekly roundup of where we've been and what we've seen. But we can't see it all. We're taking a cue from Team Meal Ticket — who diligently report on how they've spent their foodie weekends — and opening the floor to you: Leave a comment and let us know what you've been up to since Friday at 5.

CH: Carolyn Huckabay PR: Patrick Rapa ME: Molly Eichel

What We Saw:

— Hit up Bambi Gallery's May exhibits, Erin M. Riley's "How's My Driving?" and Matt Osborn's "Dead Reckoning," and almost bought a Members Only jacket at Jinxed. But didn't because that would be ridiculous. —CH

— Went to the Troc to see Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live. I wrote that up already but I can't stress enough the insane, scary majesty of Puddles Pity Party — a hulking clown with Jim Morrison's voice and John Wayne Gacy's charisma. —PR

— Feasted on Give Pizza Chance at Rocket Cat, which featured some excellent pieces, including curator Brain/Brian Dwyer's revisionist pizza world history and the hilarious Christmas-themed statuettes by Michael P. Heneshan, complete with back story (pictured above). —ME

What We Watched:

— Accidental Sports Night marathon — since there are only two seasons, it felt like more of a challenge to get to the end. Gotta say, while I wish they'd picked up a third season, I was happy to see it end/see the light of day afterward. The Josh Malina crush holds steady. —CH

— After discussing it at length, we watched the scene of Marion Ravenwood out-drinking the huge Nepalese guy in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's my favorite scene in all of the Indys, which is part of the reason I cried at the end of the fourth one when (SPOILER!) Indiana and Marion finally got married. —ME

— Oh geez: I might be older than I think I am because I found myself watching Survivor online. I've been a fan of the show in the past, but I have no idea when it's on these days. It's all there on CBS.com. —PR

— I watched all of Ski School, which features a large portion of the cast from perennial fave Summer School. Yes, I am ashamed of myself. —ME

Where We Went:

--In search of a belated Mother's Day card (my parents are on vacation! I'm not a bad daughter, swear), wandered to the Gayborhood and found Paper on Pine had moved to 13th Street (yet kept its name). Spent $6 on a bright-orange Sesame Letterpress card; hoping Mom will appreciate something non-sappy-crappy-Hallmarky. —CH

—After card shopping, discovered something truly magical: Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran's year-old Gayborhood gift shop, Verde. Holy crap. Fresh flowers, gorgeous clutches, handmade jewelry, stylish hats, ARTISANAL CHOCOLATES and much, much more. New favorite store in Philly, seriously. —CH

What We Listen To:

— Dutifully switched on This American Life last night to hear CP's Isaiah Thompson fulfill his lifelong dream of participating in the public radio program (and meeting Ira Glass, to boot). Not for nothing, the story — about a group of ex-sex offenders forced to live under a bridge in Miami — is worth a listen. —CH

What We Read:

— Just finished up Janet Malcolm's ridiculously long Anatomy of a Murder Trial piece, which really only proved that I still don't like Janet Malcolm. —ME

— I may or may have been late to work today because I've been consumed by Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. At first, I totally didn't get what the fuss was about but then BLAMMO! The book turns and it smacks you in the face with its awesomity. I've got 100 pages left and I'm dying to find out what happens. Here's my problem: Should I go straight in to the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire, or stick with the next book on my list — Let the Great World Spin? Help me decide! —ME

—Nostalgia! Started re-reading A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I forgot how much I loved it. —ME

Caitlin

Posted 2010-05-11 11:09:41

Molly, I vote "Let the Great World Spin."  It seems everyone I know is reading it now and everyone also seems to be loving it.  It's next up on my list, but my weekend of midwestern travel was occupied by "The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia."  It is... okay.  It is mostly making me want to reread the Narnia series for the thousandth time.

Drew Lazor

Posted 2010-05-11 11:24:08

This weekend I saw a midnight screening of "Birdemic" at Ritz East. It was way worse than I could've ever imagined and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it! The movie also introduced me to the soulful sounds of Mr. Damien Carter — a pivotal scene involving the two main characters doing horrible robot dancing featured his international smash hit "Just Hanging Out," which you can preview here.

David

Posted 2010-05-11 17:03:58

Definately Let The Great World Spin. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Amazing. Looking forward to hearing your views.

Molly Eichel

Posted 2010-05-11 17:10:17

Ok David and Caitlin, you've convinced me. Even though I have Larsson fever and want to go vacation in Sweden (sans murder, natch), Let the Great World Spin it is

Posted 2010-05-11 18:09:48

Aside from the Flyers and two(!) non CSN Phillies games, I watched the fucking incredible Betty White SNL episode. I'm not one of those people who preach that SNL's been on a downward spiral since it's heyday, and I think this is a contender for top 10 episodes of all time.

Spent some time reading Michael J. Trinklien's Lost States just out from Quirk and the Rodale Book of Composting.

My sister, brother-in-law and I took our respective mothers to Bartram's Gardens for their annual Mother's Day plant sale (Janis bought an iris), where they were also holding a discussion and signing for the release of the new book William Bartram, The Search for Nature's Design: Selected Art, Letters, and Unpublished Writings, tho we did not stick around due primarily to a young nephew completely wiped out by many, many trips up and down the Bartram's Gardens' playground's spiral sliding board.

Lindsey

Posted 2010-05-12 10:23:43

While birthday shopping for my dad I stumbled across the Hold Steady's new album and had to buy it. I've been in love with them since ME here introduced me to them back in college (as soon as I heard the first line to hornets! hornets! I was sold) and although it's definitely not my favorite output of theirs, I got to say I've been really digging it. Pretty much all I've been listening to since I picked it up. But then again, any band that can be compared to The Boss is generally okay by me.

justjoshfunk1

Posted 2010-05-12 11:41:07

Betty White was phenomenal. That episode was SNL's highest rated show since Tina Fey did Sarah Palin in the fall of '08. Go Betty!

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 5:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Comments (0)

Q&A with SHARI SOLANIS: "The goal isn't pornography"
What we're trying to do this weekend
SEXY TIME Q&A: I've never had an orgasm during sex with a man — and I'm 30!
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: Indian fare rules, Dunder Mifflin lives on, Tom Jones is a god
SWIMMING HOLES: Some of our favorite places to get wet
Q&A with Goon’s Seann William Scott

About this blog

Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

Follow Critical Mass editors Patrick Rapa and Emily Guendelsberger on Twitter:

@mission2denmark | @emilygee

Search this blog:

Topics:

Blog archives:

May
April
March

February
January

Past Archives: