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Archive: February, 2012
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.
Impressive permanent collections may have put our area museums on the map, but it's the rotating exhibits that keep visitors coming back. Every Thursday, Abigail Minor updates you on the newest and most browse-worthy.
Busted ears, tattoo flash and Jewish trees after the jump... »
The Immaculata University crowd who stormed The Mighty Macs screening at the Kimmel Center a few months back (I sat with a row of nuns) should be gearing up for the release of its DVD on Feb 21. To that end, Immaculata is holding a bash that night at the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing with local director/screenwriter Tim Chambers, along with players from the Mighty Macs National Women’s College Basketball Championship teams. Brûlée Catering double teams on the food.
Brian Nagele of Philly2Night has finally found a name for the restaurant part of his newly leased (from Bart Blatstein) North Shore Swim Club (the old Arrow): the Havana Room starring one-time Il Pittore/Parc chef Sean Elstone.
Bckseet Productions’ Greg DeCandia has occupied theatrical space at Society Hill Playhouse and saloons in the South Street area in the past. With PHLash: A Mob Story he’s working with another new company, Ars Gratia Artis, and a new spot at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School (5501 Cedar Ave., boyslatin.org) where he’s been teaching drama for a year. This first show (Feb. 9-11) is a documentary-style theatrical work directed by DeCandia where the students interviewed Captain William Fisher (sergeant of civil affairs of the Philly PD), chief assistant DA Angel Flores, reverend Carl Fichett (VP of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACP) and they approached Mayor Nutter who approved the use of video of him talking about Philly youth violence. DeCandia and AGA are looking to move PHLash to a larger professional stage after this run.
Colin Farrell enthusiasts and all around paps, hold your horses. The handsome actor, due in to Philadelphia to lens the NYC-mob drama Dead Man Down is supposedly still doing post work on the just-wrapped Seven Psychopaths co-starring Woody Harrelson, Abbie Cornish and Tom Waits. Keep your panties on.
View galleryFrom racy burlesque to horny-animal bonding, we have a list of Valentine's Day events that'll suit every love bird under the Philly sun.
✚ Love Letter Writing Workshop by Courtney Sexton
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways … You may not be an expert at sonnets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t show your true romantic self through the lovely and (almost) lost art of letter writing. Spend an evening on the Main Line to attend professional author/letter writer Samara O’Shea’s workshop, For the Love of Letters, where she’ll spice up the ancient art form and help you write something not-barf-worthy for your sweetie.
Feb. 9, 6:45 p.m., free, Little Theatre, Harcum College, 750 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr, 610-526-6184, harcum.edu.
Browsing through forgotten polaroids in the comfort of your home is an experience that'll surely stir up long-forgotten emotion. But what if the same photo were hanging in an open gallery? Could the feelings of nostalgia be duplicated? That's the question at the heart of "Of the Ordinary," the newest exhibit at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center (PPAC).
The collection takes its cues from a "history of appropriation," looking at photos that read as inconsequential at the moment of capture, but when "moving them into a new setting," says PPAC's Christopher Gianunzio, "the meaning changes."
This opening night soiree includes a gallery walkthrough with the artists — like Christian Patterson (pictured), Jason Lazarus and Ron Jude — as well as book signings.
Thu., Feb. 9, 6 p.m., Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, 1400 N. American St. #103, philaphotoarts.org.
In neighborhoods like Feltonville, Hunting Park and Kensington, there aren’t many places for kids to escape the bad influence and danger of the street. But nestled on the corner of West Annsbury and Sixth streets is the Feltonville Dream Center (FDC), where volunteers create a safe environment for inner-city kids to receive the tools and guidance they need to achieve their utmost potential.
The Center (enrolling 30 children aged 5 to 14) offers classes in dance, music, art, creative writing, drama and fashion that are guided by local, arts-educated teachers. Pastor Christian Winters, C.E.O. and founder of FDC, says that, while the workshops are incredibly involved, the goal of the program is to not only keep children out of trouble and help them discover their inner artist; it’s about building the confidence they need to become thriving members of society. “I've found that the children are incredibly gifted in [the arts] and a host of other talents, just with no organized place to develop those gifts,” says Pastor Winters. After spending time at the Center, the teachers “begin to see a cycle of hope returning, and that's the best part of working so close with a community.”
To raise funds for FDC, photographer Marvin Burwell is hosting the Photographer’s Ball, a “creative black tie event” featuring celebrity photog Nigel Barker (America’s Next Top Model), live music performances and a ballroom-dance demonstration.
Sat., Feb. 11, 6 p.m., $125, Cescaphe Ballroom, 923 N. Second St., 215-238-5750, thebridgeteam.net.
Every Wednesday, Chris Brown digs into our events/festivals listings bin and pulls out a little something-something to do every day of the week.
Movie critic (and the guy who compiles our weekly repertory film listings) Michael Gold reviews his favorite Netflix Instant flick of the week.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a holiday more polarizing than Valentine’s Day. The mere mention of Russell Stover is enough to start a bar brawl, and Cupid save the person who dares utter the phrase “Hallmark holiday” to a doe-eyed, lovestruck duo. February 14 is both heartwarming and fear-inducing, a potent combination that makes it difficult to find just the right movie for the occasion.
Leave it to Park Chan-wook, badass master of arthouse-oriented thrillers, to set the perfect mood in Thirst (2009, South Korea, 133 min.). The story of a priest who turns into a vampire after a medical experiment goes awry, Thirst was a critical favorite for its fresh — and terrifyingly carnal — take on the well-worn vampire lore. Lurking underneath the blood-tinted fangs, however, is the illicit and sweeping romance of a priest and his best friend’s wife. It’s their affair that propels this film’s darkest moments before it ultimately lands at a surprisingly heartfelt ending.
Read City Paper's review here.
(michael.gold@citypaper.net) (@migold)
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