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Archive: March, 2012
Man Man drummer Chris Powell has flexed his rhythmic muscles in a variety of eccentric settings, from the avant-sound collective Need New Body and the severe electronic duo Icy Demons to collaborations with the Sun Ra Arkestra and the massive experimental Boadrum drum circles choreographed by Japanese oddballs the Boredoms. Adventuredrum is his newest project, a chance to retain the eclecticism while getting down to what percussion is all about — namely, getting down. The dance band collects six drummers (pared down a touch from the Boredoms’ six or seven dozen, but undoubtedly still impressive within the confines of the Art Museum) to perform music inspired by a collage of sampled sound, synths and exotic percussion gathered from his studies of the music of various world cultures. Whatever all of that ends up sounding like, it’s likely to be an opportunity to freak out while being freaked out.
Fri., March 2, 5:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., $16, with West Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 26th Street & Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100, philamuseum.org, adventuredrum.com.
Devoted poet/avid concert-goer/nerd-grrrl extraordinaire Jane Cassady’s weekly horoscopes run in this space every Friday morning.
Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20): Don’t be afraid of the sunlight — plan little outings each day to acclimate yourself. Let the sparkle on the lake and snow get you bright and ready for spring.
Aries (March 21-April 18): Meditate on the first Cadbury egg of the season. Think about the way the chocolate melts into the fondant, the way the faux egg yolk represents all that is good and new. The orange flavored ones are pretty good, too. Come to think of it, the stars wish they came in raspberry.
Taurus (April 19-May 18): Keep making good, thorough lists of everything you want. Add more little items every day. Include every schedule and nuance. Choose the first three things and then go get them.
The one-night-only pre-opening of Hop Sing Laundromat in Chinatown happened Wednesday night. I must say, from the exact placement of its etchings and candelabras to the open coziness of its aisles (wide enough to drive Lee’s invention of a silver table-side portable cocktail maker through) to its exclusive pricey well-stocked bar shelves (“not done yet, “I spent $30,000 so far and shelves still look empty,” he laughs) I’d say HSL was ready to roar even though Lee still wants to fill those shelves to 1,000 bottle capacity. After having not slept for over 24 hours, Lee created the night’s hearty cocktails — fresh squeezed juices, simple ingredients (no more than four elements for each cocktail) with specialty spirits such as Anejo Patron Tequila, Nolet’s Gin, El Dorado 15 years (rum), Greenbrier Gin, Johnny Drum Private Stock Bourbon, Ultimat Vodka and Booker Bourbon. My wife, Glamorosi, accurately identified one of the secret ingredients of Lee's screwdriver, the orange's pith. Each was a handsome drink. “I want all future guests to understand that we don’t use cheap liquors,” said Lee, early this morning, after just arriving to his home at 8 a.m. “The cocktails were created by me so if you didn’t like something then its my fault and nobody else’s.” Everything was great, Lee. Now let the rest of the world in on the treat. And hey, what was in those tiny vials that Shola Olunoyo and his table mate had with them? I don't think that was one of the night's special cocktails.
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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. This week: Glass flowers, dog bones and mixing messages and media.
Photo: Ronnie Hughes
Liberty in Bloom
Combining the Liberty Museum’s concept of a delicate freedom with the Philadelphia International Flower Show, "Liberty in Bloom," opening this Sunday, presents a collection with the same aesthetic balance and color of Mother Nature without all the pollen. Light ricochets off the smoothly formed flower sculptures and jewelry by local glass artists such as Bernard Katz, Jonathan Mandell and Anna Boothe, which are available for both viewing and purchase. Free admission through March 31 with a Philadelphia International Flower Show ticket stub, and artist Deborah DiMarco leads a free “flameworking” technique demonstration March 8.
Demonstration Thu., March 8, 5:30-8 p.m., through April 29, $2-$7, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St., 215-925-2800, libertymuseum.org.
Each week, Nina Willbach puts together a rundown of book-centric events. This week: Pizza poetry, teengirl fantasies and the enigmatic Mrs. Nixon.
Thursday, March 1
Who knows Mrs. Nixon?
In the years since Richard Nixon left the Oval Office, people have been trying to unravel the shock and controversy that characterized his time as president. Tonight, the library offers two readings on that period: Thomas Mallon's book Watergate takes a new look at one of our country's messiest affairs, giving human voices to names on documents and crafting the kind of intriguing account that only a historical novelist could conjure. Ann Beattie seeks to understand things from the eyes of one of the more forgotten first ladies, Mrs. Pat Nixon, wondering what it must have been like to support such a public and controversial husband. As the unofficial voice of the baby boomers, Beattie draws from news sources to piece together a picture of a woman often misunderstood by her generation.
7:30 p.m., $15, Free Library Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., libwww.freelibrary.org/authorevents/
Al Harris on the week's top five four comedy shows.
When he isn’t playing a firefighter or getting paid to drive around in the world’s most awesome cars, Adam Ferrara is a standup comic. The NYC-based comedian has been a series regular on FX’s Rescue Me and is currently a co-host of History Channel’s Top Gear. Ferrara’s got jokes on everything from Zoloft, the Pope and, of course, his girlfriend.
Thu. March 1, 8 p.m, Fri.-Sat March 2-3 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., $16-$33, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St. 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com.
Actually, there's a decent reason. Some cover stories got moved around on the big board and the Fiction/Poetry Issue will now be April 5, meaning we have a little more time to get these things organized, read, judged, argued over, copy edited, illustrated, etc. So.
The new deadline is Wednesday, March 7, 5 p.m.
That's not a postmarked-by deadline, that's when we need to have your entries in our hands. It's just one extra week. Get writing! Submit today!
Of course, you need to know a lot more than just the deadline. Go here for all the rules and stuff.
For Jews the world over, Shabbat dinner is the Friday-night ritual dedicated to putting your feet up, enjoying a nice family dinner, and generally reveling in the day of rest. This week, the Gershman Y adds an educational twist to the age-old tradition when they present their Jews and Fashion Shabbat Dinner.
Jewish immigrants have had a significant impact on the garment industry, from Levi-Strauss' jeans to the work of Ida Rosenthal (pictured), the lady responsible for the modern brassiere. Today, Jewish designers like Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors dominate the runway circuit, influencing seasonal style trends the world over.
The event will begin with a tour of the Y's new exhibit, "Jews and Mending," which explores how traditional mending practices inform contemporary art. Following the gallery tour, guests will be served a kosher dinner before ending the evening with a lecture from scholar Phyllis Dillon on the impact of Jews on the American clothing industry. You're sure to walk away with a full stomach and some new fashion education under that tight-fitting belt.
Fri., March 2, 6 p.m., $18, Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., gershmany.org.
While I was upstairs at Robin's Books, skimming a weathered copy of Czeslaw Milosz’s Roadside Dog, Slowey and the Boats drifted to the front for their first ever concert. Led by the mellow warbles of Isaac Stanford’s steel guitar, the band didn’t take long to capture my attention with their country and Hawaiian covers. Although their raw, talented performance was occasionally affected by disjointed timing, Slowey and the Boats’ passion seeps into everything, causing them, and us, to beam even through the sorrowful verses of Hank Snow’s “Yellow Roses”.
The second band, the Belleville Quartet, performing everything from Serbian folk to gypsy jazz, was the highlight of the evening. Russia native Marina Vishnyakova’s violin soars above the rhythmic thump of Matt Stein’s bass and intersects with the multi-faceted guitar tones of Zach Fay and Frenchman Alban Bailly. With four distinct sounds that simultaneously need the others to be whole, the quartet radiates unity and control — over their instruments, their music, and their audience.
Blue Drag from Alban Bailly on Vimeo.
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