Big Ups

BIG UPS: CP's own Andrew Thompson gets robbed, lives to StorySlam about it

POSTED: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 6:19 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups

Many of you know Andrew Thompson for his hard-hitting City Paper news reportage on guns, cops and more cops — but did you know he's also adept at spinning a delightful yarn? Us neither — but AT proved us all wrong last night at one of First Person Arts' twice-monthly StorySlams. On the topic of "A Date to Remember," Andrew told a tale of getting robbed in Philadelphia — which he insists is a rite of passage — and won first place for the evening, which means he gets to go on to participate in November's Grand Slam. Check out the vid below — the visual quality's not great, but the audio's all there, so pretend he's on WHYY and enjoy.

julia.

Posted 2010-07-28 15:03:16

Nice. Congrats, Andrew.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 6:19 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: Philly comic Doogie Horner survives the crowd on America's Got Talent

POSTED: Wednesday, June 9, 2010, 7:44 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups

Quirk Books everyman/Ministry of Jokes jokester/dude we see walking around Old City all the time Doogie Horner's making his way across the vast expanse of the Internet today for his awkwardly successful America's Got Talent audition. Before he began his 90-second standup spot, host Nick Cannon warned him that each comedian who'd come before him had been booed off the stage, but that didn't deter our bearded son of Philadelphia, no: He screamed some jokes (about sex with eagles and other matters) to a crowd of haters (whom he repeatedly called "horrible people") and emerged victorious, somehow. That is, Howie Mandel really liked him. Or maybe he was just envious of that magnificent beard. Here's the clip, spied first at Best Week Ever:

We'll be watching you in Vegas, Doogie. RELATED >> Arts Feature: Doctor Who?

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 7:44 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: Pew Center for Arts and Heritage announce grants

POSTED: Thursday, June 3, 2010, 7:00 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups | Movies Philly Artists

Courtesy of UArts

The Quay Brothers

The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage gave away over $1.1 million in grant money this year to fund new exhbitbits for you to get all hot-and-nerdy about. Grantees include International House for a sweet underground film fest, Vox Populi for an exhibit examining African American interpretation and the Slought Foundation for a recreation of an '89 John Cage lecture/performance. Out over everything, I'm most jazzed about the grant to the Mutter Museum, which received $250,000 for a production by local legends the Quay Brothers, who will make an animated film utilizing the museum's collection. These are few artists whose aesthetics are more in-line with the Mutter than Stephen and Timothy. Maybe Pew was inspired by Shaun Brady's cover story on the bros? RELATED >> Quay Week

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 7:00 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: Tina Fey will receive the Mark Twain Prize

POSTED: Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 5:04 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups | TV

Hell yeah, Tina Fey! Yesterday, the Kennedy Center announced that the current 30 Rock star/former SNL-er and erstwhile Upper Darby-ian will receive the Mark Twain Prize for Humor. From the Times:

On Tuesday the Kennedy Center announced that it would present its annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor to Ms. Fey, the "30 Rock" star, "Saturday Night Live" alumna and occasional cribber of punch lines from her daughter, Alice. In the 13-year history of the prize, Ms. Fey will be the third woman to receive it: it was previously presented to Lily Tomlin in 2003 and Whoopi Goldberg in 2001.

What did you think of 30 Rock this season? I thought it was up and down; some episodes felt like the writers were stuck in a rut and some guest stars felt completely flat (JULIANNE MOORE), while other episodes were spot-on (like last week's season finale, above) and felt like earlier seasons. NBC is moving 30 Rock out of it's cushy post-Office timeslot next season and it will now follow Community at 8:30 p.m., and I'm honestly a little worried about it's future. It's had four years to establish an audience and, despite critical acclaim, ratings are low. So how do you think it will fare without a powerhouse lead-in (although, Community was stronger than The Office this year on the whole). No matter, though, without Tina, I wouldn't have an unnatural infatuation with Jack McBrayer or the ability to make Kabletown jokes. Therefore, I salute you. RELATED >> INTERVIEW with 30 Rock's Scott Adsit: "So now in bars across the world, you can spend 50 cents and hear Liz Lemon and Pete Hornberger yelling at you to 'shoot it up the ramp!'" RELATED >> I wouldn't bitch about my cable bill so much if I had Kabletown RELATED >> 30 Rock takes on the Comcast buy-out

Posted by Molly Eichel @ 5:04 PM Permalink | Post a comment

USEFUL LOST MERCHANDISE: Ty Mattson prints for sale at ABC.com

POSTED: Wednesday, May 12, 2010, 7:15 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups

mattsoncreative.com/blog

Whine and ye shall receive: Back in February, we discovered that L.A.-based designer Ty Mattson had created a set of gorgeous, colorful LOST posters, and pointed out how lame it was that they weren't for sale, since we know at least a few Flight-815-obsessed alt-weekly journalists who'd totally buy one or eight. And miracle of miracles, our wish came true!

abctvstore.seenon.com

Mattson's purple Smoke Monster print (which happens to be our favorite) is the first of a series to go on sale on ABC's TV merch store, and they've also gone and turned the design into a T-shirt, mug, mousepad and even a skateboard. Rad! We're excited to see that the corporate TV world is giving due props to such a talented artist; keep watching ABC's site as more of Mattson's designs are unveiled (you can scope them out ahead of time here). RELATED >> COVETED: Posters and tees, please; BIG UPS: More swoon-worthy LOST posters

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 7:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: Philadelphia Guide launches on Design*Sponge

POSTED: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 7:45 PM

Filed Under: Big Ups Philly Artists

juliarothman.com

A word to the wise: Head over to Design*Sponge ASAP and check out the brand-new Philadelphia Guide, part of a series, which launched yesterday on the D*S blog. Local designer Kevin Derrick is at the helm, and his selective rundown of can't-miss neighborhood spots (everything from Square Peg Artery Salvage in Rittenhouse to Nice Things Handmade in East Passyunk) hits every category — restaurants and gelaterias, thrift shops and boutiques, furniture and soap stores ... the list goes on. Here's the intro from Derrick, who spends his days working for Bahdeebahdu and DesignPhiladelphia:

A city of neighborhoods with rich traditions in the arts, industry, commerce and manufacturing, Philly's a natural catalyst for creative culture found throughout the region today. Situated between two major metropolitan areas but decidedly unlike either, we've retained the character of our history but with an increasingly innovative, entrepreneurial nature besides. On the heels of several articles showcasing just some of Philly's many offerings, I've taken great care to curate just a few of my most choice listings for the design-inspired traveler. They follow something of an itinerary and put you on the right path to discover our many architectural offerings, happenstance hideaways and beaucoup boutiques along the way. Please feel free to add your favorites in the comments section, as there was only so much space with which to share my own.

Do what the man says — check out the article, and leave him some comments touting your favorite spots. (Anything he missed? Holler about that, too.) Oh, and we'd be remiss not to mention how pleasing it is to see the guide topped off by a beautiful Julia Rothman-created Philly print (pictured above). Want!

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 7:45 PM Permalink | Post a comment

CRITTERDELPHIA: Shannon McLaughlin's artwork nestles in at PHL's Terminal B

POSTED: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 6:15 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Big Ups | Philly Artists Visual Art

In adorable-critter news, local darling Shannon McLaughlin gave us the heads-up this morning that an expanded version of "Say Hello to My Little Friends," which we've officially been stalking for more than a year now, will be unveiled tomorrow afternoon at the Philadelphia International Airport's Terminal B. Here's some details from the PHL website:

Philadelphia artist Shannon McLaughlin has created a whimsical series of pet portraits based on her innate love of animals. She draws animals of all kinds but primarily smaller species like chipmunks, ferrets, hamsters, hedgehogs, rabbits, and squirrels. Each is hand drawn on a piece of wood — a cross section of a tree with its bark still intact. She typically portrays a single animal amidst a bright, colorful background surrounded by images of the animal's favorite food — acorns, pinecones, crickets, kiwis and more.

You've gotta be a boarding-pass-possessing customer to peep the show, so next time you're en route out of or into Philly, make sure to stop by and say hello to Shannon's friends.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 6:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: Art Star Craft Bazaar vendors, bands announced

POSTED: Friday, April 9, 2010, 5:15 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Big Ups | Arts Events | Arts News Philly Artists

etsy.com/shop/kdoss2

"Jason," by Cutesy but not Cutesy

Just got word that the folks at the Art Star Craft Bazaar — that weekendlong handmade marketplace bonanza that causes us to spend hundreds of dollars we don't have on crafts we totally, absolutely can't live without — has announced their vendor list for 2010, and it's impressive as always. The usual local suspects are there — we recognize names like Cutesy but not Cutesy (pictured, above), Heidi Roland, BloodMilk, Melissa Crotty and The Black Spot Books from 2009 — plus some new friends, too, from corners near and far. Pictured below (left to right) are works from Philly-area artists Shana Hostetter, Paisley Dog Press, My Sweet Old Etcetera and Peg and Awl.

In addition, the Bazaar's music lineup — coordinated by The Mural & The Mint's Jack McBrearty, is packed. Watch for Pepi Ginsberg, Toy Soldiers, Oh! Pears, Gildon Works and many more. Basically what we're saying is that you should clear your calendar on May 15 and 16. More info at artstarcraftbazaar.com.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 5:15 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: More swoon-worthy LOST posters

POSTED: Thursday, April 8, 2010, 9:30 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Big Ups | TV Visual Art

mattsoncreative.com/blog

The chair of electromagnetic death

How badass are these new LOST posters from Mattson Creative? We first gave Cali-based designer Ty Mattson a Coveted-style shout-out in February — OK, we sort of shouted at him for not selling his beautiful LOST-inspired artwork. (They're so gorgeous, we seriously wanted to buy all of them and plaster them on our office walls.) This new series, inspired by Season 6, is equally striking. Mattson's creating a new poster for each episode; he updates on Wednesdays at his Web site, mattsoncreative.com/blog, so check it weekly for more amazingness. Above is Mattson's latest, "Happily Ever After"; below are a few of our favorites, including (L-R) "What Kate Does," "The Substitute," "Ab Aeterno" and "The Package."

Bets on what Mattson will come up with next week? We know it's a Hurley-centric episode, so I'm thinking broken headphones, a bucket of fried chicken or maybe a giant Cheech bust? Eh? Leave your comments below, and keep watch on Critical Mass for the triumphant return of resident LOSTie Patrick Rapa's Useless Lost Recaps. (Also, if you're not reading Best Week Ever's Lost recaps, now's the time to start.) LOST. RELATED >> COVETED: Posters and tees, please, Useless Lost Recaps

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 9:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

BIG UPS: CP theater critic Mark Cofta directs!

POSTED: Friday, March 19, 2010, 7:30 PM

Filed Under: Arts | Big Ups Theater

PlayShop_071909 The Philadelphia Theatre Workshop's third annual PlayShop Festival comes to a close this weekend, so we thought it apt to shout out Mark Cofta, one-half of City Paper's two-critic team that covers the depth and breadth of theater in Philadelphia. When he's not reviewing shows at the Wilma, the Arden and Theatre Exile, Cofta's been keeping busy directing Quinn D. Eli's The Sex Tape Play, slated for a final performance Saturday afternoon at Shubin Theatre.

Here's the gist:

After the breakup, who gets custody of the sex tape? When Walter notifies his ex-girlfriend Dana that he has held onto a video of the two of them making love, Dana's husband Frank is appalled, and shows up at Walter's door to demand that the tape be destroyed. But Walter, and African-American man with a grim sense of humor, takes exception to Frank, Dana's white husband. Citing "historical reasons" — little things like slavery, apartheid, etc. — Walter decides to take a stand by refusing to give up the tape to an increasingly agitated Frank. By the time Dana arrives to keep the two men from killing each other, she may already be too late.

The play stars Aime' Kelly, Delante Keys and Nick Martorelli, and tix are $10. Also up this weekend: The Sleep Detective, Our Lady of Balenciaga and Front Row Seat, all of which are works in progress that have evolved over the course of the festival. Visit philadelphiatheatreworkshop.org for more information on show times or to purchase tickets.

The Sex Tape Play, Sat., March 20, 2 p.m., $10, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-316-1361, philadelphiatheatreworkshop.org.

Posted by Carolyn Huckabay @ 7:30 PM Permalink | Post a comment

1 | 2 | 3

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!
Q&A with Tony Goldwyn: "Life is gray, and relationships are, too"
ICE CUBE: In Memoriam: Joe Tartaglia
CONCERT REVIEW: Primus (3D & quadraphonic sound) @ The Tower 10/17
NOW SEE THIS: Transit cop arrests marijuana activist for alleged disorderly conduct.
Coming soon to Philly: Two cockamamie movie promotion schemes
ICEPACK ILLUSTRATED: The Archbishop meets the Geator, the Mayor goes suit shopping, Le Bec Fin fin.
NOW SEE THIS: Tim and Eric direct Terry Crews for Old Spice

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: