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get out
Whoa, X-Men Origins: Wolverine came out this summer? It's May release date feels like ages ago considering all of the Star Trekking, Transforming and District 9ing that's gone on since. So now that the season's on the wind-down, let's not forget about the crap that we most certainly forgot. Hell, we even put the sucker on our cover chilling with M. Nuts, the Phanatic and Santigold and I still thought this movie came out last year.
Madam Tussaud's Hollywood decided to cast the Clawed One in wax (in order to preserve it's inherent mediocrity?) and are taking it out for a spin on a five-city tour. You can catch a glimpse of the Jackman-a-la-wax this Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. at FYE, 100 S. Broad St.
It's all in the name of promoting the DVD. Drew Lazor was lukewarm on the whole affair:
If you've got your priorities straight, your reasons for sucking down a big-budget Marvel flick should be identical to your reasons for sucking down a big fat burger — while both are questionably beneficial to your well-being, frivolous transgression is fun, whether you feel guilty about it or not. As expected, Gavin Hood's spin on The Clawed One's back story doesn't build empathy for Wolverine as much as it provides a platform for Hugh Jackman to go "RAAHHHH!" and be shirtless a lot. And that's fine. The director starts by establishing Wolfy (aka Logan) and bloodthirsty Sabretooth (a hulking Liev Schreiber) as siblings who never got along — things come to a head when they're part of the black-op Team X that provides the latter brother with plenty of chances to cut up the innocent. Skip to later, with Wolfy splitting logs in Canada with his girl (Lynn Collins); Sabretooth starts knocking members of the old squad off, luring Logan and his anger issues back into the mix. Special effects are suspect at points, and characters are shot out all sloppy and rapid-fire like spuds out of a potato gun (it's the first in what will be many single-hero X-Flicks, so you gotta get those fenceposts in the ground). But if you've got your priorities straight, you'll take will.i.am's goofy role as teleportin' cowpoke John Wraith as a sign not to think too hard about this.
[...] Go To Mars And Stay There?• Get Lit (All Summer Long): Win a copy of Michelle Huneven's Blame• Waxy Wolverine: How to make a mediocre movie seem more interesting• World Wildlife Fund's New 9/11 Ad: Moving or totally tasteless?• Dodgers, running [...]
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| Bicycle Coalition |
All and all, this has been a pretty great summer for Philly bikers (those times I've been harassed on Girard Avenue notwithstanding). To celebrate, a whole bunch of bike geeks members of the Bike Church, Pedal Co-op and Bicycle Ambassadors (pictured above, how cute!) are throwing a party tonight. It'll feature bike-themed music and movies, tips on urban commuting, and information on the upcoming addition of Center City bike lanes. The hosts will even teach you how fix your flat if you've got one.
Wed., Aug. 19, 4-9 p.m., Arbol Cafe, 209 Poplar St., 215-284-5788, bicyclecoalition.org.
But not because of the drinks, necessarily. Rather, it's the wacky events that won our hearts pole dancing classes on Wednesday nights, board games spread out on the tables always, and the arm wrestling tournament every Thursday. CP intern Jasia Kaulbach wrote about the latter in last week's issue:
The Raven Lounge's tabletops are covered with more than the usual plates of food, beer and elbows. Games like Hungry Hungry Hippos, Twister, Connect Four, Uno and Jenga also blanket them.
"I originally put them out there because games are great icebreakers," says owner Jonathan Hunter. "They get people talking to each other."
Keeping with that playful spirit, the bar has begun hosting an arm wrestling tournament every Thursday night. Everyone plays, including old folks, young people, guys and girls. That doesn't mean it's any less competitive than a match between two brawny men, though there are well-kept brackets, as well as prizes, including PBR hats and buttons, champagne and gift certificates.
So, that's tonight. Check out the video above for other regular events these crazy overactive kids host.
Every Thu., 10 p.m., free, Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom St., 215-840-3577, ravenlounge.com.
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| Mail Online |
Fishtown is so endearingly weird. From the Frankford Avenue Arts blog:
We invited the Pennsylvania chapter of the Mutual UFO Network and Fistown's own GERM Books to host their annual Awareness Day on Frankford Ave. With a day full of speakers and presentations at GERM and the Caterpillar, you are guaranteed to get your dose of conspiracy theories and personal accounts of close encounters. MUFON directors will be on hand to answer questions and investigate sightings. Noted UFOlogist Peter Robbins will be speaking on the Rendelsham Forest UFO incident, a sort of British "Rosewell" encounter.
Not sure what the "Caterpillar" is? It's a cool outdoor installation that we spotted back in May. It looks like this:
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| Neal Santos |
Sun., July 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free, the Caterpillar, 2205 Frankford Ave., 215-423-5002, germbooks.com.
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| Elizabeth Jane Cole |
In this week's Agenda section, I did an interview with Scott Beibin, a geek who's doing some pretty cool things. He'll be performing his show, Scientists are the New Rock Stars, at Johnny Brenda's next Wednesday. Here's a synopsis of what it'll be like:
City Paper: What inspired your show?
Scott Beibin: It came from my belief that market capitalism by allowing itself to partner with an open forum such as the Internet basically committed suicide. So, soon, big companies won't be able to maintain their rock-star-making, king-making abilities, and they won't be able to stop people from finding oppressed technology like solar energy or electric cars. I think this'll lead to young people being interested in science the way they're now interested in the arts and entertainment.
CP: What exactly do you mean by a "multimedia show"?
SB: I'm going to show clips of the documentaries I've made about scientists I admire, and talk about my experiences in person. Also, as the show develops, I think we'll have guest speakers and examples of new technology, like this projector that runs on bike power and also makes smoothies.
Anyway, since he'll be in town this summer (he's been travelling all over Europe performing SATNRS and heading the Lost Film Festival for the past few months), he's doing some rock star scientist things of his own. Next weekend, he'll be converting an old blacksmith stable at 48th and Wallace streets into a mini eco village. And, being the collaborative guy that he is, he's welcoming anyone regardless of experience with hammers and things to come along and help. Get at him at scottb@lostfilmfest.org if you're interested.
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Go out and get hammered tonight for a good cause Conrad Benner from Philthy Blog recently got hit by an SUV while riding his bike on Sixth and Spring Garden streets, and Tattooed Mom's is holding a benefit to raise money for his exorbitant medical bills. (This all went down while he was in the bike lane, no less! Oy. It's hard being a biker in Philly, ain't it?) And, if you need a little something to motivate yourself to attend, there'll be raffles from all sorts of great shops like Print Liberation, Bell's Bikes and Exit Skateshop.
Mon., June 29, 7-10 p.m., $10 donation, Tattooed Mom's, 530 South St., 215-238-9880, myspace.com/tattooed_mom.
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| Gophila |
Because this weekend, they're gonna be.
As part of some crazy promotion/out of the goodness of their ink-crazed hearts, Sailor Jerry (116-118 S. 13th St., 215-531-6380?) is holding two free events this Friday and Sunday: a show by the A.K.A.s before they leave for the Vans Warped Tour, and a free-of-charge tattoo day at Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo (904 Arch St., 215-440-9997).
I don't have any tattoos, and the reason being is that every time I look back on who I was a year ago, I think, "What a fool I definitely wouldn't trust that person to get a tattoo I'd like for the rest of my life." But this free business is pretty tempting. Are any of you tattoo virgins going to do the deed this weekend?
UPDATE: There is a catch the tattoo has to be of the band's logo. That's kinda lame but still, it's free, so kinda cool. More info the band's MySpace.
A.K.A.s show Fri., June 12, 7 p.m., free, 116-118 S. 13th St., 215-531-6380, sailorjerry.com; Tattoo Day Sun., June 14, noon-8 p.m., Philadelphia Eddie's Tattoo, 904 Arch St., 215-440-9997, philadelphiaeddiestattoo.com.
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| Christina M. Felice |
Back in 2002, we ran a cover story about silver fillings. That's what the dentists were calling them, anyway
No health organization will dispute that mercury is a toxin: It arguably ranks as the second-most-poisonous compound on earth, after plutonium. What Brockman and her husband, Dr. Vincent DiLorenzo, discovered, in the years spent running a practice near Chestnut Hill, was that mercury inside a dental office is treated squarely as an industrial material; yet dentistry, they argue, is one of the few industries that has not sought to eliminate mercury from its day-to-day procedures. While Mercurochrome is no longer used in hospitals to disinfect cuts, nor are thermometers filled with the metal, the same mercury is habitually mixed with other metals and placed inside the mouths of patients, in one of the most common dental treatments: a "silver" filling.
Scary, right? Thankfully, just last month, City Council approved a bill that forces dentists to give their patients brochures about "silver fillings" and have them sign waivers before putting the deadly compound in their mouths. It's a big step and Philadelphia is the first city to sign such a bill but anti-mercury activists still aren't happy. Dr. Hal Huggins, who's been speaking out against the fillings since the '80s, is coming to Philly this Saturday to address what still needs to be done eliminate the fillings altogether, he says. "What is the legal limit for mercury in fish? Point-five parts per million. A half of one part per million," says the doctor. "But in a filling, you have 500,000 parts per million and that's OK. Does this make sense?"
Sat., June 6, 1-3 p.m., free, The Philadelphian, 2401 Pennsylvania Ave., Social Room A, register by e-mailing aynomercury@aol.com.
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| gophila.com |
| Think he got a shad? |
You may be a little overwhelmed by the lavish events coverage that The Clog has been pouring on you today. Well, there's more, but before you get angry over your indecision remember what February felt like? How you wanted to leave the house so badly, but couldn't because it was too frigid, and besides, could you really go to the bar for the third time today? Seasonal sensory deprivation, I believe they call it.
This weekend is the opposite: It'll be in the '80s, so get out and go to the
African Spring Festival (Saturday, 1:30-4:30 p.m., 1100 E. Chelten Ave., 215-685-2236): Hosted by the Greek-stereotypes-be-damned sorority Sigma Gamma Rho, this jubilee features performances by the Nzuri Dancers, storytelling by Baba Abiodun and sales on books, jewelry and other goods. African food (Ethiopian please?), too.
Delaware River Day (Sunday, noon-6 p.m., Columbus Blvd. & Chestnut St., 215-922-238): Fishtown's Shad Fest was amazing, but I have one gripe: Where was the free kayaking y'all were promoting? I couldn't find it for the life of me. Thankfully, free kayaking (and life-jacket fitting, water gear fashion shows, fishing and boat races) will be at this fest. For real this time (hopefully).
Annual Antiques Show (Saturday-Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 100 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700): 'Cause Father's Day is coming up, and doesn't your dad watch Antiques Roadshow? If so, experts will be on hand to find out if that landscape painting he's been hording is worth anything. Chances are no.
Harp Festival of Philadelphia (Friday-Monday, various times, 30 S. 13th St., 215-732-1918): Sounds really lovely, right?
World Music Festival (Saturday-Monday, noon, Second St. & Germantown Ave., atthepiazza.com): Haven't been to that weird, maybe-awesome-but-maybe-not development yet? It's hosting yet another event this weekend, and this one features the ladies from the Philadelphia Independent Craft Market, masking-making workshops and world music. (Duh.)
Want to bombard yourself with more choices? Check out our listings, especially the Events/Festivals category.
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| DCKT Contemporary |
I have absolutely no idea how Ryan Humphrey's exhibit (pictured up top) is going to get into the Moore College of Art & Design's Levy Gallery, seeing as how the ceilings are about a fourth of that size. But it is. Riffing off Duchamp's "Bicycle Wheel,"Humphrey's "Fast Forward" piece conists of 30 BMX bikes that local pro bikers are going to help install. In addition, Moore is hosting a slew of bike-related events to coincide with it, including bike tours, lectures on the benefits of cycling and bike parades. This is what the curators said, via ESPN:
"The exhibition celebrates Philadelphia's passion and commitment to the bicycle both as functional object and as a canvas for good causes, personal expression, civic mindedness and political beliefs. In Philadelphia, the bicycle is used in a daily commute to school or work, and in the summer as a prime outdoor activity along the Schuylkill River and Kelly Drive. Whether as a mode of transport, healthy hobby or a world-class sport, Philadelphians ride by the thousands on the road, on the track, on paths and pretty much anywhere two wheels can go."
Damn right. Too bad it's not coming to town until June 19.
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