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Archive: May, 2009
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It takes a certain kind of nerd to get all googly-eyed over fonts. (If you think I'm crazy already, you should probably stop reading now. You are not that type of nerd.) But for those of you who are, you know what I mean Helvetica, in all its simplicity, flexibility and purity, is so easy to love; a poorly placed decorative font is so easy to hate.
If you're feeling me, you should check out local font artist Robin McDowell, whose work is pictured above. Not only does she craft beautiful typefaces, she also gets witty about the text she features. Her work, along with her non-type related tees, are currently up at Art in the Age. (Which, we know, we are embarrisingly into. You can't decide who you love, OK?) But wait, Robin, Internet doesn't=real life? I'll have to sit on that for a while.
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| PA DEP |
I think we can all agree that cameras tucked secretly away behind stoplights are just plain, total evil. But a hidden camera placed near a lot that people routinely litter at not so bad, right? According to ABC's Action News, Mayor Nutter has already ordered that dozens of the anti-litterbug cameras be placed throughout the city, with more to come in future months.
The cameras have allegedly already caught teens spray painting and adults tossing out tires, so let this be your warning: If you want to throw out that couch of yours, don't take it to an abandoned lot. Just put it outside your house, for chrissakes. Last time I did that, when I was moving out of Fishtown, two guys picked it up in less than an hour and kindly thanked me for it.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
Close your eyes when you listen to this video, and you'll swear that Jay-Z, LL Cool Jay, DMX and Snoop Dogg are all in the same room together, whipping up a collaborative track. Of course, they aren't Jay-Z and DMX have beef, right? that's just MADtv star Aries Spears' multiple personality disorder/talent you're hearing. There are much funnier clips of Spears, but this one is probably the most astonishing, in terms of how well he can mock rappers. It leaves me wondering why dude doesn't switch careers, or at least multitask and do them both half-assedly, à la Nick Cannon.
Wed., May 13, 8 p.m., $15-$20, Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St., 215-496-9001, heliumcomedy.com.
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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.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
The Baltimore purveyors of manic, manic, maaaaanic rock that are influenced by video games in a way that's similar to how Dan Deacon is also influenced by them, but not quite as overtly as he is are at the Electric Factory tonight. Expect lots of strange lighting effects and songs from their albums Strawberry Jam and the Merriweather Post Pavilion. (The latter, by the way, is named after a big-ass, Susquehanna Center-esque venue near their hometown. Weird, right?)
Tue., May 12, 8pm, $20, Electric Factory, 421 N. 7th St., 215-627-1332, electricfactory.info.
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Does anyone actually prefer shopping in the real, live world to shopping online? OK, I do sometimes when it's in stores like Topstitch Boutique or Art in the Age, which have beautiful décor and cute, fun people manning the register. But, for the most part, waiting in line, trying on clothes and sifting through item after item is terribly boring. Which is why eBay, in all its quickness and easiness, is so great.
The only bad thing about most online shops is that they're not Philly-based, and for those of us who both value the importance of supporting the local economy and are too proud to buy much of anything outside the city, this poses a problem. Thankfully, Made in Philly (madein-philly.com) solves this lazy man's conundrum. Here's their schtick:
Made in Philly's mission is to provide a venue for the sale of locally designed and produced products. The success of our mission depends on more then just "selling products." Made in Philly believes we must support the local designer-maker community. We will provide feedback from designers and customers and serve as a venue for product publicity. And most important, connect designers directly with customers.
It's launching on May 22, but they're still looking for products. In the meantime, we can dream up what local businesses will be hawking their goods there Di Bruno Brothers?! Conspiracy Showroom, in a back-from-the-dead move??! Philly Flavors, in a how-the-hell-would-they-sell-ice-cream-online move?!! Out of curiosity, who are you hoping for?
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
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| Megan and Jack |
If you and I are the same type of person, even marginally, you've been meaning to hit up the legendary Rock Paper Scissors duel that the Raven Lounge hosts every Monday for years now. It's tonight at 7 p.m., dog. And, if you like bonfires (also like me), but missed last month's Valborgsmssoafton Celebration, the Jewish Center of Northern Liberties (851 N. American St., 215-625-2411, jewishnl.org) is holding one at 7 p.m. for its L'Ag Bomer event. That's B-O-M-E-R, people. Sheesh.
Every Mon., 7 p.m., $1, Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom St., 215-840-3577, ravenlounge.com.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
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| Trishylicious |
If that photograph up top doesn't intrigue you, Carnivolution may not be for you. You also may be boring. It includes a man/clown in an angelic dress and Courtney Love-ish pink fishnets, Uncle Sam before he went gray, a cape decorated with what looks like a Salvation Army symbol, and a very beautiful mural, for chrissakes. This is all a fairly accurate representation of what Carnivolution which is in its fifth year, and opening for the first time in 2009 tonight is like. Missing from the photo are fire breathers, half-naked ladies doing burlesque, a tree house and The Hygrogen Jukebox playing music.
Coolest of all, though, is the fact that you get to troll around the Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum, which houses the work of the famed Tiberinos a family this paper accurately described as "the West Philly Wyeths." Since a few of them are always in attendance, you'll get to drink and chat with them too. Don't know what they look like? Just look for the beautiful people.
Every second Fri., 8 p.m., $5-$8, Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum, 3819 Hamilton St., 215-382-2003, tiberinomuseum.com.
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| PEX Summer Festival |
| Click to enlarge. |
For those of you who have been obsessively checking pexsummerfestival.com since word dropped that a Philadelphia Experiment-run music/arts/DJs bonanza would be going down this summer, I have good news: The lineup has been posted. It's definitely more Burning Man than Bonnaroo there'll be lots of fire breathers, yoga workshops and drum circles, and not so many big-name bands (Dr. Dog, I was crossing my fingers for you!). But still, pool parties every day, a giant fire on July 4 and a sexploratorium. Whatever the hell that is. Be there or be square.
Don't know what to do tonight? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
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| This Is a Wake-Up Call |
If you couldn't tell from all our lame 4/20 jokes, weed is definitely on CP's radar these days. But not for that reason, Mom. As Isaiah Thompson noted on the Clog yesterday, it's getting all sorts of attention from places that you'd never, ever, ever expect like Iowa and Massachusetts and even our very own Pennsylvania. (We're the state that still doesn't let people buy beer from Wal-Mart. And we're seriously discussing legalization? Wha?)
With Rep. Mark Cohen introducing a bill to make medicinal marijuana legal in the state, it's ahem high time you get yourself to one of Philly's NORML meetings. It may be the first time in a long, long while that your support of legalization makes a difference.
Every first and third Thu., 7:30 p.m., free , A-Space, 4722 Baltimore Ave., 215-727-0882.
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