Exhibition of Indian Paintings in Tribute to the Late Dr. Alvin O. Bellak
Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Tue-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri, 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m., $7 for students
(215) 763-8100
www.philamuseum.org
Dr. Alvin Bellak collected many Indian paintings over the years, and 20 of these miniature paintings are going to be on display. These paintings are from the 17th to the 19th century Rajput courts. Ever since I saw the movie, The Little Princess, I have been fascinated with Indian culture. I thought it was the coolest thing when the little girl was telling her story and the scene was cut to this handsome blue man (who was supposed to be Krishna) saving this beautiful woman. My crush on Krishna made me take an Indian writing class my freshman year -- biggest mistake of my life.
Jonathan Tucker: Painted Forms
The Ester M. Klein Art Gallery
3600 Market Street
Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., through Dec. 31, free
(215) 966-6188
www.kleinartgallery.org
For students without a meal plan who are forced to go to Greek Lady every night, I have an important tip: the opening reception of this exhibit on Friday has a free wine tasting and food. While you're filling up on your dinner, an added plus is the viewing of Jonathan Tucker's sculptures and paintings. In order not to receive disapproving looks from the other art-gallery goers when you go up to the food table the third time, you should gush to them about how much you love Tucker's exploration in the dimensional qualities of paint. Just make sure your words aren't slurred from all that wine.
Art Gallery Reception for Return to the Source
Kelly Writers House Art Gallery
3805 Locust Walk
Thu, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., free
(215) 573-WRIT
www.writing.upenn.edu/~wh
African-American documentary photographer, Kerry Stuart Coppin, opens his exhibit this Thursday with a party. All of his work explores the cultural and community experience of African, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Latin American life. As a professor at the University of Miami, Coppin has exhibits all over the world -- Chicago, Dakar, Senegal, Paris, Brooklyn and Havana. The Kelly Writers House always throws a jammin' shindig and will probably have a lot food. Mmmmm ... hopefully pizza ... or perhaps doughnuts.
Only One Man Died: Medical Adventures of Lewis and Clark
Mutter Museum
19 S. 22nd St.
Mon-Fri, through Dec. 31,10 a.m.-5 p.m., $6 for students
(215) 563-3737
That's right. In Lewis and Clark's three-year trek across North America, only one of their party didn't make it. Not bad for the early 19th century. There are no grisly illustrations or photographs in this exhibit, just a lot of cool facts about a very successful journey.
Philadanco
Kimmel Center for Performing Arts
260 S. Broad St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., $32-$45, $10 for students
(215) 790-5800
www.kimmelcenter.org
Dancers-in-residence of the Kimmel Center, the Philly Dance Co., has been going strong since 1970. Among its efforts at art outreach, Philadanco was the first organization to participate in PA's Comprehensive Education Training Act, as well as the founder of the International Conference of Black Dance Companies and the International Association of Blacks in Dance. Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown and a few of the dancers will chat with the audience after the show.
Philadelphia Young Playwrights
Barnes & Nobles Booksellers
1805 Walnut Street
Saturdays through April, 11 a.m., free
(215) 665-9226
www.phillyyoungplaywrights.org
I'm afraid to go to see this venue and watch the plays written by children (from K-8th grade) acted out. I'd feel too incompetent because when I was their age, I was concerned more with books like The Babysitters Club and a boy named Daven Cuban. If I had written a play, chances are it would've followed the premise of a Babysitters Club book and the love interest of a character (who happens to be very similar to me) would've been named Devon Cube. I'm sure these kids' plays are a heck of a lot better than what mine would've been. At least in originality -- even a friggin' rock has more imagination than me.
Sleep & Dreams Film Festival
Graduate Student Center
3615 Locust Walk
Sundays until Nov. 21, 6:30 p.m., free
www.gsc.upenn.edu/programs/film.htm#sleep
Since I feel so close to you, I'm going to tell you about the worst dream I've ever had. Once I dreamt that I had this really cute outfit. I'm talking about a ridiculously cute outfit. Anyway, I remember thinking, "Wow I could wear this to school tomorrow! Sweet! Then Dan will most definitely ask me to the prom!" The next morning, I woke up and actually looked through my closet for the outfit. It didn't exist. I went to school that day in natty sweats and Dan ended up going with my best friend. I hate dreams.
The Ethics of Dream Interpretation lecture with Jonathan Lear
Logan Hall 17
249 S. 36th St.
Wed,5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., free
humanities.sas.upenn.edu
As much as I hate certain parts of Penn to the point that I occasionally stand on the side of Locust Walk and randomly pelt people with water balloons, I have to admit that it's cool to go to a school that attracts renowned and respected speakers. Dr. Lear will be talking about the "ethical dimensions of Freud's theory of dreams." Basically you will be hearing if Freud's interpretation of your dream is really ethical. And you best hope to God it's not -- otherwise, you know that dream you had about a talking telephone? Yeah, it's really about you wanting to have sex with your mother.
"Your Page in History" Veterans Day Celebration
The National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street
Thu, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., free
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org
I was on the phone with my mom the other day and she asked me gleefully, "Well you must be excited for the long Veteran's day weekend." I asked her what she meant and she said, "Don't you kids get off for Veteran's day?" I then shouted, "Dammit Penn!" I've noticed since coming here that Penn is very frugal with giving days off. A friend of mine had no school one fall day (she goes to U of Maryland) because "there were too many leaves on the ground." This is not a joke. Well, Ms. Gutmann, I'd like to think that honoring the veterans who died for our causes is a worthy enough reason for a day off more so than leaves, don't you?
Singled Out
Foggy Goggle
22 S. 3rd St.
Thu, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $10
(215) 925-9573
Oh Singled Out, how I remember the glory days when Jenny McCarthy and that other guy who no one cares about anymore ruled the waves of MTV; when desperate souls would shed all their pride to find a decent hookup. I remember being that lonely and wanting to find either a "nerdy bookworm" or "drunken party boy." Alpha Phi, pick me! Pick me! Take me back to the golden age. All proceeds go to cardiac care research.
Penn ACLU Same-Sex Marriage Rights Rally!
College Green
Mon, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m., free
Come hear the voices of Ellen DeGeneres and the guys from Queer Eye for a Straight Guy make their beliefs known. Spreading the gospel of a universal love, Penn's American Civil Liberties Union will first take on Penn's campus and then head over to Senator Santorum's office to protest his opposition to LGBT rights. Now that Cynthia Nixon is out of the closet, no one has anything to hide. Come support these ladies and gentlemen in the name of fashion, culture and good taste.
Penn's Queer Student Alliance: Mythos
The Arch Auditorium
36th and Locust Street
Sat, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $6
Penn's Queer Student Alliance always throws an insane dance party. With Strictly Funk's notorious reputation for chest-baring grooves along with DJ Faggotron's hot beats, this party is sure to live up to QSA's reputation. This one time I went dancing someone splilled beer all over my new white pants. It was not cool. This other time, I was dancing with a guy who was chugging a beer and also happened to have Celiac Disease, so he got sick and ran away. Not cool, either.
United Minorities Council Presents "Drop It Like It's Hot"
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Thu, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $10
As a person of Asian persuasion, I feel the need to tell you about this event. In the spirit of Unity Week, the United Minorities Council is throwing a hot shindig at the local hotspot, World Cafe Live. They should be playing a large array of music stemming from different genres. Perhaps a little Ricky Martin, a dash of Kayne West, some ASIAN POP STAR and maybe some Kylie Minogue (representing the English minority at Penn) will be part of DJ Araf's setlist. When you combine the dance moves of J.Lo and Usher, the possibilities are endless.
Reggae Night With Jah T
Cavanaugh's River Deck
417 N. Columbus Ave.
Sun., 9 p.m., free
(215) 629-7400
The days are getting cold and dark and it's weeks before your winter break trip to the Bahamas. But reggae and liquor will warm you right up. Daughter of the bar by Hamilton Court, Cavanaugh's River Deck overlooks the Ben Franklin Bridge. See the listing below titled, "Show Me Your Motion," to learn how to dance to this because at the deck, you don't wanna look like an idiot.
Show me your motion!
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine Street
Mon, 6:30 p.m., $10 per lesson
(215)925-9914
Show me your motion! is a workshop that teaches you how to dance to reggae music. This class would have been useful for my friends and I back home in Hawaii. I can't even tell you how many reggae concerts we went to and danced at -- it's a dangerous thing to depend on weed and alcohol to give you the moves. You end up thinking you look so chill but in reality, you look like a bunch of rhythm-less douchebags who spazz like muscle twitches. There goes the guy you were trying to hook up with by the end of the night.
Electric Mingus Project
Kimmel Center for Performing Arts
260 S. Broad St.
Fri, 8 p.m., $26-$70, $10 for students
215-790-5800
Philadelphia native and jazz pianist McCoy Tyner was discovered at the ripe old age of 17 by John Coltrane. His place in our city's jazz scene has earned him this spot in the Philly All-Star Jazz Night. Accompanying him will be saxophonists Gary Bartz and Robert "Bootsie" Barnes and trumpeter Terrell Stafford.
Jay-Z and Friends
Wachovia Center
3601 South Broad St.
Sat, 8 p.m., $37 - $102
(215) 336-3600
www.electricfactory.com
Rumors have been circulating as to exactly why R. Kelly and Jay-Z went their separate ways. My grandmother, for instance, told me: "Their respective egos -- among other things -- were just too big for one stage." My brother told me that "Jay-Z couldn't stand to hear that 'Ignition (Remix)' one more bloody time." But Grandma and Brother both favor Jay-Z over the more dainty R. Kelly. Both plan to attend on Saturday, despite the unfortunate turn of events.
Maynard Ferguson
Zanzibar Blue
200 S. Broad St.
Thu, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., $35, Fri, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., $45
(215)732-4500
www.zanzibarblue.com
Maynard Ferguson is an aging bandleader and lead trumpet player. Band geeks across the contiguous United States rant and rave about his ball-curdling high notes, his tight band and his novel arrangements. His arrangements have been played all over the globe, but he is most well-known for his flowing, snow-white locks. I don't think it's a piece, but it could be -- it's that perfect. You've got to see this mop!
Penn Wind Ensemble in Concert
Irving Auditorium
3401 Spruce Street
Sat, 8 p.m., free for students
(215) 898-7544
This is the Penn Wind Ensemble's first concert of the year, and they will perform songs such as Percy Grainger's Colonial Song and Michael Daugherty's Desi. Since this concert is free for students, Penn kids should take advantage of this cultural experience, because I know you didn't in high school. Sure, we don't see these college band kids forming a gigantic band-geek clique, and they don't all have sex with each other and recycle partners. However, do we really miss that? Shouldn't we be glad that the college version of Wind Ensemble is nice, talented and not creepy? The answer is yes. And if you had said no, you are one sick fuck.
The Rogers Sisters
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South Street
Fri, 9 p.m., $16 in advance, $18 at the door
(215) 922-1011
If you heart the Talking Heads and the B-52's and their more obscure kin, you'll love the Sisters. They are Laura and Jennifer, who yes, are related, and adopted sibling Miyuki Furtado. Since they first hit it big in the Big Apple, they have recorded an album, Purely Evil (featuring W on the cover), Three Fingers and other EPs, and songs for compilations such as "Yes New York." Hear them rock out on South Street.
Soulive
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South Street
Thu, 8 p.m., $25.50 advance, $30 day of show
(215) 922-1011
www.electricfactory.com
Shake your grooving device. Soulive fuses jazz, funk and hip-hop; the resulting concoction is light and bubbly. Their songs are deftly arranged, their live show tight. But the Soulive show is made special by audience members. Neo-hippies, young jazzsters and hip-hop fans alike attend Soulive shows. Dances of all sorts are performed on the venue floor: "the hip-hop-booty-squeeze," "the I-never-got-over-Average-White-Band" and, of course, "the neo-hippy I'm-stoned-out-of-mind-and-like-watch-my-hands-move." Bring your dancing shoes.
Suzanna Teng and Blow-up Hollywood
The Gatherings Concert Series
The Church Sanctuary of St. Mary's
3916 Locust Walk
Sat., 8 p.m., $10 for students
(610) 734-1009
www.thegatherings.org
Um yeah, I'd say this is a pretty random event. The reasons are two fold: first of all, the fact that it takes place at the church where I go to kind of freaks me out. Secondly, Suzanna Teng, who is a world flautist and percussionist, is a totally different type of musician than Blow-Up Hollywood, whose music has been described as "ethereal 'dream-pop.'" I don't even know what "ethereal 'dream-pop'" means. It's almost as if they put a bunch of random words together to describe their sound. They might as well have used, "bedspread electronic alarm."
The Used
Thu, 8 p.m., $16
The Electric Factory
421 North 7th St.
(215) 627-1332
www.electricfactory.com
I remember when I was a senior in high school, there was this clique of freshman who dressed in black and had the names of the bands written/patched all over their backpacks. I thought, "What the fuck are you guys angry about? You're only 14 and haven't even lived enough life to hate it!" I remember them also raving about the Used and about how awesome they are. I guess this Utah-based band breeds rebellion. Singer Bert McCracken had said, "I've rebelled against all types of conformity throughout my life, not just Utah's conservative culture." I wonder if these people realize that the very act of non-conformation is conformation itself. Dude, I got too deep even for myself there.
Death and the King's Horseman
St. Stephen's Theater
10th and Ludlow streets
Wed-Sat, 8 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m., through Dec.12., $12-$27
(215) 829-9002
www.lanterntheater.org
The Nobel-prize winning play takes place in 1946 British-occupied Nigeria. It deals with the collision between will and honor. Basically, there's this horseman who, by tradition, needs to die with his king. This British officer is appalled by such an action and tries to stop it. Sounds like a dreary premise, but it should be interesting to see the whole conflict/resolution dynamic. However, I do wish there was an onstage masturbation scene; that seems to be all the rage lately. What the character would masturbate to, especially in a play such as this, I honestly do not know. Maybe the horseman could have a fetish for horses.
