Fiber Artists: Emily Richardson/Nelda Warkentin
Gross McCleaf Gallery
127 S. 16th St.
Thu, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., free
(215) 665-8139
www.grossmccleaf.com
The new knitting ... fiber art. Who knew you could make crazy patterns and wall hanging with just yarn? Now, every eco-savvy Penn girl will save their Polo and Lacoste sweaters, unravel them and make fiber art. Did someone say new social club or Wharton entrepreneurial idea? Those rarer yarns sell for about $1.50 a piece.
Counterpoise: Richard Bottwin
Pentimenti Gallery
145 N. Second St.
Sat, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., free
(215) 625-9990
Please, please tell me this isn't happening. Someone has stolen my collection of scrap wood and turned it into ugly shapes. This can't be true. Wait, yes. Yes, it is true. And that bastard thief decided to paint them colors and call them cool. I knew that wood had potential. I knew one day it would be famous. I just hope it remembers where it came from.
In Nomad's Land
Photo West Gallery
3625 Lancaster Ave.
Sat, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., free
(215) 879-4696
www.photowestgallery.com
Uh, yeah, so there's really no explanation needed for this. Camels and nomads working together in a ginormous desert. And the photographers taking pictures of it. I feel like people need a positive look on the Middle East. So they thought, hey sand is neutral both in emotions and color -- why not? And thus the birth of this exhibit? I'm going to check it out because I hate hating the Middle East, and I know you do too.
Building References
Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery
Broad and Cherry streets
Sun, 12 p.m.- 5 p.m., free
(215) 717-6480
You all remember building cities out of Legos when you were little, creating homey cabins with your Lincoln Logs and snickering alongside your Erector set (hehe, erector), but what you didn't know is that buildings and structures can represent so much more. Beyond just a house, a shelter, there's a lot of crap that a building symbolizes. So think a little deeper about that Erector you just constructed.
Sympathy for the Bevel
DaVinci Art Alliance
704 Catherine Street
Sun, 12 p.m.- 4 p.m., Wed, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., free
(215) 829-0466
www.angelfire.com/ok3/davinci
So basically this is just an exhibit of copies of paintings. Not the real ones. Fake ones. And yet, I think it's safe to say that if Da Vinci is on exhibit, no matter what, it's still cool. Want to up those hipster points? Well, put on your chucks and head on down. Because these artists need you. You are their only hope of self justification. Do it for the kids.
Printmakers Yesterday and Today
Philadelphia Sketch Club
235 S. Camac St.
Sat-Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., free
(215) 545-9298
www.sketchclub.org
For those of you who find etchings and prints thrilling, this one's for you, because according to the Sketch Club, "March is printmaking month!" You can see all of the work that the club has been creating during the workshops that it offers for local residents. I always knew I loved March for a reason, but little did I know that reason would be lithographs and dried ink. Best of all the exhibit is free, as it is funded by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the LA Weight Loss Centers (duh, everyone knows that printmaking and SoCal anorexia go hand-in-hand.)
Teatro Anatomico
Esther Klein Art Gallery
3701 Market Street
Mon, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., free
www.kleinartgallery.org
Some of you may already be overly interested in the female reproductive system. In other words you are either a) European or b) a women's studies major. For those of you shy guys out there this exhibit, which consists of glorified pornography, may explain a lot. The Esther Klein Art Gallery is here to answer all the questions the "miracle of life" video we all watched in health class failed to answer.
Solo Exhibition by Carl Fudge
The Print Center
1614 Latimer Street
Tue, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., free
(215) 735- 6090
www.printcenter.org
If you like photographs of white picket fences and goldfish, this is the exhibit for you. Yes, I know you have been waiting a buttload of time to see it. Fudge's exploration into the world of suburban art will have you reeling for weeks. Get out your "Only the strong survive in New Jersey" t-shirts and trucker hats and visit. It should be stimulating.
Contra Dancing at Memorial Hall
Memorial Hall
43rd and N. Concourse Drive
Thu, 8 p.m.-11 p.m., $6-$7
(215) 685-0000
I do not know what contra dancing is. Until five seconds ago, I didn't even know it existed. Apparently it has something to do with New England country dancing, another genre that is under-represented at AEPi dance parties. But, if you're sick of the bump and grind then go! Contra dance your little buns off. But, as for me, I'll stick to playing DDR by myself.
2005 March Madness Speak-Off
Harrison College House
3910 Irving Street
Thu, 7p.m.-9 p.m., free
http://harrison.house.upenn.edu
Are you the big mouth of the group? Are you able to talk about anything? Do people wish you would just shut up for Christ's sake already? Well than maybe you are just right for the March Madness Speak-Off. Contestants give three minute long talks about any topic of their choice. Harrison provides food and prizes, and the winners accrue points towards the College House Cup.
Gay Bingo
Gershman Y
401 S. Broad Street
Thur, 7 p.m., $15-$20
(215) 545-4400
Bingo is usually synonymous with alcoholic old people getting rowdy over prize money. This time the name of the game isn't geriatrics but rather AIDS. GayBINGO is one of Philadelphia's biggest AIDS fundraisers and attracts an eclectic mix of Philadelphians interested in social change and of course B-I-N-G-O. Not only will you help AIDS but also you may even get someone's number.
AYUDA Black & White Ball
Ballroom at the Ben
834 Chestnut Street
Fri, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $50
www.ayudainc.net
AYUDA, the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad is a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness about diabetes throughout the Americas. And, if I remember correctly that acronym also translates to "help" in Spanish. Go me and my Spanish 140 skills! Those of you who were in that class with me know exactly how amazing it is that I remember anything, thanks to our obnoxious smelly teacher. Anyways, the event is open bar, with a DJ, desert, and dudes in drag. Well minus that last part, I just enjoy using alliteration every once in a while. Don your formalwear and help out a good cause.
College Sandals
Denim Lounge
1710 Walnut Street
Thu, 11 p.m., free
(215) 735-6700
Thursday night is college night at one of Philadelphia's hottest clubs -- Denim Lounge. DJ Rome promises to get your ass shaking into the wee hours of the morning. So wear your finest denim, and try not to puke in your recitation on Friday morning.
Iqbal Quadir
Huntsman Hall, room G55
3730 Walnut Street
Mon, 5 p.m., free
www.foxleadership.org
Some say that nothing good ever came out of Wharton besides Donald Trump. He's a beautiful man with a beautiful show that my parents love to watch together. And though few good things have come out of Wharton, good people can go in, like Iqbal Quadir, but chances are they'll come out missing a piece of their mortal soul. This Bangladeshi businessman is coming to talk about investment banking and his war-torn homeland, totwo things most Whartonites can really relate.
Adam Monaco
Khyber
56 S. 2nd St.
Thu, 9 p.m., $10
(215) 238-5888
Don't miss this opportunity to see the man behind the music for Couch Tomato Cafe's television ad. True celebrity status is achieved from such great works of art as this, and I'm sure the Manayunk eatery's dining population doubled after the ad hit the air. The event should be a good time, though, as the bass player promises to dance for you all, and the proceeds go to benefit indie film makers Amy Roy and Tesia Barone's first film. The rumor is that if you buy one of these fine ladies a drink, you can score a walk-on part in the next big thing at Sundance.
Aqualung
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Thu, 7:30 p.m., $14
(215) 222-1400
Aqualung's first album to be released in the U.S. will come out on Tuesday, so buy it quickly so you can sing along loudly and off-key on Thursday when you go to see them perform here in Philly. On tour in the U.S., Aqualung will be opening for Jason Mraz in April, and their single "Brighter than Sunshine" will be featured in Ashton Kutcher's next film. So go check them out, close your eyes, and imagine Ashton half-naked and doing something stupid. And most importantly... he's got a British accent.
Losers Like You
The Balcony at the Troc
1003 Arch Street
Thu, 6 p.m., $9
(215) 922-6888
"It's always losers like you that make it big these days." Who would've thought a semi-self-deprecating comment about this South Jersey garage band would not only come true but also end up as the band's name? Even more surprising, a garage-band from New Jersey? What?
You Got me Swingin': Tribute to Bobby Darin
North by Northwest
7165 Germantown Avenue
Thu, 9 p.m., $8
(215) 248-1000
Bobby Darin. A singer, a legend, a guy who banged Sandra Dee. He suffered a lot in his life, including some twisted ambiguity between his sister, his mom and his grandmother, but he clearly left his mark, judging by the myriad tributes that exist in his honor. Clearly, although he left us early, Bobby Darin went out swingin'.
Kurt Rosenwinkel Group
Zanzibar Blue
200 S. Broad St.
Fri-Sat, 8 p.m.- 10 p.m., $25, Sun, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m., $20 http://www.zanzibarblue.com/pa/
Imagine what this guy's nicknames could be. His girlfriend calls him Captain Ron, his mom calls him Kurtie, and all his sports buddies call him Winkie. He plays jazz guitar, and he was first pick by a vibraphonist, whatever that is.
Jill Scott
Tower Theatre
69th and Ludlow streets
Sun, 8 p.m., $38-$55.50
(610) 352-2887
www.jillscott.com
Congratulations Jill Scott on your recent Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative R&B performance. This weekend Jill Scott returns to her native Philadelphia with two performances at the Tower Theatre. Her dynamic, soulful sounds combine elements of jazz and hip hop, and has helped create a strong following that has earned her a sold -out show this Friday. Check out the Saturday show if you can find tix and catch this up and coming diva before she flies away.
Elegies: A Song Cycle
Plays & Players Theater
1714 Delancey Street
Thu-Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sun, 3 p.m., Tue, 8 p.m., Wed, 1p.m. & 8 p.m., $15-45
(215) 985-0420
www.phillytheatreco.com
Elegies: A Song Cycle is the latest from Tony Award winning writer and composer William Finn. This production, which received rave reviews in New York, recently hit the Philadelphia scene and is a clever combination of different musical styles including pop, rock, R&B and jazz. This dude may be white but the New York Times thinks he's fly.
After-Play
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street
Thu-Fri, 7:30 p.m., Sat-Sun, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Tue-Wed, 7:30 p.m., $24
(215) 574-3550
Anne Meara, isn't that Ben Stiller's mom? Indeed it is. Apparently the woman who ripped that kooky Ben Stiller out of her vagina can also write a damn good play. After-Play is a comedy about two couples trying to
navigate Manhattan's urban dining jungle. And I bet it's funnier than that time when she guest starred on Sex and the City and ate rotten pizza out of the garbage. Because that was just gross.
Citizen's Bank Broadway: Peter Pan
Academy of Music
240 S. Broad Street
Fri, 8 p.m., $25-$75
(215) 893-1999
Think you can fly? Well, you should leave those schemes with fishing line and tights to those putting on this production of Peter Pan. With this performance, you can live your dreams while visiting the always refreshing Avenue of the Arts. You can also pretend for a little while that you are taking your date to Broadway. He or she will figure out the trick pretty quickly so I wouldn't advise it.
Beneath Bleeding Skies
The Balcony at the Troc
1003 Arch Street
Thu, 6 p.m., $9
(215) 922-6888
You shouldn't hold it against them that they mistook the polluted red skies of South Jersey to be "bleeding." Beneath Bleeding Skies is a metal/punk four piece that sounds as much like Ozzfest material as you are imagining. Despite any possible misgivings, this is the time to figure out what lives in those desolate woods as you drive to Atlantic City.
Upright Citizens Brigade
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South Street
Fri, 9 p.m., $15
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net/
You've seen them on TV; well, hopefully you have. The Upright Citizens Brigade, the offbeat comedy group that had used to have a show on Comedy Central, will be performing this week in Philadelphia. Their humor is. . . inspired. If you think sketches that include characters like Little Donny, the misunderstood boy who is not aware of his giant penis, are hilarious, then take a trip down to South Street on Friday.
Raw Boys
Wilma Theatre
265 S. Broad Street
Sat, 2 p.m., $32-$50
(215) 546-7824
Now that everyone has Irishmen on the mind post St. Patty's Day, here's a chance to take in a little more of Irish culture than those six Irish car bombs you downed last week. Unfortunately, contrary to the title, this isn't Gaelic porn, but it is the award-winning story of two Irish brothers traveling through London and New York looking for things.
Much Ado About Nothing
Lantern Theater Company
923 Ludlow Street
Sat, 8 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m., Tue, 8 p.m., Wed, 7 p.m., Thu, 8 p.m., $12-27
(215) 829-9002
If you haven't seen or read this play, it's basically a story about relationships. Of course, this comedy makes your worst relationship experience look like a trip to Disneyworld. Whether you are a fan of Shakespeare, or if you are simply looking for an entertaining night out, Much Ado About Nothing is your ticket.
