Pennsylvania Ballet's Thursday Night Jumps
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Thu, 5:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m., free
(215) 551-7000
Being a Quaker is full of stress. Luckily, our friends at The World Cafe understand and have graciously offered their facilities for us to relax and unwind for a magical evening of free jumps with the lovely Pennsylvania ballerinas. And what better night to see all these ladies' (and hopefully spandexed men's) moves? By Thursday, Collegers and Whartonites are done with classes, engineers are studying, locked in their dorms safely removed from society, and if there are any nurses out there ... never mind, there aren't.
Joanna Pascale
Art After 5
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Benjamin Franklin Pkwy & 26th Street
Fri, 5 p.m. - 8:45 p.m., free
(215) 763-8100
www.ucnet.com/pma/
So you're from New York, you love the Met, and you think that the appeal of the Philadelphia Museum of Art pretty much ends with the steps from Rocky. You already climbed those during NSO, so there's no reason to go back ... right? Clearly, you haven't heard of the museum's jazz series, Art After 5. You want to hear the best part? On your way to listen to this week's performer, Philadelphia native Joanna Pascale, you can run up the Rocky steps yet again, and then you can still go out afterwards because she'll done before 9 p.m. Cultural fix, exercise, party time ... talk about the best of all worlds!
The Badass Girls
Poker Party
Penn Bookstore
3601 Walnut Street
Tue, 7 p.m., free
(215) 898 7595
Have you ever felt left out of a game of strip poker? Now is your chance to join the fun, and next time you play, your clothes might actually stay on. Join the Poker Party with Toby Leah Bochan, author of The Badass Girls Poker Party Kit, at the Penn Bookstore and get poker savvy.
Linda Wolfe
Kelly Writers House
3805 Locust Walk
Wed, 5:30 p.m., free
If you're interested in, well, just about anything, check out Linda Wolfe's reading and conversation at the Kelly Writers house. She's a novelist -- her 1989 novel Wasted: The Preppie Murder was a New York Times notable book--editorialist, essayist and every other-ist that involves writing. She has written about a wealth of subjects ranging from sexuality to medicine. The woman has simply got to learn how to form an opinion.
Saturday Night /
Sunday Morning
African American Museum
701 Arch Street
Everday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., through Sun, $6
(215) 574-0380
Once again the Fall lull has set in. Classes have started, humidity looms in the air -- especially in Hill -- and those beloved NSO museum parties are no more. Although little can be done to relieve homework or crappy housing luck, those wishing to relive the delightful days of orientation now have a chance with the African American Museum. This may be no toga party (dress code strictly prohibits it), but what better way to kick off Black History Month 19 weeks early?
"Logical Progression"
Bridgette Mayer Gallery
709 Walnut Street
Thu - Sat, 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., free
(215) 413-8893
www.mayerartconsultants.com
The lines that crisscross every which way in the works of Tom McFarlane in his newest exhibit may not seem to follow a logical progression, but the paintings do look an awful lot like what the average Penn student can see after a long night at Smokes. Care to see how messed up our perceptions are from a sober perspective? Head over to the Bridgette Mayer Gallery, and take in McFarlane's abstraction of city life. Just be prepared for a very serious case of dej‹¨« vu.
"Meta/Physical"
Gallery Siano
309 Arch Street
Thu - Sat, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., free
(215) 629-2940
http://www.inliquid.com
Like hot yoga for the eyes, the meditative works in "Meta/Physical" will make you think, "Geez it's f-ing hot in here, but damn do I feel relaxed." Or, well, minus the heat part. Yudis's work focuses on the complexities of the microscopic cellular level, comparing it to the complexity of the universe as a whole, while Foss turns to Arabic mystical poetry for inspiration. Take this chance to exercise mind yoga. It may not be as tiring as the real thing, but you'll definitely be a lot less sweaty.
Rodney Graham
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th St.
Wed-Fri, 12 p.m.- 8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 11 p.m. - 5 p.m., through Dec. 23, free
(215) 898-7108
www.icaphila.org
Ever wish you could see the world through someone else's eyes? How about upside-down? In Rodney Graham's exhibition at the ICA, Graham dedicates a whole room to large-scale photographs of trees, all of them wrong-side up. You seriously feel like you're walking on the ceiling. His photographs, along with a short film and wall installations, depict his wide spectrum of artistic pursuits throughout the past 30 years. Not to mention, he also sings. A real Renaissance kinda guy.
Gwen Fryer:
"Evensong"
Nexus
137 N. 2nd St.
Thu - Sun, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., free
(215) 629-1103
In case you don't feel like walking from the dueling tampons to the University Museum, Nexus Gallery is offering an exhibition of modern art that they say draws together "materials from cultures and civilizations come and gone" all in one place. The artwork also promises to include "writing unintelligible to contemporary eyes." It's just like staying home and trying to get through that bulkpack reading, only you don't have to worry about not finishing it.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
Every Mon, Thurs, Fri and Sat
WellPoint Oriental Medicine, 255 S. 17th St.
(215) 200-6200
If you're not ready to take the full plunge into the underground S&M scene, maybe some acupuncture and a happy ending will suit you. If anyone asks about it, just tell them you are trying to get your body's "qi" balanced and improve your spiritual health, as the place advertises. And, if you're lucky, you can also get a prescription for 10 to 20 Chinese herbs. With that many, at least one of them should give you a pretty good buzz if you roll it up.
MAVERICKS OF COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE COLLECTION
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Ben Franklin Pkwy & 26th St.
Tue-Sun, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., through November 27th, $12,
$8 for students
(215) 763-8100
There was a time when people thought that color photography was vulgar and trashy. Kind of like the slutty girl on your hall freshman year: it had just been discovered and it started to get a lot of ass. Yes, color photography was getting ass. With works by such pioneers of color photography as William Eggleston and Eliot Porter, this collection is definitely of interest to anyone who is into photography ... and ass.
World Culture Fair
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W. Girard Ave.
Sat, 10 a.m., $16.95
(215) 243-1100
I hate zoos, always have, always will. Ever since the damn monkey stole the pacifier out of my mouth when I was a baby, I've avoided them at all costs. Those primates think they're so smart and so evolved and so superior. But hey, if you're one of those people who actually likes interacting with people of other nationalities, then I guess you might enjoy taking a virtual trip around the world. As for me, I'll be at home tripping on something else.
Edvard Munch
International House
3701 Chestnut Street
Fri, 7 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m., $5
(215) 895-6535
www.ihousephilly.org
Are you looking for something to talk about with that boy dressed in all black, sporting the black rimmed glasses? Go see the Norwegian film Edvard Munch at the International House this weekend. The film, directed by Peter Watkins, depicts the early years of artist Edvard Munch, best known for the painting The Scream. You can dazzle your hipster crush with all your knowledge of art and foreign films.
Paul McCartney
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad St.
Thu and Fri, 8 p.m., $52-$252
He may not be the great lyricist, the sick guitarist or even "that drummer," but this former Beatle is still out to show the City of Brotherly Love a rocking good time. And this baby boom Brit rocker just released a new album, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, so expect some of his newer material along with his tried and true classics. And if you're lucky, you can actually ask the man what the hell "Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" means.
Eyelevel
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Sat, 9 p.m., $5
(215) 222-1400
Let's level here -- I'm talking eye to eye. OK, I apologize for the horrible play on words, but seriously, I've never heard of this band, and I'm sure you haven't either. It doesn't matter if you've never seen Eyelevel because, as rumor has it, what you hear will be enough pleasure for your senses (not to insult the physical attractiveness of the band members). If the mood strikes you to set your sights on something new, come be surprisingly entrapped by the band that is rising amidst the Philadelphia music scene at the World Cafe Live.
Brendan Benson feat. the Greenhornes
World Cafe Live
3025 Walnut Street
Tue, 8 p.m., $18
(215) 222-1400
"After months of speculation, rumors, and guest appearances at each others' shows, it seems as though it wasn't all a cheap cross-promotional handjob," wrote Zach Vowell about Benson, the Greenhornes and Jack White. These artists recently collaborated (hey, the more the better) on a joint record. The album is only missing a title and record label-- aka a musical existence, but who needs that anyway? At least they can't be accused of selling out.
Harry Connick, Jr.
Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St.
(215) 893-1999
Tue, 7:30 p.m., $20-$60
www.kimmelcenter.org
Harry Connick, Jr. represents many different things to different people. To me, he is the guy from Hope Floats (a movie he was in with Sandra Bullock which, in my opinion, was incredibly depressing and which I really didn't like). To others, he is a pianist and a composer. If you're in the latter category, you should definitely head on over to the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center to see him perform instrumental pieces from his new CD. Should be a good time -- especially if you never saw Hope Floats.
Jaguares
Trocadero
1003 Arch Street
Wed, 6 p.m., $25
(215) 922-LIVE
No hablas espanol? No problema! If the closest you've ever come to Mexico is Qdoba or your gardener, then it's time to expand your horizons and venture beyond 34th Street. Yes, it is possible to leave campus without getting shot. After all, you're heading east not west. And here's a mini lesson in Concertology 101: Jaguares means "fast, expensive cars" in English. Great job! Now you're ready to start livin' la vida loca!
Richard Lewis
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South Street
Sat, 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m., $32.50
(215) 922-1011
You may know him as one of the comics from this summer's The Aristocrats. Or perhaps you see him as Larry David's best friend on Curb Your Enthusiasm, or even (God help you) as Matt's father-in-law on 7th Heaven. No matter how you know him, or if you've never heard of him, now's your chance to laugh, cry and bite your nails, because if you like nervous comedy, Richard Lewis is your man.
Doctor Dolittle
Kimmel Center
260 S. Broad St.
Thu, 7:30 p.m., $25-$90
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org
When you were little, did you ever think that you could talk to animals? I did. But I'm a big girl and now way too old to play pretend. Luckily, I can still go see Doctor Dolittle "walk with the animals, talk with the animals/Grunt and squeak and squawk with the animals" at the Kimmel Center's Academy of Music and so can you! How cool is that? P.S. This is a much beloved children's musical. It has nothing to do with Eddie Murphy.
Why Good Girls Like Bad Boyz
Merriam Theater
250 S. Broad St.
Tue, 8 p.m. through October 2, $32.50
(215) 732-5446
Oh John Singleton, with your film Boyz 'N the Hood, you really started something. With your clever use of a "z" instead of an "s" you set off a craze that can only be truly expressed with two z's (crazzy that is). Why Good Girls Like Bad Boyz is a gospel choir. They try to get your attention with scheming words like "good" and "girls" but you shouldn't trust them because they don't even use a "z" for girls dammit! So I hate those bad boyz and their vagina-hating asses.
