Hiro Sakaguchi: Away
Center for Emerging Visual Artists
The Barclay, 3A
237 S. 18th St.
Fri, 5:30-8 p.m.
Free
(215) 546-7775
www.cfeva.org
Starting this Friday, the Center for Emerging Visual Artists is presenting a solo exhibition by Japanese born Hiro Sakaguchi entitled "Away." The exhibit will feature the usual paintings and drawings, but the real draw is Hiro's sculptures of miniature cell phones. The opening reception starts at 5:30 on Friday, where there's sure to be booze, just try to avoid cell phone envy when Hiro's are smaller than yours. It's just a matter of time.
Laura Pakarow
The Rosenfeld Gallery
113 Arch Street
Thurs-Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun, 12 - 5 p.m., free
(215) 922-1376
www.therosenfeldgallery.com
This January, the best thing about First Fridays won't be the food. Laura Pakarow's light, optimistic paintings are like Monday's Sudoku grid: full of scribblings and markings, and just barely reminiscent of some deeper texture and mind-scrunching. She is slowly moving towards complete abstractions (that would be Friday's puzzle), and as my 35-year-old, ass-hounding, struggling artist, hipster friend would say, it's a fucking kaleidoscope of cool.
Ramp Project: Ingrid Calame
Institute of Contemporary Art
Eleanor Biddle Lloyd Gallery
118 S. 36th Street
Sat-Sun, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., free with PennCard
(215) 898-7108
www.icaphila.org
If I learned anything in Art History, I learned that you don't have to know anything in Art History. Being cultured only requires you to spend an hour a week looking at something pointless. You might think that "Plateau" does an adequate job of shoving confusing art down your throat every damn day, but voluntarily seeing more art magically makes you morally superior to everyone you know. I suggest "Ramp Project: Ingrid Calame" at the ICA. If it doesn't make any sense, it means you're smart.
Benjamin Franklin and Religious Liberty
National Museum of American Jewish History
Independence Mall East
55 N. 5th Street
Sun, 12 - 5 p.m., free
(215) 923-3811
www.nmajh.org
Everyone loves Ben Franklin, and as it turns out, he loved everyone back. Franklin was a major player in encouraging the plurality that is now a trademark of American society. The most famous Philadelphian even went as far as to offer early support to one of the nation's most historic synagogues, Congregation Mikveh Israel, which is now also the location of the National Museum of American Jewish History. Franklin's aid didn't stop there, and this exhibit highlights the religious tolerance he championed throughout his life, with a particular emphasis on the experience of early American Jews.
Almost Art
Slought Foundation
4017 Walnut Street
Sat, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., free
(215) 222-9050
www.slought.org
What do McDonald's, prostitution and George Bush have in common? Duh... they're almost art. Come see what almost-artists from around the world have to say about cultural concepts and cliches. If this almost sounds interesting, that's because it is. And it's almost free. Wait, scratch that. It is free. So definitely walk down Walnut street and check out this almost controversial exhibit. You might almost get cultured.
Only One Man Died: Medical Adventures on the Lewis and Clark Trail
The College Physicians of Philadelphia
9 S. 22nd Street
Thurs-Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., $6 with Student ID
(215) 563-3737
www.collphyphil.org
Everyone knows that Lewis and Clark are the almost-fabled adventurers who explored the Louisiana Purchase and reached the U.S. Pacific Coast under a commission by President Thomas Jefferson. However, few know that during the course of their expedition only one man died, despite the unpredictable elements, wild animals, etc. This exhibit, Only One Man Died: Medical Adventures on the Lewis and Clark Trail, shows how Philadelphia -- namely, the medical expertise that Lewis learned here -- made this expedition so successful.
Beauford Delaney: From New York to Paris
Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th Street. & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
American Art Gallery 119
Thurs, Sat-Sun, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fri, 10 a.m. - 8:45 p.m., $8 with Student ID
(215) 684-7600
www.philamuseum.org
So, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is having an exhibit on the famous artist Delaney. However, don't be fooled by the title; the exhibit actually takes pieces from the 50-year career of Delaney and places them in context of other works of American art at the time -- including artists like Georgia O'Keeffe and Claude Clark (boy, those Philadelphia art people are tricky). So come by and view the amazing pieces painted by famous American artists; if anything, it's an excuse to climb those Rocky steps.
Theatre One Acts
Performing Arts Council
Iron Gate Theatre
3700 Chestnut Street
Fri-Sat, 8 p.m.
Thespians know how to party. Sure, they wear lots of black and sometimes smell funny, but that time when my friend made her own absinthe was pretty cool. I do regret waking in a pool of my own vomit, but let's just call that decision artistic license. But I digress; this Friday, all of Penn's theater arts groups come together in a set of collaborative one-act plays. It's perfect for those of you with a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for short performances.
Nine Parts of Desire
The Wilma Theater
265 S. Broad Street, $10-$49
Wed, 7:30 p.m., until March 12
(215) 546-7824
www.wilmatheater.org
When I first heard the title of this play, I did some math. Even give or take a fetish, I'm pretty sure that there are simply not nine parts to desire on any human form. Which must mean that the title is some sort of metaphor for something else, and that's really exciting. God knows our eyes are weary of porn, and taking your date to an artistic play about the emotional, not sexual, strength of nine Iranian women is a sure-fire way to get laid.
Lost in Yonkers
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut Street
Tues-Sun, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., until March 5, $10-$65
(215) 574-3550
www.wstonline.org
Let's be honest. You spent way too much time with your family over winter break and you're still recovering. Being home with your parents can majorly suck. How many times did you wish you were back at school where you can always do what you want? Well, you're back. And while it's tempting to fritter away any and all of your free time like you probably want, you should take a breather and watch "Lost in Yonkers." The Neil Simon play involves some serious family issues including, but not exclusive to, Grandma Kurnitz's Nazi approach to raising her two grandsons. So you never know, maybe you'll even like your family again -- or maybe not.
George Strait
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad Street
Fri, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$59.50
(215) 336-3600
www.comcast-spectator.com
You should "Write This Down," George Strait, one of the last true American Country singers, is coming up from "Somewhere Down in Texas" to the the Wachovia Center this Friday night in an attempt to reach out to the Yankees above the Mason-Dixon line. This one-night show will ponder such deep questions as what "If the World was a Honky Tonk," and "Am I Blue." Check it out and you can be guaranteed that he'll "Leave you with a Smile."
Sevendust
The Electric Factory
421 N. 7th Street
Sat, 7 p.m., $20
(610) 784-5400
www.electricfactory.com
In the late '90s, Atlanta-based heavy-metal band Sevendust emerged. With a successful new album just released in October 2005 titled Next, Sevendust has been compared to such bands as Godsmack and Coal Chamber. The band, with frontman Lajon Witherspoon on vocals, is particularly famous for throwing an amazing live show. As such, their appearance at The Electric Factory should not be missed.
Fateless
Gershman Y
401 S. Broad Street
Sat, 8 p.m., Sun 2 p.m., $10- $12
(215) 446-3027
www.gershmany.org
The Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival presents Fateless, a Hungarian import based on the novel of the same title by Imre Kertesz, who also stars in the film. Kertesz, a Holocaust survivor himself, tells the tale of a 14-year-old Jewish boy's struggle to understand and put into perspective the meaning of his time in a concentration camp. Praised for its production values, weighty story and visionary photography, the film has been one of the most successful in Hungary's cinematic history.
Philomathean Society Presents Dostoevsky's "Idiot" (2003) (parts 5 & 6)
College Hall, 4th Floor
Sat, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., free
www.philomathean.org
For those of you uncultured folks who don't know what the Philomathean Society is, it happens to be the nation's oldest continually-existing literary society. This weekend, the group is putting on a showing of Dostoevsky's The Idiot, right in the heart of Penn's campus. But here's the twist: there are only four parts to the book, but the society is showing parts five and six; the film is a continuation of the story of the epileptic prince. The screening is so close that you don't really have an excuse not to go; after all, if you don't know which building College Hall is, you may as well be expelled.
Boyer Faculty Dance Concert
Conwell Dance Theater
5th Floor Conwell Hall
NE Corner of Broad Street & Montgomery Avenue
Fri-Sat, 8 p.m., $8 with Student ID
1-888-OWLSTIX
www.temple.edu/boyer
Whenever dance teachers come to mind, I think of Debbie Allen from Fame banging that stick on the ground and telling her students that fame costs and they're going to pay... in sweat. I don't think these teachers are anything like Debbie Allen, though, which is very comforting because that sweating thing is kind of weird. Plus, you get to see the faculty, along with guest artist Chris Walker, show their stuff and prove that fame really does live forever.
Ron White
Tower Theatre
69th Street & Ludlow, Upper Darby
Sat, 7:30 p.m., Sun, 10:30 p.m. $40.50
(610) 352-2887
Southern humor -- a brand of comedy that's lost on most Northern folk. But for fans of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, the fact that Ron White's website is called TaterSalad.com makes perfect sense, as do his jokes. So, for anyone out there who knows that a redneck isn't just someone who forgot to put on sun tan lotion, a night listening to Ron White will be a very fun evening.
University of Delaware Presents: Olympic Ice Skating
Routes 4 & 896, Newark, DE
Sat, 6 p.m., $20
(302) 831-4367
For most of us, staying on our feet the entire time we're on the ice is a major accomplishment. However, these people probably learned how to do that before entering kindergarten. The performance features Kimmie Meissner, a new Olympic team member, and a member of the UD Skating Club. Other members of UD's national and junior world teams will also be skating to show you that there's more to skating than bunny-hopping and grabbing the boards so you don't fall down.
5th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration: The Year of the Dog
International House of Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
Fri, 6 p.m., $10 with Student ID
(215) 895-6569
www.ihousephilly.org
The Chinese New Year is the holiday when you get really cool red envelopes with money inside (it also has something to do with the new year in the lunar calendar). And this weekend, the International House is having a celebration in honor of the holiday; so come down to 37th and Chestnut for food, crafts and Asian dances (and did I mention food?) to celebrate the year of the dog. The celebration will be followed by the Philadelphia premiere of the movie The World, directed by Jia Zhangke, so come by; it's sure to be a great time.
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks
Wachovia Center
3601 S. Broad Street
Sat, 8 p.m., $15-$350
(215) 339-7676
www.comcast-spectator.com
The Sixers have been on a role recently, winning two nail-bitters in a row at the Wachovia Center. They look to continue their mini winning streak against Penny Hardaway and the Knicks this weekend. The Knicks are facing some personal problems, having suspended both Antonio Davis and Jerome James recently. It promises to be an exciting game, and if nothing else, maybe another one of the Knicks will bite the dust.
Sex toy box social
Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall
Sat, 9 p.m., $6 at the door, $5 on the walk
Just go ahead and admit it, you've seen the flyers, but you've been too embarrassed to be caught noting the time and date. Well, now you've got all the information in the privacy of your very own 34th Street. Not only are sex toys all the rage, but there will be a DJ (DJ Poohbear to be exact), and most importantly, dessert will be served. All proceeds will benefit the Women's Medical Fund, so not only will you be having a good time, but you'll also be helping your female classmates afford birth control. Food, sex, music and a good cause... what more could you ask for?
