Colin Quinn
Helium Comedy Club
2031 Sansom St.
Thu, 8 p.m., $20, Fri-Sat, 8 p.m., 8 p.m., 10:30 p.m. $25
(215) 496-9001
www.heliumcomedy.com
Before Stephen Colbert, there was Colin Quinn. Quinn and his comedian friends used to shoot the shit post-Daily Show on Quinn's Tough Crowd. Most recently, Quinn was featured on the DVD When Stand-Up Stood Out. Now Quinn, who also served for six years as a member of the SNL cast, is returning to his roots, traveling cross-country performing his stand-up.
Ralph Harris
Helium Comedy Club
2031 Sansom St.
Wed, 8 p.m., $15
(215) 496-9001
www.heliumcomedy.com
Unlike Brooklyn-born Colin Quinn, Ralph Harris is a Philly native. He's appeared on shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Seinfeld and The Cosby Show. Harris is returning to Philly to promote his new CD, Hickey Head, recorded live at The Funny Bone in Columbus, Ohio.
Connecting Cultures: Kids Across the World
University of Pennsylvania Museum
Merle Smith Gallery
3260 South St.
Until Nov. 26, $5-10, free with PennCard
(215) 898-4000
www.museum.upenn.edu
A simple smile from a child can make all your worries slip away. OK, maybe I'm just in a good mood because my classes haven't assigned any serious work yet. In any case, this unique photography exhibit portrays children from all over the world, connecting them through various universal themes. It's time to latch on to some of that pure innocence only kids can feel.
Dreaming in Black and White
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Julien Levy Gallery
Until Sept. 17, Tue-Thu, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri, 11 a.m.-8:45 p.m., Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $17-20
(215) 235-SHOW
www.philamuseum.org
With more than 230 photographs by over 60 photographers, including celebrity portraits, film stills, press photos and everyday snapshots, this exhibit demonstrates celebrated art dealer Julien Levy's commitment to photography and surrealism. The Museum will also be presenting films by artists affiliated with the gallery.
Garden Railway Display
Morris Arboretum
100 E. Northwestern Ave.
Until Oct. 9, Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat-Sun, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $5-10
(215) 247-5777
www.upenn.edu/arboretum
The Garden Railway Display presents replicas of fairy-tale scenes laid out on a quarter mile of track. Combining plants and flowers with other natural materials, the display also includes Philadelphia-area landmarks along with 13 replicas of fairy-tale dwellings and, of course, model trains.
John Armleder, About Nothing. Works on Paper 1962-2007
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th St.
Until Dec. 17, Wed-Fri, 12-8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free with PennCard
(215) 898-7108
www.icaphila.org
Hundreds of drawings from private collections and the artist's studio cover the first floor of the ICA in what is the first large-scale exhibition of John Armleder's work in the United States. Through the use of everything from ink to watercolor to collage on paper, the installation offers its own perspective on the nature of drawing.
Roxana P‚rez-M‚ndez: Encantada
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Until Oct. 14, Tue-Sat, 12-6 p.m., free
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org
Part of 4-sites, the Painted Bride's series of solo, site-specific installations by four Philadelphia artists, Roxana P‚rez-M‚ndez's Encantada documents the construction of the tallest hotel in Puerto Rico through the use of LCD monitors, projectors and audio. The project reveals what happens when a people's identity is caught up in the architectural transformation of their environment.
Golden Smog
The Trocadero
1003 Arch St.
Sat, 7 p.m., $24
(215) 922-LIVE
www.thetroc.com
For fans of indie rock, Golden Smog's friendship and collaboration with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy should prove the band worthy of your approval. Of course, you can still change your mind should the group become, you know, popular. Golden Smog's on tour to promote its new album, Another Fine Day.
Lyle Lovett
Kimmel Center
Verizon Hall
260 S. Broad St.
Sat, 8 p.m., $40-72, $10 Student Rush
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org
Over twenty years, ten albums and four Grammies, Lyle Lovett has made a name for himself through a blend of country, gospel and R & B that's almost as inventive as his hair. To get a taste of his legendary music and even more legendary coif, check out the concert, kicking off the Kimmel Center's World/Pop Series.
Orchestra 2001
Annenberg Center
Harold Prince Theater
3680 Walnut St.
Sat, 8 p.m., $30
(215) 898- 3900
www.pennpresents.org
Since 1988, Orchestra 2001 has devoted itself to premiering, promoting and performing Western art music of the 20th and 21st centuries. On Saturday, Orchestra 2001 will be performing Ligeti's Ramifications, Bernstein's Arias and Barcarolles, and Rochberg's Transcendental Variations. The event also marks pianist Marcantonio Barone's conducting debut.
Cassandra Wilson
World Caf‚ Live
3025 Walnut St.
Mon, 7:30 p.m., $46-59
(215) 222-1400
www.WorldCafeLive.com
In Greek mythology, Apollo cursed Cassandra so that no one would believe her prophecies. While that Cassandra may have been royally screwed, the same is not true for Ms. Wilson and her eclectic music. Performing everything from Miles Davis tributes to hip-hop to folk music, Wilson's show is sure to entertain like no other - and that ain't no lie.
Powerman 5000
Theatre of Living Arts
334 South St.
Wed, 8 p.m., $15-17
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
The title of this electro-metal band's newest release, Destroy What You Enjoy, seems to reflect an obligatory negativity that, to me, pervades this type of music. Apparently, the band's just trying to fit in with their contemporaries, Marilyn Manson and Korn. If they really wanted to stand out, they should have gone for the other extreme: flowers and puppies and sunshine (oh my!). Now that would have been bold.
Constitution Day Celebration
National Constitution Center
525 Arch St.
Fri-Mon, free
(215) 409-6600
www.constitutioncenter.org
OK, people: it's the 219th birthday of our dear old Constitution, and it's freakin' time to celebrate. The Constitution Center festivities include public readings of that great document, an opportunity to witness an actual naturalization ceremony (s¡, se¤or) and stories from prominent figures on the contemporary relevance of the Constitution. Head on over, and give thanks to the reason you're allowed to read this.
A Prayer for Owen Meany
Arden Theatre
F. Otto Haas Stage
40 N. 2nd St.
Until Oct. 15, Tue-Sun, showtimes and prices vary
(215) 922-1122
www.ardentheatre.org
Adapted from the 1989 John Irving novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany tells the story of two boys in 1950s New Hampshire whose lives are forever changed when one of them, Owen Meany, an uncommonly small child, unintentionally kills the other's mother.
Windy City
Walnut Street Theatre
825 Walnut St.
Until Oct. 22, Tue-Fri, 8 p.m., Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.,
$57.50-67.50, $10 Student Rush
(215) 574-3550
www.wstonline.org
Set in 1929 Chicago, Windy City is a musical about a reporter who decides to leave the newspaper business and marry the daughter of a movie mogul. His career change is put on hold when the story of a lifetime - the sudden escape of an anarchist on Death Row - falls into his lap.
