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ISSUE . November 5th 2009

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Cover Story

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Top 20 Spectrum Moments

The Building Wanted Blood

by Patrick Rapa

You could call it a bad omen that the roof blew off the five-month-old Spectrum during the Ice Capades in 1968, but I think the arena was just asserting itself.

Top 10 Spectrum Sports Moments

Hexy, Laettner, Moses, Wilt ...

by Patrick Rapa

Color Guard

More (in)famous characters who lit up the Spectrum.

Top 10 Spectrum Music Moments

The Boss, The Who, Bowie, U2 ...

by A.D. Amorosi

Opinion

Loose Canon:

Armageddon Question

Great journalism is no longer profitable.

by Bruce Schimmel

As creditors of the bankrupt Inquirer and Daily News sharpen their knives, our dailies could be decimated. Should that happen, the government and foundations should jump in and pump up public media.

Feedback:

Letters to the Editor

What You Say

"Why does the City Paper have such a zealous penchant for using excrement in both its column titles and its pieces?"

News

No Exceptions

Is a draconian law forcing innocent men out of the country?

by Julia Harte

Over the last 13 years, the federal government has deported more than 1 million immigrants following criminal convictions — a number that has escalated dramatically in the last decade. But what if the men are innocent, and the law doesn't care?

Man Overboard!:

No Benefits

Forget the public option — gimme a SEPTA plan.

by Isaiah Thompson

Why is it, I wonder, that one union can be out there clamoring to keep their amazingly generous health care terms while another, like the scrappy Taxi Workers Alliance, barely has a pot to piss in?

Icepack

Amorosi on the news, nightlife, gossip and bitchiness beats.

by A.D. Amorosi

Beans says Hova ratted him out and put money over friendship. He's nearly crying by track's end. Can't help wonder if those near-tears ain't about more than 12 bars.

A Million Stories

by Jeffrey C. Billman and Julia Harte

Eight short years later, the Philadelphia Water Department has caught the 9/11 bug, and now wants to spend $10 million to, you know, keep the terrorists from winning.

Sports:

Loser Gets Jersey

Philadelphia vs. New York. Three teams. Four games.

by E. James Beale

On the line: First place in the NFC East, a meaningless Atlantic division win, bragging rights and, oh yeah, the 105th World Series trophy. And we were there.

The Bell Curve

City Paper's Quality-o-Life-o-Meter

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

Arts

Art:

Mourning Has Broken

Displaced by Hurricane Katrina, EgoPo lets Beckett be their guide to Philly greatness.

by Mark Cofta

"I've been asked many times if I thought Beckett would approve of our version of Endgame," says Savadove about the late playwright's notorious legal actions against productions that strayed from his vision. "From my knowledge of other productions, his own direction of his plays, and his approval of our other productions of his work, I think that he would be very pleased that we are able to speak to an American audience without changing a single word or stage direction."

Arts Picks:

Jonathan Safran Foer

Tue., Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m., free, Free Library, Central Branch, 1901 Vine St., 215-567-4341, freelibrary.org.

by Lauren F. Friedman

More humane farming is great, he writes, but why does it go without saying that we should eat meat at all?

Theater Review:

Ring Leader

The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity

by Mark Cofta

What succeeds beyond the wrestling spectacle in director Seth Rozin's fine production is not so much the socio-political commentary expected from InterAct, but the sincerity Pacheco brings to Mace.

Good Grief

Rabbit Hole

by David Anthony Fox

Lately, an overwhelming flood of media has turned grief-and-catharsis into an industry. Sudsy Lifetime movies, maudlin Jodi Picoult novels, countless hours of reality TV have reduced loss to a series of clichés. How can we separate art from Oprah-tainment?

Kaleidoscope

Brilliantly Endowed | Tracy Morgan: I Am the New Black | Bored to Death | Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

First Friday Focus

Carolyn Huckabay's First Friday Hit List

by Carolyn Huckabay

Painted Bride Art Center | AntiPop Ltd. | Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts | Proximity Gallery | Mew Gallery

Arts Picks:

The Long Christmas Ride Home

Through Nov. 15, $15-$25, Mandell Theater, Drexel University, 3210 Chestnut St., 215-733-0255, azukatheatre.org.

by Mark Cofta

In-demand puppeteer Aaron Cromie directs, combining professional actors, Drexel students and bunraku puppetry in what should be a unique theatrical — but not holiday! — experience.

Sweet Tea

Sun., Nov. 8, 6 p.m., $20, Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 267-402-2055, paintedbride.org.

by Josh Middleton

The book explores the unique experience of growing up black and gay below the Mason-Dixon and suggests the Southern mind-set may be broader than some think.

Life Without Parole

Sun., Nov. 8, 2 p.m., free, Painted Bride, 230 Vine St., 267-402-2055, firstpersonarts.org.

by Julia Harte

According to Vicki Solot, executive director of First Person Arts, Hartman will try calling in from prison to answer audience questions on Sunday, but if the jail's on lockdown, it may not work.

Yes Men Fix the World

Thu., Nov. 5, 8:30 p.m., $20, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 267-402-2055, firstpersonarts.org.

by Julia Harte

"We may tell lies, but we tell smaller lies to get at bigger truths," says Bonanno of the duo's notorious hoaxes.

Movies

The Men Who Stare at Goats

City Paper Grade: C+

by Sam Adams

Clooney nearly saves the picture single-handedly by delving into the farcical repertoire he's fruitfully developed with the Coen brothers.

Repertory Film

Your weekly guide to local film events, festivals and under-the-radar screenings.

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

Music

Is Love Pop or Not?

by K. Ross Hoffman

I started working on writing songs last summer, here in New York, in the middle of the hottest month. I was in a pretty bad state emotionally, right in the middle of a breakup. The initial idea around the album came about in New York, but the good parts, the inspirational parts, happened later, when I was living in Paris — both cities were really important to the album.

Music Picks:

Raekwon

Tue., Nov. 10, 8 p.m., $15 ($20 with CD), all ages, with Sean Price, First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, r5productions.com.

by Tisha Kline

Raekwon's gritty, obscene rhyming style tips its hat to modern New York street rap while still appealing to the old heads.

Lenka

Wed., Nov. 11, 8 p.m., $12, with Colin Smith, M Room, 15 W. Girard Ave., 215-739-5577, themanhattanroom.com.

by K. Ross Hoffman

A self-described "smile delivery service," in the past year she's won over toddlers, teenagers and thirtysomethings, adoring Asians, enthusiastic Germans, rowdy Utahns and impassive New Yorkers.

Moscow Quartet

Sun., Nov. 8, 3 p.m., $23, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-569-8080, pcmsconcerts.org.

by Peter Burwasser

That beautiful school is exemplified by the Moscow Quartet, who will present a wonderful program of Haydn, Beethoven and (late) compatriot Shostakovich in one of their regular visits to our fair city.

Steven Bernstein's Mto

Fri., Nov. 6, 8 p.m., $12, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, arsnovaworkshop.com.

by Shaun Brady

The leader of the wise-ass avant-pop-jazz quartet Sex Mob, Bernstein has a deep knowledge and sly versatility that manifest in his own band playing swing with a punk sneer, or covering the Beatles a la Nawlins or deconstructing gypsy jazz, all in the course of a single set.

Celebration

Thu., Nov. 5, 8 p.m., $10, Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St., 866-468-7619, kungfunecktie.com.

by Michael Pelusi

Experienced live, their mix of spooky Goth organs, hippie drum circles and Katrina Ford's eerily compelling vocals is both hypnotic and blissful.

Kadri Gopalnath

Sat., Nov. 7, 7 p.m., $22, Mitchell Auditorium, Drexel University, 3128 Market St., 215-310-1783, sruti.org.

by Shaun Brady

The image is somewhat incongruous: a saxophonist, sitting cross-legged in colorful robes, accompanied by a violinist and mridangam player.

The Philadelphia Orchestra

Fri., Nov. 6, 2 p.m.; Sat., Nov. 7, 8 p.m.; and Sun., Nov. 8, 2 p.m.; $10-$113, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-8931999, philorch.org.

by Peter Burwasser

It is a bit curious that an instrument as expressive as the cello has not been accorded more concerto treatment, recent times have been more favorable for the cello, and in any case, there is one indisputable masterpiece in the format.

Food

Smell the Clove

Tom Culton, with a reading from the gospel of garlic.

by Brian Howard

The garlic you're likely most familiar with, the stuff in the netted bags at Acme, is called, fittingly and blandly, California White. It became the industry standard thanks to its uniform bulb size and resistance to disease, says Culton. It's fine — but it's far from the last pungent word on the topic.

That's Sweet

BOOK REVIEW: Anita Chu's Field Guide to Candy

by Drew Lazor

The author breaks candy down into digestible categories ("chocolate," "sugary sweet," "creamy/sticky/chewy, etc."), with an easy-to-reference full-color photo key neatly wedged in the middle of the book, like the nut part of a Jordan Almond.

What's Cooking

Get Out!

by Erin Mae Szrankowski

Phiz Fest 2009 | victory Brewing Co. Beer Dinner at chifa | 2009 Philadelphia Whiskey Festival | Moët & Chandon Sushi Pairing Dinner at Roy's | Wines of Chile at Legal Sea Foods

Feeding Frenzy

Restaurants opening, closing and pending

by Drew Lazor

Grey Social | Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar | Coup de Taco

Agenda

Agenda Lead:

Obsess Pool

Human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs dishes on why he goes to extremes.

by A.D. Amorosi

Jacobs tries to understand the world by immersing himself in extraordinary circumstances. For his latest, that meant pretending to be his child's female nanny looking for online romance, outsourcing his daily errands to women in India, and attempting to persuade the Sex in the City actresses to help him propose to his long-suffering companion.

Agenda Picks:

The Mysterious Wonder Balloon

Mon.-Wed., Nov. 9-11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free, Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 215-573-3234, register by e-mail at sarahmlowry@gmail.com, therotunda.org.

by Holly Otterbein

As much as we've loved watching Massachusetts-based Missoula Oblongata's bizarro, bemusing anarchist puppet shows, we've always secretly longed to be up on stage ourselves.

Peer-to-Peer

Brian James Kirk Geeks Out

by Brian James Kirk

Body Worlds 2 & the Brain | Star Wars: In Concert

Agenda Picks:

Strawberry Mansion Art, Jewelry and Fine Craft Show

Fri.-Sun., Nov. 6-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free, Fairmount Park Horticulture Center, 4231 N. Concourse Drive, 215-228-8364, historicstrawberrymansion.org.

by Scott Yorko

If mansions and bling aren't your bag — but an eco-friendly tote is — this year's annual Strawberry Mansion craft show should be more appealing than past ones.

Tweed Ride

Sat., Nov. 7, noon-4 p.m., free, begins at Water Works, 1 Boathouse Row, tweedride.phillyfixed.com.

by Nicole Saylor

Any steel-steed fans of '20s and '30s fashion are welcome to join in this afternoon of mustaches, knickers and throwback games.

Zenkaikon 2009

Sat.-Sun., Nov. 7-8, 9-1:30 a.m., $15-$50, Radisson Valley Forge Hotel, 1160 First Ave., King of Prussia, 610-337-2000, zenkaikon.com.

by Julia West

With a full lineup of martial arts discussion panels, anime Jeopardy, anime-themed karaoke and Whose Line Is It Anime?, it's clear why attendance has more than tripled since the 2005 Zenkaikon.

Snuggie Crawl

Sun., Nov. 8, 2-10 p.m., free, begins at Paddy Whacks, 150 South St., phillysnuggiecrawl.com.

by Kristen Humbert

On the eighth day, God created the Snuggie. Nah, just playing — the Slanket came first.

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