The perfect pair of shoes can make your day, while a bad pair can make your day hell. Shoes can complete your outfit, make your rear end look great and your legs a mile long, help you cross the finish line in a marathon, show off the first pedicure of spring, keep your toes from getting squished in the mosh pit and so much more. Whether your favorite pair happens to be dirty sneakers......

Most people, when finding out after surgery that their anesthesiologist had given them Sodium Pentathol prior to their operations because the doctors wanted "to find out something about the patient," and that as a result, they spoke for twelve minutes straight to the surgeons and scrub nurses, possibly revealing embarrassing or incriminating secrets about themselves, would have sued the hell out of the anesthesiologist, the surgeon, and the hospital. Deb Margolin, however, wrote a......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY D.L. Hughley Music Box at The Borgata, Atlantic City Fri, 4/4/08, 9PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Lisa Lampanelli Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre Fri, 5/2/08, 8PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Wayne Brady Music Box at The......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Friday: Better Late Than Never: Anne Lamott reads from her latest book Grace (Eventually) at the Free Library of Philadelphia Central Branch (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free Don’t Shoot First: Space 1026 (1026 Arch) converts their space into the Mos Eisley Cantina for their food show and potluck tonight from 7-10PM. $5 (Free with a dish to share—they request special brownies) Feeling Like Some Lebanese: "Improvisation and Emotion in......

Governor Rendell said that he would back the indicted Senator Fumo's reelection bid if Fumo just asked him. Ed says: "We would be lost in Harrisburg without him because of his skill. He has done great things, and we are lucky to have him." The Inquirer is getting excited about the Philadelphia Flower Show, which will have a preview opening for selected guests tomorrow, and then open to the general public on Sunday. Catherine......

What kind of octogenarian would you like to be? Us, we’ll be Merce Cunningham please. At 89 the famous choreographer is not only still creating works, but continues in his tradition of pushing the technological envelope by combining dance with accompanying music in unique and often fantastical ways (dude’s had Radiohead compose for him. That we’d love to see). Merilyn Jackson has a wonderful article tracing some of his collaborations and technological innovations in the......

Three weeks ago the Super Bowl heralded the end of another football season. At least, I think it did. See I don’t really “get” sports. Trust me, I am all man (except for my partially formed superfluous vagina), but sports has never been “my bag.” I mean I get the point of the game: two teams of guys try to get the ball either into some end-like sector or over some big pointy poles,......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Tuesday post only collects the early announcements, so definitely check back on Thursday for the latest ticket news. COMEDY Chris Rock No Apologies Tour Borgata Casino, Atlantic City Fri, 5/16/08, 8PM; Sat, 5/17/08, 8PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation (Fri show, Sat show) MUSIC Sasha & John Digweed Fillmore at the TLA Thu, 4/3/08, 9PM $30......

The best of the internet, chopped into tiny bits and grilled for your enjoyment. How about those Oscars? If you just want a list of all the winners, IMDB can help (go Coen brothers! Woo!). Cinematical, of course, was liveblogging the entire thing. Joystiq celebrated Wii Tennis' short cameo at the ceremony, and even embedded the video. Cinematical also found a great LJ post with links to YouTube videos of 46 of the animated shorts......

This weekend there are several cool dance events going down, most of them on the cheap. We were going to front-load (dance-load?) Frugal today, but then thought it might be better to devote a little more space to each. Besides, with all this slushiness, wouldn't you rather watch other people move than do so yourself? If you need a little something tomorrow afternoon to make you forget about said slush, consider heading over to the......

NEXUS/foundation for today's art is a champion of local artists of all stripes; their commitment to maintain gallery space dedicated to local emerging and experimental artists has rightfully earned them a rep as a Philly art institution. The fruits of their mission will be on display tonight, as they present their new members exhibitions with an opening reception. NEXUS holds two new member exhibitions a year, in September and February. This one features work by......

The kids at my high school pulled some pretty elaborate pranks back in the day. The most memorable was the kidnapping of Manny, Moe, and Jack from the neighborhood Pep Boys and their subsequent erection on the roof of the library building at our school. But never, never, never did anyone let livestock loose in the hallways, like these intrepid Northeast Philadelphia High School students did. At five a.m. today, one of the school's janitors......

Well, here we are. Another Monday. Highs in the mid 20s. It's a cold world, especially today, especially in Philly. As the week sinks its teeth into our souls, let's see if there's anything we can do to keep our spirits up. CURTIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: ALAN GILBERT, CONDUCTOR We know you're cultured, and you know you're cultured. But does anybody else know you're cultured? A good way to show them is to spend your......

We guess that your reading this means that you survived Monday. Good! We started you off slowly, and without much vigor, so let's see if we can step things up a bit tonight. We have kink, espionage, and poetry. What more could a Phillyist reader ask for? VALERIE PLAME WILSON - FAIR GAME: MY LIFE AS A SPY, MY BETRAYAL BY THE WHITE HOUSE Remember when journalism and government conspiracy combined to create the sensational......

It's nasty out, but don't let the weather keep you from exploring all that this city's artisans and art curators have to offer! Take, for instance, the special First Friday event the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is throwing in honor of their new (aforementioned) Cecilia Beaux American Figure Painter exhibition, starting at 5PM. It's the first chance that Philadelphians will have to see the exhibit, plus, there will be live music and free food.......

Let us say up front that we buy into Virginia Woolf’s theory about women artists: it was/is often lack of opportunity, rather than lack of talent, that keeps the gender imbalance in the classic art canon holding steady. Controversy still abounds as to the placement and display of female artists, particularly whether it matters. If art is good, it is good, right, and will be recognized as such, regardless of gender. Would that it were......

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we'll be posting events that are going on sale during the current week. This Thursday post only collects the latest announcements, so definitely check the Tuesday post for any you may have missed. COMEDY Chris Rock - No Apologies Academy of Music Tue, 2/26/08, 7:30PM On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Frank Caliendo The Hershey Theatre Sat, 3/29/08, 8:30PM $29.75-$50 On sale: Sat, 10AM, Live Nation Brian Regan - Live in......

We are torn. We are not usually torn. Usually, when something makes us rather uncomfortable, we use our prerogative as a (unpaid) blogger to ignore it. We have taken great license with our Phillyist byline, in that we write about what we like and think is important; we don’t pick up on the stuff that is out of our league or seems boring to us. Hence you’ll find a lot of arty stuff, charity......

The shapeless dough of the internet, formed into tasty pellets and baked to perfection, just for you. Sam Raimi will executive produce a new syndicated, live-action weekly series titled Wizard's First Rule, which is based on Terry Goodkind's fantasy book series The Sword of Truth. Cooper Lawrence, the author who criticized Mass Effect on a now infamous Fox News segment, has finally actually seen the game and is admitting she made a mistake, and that......

“Can a computer game make you cry?” In 1983, Neil Young, Trip Hawkins and a small band of computer scientists introduced the world to Electronic Arts with a professional looking, black and white ad with this question emblazoned along the top. In the 25 years that followed, gaming has gone from a cheap niche toy for an even smaller group of computer owners to an entertainment industry that rivals movie, music and book production. In......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Money Folders II: Second installment of series featuring the Philadelphyinz, DJ Gravity, and more at the Arts Garage (1535 Ridge Avenue), 10PM-3AM. $10 (women free before 10:30PM) Sing, Sing a Song: Choral Concert with Organ presented by the Delius Society at St. Mark’s Church (1625 Locust), 7:30. Free Art Is Primary: Opening reception for Red Yellow Blue, a solo show of artist Vincent McLoughlin, at AXD Gallery......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY On the Highwire Tonight: Fire Museum Records presents MaryClare Brzytwa, Dominique Leone, and Ashley Deekus at Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford Ave.), 8PM. $5 The Other New Wave: Screening of Francois Truffaut’s 1959 The 400 Blows at Molly’s Bookstore (1010 S. 9th), 7PM. Free Oh the Drama: The Drama Club, The Grundles, The Peace Creeps, and The Miners at Grape Street (4100 Main St.), 8PM. $10 We'll Remember:......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Talking About Dancing: Shen Wei, artistic director of Shen Wei Dance Arts, will appear with Philadelphia artist Sebastienne Mundheim to discuss the creative process in dance and visual arts, sponsored by Dance/USA and the Kimmel Center (260 S. Broad, Rendell Room on the First Tier), 6:30-8PM. Free (You can check out the non-Frugal Shen Wei Dance Arts performance at the Kimmel February 15-17) Further Afield: Jersey Justice, a......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Support the Young Ones: Philadelphia Young Playwrights presents staged readings of two plays, both winners of its 2007 Annual Playwriting Festival, written by William Penn Charter students at the Philadelphia Art Alliance (251 S. 18th), 7:30PM. Free Movie Monday at the Troc: Eagle Vs. Shark DVD release and costume party (come dressed as your favorite animal and get a free drink), 7:30PM. The Troc is located at 1003......

Phillyist has been known to run with an older crowd, maybe because inexplicably we were/are the youngest by at least 10 years at most of our places of employ. A fun game to play if you have a good decade to work with is “what was different?” This sometimes devolves into discussions of Slinky (yes, we are old enough to remember when they were exclusively made of metal). When working with a more serious bunch,......

"Gov. Rendell has signed a death warrant for a New Jersey man convicted of fatally stabbing two sisters and a toddler in King of Prussia in 2005." The man is scheduled to die by lethal injection on March 6th. Keep in mind, however, that Rendell has signed 76 death warrants since taking office in 2003, and not one has been carried out. "Two reputed mob associates pleaded guilty yesterday to running a gambling ring......

Walking down Broad Street to the Allegheny stop one evening, Phillyist was deep in conversation about the psychology of cities. Discussing the El, when it is actually an El, one person remarked “No wonder people get depressed in Kensington, they can’t see the sun!” Philadelphia based artist Edward Epstein might agree. His new site-specific installation, City Without Expressways, presented by InLiquid.com at the Crane Arts Building, looks at the ways in which the building......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Ice Dancing: University City District presents Winterfest!, a night of public skating, at the Class of 1923 Ice Rink (3130 Walnut), 5-8PM. $1, skate rental free (but show up ½ hour early to reserve your pair) Sing Us a Song: Steve Odabashian’s Happy Hour Piano Show, every Friday at the Cascamorto Piano Bar (1939 Arch), 5-8:30PM. Free SATURDAY No Clowns: Transistor Rodeo, Rhondo, and Ledbetter Heights at......

Understandably, there are no new productions opening in the next ten days. So just sing "We Need a Little Christmas" from Mame for now, and rest assured that there are several new shows opening in January. Now, on with the listings! A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant - We hear TomKat may make an appearance with Suri. Through December 30. Tickets online. Winter Musicale - Sing along, everybody! Through December 23. Call 215.785.0100 for......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Try Not to Get Sick on Your Shoes: Positively Sick on South Street, featuring Jukebox Zeros, The Victims, and Women, all to the backdrop of Santa Claus Conquers The Martians at Tritone (1508 South), 9PM. $6 Philabundance Benefit: Featuring Lizanne Knot, John Conahan, the Hustle, and Kuf Knotz at Upstairs at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 7PM. $8 + a canned good SATURDAY Could You Hold the......