A week's worth of local Craigslist hijinks. How's this for a Paris to Philly housing swap? You provide one beautiful apartment near the Eiffel Tower and your BMW and I give you my crumbling West Philly twin and a Septa pass. Should that not work out, maybe I'll hit up this guy for his offer of free rent in exchange for deep friendship. The kind of friendship that is so consuming you are not allowed......

Jocelyn Kirsch, aka Bonnie, aka Stealy McFakeBirthdayBoobies turned herself in to the US Marshall’s Office a little before 2 PM today. Kirsch and her boyfriend Edward K. Anderton, aka Clyde, aka Grifty MyDadIsGonnaKillMeberg were arrested last December for allegedly scamming their friends, neighbors and co-workers out of more than $116,000 with which they bought expensive presents, took elaborate trips to places like Paris and the Caribbean, and inspired the Jocelyn Kirsch is scandalous Facebook Group.......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days Two friends and roommates in Communist Romania in the late '80s find themselves with a problem: one of them is pregnant and needs an abortion, but abortions are illegal. They find a man who will perform one anyway, but he won't accept money, and demands an "alternate" commodity instead. Eeww. This is getting great reviews, but it also sounds......

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......

The Daily News analyzes Paris Hilton's visit to the area yesterday, and comes to the rather surprising conclusion that she's a nice lady and her only real fault is that she's not punctual. The Philadelphia Museum of Art's exhibition of American artist Bruce Nauman has been selected to appear in the US Pavilion of the the 53rd Venice Biennale, "one of the most important art gatherings in the world." Mayor Nutter revoked a license given......

Philly sure can attract the celebrity. Yesterday Senator Hillary Clinton graced our fair walks to secure support from Governor Rendell and Mayor Nutter for her presidential bid. But her appearance pales in importance against the paragon of womanhood who is visiting us today. Yes, folks, that’s right: Paris Hilton is in town. Again. This time she’s not shilling perfume, but rather her new film The Hottie and the Nottie. Although it doesn’t get an official......

How did last night's debut of American Idol treat Philadelphia? The Inquirer has the analysis - and a horrifying picture. Two West Philadelphia High students were slashed during an argument on Monday, so a heavy police presence blanketed the area yesterday as students were dismissed for the day. A suspect on the city's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, described as a "one-man army," and who had eluded authorities for over two years while running a......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Most Likely to Rule: Diva - The 1981 debut film from the director of the more recent Diving Bell and the Butterfly is about a famous opera singer who refuses to be recorded, and the fan who one night sneaks a tape recorder into her performance and tapes her anyway. Eventually the fan and the singer become friends, but there's also a labyrinthine plot involving two......

You gotta wonder about Penn students (and alums too, as it turns out): they shoot up terrorists, steal panties, and now apparently they adopt other people’s identities and swindle them out of loads of cash. To be fair though, Drexel does share some part of the latter, seeing as one of the accused is still a student there. You all know what we’re talking about right? Because it’s in the friggin international news! So Philly......

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2008 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know! 5. After kidnapping her two children, Britney Spears goes on the lam before being finally caught in Old City, Philadelphia, attempting to stuff her sons into the Liberty Bell. Seems she thought it......

There's something about a French farce that has real staying power - not in that the play stays with you for days after you see it, but more in that these are plays that have been around for 350 years and are still, somehow, funny. Sure, there's always the risk that farce can delve into shtick, if the running gags run on too long or if too many people get hit in the face by......

Paris Hilton, former celebutante/party girl/homemade video star and now alcoholic elephant advocate (thanks to Jim, Ross, and Sarah for that one) is releasing a new perfume called CAN CAN. (Get it? Because that's something they do in Paris. But then, so is this.) To celebrate, the formerly constipated jailbird will be at Macy's Center City today – and you can meet her! All you have to do is be one of the first 200......

Every time I hear The Rite of Spring, I wonder what made the audience riot at its premiere in Paris. Was is the new-fangled dissonances? The crazy rhythms? The tribal choreography? Whatever it was, I hope audiences have gotten over it, because I believe that everyone should hear and/or see it live at least once in his or her life. I had the opportunity to hear it on Thursday at the Philadelphia Orchestra’s first......

There was very little else for Londonist to be concerned with when the threat of a Tube strike became a very unpleasant reality. The inconvenience was extreme: there aren't many alternatives to the Tube in London despite the best efforts of the Londonist team to get everyone from A to B. Brighter news came in the form of the first ever female Yeoman Warder, or Beefeater as the position is more commonly known, and......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Inside Paris or Dans Paris - The story of a man who is left suicidal and depressed after his marriage breaks up. He goes back home to live with his divorced dad and his younger brother. Although they try to cheer him up, the only thing that actually makes him happier is a visit from his distant mother. Eventually, of course, he finds something to live......

...Faux Pas: Jerry Lewis? You, of all people? (Via Actress Archives.) ...Interventions: We're not sure if it's really fair to blame someone for another person's drug relapse, unless that person was the one who brought the coke. But it's happening anyway. (Via The Superficial.) ...Explanations: Honestly, even if Bill Murray was drunk, it was an effing golf cart. And here we thought the Scandinavians were supposed to be nice... (Via Yahoo.) ...Ewww: For a good......

What's new and/or interesting at Philly theaters this weekend. 2 Days in Paris - Julie Delpy wrote, directed, and starred in this romantic comedy about a couple - Marion and Jack (Delpy and Adam Goldberg) - who are stopping in Paris to visit Marion's parents after a "romantic" vacation to Venice that ended up driving them further apart. After meeting Marion's parents, her friends, and innumerable exes on the streets of Paris, Jack begins to......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Labyrinth - Woah! Here's a blast from the past. It's the 1986 classic wherein a young Jennifer Connelly has to travel into a weird fantasy world and face-off against a charming, well-hung, singing, dancing, evil David Bowie - not to mention a bunch of Jim Henson puppets - in order to save her kidnapped baby brother. Of course, it's ostensibly a kid's movie, so she has......

...Haircuts: Mena Suvari has not pulled a Britney. She's just making a movie. (Via ABC and The New York Post.) ...Tastelessness: O.J. Simpson isn't even trying to pretend anymore, is he? (Via Ross, via Yahoo!) ...Desperation: Britney is a lonely, lonely girl. (Via What Would Tyler Durden Do?) ...Legal Glitches: Lily Allen isn't allowed to work in America anymore – and we're not entirely sure why. (Via The Superficial.) ...Spoiled Brats: Oh yeah. Paris Hilton......

...Wow: Just watch the video embedded here and marvel at the intelligence of the interviewer. (Via The Superficial.) ...Say What? On the list of things we don't expect rappers to promote: doggie clothing. (Via E! Online. ...Recognition: Lindsay Lohan's face is on the cover of every major magazine in America. How can you get into an accident with her and not know it? (Via TMZ.) ...Charm and Grace: Some celebrities really know how to be......

On July 17th, Michael Vick (among others) was indicted on myriad charges, including illegal dog fighting. You also shouldn't forget his weak attempt to "smuggle" a bong through airport security in January – a charge which was dropped because all tests on the confiscated substances came back negative. You'll also remember that in 2005, Vick was sued by a woman alleging that he passed herpes onto her while using the alias "Ron Mexico." Paris Hilton......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Broken English - This romantic comedy by first-time writer/director Zoe Cassavetes, and starring Parker Posey and Gena Rowlands, already hit Philly a while back during the Film Festival; you can read our review right here. Trailer Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse Brooklyn Rules - The story of three life long friends set against the backdrop of mobster John Gotti's rise to power in the '80s.......

Paris Power Ballad ...Gay? Lindsay Lohan is... confused? (Via The Superficial.) ...Highs: Paris Hilton got high a week after her jail release? Shocking! (Also, we LOVE the expression "heirhead!") (Via What Would Tyler Durden Do?) ...Crazy: We'll bet her hair smells lovely, too. (Via Dailiy Mail.) ...Proposals: Given Charlie Sheen's history with women, we're not too optimistic about this one. (Via Xinhua.) ...Touchy, Touchy: Nick Lachey is a big baby. (Via My Fox NY, via......

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. Being the nation's capital, DCist felt especially proud to let freedom ring this week by exposing the really important issues, like how sad they......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend (and next week). Opening Today Sicko - In the long-awaited follow-up to Fahrenheit 9/11, controversial filmmaker Michael Moore takes on the American healthcare system. Moore is infuriating to some and a champion to others, but his films, even if they are not always entirely factually accurate, do tend, at the very least, to move their audiences to strong emotions. We expect this one will be alternately......

...Why? The Spice Girls have reunited. For what reason, we can't tell you. (Via People.) ...Over It: Us Weekly has done what everyone should have done a long time ago and decided to stop covering Paris Hilton. (We just mock her. That's okay.) (Via Yahoo!) ...Overstatement: About to die? We somehow doubt it. (Via The Superficial.) ...Cheating: Suspicion confirmed: Britney is no better than Milli Vanilli. (Via What Would Tyler Durden Do?) ...Artwork: Paris Hilton......

When I first saw that SEPTA was conducting a campaign to cut down cell phone conversation on their trains, I have to say I was skeptical. No amount of pandering, I thought, would stop passengers from making incredibly urgent calls to talk about the prior night’s debauchery or the conflict at work that only a complete narcissist could spend more than five seconds thinking about. But, alas, I have to say the signs with the......

...Ummmm: Two people who are no longer famous want to tell famous people how to be famous? Okay. (Via People.) ...Pregnancies, Part I: Somehow, we can't picture Christina Aguilera pregnant. (Via The Superficial.) ...Party Poopers: Rehab is such a buzz kill. Can't even have a party. At a club. In Vegas. Sponsored by vodka manufacturers. (Via What Would Tyler Durden Do?) ...Pregnancies, Part II: Whether you like Katie Holmes or not, we still think you'd......

We don't know about you, but this week has sucked so bad we wanted to pull Paris Hilton and cry, "Mommy, Mommy, it isn't fair." We blame our copy editor, who decided to ruin our week taking the second half of our deadline off to attend Wizard World. That's right, the comic book convention is in town this weekend. Let out your inner adolescent boy and get your ass over to the convention center this......

Holy smokes! Giant fish on the MTA, Paris Hilton in jail, then out, then in again, Al Gore, goatses, blumpkins, Matt Damon, and baby art critics! It's been a busy week across the Ist-A-Verse, and here's a smattering of what's been going on. In Gothamist's neck of the woods, they found out that many things are possible: A man caught a 40+ pound fish off the Rockaways and took it home on the subway. Graffiti......