Eerie Legends Ghost stories appeal to us all, but there's nothing like a delve into the more sinister side of apparitions and legends rather than your rather run-of-the-mill hauntings, and here are a few for you which'll have you looking over your shoulder for a while. First stop is the bizarre spook said to be of a large white humanoid, often seen holding a baby in the vicinity of Fishtown's Palmer Cemetery. Considering the several......

It's in a Philly sports fan's nature to bitch and moan about the often nonsensical moves made by the people in charge of our sports teams. Of course, we're not always rational beings ourselves. Hell, we're getting excited about the Sixers, who are—let's face it—a mediocre basketball team. So how can we possibly expect the people who run our teams to be rational? But we've just about had it with the Eagles' front office. It's......

Dear Philadelphia: I have lived here now for nearly six years. I made it through four and a half without buying pepper spray, and only acquired one from a friend when a string of sexual assaults last fall were a little too close to home. It remains attached to my keychain, except for when it isn't: before shows at the Electric Factory or TLA, I make sure to detach it and leave it somewhere......

As you all know, journalists love their booze. Just ask Hemingway. So it's only fitting that Jen Dionisio, an established local writer whose name you might recognize from the Metro or the Chestnut Hill Local, would make her first post on Phillyist one about beer. Bottoms up, Jen, and welcome aboard! Put down the Pabst, folks, Philly Beer Week has officially begun. Beer enthusiasts and general tipplers alike can treat their palates to city-wide specials......

With Hillary Clinton's big primary wins in Texas and Ohio, it seems that the national eye has turned towards Pennsylvania and our primary on April 22. So much of the news about Michael this week was about his endorsement of Hillary Clinton. He says he's going to campaign hard for Clinton, who is no longer the presumptive nominee, as she was when Nutter gave his endorsement. Given that race may now be back in play......

F is for freedom. R is for relaxing. I is for imbibing. D is for designated driver. A is for after-party. Y is for, um, yodeling? Oh whatever, it's Friday people, so look alive and act like it! Get the blood pumping by singing along, to the tune of "This Is How We Do It": This is how we Fridaaaaay....this is how we fri-i-i-day. La da da da di da da da...this is how......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend Witnesses or Svjedoci Set in a small town in Croatia during the civil war of the early '90s, this film adaptation of the novel Plaster Sheep tells the story of the investigation into the murder of a Serbian smuggler and loan shark. The story is told from multiple perspectives and only slowly does the reason for the murder become clear. Sounds interesting, and the majority of......

Remember those makeshift stables in Strawberry Mansion that animal cruelty investigators raided yesterday? Well, the owners of about 40 of the horses living there removed their animals yesterday, as ordered. About 20 more horses were allowed to stay in three garages on Fletcher Street near 27th that had been made into stables while owners of those properties made repairs. The other structures will be bulldozed today. Yesterday, City Council gave final approval to a lease......

The new writers just keep on coming – this time, in the form of Stephanie Mannis, a chronic Yelper who won us over when she sent us a bit of marketing collateral she wrote for work about an American answer to the Beatles. Welcome aboard, Stephanie! Here's the buzz in the 215 blogs this week: Jeff Deeney over at Phawker sang the praises of author Susan Jacoby, who in turn railed against the dumbing down......

Proofreading Philly tries to capture typos, wordos, and all other kinds of grammatical mistakes that we see around the city. But we need your help! Email photos to us from your computer or your phone, and show the city that you care about good grammar. The windows you see above are on the same building. It's a building we pass regularly on our way to and from the gym. It's located on the corner of......

...

Animal cruelty investigators raided some rowhouse stables on Fletcher Street yesterday, giving the owners 24 hours to relocate the 60 horses on the site. The Daily News paints a pretty horrific picture of the conditions the animals were living in. Chelsea Clinton was at Penn yesterday, stumping for her Mom, and said we should expect to see her and her family a lot in the near future. Which sounds like a threat to us. Beware,......

Phillyist VIP: Matt Nelson...

Don’t know about you, but when we think about driving in the city we start to get slight palpitations. Part of it could be that we’re used to walking and Septa; the thought of paying exorbitant amounts to park in UCity on a Friday night convinces us that the El isn’t so bad after all. Plus, there’s storage: when we were living on the outskirts of Center City a parking spot would have cost 2/3......

Ghostly Women This episode of 'Philadelphia Weirdness' brings to you brief tales of phantom females haunting the city. The first being that of a servant girl, said to loiter in the Davy Estate, a gorgeous mansion that was built in the 1880s, and is located north of Philly close to Temple University. The spectre made its presence known as recently as the 1960s, often appearing in the third-floor bedroom and on several occasions spooking William......

The best of the internet, squirted out in flavorful neon globules, just for you. The sad news has spread quickly across the internet that co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons Gary Gygax has died. A local blogger and former Phillyist read that article we posted yesterday about the decade's most misogynistic films and got so pissed he decided to analyze and deconstruct the entire thing in an impressive rant. Thanks, yagathai! Now we feel good about......

Beginnings “Let me first say that it was not my intention to be a Pain in the Ass. I was far too lazy, arrogant and insecure to think I could ever be one. Apparently I was halfway there. “I had friends who never wanted anything more than to be Pains in the Asses. Their fathers were Pains in the Asses, and their grandfathers before them. My friend Lou learned how to be one from......

D'oh! We up and forgot to celebrate Pennsylvania Day yesterday! While we were forgetting, Pennsylvania was earning the national average grade of B-minus in the Pew Center on the States scorecard on the effectiveness of state government, which just happened to get released yesterday. PA "was praised for creating a plan to respond to its alarming backlog of bridges in need of repairs and furnishing meaningful information about programs funded with state money." Meanwhile,......

Looks like we're in for some flooding tonight, so bring your galoshes. But don't let the forecast foil your fun. There's plenty to do in Philly tonight, and a good swim is an excellent cardio workout, gets the endorphins pumping, and leaves one feeling fit and invigorated. Or, you could just get a cab home. THE PAUL GREEN SCHOOL OF ROCK ALL-STARS WITH SPECIAL GUEST JON ANDERSON FROM YES You remember Yes, no? Well......

Philadelphia, let's start acting like real basketball fans. For those who don't know, we'll point it out: the Sixers currently hold the seventh place spot in the Eastern Conference. They’ve won 10 of their last 13 games. With 21 games left to play before the season goes post-style, the Sixers are playing good basketball, and are on their way to the playoffs. Yes, it might seem a little premature to say the word that should......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: The Music of Regret: Artist Laurie Simmons introduces her The Music of Regret, a mini-musical in three acts, as part of the ICA Puppet Show, at the International House (3701 Chestnut), 7PM. $6 Thinking Is Hard: "Critical Thinking," a panel discussion of Philly’s One Film The Emperor of the Sun, at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 7PM. Free Drinking Is Not: Test your knowledge of The Emperor of......

In about a week and a half, singer/songwriter Johnathan Rice is going to be down at Stubb's in Austin, supporting no less a band than R.E.M. at South by Southwest. But luckily for those of us who live up here in Philly and won't be able to make it to the big party in Austin, Rice is currently touring with Matt Costa, and will be a little closer to us tomorrow night, at the First......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Philly Music on the Parkway: Local songwriters perform original works; hosted by Dan Collins at the Central Branch of the Philadelphia Free Library (1901 Vine), 7PM. Free A Streetcar Named Desire: Staged reading of the classic Tennessee Williams play with reception following at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia (1906 S. Rittenhouse Sq), 7:30PM. $8 Open Mic: Free at The Fire (412 W. Girard). Sign up at 8:30PM. (21+)......

Senator Vincent Fumo was eating dinner at his Spring Garden home at 7PM last night when he started experiencing chest pains. He was taken by ambulance to Hahnemann University Hospital where it was determined that he had suffered a heart attack and that his right coronary artery was 100 percent blocked. He had emergency surgery and remains in critical condition this morning, although he was alert and speaking with his family after the procedure. Hey,......

The Sixers are still motoring along, posting a win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night (101-89), and fueling… playoff fever? We’ve felt this before, haven’t we Philly? Breathe through it. It’s not worth the morning after remorse. They’re not home again until March 7; hopefully they’ll keep up the winning away against Golden State (tonight 10:30PM), Phoenix (tomorrow 9PM), and the LA Clippers (Monday at 10:30PM); you can catch all on SportsNet. The Flyers......

What's new and/or interesting in Philly theaters this weekend. Most Likely to Rule: Penelope We should have a review of this Christina Ricci/James McAvoy fantasy romantic comedy a little later on today. Trailer - Freshness Showing at: Ritz at the Bourse City of Men A kind of follow-up to City of God from producer Fernando Meirelles features two teenagers who become fast friends growing up in a culture of violence and street gangs. As their......

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......

Proofreading Philly tries to capture typos, wordos, and all other kinds of grammatical mistakes that we see around the city. But we need your help! Email photos to us from your computer or your phone, and show the city that you care about good grammar. Phillybits has another great submission for us this week, and writes: "What's funny is that on an older faded sign for the same business, they have it spelled right."......

Looking back on a week's worth of local Craigslist hijinks. Someone please take this guy's shit and give him a car. He must really need one to be offering up his nerdhood like that. A South Philly man was (and still is!) taking bids on his nerdhood... err, uh, sweet Death Star Painting. ...While another, ahem, "man" (who will NEVER be confused with Cat Stevens), begins the hunt for a "sexy time specialist" Sexy time......

Entering the empty stage, David Ford began to shake his maracas into the microphone. He stepped away and lowered the maracas, but, as if it was somehow coming from behind the scenes, the sound continued to echo. He then briefly vocalized into the mic and -- same as the maracas -- after the vocalization was over, it eerily continued. At this point, hushed murmurs throughout the crowd could be heard: "What is he doing?" "How......