Avril Lavigne
Wachovia Center
3601 Broad Street
Sun, 7:30 p.m., $32.50-$37.50
(215) 336-3600
www.comcast-spectacor.com
While promoting her new album, Under My Skin, Avril Lavigne confessed to the press that her raw, angry lyrics and volatile teen angst were rooted in carbohydrate indulgence. No, seriously, I wish I was kidding about this, but apparently, too much pasta made her life "Complicated," and she nearly broke up with her "Sk8erBoi" over a box of doughnuts. Oh Avril, please don't count carbs, I love you just the way you are, all sugared up and pissed off!
Nathaniel Persily: How We Vote
National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street
Thursdays, through Nov. 4, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m., $45 for both sessions
(215) 898-5809
www.constitutioncenter.org
The first lecture at the National Constitution Center arrives just in time for the election, and the second will follow closely after. Find out what's really going on when you place your vote. Then, a week later, find out what really went down. If you haven't been there, the city's new National Constitution Center is a must-see. The constitutional ambiance will inspire a sense of patriotic duty in attendees of the lecture, for sure.
The Body Klinic
2012 Walnut Street
Mon-Fri, 10:30 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sat, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun, by appointment
(215) 563-8888
www.ucnet.com/tbk
My boyfriend of four years just dumped me. Normally I would make myself feel better by eating chocolate ice cream and a loaf of bread, but one of my friends said, "You can't eat that shit because you'll get fat and won't fit into your Miss Sixty jeans anymore. What you need is a spa day." So she took me to The Body Klinic, where we got their signature facial, oxygen treatment, Swedish massage and sea weed body wrap. While getting our massages, my friend and I talked about what a dirty slut that bitch who stole my boyfriend was. What a cathartic experience.
Quizo
Fergie's Pub
1214 Sansom Street
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 p.m., free
(215) 928-8118
www.fergies.com
Can't get enough Quizo? So over New Deck? Then grab your posse and get on the subway -- oh wait -- I meant cab, and head down to Fergie's Pub to satiate your meaningless trivia appetite. Or, just your regular appetite for beer, along with standard bar munchies, a.k.a. burgers, wings and other greasy delights to ruin that diet you started yesterday. Maybe that's just me. Anyway, the set-up of this place acutely mimics the pubs of Dublin, and if you need a drink on a Tuesday, Fergie's will hook you up.
The Private Archives of Pablo Escobar
International House of Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut Street
Thu, 7 p.m., $5 for students
(215) 387-5125
www.ihousephilly.org
Pablo Escobar was a famous Colombian drug lord who died 10 years ago. He was an interesting character who was loved by the poor people of Colombia. Director Marc de Beaufort collected over 600 hours of never-before-seen footage about Escobar, revealing the mysterious caverns of his life and personality. Shit, I haven't been this turned on by a drug dealer since Johnny Depp in Blow.
Dinner Theater
Spaghetti Warehouse
1026 Spring Garden Street
Fridays, 7 p.m., $24.95
(215) 787-0784
www.meatballs.com
Get a little drama with your meatballs at the Spaghetti Warehouse. The Spaghetti Warehouse serves traditional Italian cuisine in an exciting, casual setting. You can dine in an old train car, or you get your video game on in the arcade area. On Fridays, you can watch productions by the Warehouse's own theater while chomping on your meat...balls. Even better, the tiramisu is simply to die for!
Playing the Field: The art + design of Godley-Schwan
The Design Center
4200 Henry Ave.
Mon-Fri, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sat., 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., through Nov. 19, free
(215) 951-2860
www.PhilaU.edu/designcenter/Godley-Schwan
You know you're old when the decades you grew up in are the basis of current art and fashion. Now I know how 30-somethings felt when the whole '70s revival trend came about several years ago. At this particular exhibit, home furnishings and decor reminiscent of the '80s and '90s are on nostalgic display. I can't believe the '90s even has the capability of bringing up nostalgia. I really can't. It's like looking back on yesterday and calling the clothes you just bought, "vintage."
Homeland Security
Adrienne Theater
2030 Sansom Street
Tue-Wed, 7 p.m.,Thu-Sat, 8 p.m., Sun, 2p.m., through 11/21, $22-$25
(215) 568-8077
Indian husband and his American wife are stopped at the airport because he's on the list for homeland security. So begins a play critical of race relations today. Man then goes on Schwarzenegger-like rampage and saves the world from Communists. OK, that didn't happen, but it is true that racial profiling is brought to light in this play written by Stuart Flack. Engaging post-show discussions take place after each performance, so bring your brain.
Italian Master Drawings: 1540 to the Present
Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St. & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Tue-Sun, through Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $7 for students
(215) 763-8100
www.philamuseum.org
I remember when I first met Girolamo da Carpi in Bologna in 1512. I was at some party and drank one too many goblets of red wine. He had taken this as an opportunity to sidle up next to me and say, "Hey baby how you doin'?" and I was like, " Who you?" and he was all like, "Yo I'm Girolamo da Carpi and I'm an artist." I then said, "Pshhh whatevs, I ain't seen any of your drawings around here." That was his cue to walk away, saying, "You'll see. Just wait and see." Yeah, I guess he was right -- 500 years later the Philadelphia Museum of Art finally displayed his and other Italian artists' drawings and I can just hear the bastard saying, "Boo ya! Who wants my number now?"
Trials and Turbulence: Pep--n Osorio
Wed-Fri, 12p.m.- 8 p.m., Sat-Sun, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., through Dec. 12, free with Penn card
Institute of Contemporary Art
118 S. 36th St.
(215) 898-7108
www.icaphila.org
In his third and final year as Philadelphia Department of Human Services Artist-in-Residence, Osorio offers the public a look into the lives of foster care children. Installations fill the first floor of ICA, where you can sit in on a Family Courtroom, visit a replica of the DHS office and explore other aspects of a bureaucracy that reaches into the sordid depths of many people's lives. Osorio, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and currently a Philly resident, is also trained in social work.
Findings: Winifred Lutz
Gallery Joe
302 Arch Street
Wed-Sat, 12 p.m.-5:30 p.m., through Oct. 30, free
(215) 592-7752
www.galleryjoe.com
Winifred Lutz has installed four works made of cast paper and the bark of trees that she has gathered over the years while walking in the woods in various places. In essence, four really freakin' cool pi--atas were created. I figured if I opened the sculptures, there would be hordes of sweet sweet candy. I brought a bat into the place last week and tried to take a swing at them, but I was promptly kicked out of the building.
Ladies Love Hip Hop Halloween
La Tazza 108
108 Chestnut Street
Fri, 10 p.m. - 2 a.m., $3, ladies free before 11 p.m.
(215) 922-7322
La Tazza 108 mixes pop art decor with tasty -- downright delicious, in fact -- margaritas. What better place, then, to host a Ladies Love Hip Hop Halloween party. Because they do. They love hip hop. The ladies love to bounce to the phat beats all night long. And the dudes love to dance with them -- but, moreover, the dudes like to watch the hip hop-loving ladies dance with each other. Attendees are mostly students, so some of the beverage fare is non-alcoholic.
Philadelphia Orchestra: Haunted Halloween Concert
Kimmel Center for Performing Arts
Verizon Hall
260 S. Broad St.
Sun, 8 p.m., $40-$75
(215) 893-1999
www.philorch.org
Finally we get to see the members of the Philadelphia Orchestra play outside of their usual black wardrobe. However, these musicians probably agonize over what their Halloween costume is gonna be. Not only do they have to worry about whether they look cute/slutty in the costume (see Penn girls on Halloween weekend at frat parties) but they also have to worry about how to play in such cumbersome outfits. I can just imagine Kimberly, the principal second violinist, thinking, "Well, David the concert master is cute and I totally want to impress him with my sexy nurse outfit but the thing is the skirt is too short to sit down in and I might end up flashing the audience." Tough decisions Kimberly, tough decisions.
Philasophik
Chris' Jazz Cafe
1421 Sansom Street
Thu, 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., $5
(215) 568-3131
www.chrisjazzcafe.com
Hip hop meets jazz ... again. Okay, so this concept is getting pretty old. How many artists are going to combine these two idioms and still pretend to be innovators? Too many. But putting all talk of originality aside, Philasophik executes this trans-genre quite well. The trio of organ, guitar and drums hits the groove, and hits it hard. And, simply by playing a venue like Chris' Jazz Cafe, Philasophik has asserted itself as a band armed with strong musicianship. Chris' is a jazz club in the elitist sense. They're not interested in kid's stuff.
Rasputina
Trocadero
1003 Arch Street
Thu, 11 p.m., $12
(215) 922-5483
www.thetroc.com
You don't know how many times I regretted taking up the violin instead of the cello. I get so jealous of people who play the cello that I can't even look at a CD cover of Yo-Yo Ma without clenching my fists. You can imagine how intense my jealousy got when I heard about Rasputina -- a trio of female cellists. Their music is described on their website as "pseudo-classical hardcore positive goth." I imagine their music to be the theme song of many an S&M bar. Oh damn, I'm jealous of that too.
Ruder Than You
Grape Street Philadelphia
4100 Main Street
Thu, 8:30 p.m. - 2 a.m., $4
(215) 483-7084
www.grapestreetpub.com
Third-wave ska has risen and faded again. And no one can be quite sure whether there will be a fourth wave. Skanking has long ago been replaced by more sexual dance trends, but Ruder Than You plays on. These Philadelphians will be skanking their way into Philadelpia's Grape Street, where you can expect copious up-strokes (no sexual innuendo intended) and lots of horns. The heyday of ska has passed, but Ruder Than You is still rude. Yea! Those rude bastards!
Green Day, with New Found Glory and Sugarcult
Liacouras Center
1776 N. Broad St.
Fri, 7:30 p.m., $33.50
(215) 204-2400
www.liacourascenter.com
Each morning I wake up to Green Day's "Nice Guys Finish Last" blaring in my ear. Some days it is New Found Glory's "My Friends Over You". I've learned the hard way that you can never win with girls in this world, and only your true friends will stick by you. That's why me and my bros gather every weekend to play Dungeons and Dragons. Join us in the Harnwell rooftop lounge, and bring your own 10-sided dice.
Acoustic Alchemy
Zanzibar Blue
200 S. Broad St.
Fri and Sat, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., $35
(215) 732-4500
www.zanzibarblue.com
Live smooth jazz ^ la MTV Unplugged. The Grammy-nominated guitarist duo comes from Great Britain to one of Philly's coziest spots for music aficionados. Hang with the hepcats, enjoy an upscale dinner and chat it up with the musicians.
Le Tigre
Theater of the Living Arts
334 South Street
Fri, 9 p.m., $17
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
I love a good feminist pop band. This trio of girls really stands for their ideas on life, liberty and the pursuit of making some kick-ass music. One time I met a girl who was a super hardcore feminist. Her name was Elmyra and she could bench-press a Buick. I was actually rather scared of her this one time, when she threw my spider plant out the window because "women shouldn't be slaves to their plants."
Particle
Trocadero
1003 Arch Street
Fri, 8 p.m., $15-$17
(215) 922-5483
www.thetroc.com
After listening to a few of their songs, I have concluded that these four dudes are a mix of Dave Matthews, Pink Floyd, AC/DC and Hanson. Craziness. They sound pretty cool, and with song titles like "Fuckin' In the Bushes" and "We Are The Robots," you know you can't possibly go wrong. A family atmosphere to bring the kids to introduce them to the world of rock music.
The Wailers
Theater of Living Arts
334 South Street
Sun, 8:30 p.m., $19
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
Yes, Bob Marley's Wailers. Get high, stay cool -- these were the messages of the Wailers. And, it seems, that mentality has never held more water. Yea, everyone I see is stressin' and bangin' their head against their desks. "Screw this Econ midterm," they say. "Screw this Orgo exam." Don't screw tests; make love to people. And check out the Wailers with deSol at the Theater of Living Arts. "Relax. Lean back."
Everclear
Theater of Living Arts
334 South Street
Wed, 8 p.m., $26
(215) 922-1011
www.theateroflivingarts.net
"You can live beside the ocean, leave the fire behind. / Swim out past the breakers, watch the world die." -- Yes, Everclear brings back memories of summers in North Shores, waves rolling over my toes as I first learned how a hangover felt. You know these pop-alternative superstars, Everclear; if you don't, there's not much sense in discovering them afresh. Music is at its most powerful in its ability to rekindle the flames you'd once lost. As twilight falls again upon this rattled mind, it seems appropriate to listen to the album that started it all: So Much for the Afterglow. A decent album. Just okay.
