Give Me 5

Mind Altering ArtPenn First WednesdaysInstitute of Contemporary Art118 S. 36th St.Wed, 7 p.m., free with PennCard(215) 898-7108www.icaphila.orgIn 1965, it was Penn’s very own ICA that first played host to a solo Andy Warhol exhibit, and when the chief executor of the Factory himself got to campus, he was mobbed by star-struck Penn students. Some stuff has changed since that fateful day (for example, these days silkscreens of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s soup cans would be way too traditional for the ultra-avant-garde ICA), but some hasn’t: witness how many current female Penn students seem to channel Warhol muse Edie Sedgwick by wearing black tights. The ICA still aims to expose Penn students to the kind of off-the-wall art they’d never see at a more traditional museum, which is why they open their doors for free the first Wednesday of each month. There’s coffee, intellectual conversation, performances, the occasional bizarre film, and frankly, some weird-ass art you definitely won’t see anywhere else. — Heather SchwedelE Downs SyndromeGreg Downs Book EventPenn Bookstore3601 Walnut St.Tonight, 7:00 p.m., free(215) 898-7595www.upenn.bkstore.comWho knew an up-and-coming literary sensation was living in our own backyard? (And no, it’s not that self-important freshman in your creative writing class.) West Philadelphia resident Greg Downs is the author of Spit Baths, a new Flannery O’Connor Award-winning collection of short stories. Like all good stories, the tales are Raymond Carver-esque, sad sagas grounded in the forgotten dirt roads of a neglected America. It makes sense that Downs has so many stories to tell; after all, he’s done more in 35 years than most of us could do in five lifetimes. After being raised alternately in Kentucky, Tennessee and Hawaii, he worked as a teacher, karaoke performer, journalist and basketball coach. And, oh yeah, he’s also got a B.A. from Yale, an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and a newly-minted History Ph.D. from dear old Penn. Wannabe overachievers, eat your hearts out and get your books signed.— H. S.Ballet CalienteTania Pérez-Salas Compañia De DanzaAnnenberg Center for the Performing Arts3680 Walnut St.Tonight, 7:30 p.m., $32-44(215) 898-3900www.pennpresents.orgIf your idea of Latin heat is adding salsa to your tortilla chips, then it’s time you really spice things up by paying a visit to the sizzling Philadelphia debut of the Tania Pérez-Salas Compañia De Danza at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Critically dubbed “the muse of Mexico,” Pérez-Salas infuses American modern dance with sensual Latin flavor in her innovative, award-winning choreography. Still not impressed? Then at least go in order to see the striking theatrical effects, including three women sharing one massive ball gown, sand pouring from the ceiling, 550 gallons of water flooding the stage and last, but not least, brief female nudity. — Aliza HoffmanThe Man, the Myth, LegendJohn Legend  The Electric Factory Sat, 8 p.m., $29.50-35421 N. 7th St.(215) 627-1332www.electricfactory.comWho is John Legend? Well, he is a three-time Grammy-award winner, a close, personal friend of Kanye West and most importantly, a graduate of our beloved University of Pennsylvania. Touring in support of his new album Once Again, Legend returns to Philly this Saturday night. Fusing hip-hop with reggae, soul and even a bit of gospel, he is certainly no one-note artist. During his time at Penn, Legend (then known as John Stephens), directed the jazz and pop a cappella group Counterparts and earned a degree in English. In the seven years since he graduated, he has worked with Jay-Z, the Black Eyed Peas and, of course, Kanye. And then there was that whole Grammy thing. Yeah, Penn kids are pretty awesome.—Julia RubinPopped Collar Comedy TourIvy League Comedy Showcase World Café Live 3025 Walnut St. Fri, 9 p.m., $23 (215) 222-1400 www.worldcafelive.comWith one of the more pretentious gimmicks to date, the Ivy League Comedy Showcases features funny people who — you guessed it — happen to hold Ancient Eight degrees. Billed as “the smartest you’ll ever laugh,” the showcase promises to deliver “the country’s funniest, brightest and most educated comedians.” So, for those of you discontented with the stupid humor of Larry the Cable Guy, come cheer on Penn’s Dan Naturman, heckle Princeton’s Jeff Kreisler and not give a crap about Dartmouth’s Jennifer Dziura. Further proving that Penn is indeed the best (or at least the cleverest) Ivy, the night will be hosted by Wharton alum Shaun Eli. (Insert “Who knew those Wharton kids were funny?” joke here.) Tickets are $23; blazer and polo club membership optional.— Julia Rubi