Muppet Madness
Peoplehood Parade and Pageant
Paul Robeson House
4951 Walnut Street
Saturday, 1 p.m., FREE
(215) 222-6979
www.spiralq.org
Themed frat parties not doing it for you? Halloween may be more than a week away, but for costume lovers, it's never too early to take the plunge. This Saturday, head down in costume to the Peoplehood Parade and Pageant, the annual celebration hosted by the Spiral Q Puppet Theatre and Living Loft Puppet Museum, an organization that aims to bring together Philadelphia neighborhoods through large-scale puppet parades. Enjoy this organization's interesting mission with a playful parade starting at the Paul Robeson House. Don't worry Whartonites: there is competition involved! Once the parade is finished, fulfill that competitive urge by entering the costume pageant at 2:30. Even if you just want to observe, you could be inspired with costume ideas beyond a sexy nurse/school girl/cop/etc.
-Hillary Reinsberg
Find this
Disney on Ice: Finding Nemo - A Benefit for Philadelphia's Seniors
Wachovia Center
3601 South Broad Street
Wednesday, 7 p.m., $20-$27
(215) 546-5879
www.comcast-spectacor.com/events
Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you know what you've gotta do? That's right, you've gotta go to Finding Nemo on ice. The magic of our favorite life-size Disney characters gliding along ice - is there a better way to pull yourself out of that mid-semester slump? So, remember the blissful innocence of your childhood, join lovable characters like Dory and Nemo, and raise a little money for a good cause. No midterm, paper, or class is nearly as stressful as uber-neurotic clown-fish Marlin's journey to find his adorable son, Nemo. Want to be even more relaxed? Try speaking "whale."
-Becca Greenfield
fear Factor
Terror Film Festival
Ethical Society Building
1906 S. Rittenhouse Square
October 16-21, prices vary
(215) 569-9700
www.terrorfilmfestival.net
Brainless zombies, hamsters from hell, a house full of VERY scary dolls, a zombie western with zombie cowboys. yup, it's that time of year again. What better way to kick-off the season than with the Terror Film Festival? Ladies, once you're done picking out the smallest Pocahontas outfit you can find, and gentlemen, after you've picked out a costume somehow "involving" a sword, go and get into the spirit of things. Boasting frightening flicks such as Plane Dead (it's Snakes on a Plane, but with zombies!) and Werewolf in a Women's Prison, the Terror Film Festival is the perfect event for horror lovers. And the official watering hole is Oh Shea's (19th and Sansom). where all TFFers get happy hour prices all day and night. Seems like quite the deal, especially since you will probably need a stiff drink to lull your frightened self to sleep!
---Sarah Kinosian
In the Bag
The Homecoming Game: Penn vs. Yale
Franklin Field
12 p.m., free for students, $6 for alumni
(215) 898-6151
www.pennathletics.com
Penn Homecoming is a religious experience. Alumni young and old make their annual pilgrimage back to the Quaker Mecca: Philadelphia, the city of cheesesteaks and brotherly love. For Penn alums, homecoming weekend is a time for reminiscing, reunion and rejuvenation. In other words, homecoming is a long-awaited opportunity for students, past and present, to throw a 48-hour party. Of course, this weekend is also a chance to switch up your usual party routine. Instead of waiting till Saturday night to start the festivities, why not commence your homecoming hoedown at Franklin Field? Come cheer on our fighting Quakers as they take on the brutish Bulldogs of New Haven. Sport your overpriced Penn apparel, toss your toast and show your Penn pride. Fair Harvard has her crimson, old Yale her colors too, but for dear Pennsylvania, we wear the Red and Blue. Hurrah!
-Lauren Talman
Groovy Baby
SPEC Jazz and Grooves Presents:
Robert Walter Duo
Annenberg Center: The Harold Prince Theatre
3680 Walnut Street
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. $7 (with PennCard), $10 (general public)
www.SPECevents.net
Looking for a way to jazz up Thursday night? Boogie on over to Annenberg for a SPECtacular live concert. Part of an annual event, this act is a great opportunity to hear bangin' jazz music in an intimate venue. The headlining duo - jazz organist Robert Walter accompanied by drummer Eric Kalb - is accredited with the revival of the soul-jazz movement. These boys know their tunes; old-school rhythm and blues, funk and classic jazz are fused to form their characteristic sound. Walter and Kalb have also performed with Dixieland legends including Gary Bartz, Phil Upchurch and the Allman Brothers. But don't let the fame fool you - they still know how to groove. Says Walter: "I like to play around with ideas . but it's got to be something that makes people move. And that's really where jazz started out. People forget that."
-Adam Hartheimer
