Your complete lack of interest in the present or future of print media in Philly has been so roundly heard that, now, we don’t even run a cute piece of thumbnail art with these posts. However, for the five of you that do care, there’s an interesting piece on the Nieman Journalism Lab that winds up setting the scene for a prediction of sorts: If you scroll down a bit to the sidebar graf, you learn that Alden Global Capital, they of the ominous website and perhaps top dog creditor in Philadelphia Media Network‘s Groovie Ghoulies gang, now has significant interest in no less than six major newspaper-publishing concerns. It doesn’t take a sage to wonder if, or when, Alden might consolidate, thus becoming a sort of Knight-Ridder or Gannett for a new age.
Seeing as how it now snows once or twice a week, we’d love to see more snow-mantic Readers Cameraphone submissions. You know, like reader Bushy here. Or this bit of awesomeness. Either way, the snow is a part of us now: Lovers, it’s time to integrate it into your game.
Seeing something around town of note? Cameraphone it to: tips[at]philebrity[dot]com.
Designed by internationally renowned landscape architecture firm OLIN and featuring a new, great big Claes Oldenburg paintbrush and paint glob, Lenfest Plaza will see its ground officially broken on February 2, 2011 at 11 am. The ceremony will be attended by the Mayor, Marguerite and H. F. Lenfest, and various other local dignitaries. Lenfest Plaza, which we told you about last year, is seen as a two-pronged effort to both put a public space on the campus of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a kind of invitation to the conventioneers that will no doubt populate the next phase of the PA Convention Center, currently being finished across the street. Meanwhile, no word just yet on Lenfest Plaza’s official completion date, or who exactly will be occupying the “upscale restaurant” space that will look out onto the Plaza from the ground level of PAFA’s Hamilton Building.
His new gauntlet: “Fix your city.” As one reader put it this morning, “I want to fight him… If I ever I got close enough, I would have to take a swing. I’m irrationally angry about this.” So are we. In the comments, please help us plot and ploy to bring great embarrassment to Glenn Beck. There must be something we can do to this motherfucker that he hasn’t already done to himself.
“The question is — and this is what Barack Obama didn’t want to answer — is that human life a person under the Constitution? And Barack Obama says no. Well if that person — human life is not a person, then — I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say, ‘we’re going to decide who are people and who are not people.’”
Which is funny, because I find it almost remarkable for a white man who does not have a vagina making an entire career off of telling people what to do with their vaginas.
… Please accept this video, which we run once a year, as your consolation prize, Philly. Don’t look-a so sad: There’s always next year for us to be WFC’s of Rude. Los Angeles, don’t get used to that top prize. It’s our goddamned birthright.
Sadly, there will be no Philebrity Radio program today — Jojo’s got some kind of stomach bug. However, PR will be back on the air next Thursday. On a related note, we’re well into reviewing the submissions for the MP3 Dizzle, and we’re psyched to say, there’s some great stuff in there. If none of this means anything to you, pay no mind: Go buy milk and bread and eggs!
As a sign of respect for Mark Keeley, a first responder with the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) who perished in Tuesday night’s massive explosion in the Northeast, Mayor Nutter has requested that all City flags be lowered to half-staff until after his funeral services on Saturday, January 22, 2011.
It’s enough to make you wonder: Does the mafia even exist in Philadelphia anymore? You’d be hard-pressed to find proof of it, scanning today’s news stories about the largest federal mafia bust in U.S. history. Nary a Philly name appears in anything we’ve seen — no Skinny Joey (pictured), no Uncle Joe Ligambi, no nothin’! But reading between the lines, it could also be that there’s another shoe about to drop, and maybe that one will hit Philly: One connection that has been drawn from those busted today to Philly is the DeCavalcante family of New Jersey, whom mob experts say still have close ties with mob activity here. And then there’s this report from over the holidays that those in Joseph “Uncle Joe” Ligambi‘s camp — he’s said to have taken over the Philly mob when Joey Merlino went to prison (he’s due out in September, by the way) — fully expect that Ligambi will be indicted for something soon. Ain’t that Philly for ya, though: Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
“All The Way” is the A-side of a new single Philly’s Nightlands (aka Dave Hartley) will have in tow when they get out on the road this month. The video above was directed by Audrey Smith, who old-timer Phileb readers will remember from Cheap Dates. Nightlands play The Ox on the 22nd with Here We Go Magic and Ape School.
Starting tomorrow and running through February 24th at the University of the Arts’ Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery is the exhibition “Angels Without Wings,” a three-person show including 15 original paintings by John Lurie. Fans of both the 1980s downtown NYC scene and the early films of Jim Jarmusch will recognize Lurie, who started out by fronting the avant-jazz group The Lounge Lizards and wound up morphing into a renaissance man of the alt-world, moving on to acting gigs, TV hosting (his show Fishing With John remains a cult classic) and ultimately, painting. But in the last few years, public sightings of Lurie have grown increasingly rare, as this heartbreaking and strange article in the New Yorker detailed last year. Long story short, Lurie has been entangled in a kind of psychological war with a frienemy/rival painter for years now that has kept him out of public view. So an appearance here for this show is not terribly likely.
Philly Double Shocker January 18, 2011 – Kristen Toland. 2400 block of South Street (first half of block/North side of street), Philadelphia, PA. Weather: Damp and chilly (low 30s). Unconfirmed. My dog and my friend’s dog were both shocked. Just jumped, tried to run away, disoriented. Once we realized I remembered my older dog had something happen on that block about 2 years ago, same spot. I just never go that way with him, but walking with him and with another person I didn’t think anything of it. My dog seems okay now, waiting for an update on hers, she (dog) was much more upset and jumpy than mine.
We don’t know why it’s happening, but please, Angry Vengeful God, anything but the dog shockings. It’s just not right. What do you want? We’ll even start paying attention to the 76ers. Nothing is off the table. Just leave the poor dogs alone.
Words cannot really express the unexpected soft bomb of joy I just experienced while looking for a Yo La Tengo video to post. The Hoboken band, of course, is an American treasure, having been in existence since 1984 and having had a hand in inventing (and lots of times breaking) most of the better conventions in indie rock. They are playing at the Trocadero tomorrow night, and it is our great pleasure to be able to hook you up with some tickets. You know how we do: To enter to win, email ihopeiwin[at]philebrity[dot]com with “JULIE CHRISTIE, THE RUMORS ARE TRUE!” in the subject header. You’ll automatically be subscribed to the forthcoming new Philebrity Reader weekly newsletter and win chances for other exclusive free stuff. We’ll be pulling winners this evening!
>>> Hey, nerds: While everybody else is spending this winter wrestling with seasonal affect disorder and crippling anxiety attacks, YOU are out making the scene and being all kinds of social. How’s that for justice? For instance: On the first Saturday in February, there’s the The Philly Type-In at Fergie’s, which celebrates/fetishizes/revels in the old-school typewriter. There will be a speed challenge, a typewriter swap, and, later, piles of cocaine and group sex. Just kidding about that last bit, but on the real: This is a bring-your-own typewriter event, so don’t show up and be like, “Oh, I left my moss green IBM Selectric II at home, can I borrow yours?” [PhillyTyper]
>>> Not to be outdone, we can’t believe we missed Nerd Nite! Oh well, there will be others. Believe you me, there will be others. [NerdNite]
>>> And finally, you nerds might wanna check out the Handmade Philly Book Exchange, who also have an event coming up, because what is nerdier than type-ing up the ol’ fan fiction on an ancient typewriter, then binding it into a book yourself? Look at you, you’re the frickin’ Biggie Smalls of nerds. [Handmade Philly Book Exchange]
Attn. out-of-work (or soon-to-be out-of-work) alt-weekly editors: Having covered the Midwest and other parts of the country with its mix of syndicated fake news stories and indie rock concert previews, The Onion is now slated to come to Philly to add insult to the already injured weekly rag business. And by the looks of what they’re looking for in an editor, you probably already have this shit cold:
• Passion for arts & entertainment (music, film, comedy, theater), food, and nightlife in Philadelphia • Exceptional organizational & multitasking skills • Strong computer (Mac) and web-publishing skills • The ability to lead a local editorial team, but also work within a team of editors spread across the country • A journalism degree and/or experience in journalism
Meanwhile, according to this Dan Gross item, it looks like there’s a decent chance they’ll be partnering with Philadelphia Media Network, so you’ll get sucked into that mess, too, before you just get fed up with it all and start your own snarky cityblog. Whoops.
Red Cross staff members and volunteers opened a comfort center at the Disston Recreation Center on Longshore Avenue in Philadelphia, where 75 displaced residents received food, beverages, blankets, and toiletries. The Red Cross is currently working to assist several families whose homes were destroyed in the explosion.
Red Cross disaster assistance is always free of charge. Victims pay nothing. That is why your donation to the Red Cross is critical. It is only with your help that the Red Cross is able to provide immediate aid and to help families take the first steps toward recovery.
By making your gift today, you are helping the Red Cross remain ready to respond the minute tragedy strikes.
Let’s do the time warp, for the first time ever: North Broad Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard in 1916 and 2010.
Here, then, is the extent of how hard we geek out on anything to do with old photos of Philadelphia: When we learned of a forthcoming “augmented reality” project between hi-tech map nerds Azavea and PhillyHistory.org, we actually squealed. Details are scant, but it seems like Azavea is working on a map mash-up of sorts (possibly involving Google Street View?) that blends Philly of yesterday with Philly of today! You know, so that you can SEE THROUGH TIME.
Oh no he didn’t? 
It’s enough to make you wonder: Does the mafia even exist in Philadelphia anymore? You’d be hard-pressed to find proof of it, scanning 
Hey, remember when we were telling you about 
>>> Hey, nerds: While everybody else is spending this winter wrestling with seasonal affect disorder and crippling anxiety attacks, YOU are out making the scene and being all kinds of social. How’s that for justice? For instance: On the first Saturday in February, there’s the 
Attn. out-of-work (or soon-to-be out-of-work) alt-weekly editors: Having covered the Midwest and other parts of the country with its mix of syndicated fake news stories and indie rock concert previews, The Onion is now slated to come to Philly to add insult to the already injured weekly rag business. And by the looks of 
