Philadelphia Weekly | January 2 – 9, 2020

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SMASHED MOUTHS Would you do this for the glory?

Because AOW isn’t for the money

Image Art of War/William McKee

Icepack tackles death, cheesesteaks and a ‘thank you, Mr. Mayor’ bash. | Page 12

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FROM THE EDITOR

Three things

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SETS IN THE CITY:

IN MEMORY OF CHRIS COTTON**

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S

o I’ve never done the New Year’s notification at 6 p.m. on a Saturday asking me Resolution thing. to stop what I’m doing to source a hi-res image I read this article about 10 years of Gritty. ago that really resonated with me Fucking Gritty. Yeah, that was my lightbulb that read (and I’m paraphrasing) moment. In 2020, the phone is off. It’ll just that if you wait until a new year to have to wait. Gritty isn’t saving lives and neimake a better you than you’re alther is my time spent sourcing it.

The second is to invest in yourself. Not in ready behind.

Resolutions and this whole “New Year, New something that is destined to fail, but someYou,” gimmick is just so dieticians, personal thing that down the line you know will make trainers and gyms make more money and al- your life better. For instance, this year I upped my 401k two more percentage points, maxing cohol and tobacco brands lose money (for a out contributions. Could I use that two perlittle while). Then once late February, early cent back in my paycheck? ObviousMarch arrives, you’re now stuck in ly, I work in journalism. a gym membership you’ve already But will I thank myself when it’s lost money on but you’re locked into time to collect? For sure. And it’s for the foreseeable future. not physical. I don’t have to hand Of which you’re mad at yourself over that dough each pay period, I for doing, so you drown your frusjust have to minimally adjust my trations with another pint or unlifestyle now to reap the rewards wrap a fresh pack of Newports.

(I hope) later. I’m not sure what New year. Same as the old year. your investment is but make sure You could troll me with the past it’s something that you know you two New Year covers of Philadelneed to do, but just have been putphia Weekly, which literally had ting off. Taking that class, dumping the “New Year, New You” headline that shitty significant other, buying attached to them, but we had some a bag of apples instead of a bag of great tips in those issues for you to chips. consider, so I’ll defend em.

Small things that might seem This year, instead of making @SPRTSWTR hard now, but I promise will make a promises to ourselves we can’t keep, big difference.

I’m here to suggest the following. InThird and final? Have fun. There’s too much stead of a new year’s resolution that’ll fail or life will assuredly derail, I’m instead practic- out there to stress us out, especially if you, ing the “set it and forget it” method on things like me, reside in Philadelphia. Get out more, leave the city confines, take your mind off of that will make your life happier and healthier.

For example, I’m giving myself one day a the crime, corruption and construction that week to not give AF about work. I’m married slowly eats at you.

I find myself a lot more hostile towards sitto my phone and it’s come to the detriment of relationships, time spent with family, friends, uations than I ever was since moving back in etc. I love this job and putting out a good prod- Philly and even though I’m not leaving anyuct, but there’s nothing that can’t wait. The time soon, I know that if I don’t get out for a notifications are enough to drive you mad and bit I get hostile.

So here’s to more doing you in 2020, Philly. as much as you don’t think they do, they conI plan to do more for me and it doesn’t introl our daily lives. I think the kicker for me volve an overpriced gym membership. came just last week, when I received a Slack

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STATE OF OUR CITY

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2017: The year of the Bird

It started when the NFL made Philadelphia the host of its annual draft and dropped the mic on that shit along the Parkway. It ended with another moment along the Parkway as our beloved Eagles won their first-ever Super Bowl, 41-33, over the New England Patriots causing people to lose their collective minds and the Ritz Carlton to lose its awning after scores of wasted, yet elated Birds fans decided to climb on top of it and jump up and down.

STATE CITY 2010s: Only in Philadelphia OF OUR

COMPILED BY KERITH GABRIEL As we usher in a New Year, we’d be remiss if we didn’t take a look back at all the unprecedented (and some completely not unprecedented, but without question memorable) events of the last few years. Some are WTF events, some we are still in shock they went down without serious drama.

The pope was here and NOTHING happened Look, whether or not you’re a believer, you have to understand religious fanaticism. The fact that the supreme leader of the Catholic church held a mass and paraded through the streets of our city and nothing popped off is nothing short of a miracle in itself.

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Philadelphiaweekly.com @phillyweekly JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Dan McDonough, Jr. Chairman & Publisher Kerith Gabriel Editor in Chief

Look, we have no idea what the 2020s have in store, but if any of the following serve as a sign of things to come, then it’s no question Philly will still be on her bullshit. If you thought we missed something please let us know. We’ll run some of your responses in our next issue.

2010s a record-setter for corrupt Philly pols This just scratches the surface, but here’s a sampling: 2015: Former U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah is serving a 10-year prison sentence for accepting bribes that included money to buy a home in the Poconos, paid college tuition for his nanny and some walking around money for his kids, the latter of which found Fattah’s son Chaka, Jr. (aka Chip) getting out of prison just last month after a nearly four-year bid for bank and tax fraud.

2016: Former Philadelphia district attorney used campaign funds for personal use, allows himself to be showered with over $160,000 worth of gifts and looked the other way during a key criminal case because a buddy bought him a $3,200 couch and trip to the Bahamas.

2018: Former City representative Desiree Peterkin-Bell is alleged to have used city money from the Mayor’s Fund for vacations, expensive dinners, ride shares and new clothes at J. Crew. She was formally indicted by Pennsylvania attorney general Josh Shapiro on said allegations and pleaded guilty to avoid jail last May, where she left the courtroom smiling at media.

2019: City Councilman Bobby Henon and Union leader John Dougherty are knee-deep in an ongoing corruption trial for, you guessed it, misuse of public funds and making false statements regarding said funds.

2019: Former Philly sheriff John Green is serving a five-year bid for taking kickbacks that amounted to $675,000 in earnings and a new house.

John Montesano Alan Bauer Art Director Managing Editor Contributors: A.D. Amorosi, Tom Beck, Jared Brey, Michael Greger, Jamie Giambrone, Courtenay Harris Bond, Brian Hickey, Jon Hurdle, Resolve Philadelphia, Dan Savage, Timaree Schmit, Stephen Silver, Steve Teare. Interns: Cheyenne Fowler, Alex Nagy

To contact the news department: mail@philadelphiaweekly.com.

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Fat fuck puts dick in Swiss cheese and doesn’t regret it

Nothing is more rich that a group of already rich men looking to get richer on the backs of a severe tragedy. That’s exactly what happened this summer when executives at Philadelphia Energy Solutions still gave themselves a retention bonus that amounted to a near $4.6 million split after laying off hundreds in the aftermath of the June 2019 explosion in South Philadelphia. There’s not much that can stop that level of scumbaggery, except...

I-95 becomes home of the weird shit Image | Flickr

STATE OF OUR CITY Perhaps the richest part of Christopher Pagano driving around Mayfair with his dick through a piece of swiss cheese in 2014 is not that he did it, but that he thinks we (cops, prosecutors, society-at-large) all went overboard in our feelings toward it. This is what he told PhillyVoice last summer: “Being a jackass and doing inappropriate behavior is not criminal. It’s not appropriate at all, but it’s not criminal. If you’re drunk and say, ‘Hey, you want to blow me?’ they could say, ‘Get the hell out of here.’ That happened.

People thought it was funny. Being an asshole is not a crime. With the whole thing in the car, my genitals were partially covered (by the cheese), but when the media got a hold of it and turned it into what they turned it into, the police had to react harshly … I understand weirdness and kink sells and draws attention.”

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It’s weird enough that there were numerous reports of livestock and other animals running with abandon down the north-south corridor (the 2018 bull that got off the exit and also terrorized parts of Fishtown-Kensington might be the best one, IMO) but there were also two people who also thought it might serve as an ideal place to take a stroll butt ass naked. In 2015, state troopers responded to a call of a woman who stripped down along the 1-95 Aramingo Avenue exit ramp. Not to be outdone was the man who let it all hang out in 2018 who walked in and out of traffic hurling items at passing cars.

HONORABLE MENTIONS People burn down developer Ori Feibush’s properties because they don’t like Ori Feibush (2017) … Joel Embiid draining a deep 3 over a metal fence from the sidewalk at a playground off South Street (2018) … Former Philadelphia sheriff and police commissioner both accused of being sexual harassers (2015, 2019) … The hilarity that is Philly Scoophall becomes an Instagram sensation (2017) … Private pool, Vesper Dayclub, opens up to the public once and massive fight ensues (2019) … Andre 3000 walks Philly playing wooden flute (2018-19)...Blackface (again) at the Mummers Parade (2018)...Homeless man punks Philadelphia to the tune of $400,000 (2017).

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Maria Castro, right, lands a punch to her opponent during a recent Art of War card. Image | Art of War/William McKee

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The Art of

WAR Step into the cage with local MMA warriors

BY COURTENAY HARRIS BOND

SEE FIGHTING, PAGE 8

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

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Jesus Martinez throws a kick toward the head of his opponent during a recent AOW match in Philly. Image | Art of War/William McKee

FIGHTING, FROM PAGE 7

J

ohnny Pipewrench, of Kensington, was pumped for the Art of War cage fights on Dec. 13.

“Punch him in the body! Punch him in the body!” he yelled, amongst other things, into the cage throughout the night.

Years ago, after going to a gym to lift weights, Pipewrench ultimately fell in love with jujitsu. But it was the cage fighting, which combines elements of jujitsu, wrestling, and boxing, that really drew him in.

He participated in the sport for eight years, fought six fights, winning four and losing two.

“Once you get in there, everything shuts off, and you have one focus,” Pipewrench said. “You’re just feeding off of adrenaline.

It’s unlike anything else.”

But cage fighting is so no-holds-barred, with its nearly bare-knuckle punches to the

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

face (the fighters wear light gloves and go barefoot), kicks, full takedowns, and traps in the corners of the cage, that these warriors can’t do it forever. In fact, as much as Pipewrench, now 34, would love to jump back into the cage, his body can’t take it anymore, he said.

“It’s hard on you physically and mentally,” Pipewrench said.

Watching the Friday night fights was painful in a new way for Pipewrench, who quit the sport just a few years ago. While he was psyched to see the action, he was also envious of those in the cage.

Mike and Deborah Bickings, promoters of Art of War cage fighting, have been in the game for several years, though Mike has been working in various roles in the mixed martial arts industry for about a decade.

They’ve been selling out arenas with a combination or amateur and pro fighters, sexy

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The referee checks on Nicholas Stephenson, who once weighed 358 pounds and smoked two packs a day.

Through martial arts and discipline, he lost 159 pounds and achieved his dream in fighting in the Art of War cage. Image | Art of War/William McKee

women prancing around holding up signs In fact, during a recent fight, a woman with the round numbers, and an M.C. who broke her collarbone in the first round and puts the mic in front of the fighters and lets still came out for the second round until the them tell their stories. Many judges stopped it, Bickings of these men and women have said. families to support, and they Amateur fights have three, get in the cage to make a little two-minute rounds. If the fight extra cash. But most are there goes to the ground, the oppobecause they are passionate nents can’t punch each other – even addicted – to the comin the face. They also wear some pads. After three fights, bination of adrenaline and vithey’re eligible for advanced olence. amateur fights, which run “I have guys who are 125 three, three-minute rounds. pounds, and they could beat In professional fights, elme to death if we were locked bows and knees are legal; it’s in a room, and I’m 6-foot-2,” full “ground and pound.” The Mike Bickings said. “Cage fighters don’t wear pads, and fighting is one of the most they go three, five-minute physically demanding things – Mike Bickings, Art of War rounds. No eye gouges, shots to do. It’s amazing that these promoter to the groin, or fish-hooking guys can do it. The way they (where someone puts his finshake off injuries is really inger in his opponent’s mouth teresting.… They’ll take an eland yanks) are allowed. bow right over the eye. They’ll be cut. They’ll “My personal opinion is these guys train be bleeding, and they’ll shove it to the back burner.”

SEE FIGHTING, PAGE 10

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FIGHTING, FROM PAGE 9 their asses off to get beat up – it’s literally mind-boggling,” said Deborah Bickings, who runs Art of War with her husband. “They train to get kicked in the face. They beat the shit out of one another and then high-five one another or hug one another at the end. I don’t get it.”

In fact, after each fight on Dec. 13, the men and women – there was one female fight – embraced as if they were long-lost friends.

Ashley Rohrback, 27, made her debut against Mariah Castro, the defending female champion.

Bullied as a kid, Rohrback started Tai Kwan Do in second grade. Eventually she got into Muay Thai, a martial art from Thailand that involves elbows, knees, kicks, and punches.

Rohrback, who has fought Muay Thai for six years, has a record of 4-1-1. “I feel like I’m a technician in standup,” Rohrback said before the fight. “I do have a ground game, but I would rather stay on my feet.”

Unfortunately, Rohrback lost to Castro, but her attitude remained positive. “Any fighter who puts themselves out there, win or lose, you’ve already come out on top because you’re experiencing things most people will never experience in their life.”

Justin Haskell, 36, of Kensington, had better luck in his Dec. 13 debut. “The hardest part of the fight is the anticipation of the fight,” Haskell said afterward. “Are you kidding me?

I wanted to leave.”

He complained about the Michael Jackson impersonator half-time show. “Oh my god, I was like, ‘What the fuck?’ I see one more moonwalk I was going to fight someone else.”

This was an important night for Haskell, whose marriage of 13 years recently fell apart and who is now raising his six boys nearly solo – not to mention that about 35 days before the fight he weighed 317 pounds. By fight night, he had lost 52 pounds by eating fish, chicken, spinach, and broccoli, and by rowing and running.

“It makes you a better person all around,” Haskell said about cage fighting. “You have to face your inner fears. It kills your self-doubt.”

With hundreds in the crowd shouting, the atmosphere was electric.

During a pro bout, a woman started yelling, “Come on Vinnie! Get him motherfucker! Kick his fuckin’ ass!” When people glanced at her, she screamed, “You can lick my fuckin’ clit!

That’s my cousin!”

But overall, people, while hollering, were relatively under control. With so many fighters in the audience, that may not be a surprise.

Patrick Brady of Delaware County, the Art of War heavyweight champ, was backstage warming up his teammate Andre Petroski of Springfield, who took the middleweight title that night.

At 35, Brady says he’s old for cage fighting.

He started boxing when he was 18 years old

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Chris Kwiatkowski lands a big right hand during a recent bout: Image Art of War/William McKee

Ashley Rohrback lands a big right hand at Art Of War 15. Im-

age Art of War/William McKee

but stepped away from the sport as the years passed, until he got sober in 2016 and started up again.

“I don’t know what I attribute that to,” Brady said about why he likes to get shit kicked out of him and pummel others in the cage. “It’s always been in my nature to expel energy in an aggressive way.”

“Sometimes people do it because they’ve been through hard times in their life, and instead of murdering someone on the street, they’ll put themselves in a cage and get their aggression out,” Rohrback said.

“Waking up, you still got to go to work the next day and make a living,” Pipewrench said.

“But it’s worth it in the end when you get in there.”

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Got a beef?

Take it to the street

11

Nick Mimosa (left) squares off with Young King Rivera at Art Of War 15.

Image Art of War/William McKee

A

n underground form of battle that shares similarities to cage fighting started in Virginia and exists here in Philadelphia, too – although it’s next to impossible to get anyone to talk about it.

Chris “Scarface” Wilmore started Streetbeefs on his property in Harrisburg, Va., in 2009 in a homemade ring nicknamed “Satan’s backyard.”

Wilmore stages fights between willing opponents as a way to settle disputes and to help people let off steam from the streets. Wilmore didn’t respond to several requests for comment.

Nor would anyone in Philadelphia involved in the cage fighting scene say much about Streetbeefs, except that they sometimes happen in parking lots or abandoned lots – and that they are not officially sanctioned. Some of the guys who have wound up in the Art of War cage started their careers fighting Streetbeefs, but they don’t want to talk about it, Promoter Mike Bickings said.

“If I were to put on anything like that, I would lose my license,” Bickings said.

Since fighters who engage in Streetbeefs don’t earn a cent and admission is free – the fights can draw fairly sizeable crowds – at least in Virginia, the “sport” isn’t subject to state licensing.

Wilmore started a Streetbeefs YouTube channel that now boasts 1.24 million subscribers and nearly 1,000 videos. The New York Times even did a documentary about Wilmore and his Streetbeefs in 2016.

“These guys are really angry with each other,” Wilmore said in the New York Times documentary. “And if these guys didn’t come here and solve it with gloves, they may end up killing each other.”

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

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GOSSIP

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ICEPACK

Of death

and parties Eras end and a ‘thank you’ mayoral shindig

BY A.D. AMOROSI

I

Image | commons.wikimedia

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

f there’s something I hate about the week before one decade’s close and the beginning of the next – outside of goggles that read the year but are far too awkwardly shaped to be comfortable – it’s death. Could be the famous.

Could be people you know. I get overwhelmed with sadness beyond the pale.

Now, people die every day, and, really, it’s not any more comforting if they croak, in say, March or October. There’s just something shuddering, watching one pass at such an auspicious time.

Think of people you know who went through gruesomely bad breakups right before Valentine’s Day or divorces before Christmas. Happily-married-me doesn’t even want to watch people going through such hate and hassle, which means no watching “Marriage Story” until like mid-January.

I mention all of this year-end holiday horror because Dan Kenney, the GM and bartender at the Pen and Pencil Club, died. Af-

ter-hours will never be the same again.

Now, the weird thing is, I have forever hated the P&P, Philly’s lone journalist-only private club. Who the fuck wants to drink ONLY with journalists, or those who just want to just drink with them? Not me. BUT. Kenney was a gentleman, a quiet soul, made a stiff Manhattan, always had a book around him, and will be missed by one and all.

“What the hell does a Mayor Jim Kenney ‘thank you’ party look like? What does a partying Jim Kenney look like, period? I can guess.”

Ends of the era

There’s really no easy way, column wise, to segue out of the death of a loved one, or even a liked one. I probably should have started with something winning and cheery. Ahhhh. Anyway.

So, this in no way holds the weight of a man’s passing, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention two ends of the era at Johnny Brenda’s.

One is that, after 10 years, Secret Pants Sketch Comedy and Johnny Brenda’s will be no more, with last week’s holiday extravaganza being their finale. Then again, they say this every year, so…

The other end of note at Johnny Brenda’s

GOSSIP

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY is that Chris Ward, their talent buyer and promoter for 12 years, is leaving that post. Barrett Lindgren will take over in his stead. Ward booked David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) and Frances Quinlan of Hop Along (gearing up for her forthcoming solo album “Likewise” coming out on Jan. 31 via Saddle Creek) for his send off, and more than likely drank all of the Original 13 Ciderworks’ Sir Charles Cider that JB had stocked for the event – so they lose a dynamic booker, but save money on cider. I really should have asked what Ward will be doing now that he’s not buying or promoting, but, Sir Charles got to me too.

Author note: Ward just let me know that he’s “staying put in Philly! I’ve taken on more classes at University of the Arts where I have been teaching a booking class there for almost five years, in 2020.

And I started my own wedding DJ business called The Other Wedding DJ.”

New food

In his time, wild Philly entrepreneur Dean Kitagawa has promoted spit-roasted chickens in Rittenhouse and sex toy vending machines citywide, so he’s nothing if not diverse and ambitious.

Currently though, Kitagawa is touting what he calls “the best cheesesteak in the city” as well as being “easily in the top ten of pizza places” in Philadelphia.

Strong words, those.

Where? Kitagawa’s still freshly painted Wood Street hot spot on N.12th Street right across from Underground Arts. I would say the Carbonara pie (white with bacon and eggs, sunny side up) and the eggplant pizza with herbed ricotta look about the best.

New music, too

We’ll have more to say about this as the situation develops, but, Philadelphia music’s good friend Andy Blackman Hurwitz – one-time Ropeadope label owner, currently holding the note on Studio 1200 management and more – is gearing up to drop a new single and video for the acid jazzy Philly hop ensemble Swift Technique, in collaboration with this city’s first mistress of soul-song Lady Alma. The track is called, “Landlord,” its theme is about not letting the landlord, life or money, get you

down, and in its video appears a whole host of famous Philly folks in various formations, as drawn by Erik “Smokey Tunes” Horovitz.

What’s bizarre, along with a promised contest and pay-it-forward prize money, is that supposedly I am drawn into the video’s artwork along with the Philly famous likes of Grover Washington Jr. and Sly Stallone.

Watch YouTube and Instagram as of Jan. 3.

Party on, Mayor

What the hell does a Mayor Jim Kenney “thank you” party look like? What does a partying Jim Kenney look like, period? I can guess.

Along with watching him in action at one of activist-restaurateur N.A. Poe’s weed-themed campaign rally parties at Franky Bradley’s before he became mayor, I actually hung out with him in the VIP area of Made in America at the Art Museum several years ago where he wore a tie-dye Bob Marley emblazoned T-shirt, and cargo shorts.

Are those even close to what level “party” he’s on currently? We’re about to find out as Kenney and Co. throw a free voter appreciation bash at The Met Philly on Jan. 6 with The Geator with the Heater Jerry Blavat and radio host Patty Jackson.

And while you’re at The Met, bring that venue’s Image | commons.wikimedia developer, Eric Blumenfeld, one of those big, oversized “get well” cards as he had a run in with his Aston Martin and a tree with two broken legs as its rotten result.

No party here, for now

As we head into early deadline and pre-New Year’s Eve prep (olive oil bath, crown fitting), we got word that the long-awaited big deal concert opening of The Ave Live at the old Egypt address of 520 JUST cancelled - “last minute for undisclosed reasons.”

That’d be the Yasiin Bey show with Talbin Kweli, talent buyer Derek Dorsey’s dream gig. As it’s a holiday and no one has answers during holidays, let’s hope the Jan. 11 evening with Method Man and Redman stays in place.

@ADAMOROSI

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14

ARTS

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Perphect for perphormers Meet the folks behind Perphor|m, Philly’s new arts group

BY PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY STAFF

A

ttention all Philly performing artists: There’s a new group in town, and it wants to hear from you.

Perphor|m mobilizes and energizes “perphormance artists” to cross-pollinate in existing Philadelphia spaces, fostering a community ecology that is more connected, organized and inclusive.

Through workshops, classes and performance exhibitions, the group hopes to create new opportunities and create a chance to bring underground artists to the forefront. Truly priding itself on ushering in the next generation of Philadelphia’s performance artists, PW recently caught up with organizers of Perphor|m to talk about its goals and upcoming events.

Talk a little about how and why the group was formed.

Perphor|m has a couple of events this month that will bring performing artists from all genres together. Image | Zachrie Friesen on Unsplash

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

A question sparked [within our] this group ... “Why do so many dance students leave Philly for New York after graduating from school?” [Perphor|m founder and instructor] Katherine Desimine gathered some artists and created town hall meetings for performing artists in Philly to have conversations about what they felt was missing. Those conversations put a spotlight on a few things

– insularity and a lack of transparency.

From these meetings, a group of like-minded artists came together over our shared desire for more conversations, outlets, and opportunities for more types of performing artists. We felt frustrated with the disconnect between artistic disciplines, between generations of artists, between art spaces. So we decided to be an open channel, with the goal of connecting more artists, spaces, and communities to each other, through mobilizing and energizing perphormance artists to cross-pollinate in existing spaces and communities by generating new opportunities.

What sets your group apart from other arts organizations?

We are unique because we are a group that touches all of the creative aspects of living as an artist. At our events you can find conversations around how materials influence movement. We are a place for folks who do more than one thing. To elaborate, there are lots of arts organizations in Philly that are specifically for dancers, or specifically for musicians, etc. We are striving to open space for performance artists who don’t fit into just one of those categories, because they fit into many of those categories, or none of them!

arency. roup of her over conversafor more felt frusween arations of we decidthe goal aces, and ough moormance ing spacting new

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PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

ARTS

MASSINISSA Ok, so who should join? Why should they join?

LIMO SERVICES

Treatman, to perform at this dance awards ceremony. This ceremony is fun and goofy with surprise performances that might not be what you would expect.

Our organizational structure is one of overlapping and moving circles, where you can fluidly move in and out of roles and levels of comWhere do you see the group gomitment/responsibility. We found ing in the coming years? What are that it was exhausting to create an your goals? event or put on a show because all Our big goal for 2020 is to recreate the responsibility generally falls on our website the artist. We Image | Morgan Petroski on Unsplash to become a want to ease virtual comthe difficulty, munity.

We by working want to offer co-creatively, lots of recollaborativesources, such ly, and non-hias a searcherarchically. able artists While this is directory, still a lot of comprehenwork, it feels sive events more sustaincalendar and able. thought-proSo what voking, mulupcoming timedia blogs events are for performon the horiing artists in zon for PerPhilly. phor|m?

We are launching a Our next fundraiser to event is the help with this Lonely Artcost — evist Mingle, erything Peron Jan. 13 6-8 phor|m has pm at Milkdone until Boy. It can be now has been hard to meet solely volunother artists, teer. We are especially moving tofrom other ward a finandisciplines or cial structure genres.

We that doesn’t are creating rely heavily the space for on big donors. cross-pollinaUltimately, tion to occur. we hope to [We invite artcontinue ofists to] socialfering co-creize with other ated events Philly artists for Philly artof all genres and disciplines. Find ists, expanding on the events of the a collaborator or two, or just make past and developing new ones for friends! We’ll be playing games, do- our community. ing icebreakers, and there will also be time to hang out and talk. Check Perphor|m | More info or to out our website for details. We’re register: infoperphorm.wixsite. also “perphorming” at The Rocky com/perphorm Awards at FringeArts on Jan. 27 at 7 p.m. We are very honored to have @PHILLYWEEKLY been invited by the organizer, Mira

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16

THEATER

Amina Robinson is the first black woman director to win a Barrymore Award.

She won for her work with 'The Color Purple.' | Image: Johanna Austin

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

‘This play is my generation’ Barrymore-winning director Amina Robinson gets deep with ‘Sunset Baby’

I

With Goins as its titular star, director Robt would have been enough to be the first black woman director to win a inson and playwright Dominique Morriseau Barrymore Award as Amina Robtold a smart story of a Black Panthers-esque inson recently for her thorough revolutionary-turned-political prisoner tryguidance over “The Color Purple,” a ing to reconnect with his estranged “Sunset Theatre Horizon musical proBaby,” Nina, after years of ignoring duction that netted prizes in her and her now-dead activist mother. six of the nine categories for which it A series of letters written from mothBY A.D. was nominated. er to a then-jailed father – corresponWith “inclusion” the new buzzword AMOROSI dences valuable to historians – are all in Philly theater, people of color and that was willed to Nina. The letters women are helming shows rarely seen also happen to be the only thing left to before with stories that are integral to black, connect father to daughter, and their revelafemale and LGBTQ communities. tion shows how emotion and devotion to cause Which leads us, disteered the personal and rectly, to the socio-popolitical, while presentlitical drama that Robing the consequences inson and her longtime of placing one over the Temple University other. student-turned-“Color “There are casualties Purple” actor Victoria in every war, and Nina Aaliyah Goins tackled explores the ramificaat Azuka Theater with tions of fighting and “Sunset Baby,” a play sacrificing one’s life for whose rehearsal started the greater good and the right after October’s Bareffects that that leaves rymores. on the individuals,” said “The very next mornRobinson, keen to allow ing,” said Robinson, the playwright’s author laughing at the thought notes, and its exploraof but eight hours of celtion of the music and life ebrating “Color Purple” of Tupac Shakur guide victories before jumping the way. “Tupac could into the tender and tautbe edifying for our comly streetwise soliloquy of munity as he was social“Sunset Baby.” On Jan. ly conscious and aware, 24, several cast memwhile rapping about bers from “The Color (having his way with) Purple” – guided by that women and partying.

— Theatrical director and Barrymore Award show’s victorious direcBoth of those things exwinner, Amina Robinson tor, will reunite to take isted in him at the exact on the comedic R&B musame time. There’s a dusical about evil alien plant life, “Little Shop of ality there, the same of which exists in “SunHorrors: In Concert,” at Norristown’s Theatre set Baby,” where one truth can live while its Horizon. opposite exists at the exact same time.”

“The crack epidemic ran through our neighborhoods in South Philly. I was around for all of that. I knew people with those circumstances.

This play is my generation.”

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

THEATER

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY Both Robinson and Goins point to the character of Nina’s paramour, Damon (portrayed

by Eric Carter), who while tough and street savvy, is also intelligent, well read and nurturing. “You wouldn’t expect these things to exist in one character, at the same time, but we allow for fully nuanced beings on-stage for this,” said Robinson.

Such nuance and duality are the stage elements that push “Sunset Baby” from activist polemic and its 80s-centric, crack epidemic identifiers into the radically personal. Robinson can relate.

“Not because my mother was a crack addict,” she laughed. “That was not my circumstance. I am, however, a product of so many of the issues the play brings up. I am probably Nina’s age now. My parents grew up during the time of the activism that the character Kenyatta Shakur went to jail for in the play.

The crack epidemic ran through our neighborhoods in South Philly. I was around for all of that. I knew people with those circumstances. This play is my generation.”

Robinson’s circumstances, by the time she was 16, were that of a typically restless teen. Her mom even called the young Amina a quitter, something that seemed to bug the teen to her core. “I wanted to be a writer, then I stopped. Wanted to be a dancer, then I stopped. She was right, but I was like ‘Wow. That hurt.’”

Once in college at Temple University, Robinson nearly went the radio-television-film major route until she realized that it was a behind-the-scenes workload. “Math, which I hate.” Instead, she walked across the hall to the theater department and found her calling.

“I did a play for a fellow student who is my best friend still to this day and I got bit, because the nature of theater is that you are always stopping, always quitting, but in small, short doses. I realized [while there] that I was not a quitter, but rather an artist. I crave the next thing, and then the next.”

Such episodic finality first led her to be a travelling actor after Temple’s grad school with touring theater productions of “Mamma Mia,” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” then a time in Manhattan and Los Angeles doing the television and film thing with credits including Lee Daniels’ “Precious,” Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie” and NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” All this running around, though, put a hold on other aspects of her life, the deeply personal, so Robinson returned to Philly and became a mother.

How she could behold motherhood and remain in the theater is what led her to a professorship at Temple (where she teaches several classes at present), and then, through the university, a career in directing.

“I had just started at Temple, teaching wonderful young artists, when one of my students, Jordan Dobson, was in “Cabaret” at the Arden, directed by Matt Decker,” she recalled.

At the same time, Decker, a co-founder and resident director at Theatre Horizon, revealed that his company had just won the rights to

playwright Marsha Norman and composer Brenda Russell’s musical, “The Color Purple” and was looking for a local black woman director to helm it. Dobson told Decker that he should talk to Robinson, and the rest was history. Robinson had only ever directed student showcases, a version of “Godspell” at Temple, and “74 Seconds ... to Judgment” with Kash Goins for Arden Theater before coming to “The Color Purple,” and was hardly prepared for the massive undertaking of cast, staging, choreography and such.

“In nine days we had to be ready to run the show,” said Victoria Aaliyah Goins of her director in “Purple” and “Sunset Baby.” “Amina is efficient; wildly efficient. She told the cast that rehearsal might look chaotic and seem a little less exploratory and artistic, but she broke rehearsals up into a production line where she, the choreographer and such were

working with different actors at one time.”

Within nine days of such diverse, desperate activity the entire cast of “The Color Purple” was ready, and, remarkably, 90 percent off book. “They were an amazingly dynamic bunch of individuals,” said Robinson, gleefully. “All I had to do was make it pretty.”

As for her historic Barrymore victory and her continuing career in directing “Sunset Baby,” Robinson is proud, but said she is so invested in her acting ensembles’ work, that she doesn’t pay attention to medals and prizes.

“I was overwhelmed in the best way because you’re working with a group of people who become family in shows that transcend their space and time. When we won, all I can remember thinking is like ‘Oh, wait. Other people thought it was as magical as I did?”

With “Sunset Baby,” that space and time is a specific slice of life in America, Black Amer-

17

ica. “This show is exciting and truthful,” said Robinson. “Sunset Baby” very well could expose people to a life of Black Americans they were unaware of, that they never witnessed before.

There are people here, that you see every day on the street. You’ll see them in a different light here. You’ll understand the full humanness of people for whom we try to deny humanity.”

As for “Little Shop of Horrors” in January, Robinson will be pleased to see her “Color Purple” cast, and to do this concert version of the kitschy Howard Ashman/Alan Menken musical (based on the film by Roger Corman and Charles Griffith) just for kicks. “This one is just pure fun, something this crew and I know how to do really well.”

@ADAMOROSI

Amina Robinson’s next production will be ‘Little Shop of Horrors: In Concert,’ at the Theatre Horizon stages of DeKalb Street in Norristown later this month. | Image: Johanna Austin

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

VOICES

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Support suicide prevention services

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THE SHOUT OUT

To the Editor, Did you know, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for young people between 10 to 24 in the state of Pennsylvania? This growing epidemic only increases the need for services that provide free and easily accessed support.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free resource that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. According to their site, “The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 150 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices.”

Legislation was introduced months ago to assess the viability of creating a three-digit suicide prevention number, akin to 911.

The proposal has taken another step toward realization. The US Federal Communications Commission has proposed that 988 link call-

ers directly to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In times of need, one may not be able to recall a 1-800 number. The hope is that someone in distress will be able to remember a three-digit code more easily.

Another excellent resource for suicide prevention and awareness is The Jason Foundation, Inc. (jasonfoundation.com). The Jason Foundation, Inc. is a nationally recognized leader in youth suicide prevention and awareness. They have been providing programs and resources to help identify and assist young people who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide for over 20 years. For those years, they have never charged any school, church, youth organization or community for any of their programs or materials. To find your local JFI office, go to: jasonfoundation.com/ about-us/locations/.

Cory Watkins | Henderson, Tenn.

This guy is REALLY over the Mummers

To the Editor,

I’m writing this because I hate the Mummers Parade. It’s terrible. That garbage isn’t representative of the city, it just gives the city’s racists, poor white conservatives and union workers who live in DELCO a chance to come out and act a fool for one day.

They wanna act like this parade is for everyone but it’s not.

You wanna do a social experiment?

Walk around Center City during the parade this year and count the camo wearing assholes

and the housewives they beat cart their future wifebeating little brats out in the cold to celebrate a bunch of drunk people in blackface who wear suggestive racist and misogynist innuendo in the name of “performance art.”

Starting off the year with this trash every year is hands down the worst of Philly. But it’s a moneymaker, so as a city we’ll allow it. No thanks, I’m good, and trust me so is 90 percent of the rest of Philadelphians.

Zaire Prince | Overbrook

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

—

“This is one of those situations where no matter what side you’re on, you’re probably going to get into a bar fight.”

— Geoff Chester, an official at the U.S. Naval Observatory, commenting on the great debate of whether or not a new decade will start – or end – with 2020. Some believe that ending on “9” isn’t the start of the new decade but ending on “0” is.

Your turn: You think 2020 marked the start of a new decade or the end of one? Whether you have an opinion or don’t give a shit, Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com

VOICES OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

19

TWEETS OF THE WEEK

Just before the start of the New Year, Wawa, the unofficial extended family member of the Greater Philadelphia Region, announced a massive data breach that exposed the account numbers and credit card info of basically anyone living in 30-mile radius of Philadelphia. While it’s led to some worried folks, who know they spend way too much money on coffee and shorti Italian hoagies, it also led to some great fodder on Twitter.

Good thing that if you’re a Pay and @AppleCard user like me, you don’t have to worry about stuff like this.

Quite the peace of mind, which is why I especially always recommend using Pay for every transaction you make. It’s the best route in the long run. #ApplePay #Wawa — David Becker |

You should think about posting this sort of information in the main feed, along with all the gift card sales pitches. #WawaBreach #ResponsibleDisclosure — Lokin |

Part of me wants to hate Wawa, but the other part of me knows I’ll never stop eating their hoagies and drinking their coffee #itstoogood #Wawa #ugh

@iBeckTech

Would be nice to see Wawa come out and say they have a gift for everyone this holiday season due to the breach. #justsaying #wawa #wawabreach @Wawa — Matt Kozar |

— T. Mac |

— J. |

@mekozar

This has never happened to me at @sheetz and they brought back quesadillas on their menu. Sheetz > #Wawa @TheTMac3

@LokinLaufey

Well … we’re all screwed. Still going to get a hoagie though #wawa — Pumpkin923 |

@Pumpkin923

So basically the whole tristate area is screwed (and the Carolinas, and Florida...)

— M. Weidel |

@mweidel

@Jules31415

With the #Wawa data breach i’m just racking up on the ‘free credit monitoring for a year’ since this has happened to like 10 companies so far — Khraljevo |

@khraljevo

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

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VOICES OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Congress: Check out-of-pocket health costs To the Editor,

21

ICER discriminates against people with rare diseases To the Editor,

More than 190 million Americans suffer from chronic diseases. For them, health-care reform isn’t a political football – it’s a matter of life and death.

Unfortunately, both parties keep pushing reforms that won’t improve patients’ lives.

One side is focused on making insurance coverage skinnier and cheaper; the other on having the government take over large segments of the health-care system, setting prices, and sacrificing innovation and consumer choice.

Both of these approaches would make it harder for patients to get the care they need and burden our health-care system in the long run. To cut costs and help patients save billions, politicians ought to focus on making preventing and managing chronic diseases more accessible by addressing out-ofpocket costs.

Chronic diseases account for 90 percent of all U.S. healthcare spending. Today, six in 10 Americans live with at least one chronic condition.

People with chronic conditions face unreasonable out-of-pocket costs. On average, individuals with two or more chronic diseases spend five times more out-of-pocket than patients without any chronic conditions.

People with three or more conditions pay 10 times more.

These out-of-pocket burdens have grown as insurance has steadily shifted more costs onto patients. Because of such trends, average out-of-pocket spending has grown 58 percent over the past decade.

Consider the growth of high-deductible health plans, which typically require patients to pay thousands of dollars out-ofpocket before coverage begins.

This year, 30 percent of workers have a

high deductible health plan compared to just 4 percent in 2006. For people living with chronic conditions, surging out-of-pocket costs often mean delaying or forgoing care altogether.

A recent study showed that even women receiving a breast cancer diagnosis delayed treatment at every step – screening, testing, surgery, radiation, and therapy – when insured under a high deductible health plan.

This harms patients and adds to overall costs. Medication non-adherence alone causes approximately 125,000 deaths and adds nearly $300 billion to America’s health-care bill annually. In fact, we spend more failing to optimize adherence and medication benefits than we do on drugs themselves.

Reducing out-ofpocket costs would improve adherence – thus keeping people healthy, saving money and lives.

As Congress considers legislation to improve our healthcare system, it is shortsighted to focus on just one silo of care in our continuum.

Instead, policymakers should focus on ways to lower out-of-pocket costs for people living with chronic conditions. Improving access to high quality chronic disease care could save our nation $6.3 trillion in spending.

Chronic diseases are the number one cause of death, disability and rising healthcare spending in the United States. The only way to save lives and reduce costs is to invest in better treatment – and address out-ofpocket costs so treatment is accessible to the people who need it most.

Kenneth E. Thorpe is a professor of health policy at Emory University and chairman of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease.

— Kenneth E. Thorpe | Atlanta

FDA officials approved a record number of rare disease treatments last year. One groundbreaking medicine treats an inherited bone condition that causes intense pain and immobility. Another treats Fabry disease, a genetic condition that can lead to kidney failure or stroke.

Breakthroughs like these offer hope to 30 million Americans living with rare diseases.

But there’s still a long way to go. Scientists estimate there are 7,000 rare diseases, each of which afflicts fewer than 200,000 people.

The majority of these ailments – 95 percent – lack a single approved treatment.

Unfortunately, one prominent health-care nonprofit could undermine research into rare diseases.

The group, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), analyzes the “cost-effectiveness” of many new FDA-approved drugs, including treatments for rare diseases.

Because it relies on flawed assumptions, ICER mostly concludes that rare disease treatments aren’t worth the price.

ICER hopes that health insurers will use its findings to decide which medicines to cover. If the group’s message – rare disease treatments aren’t worth it – wins the day, drug companies may well stop researching and developing rare disease treatments.

And millions of Americans would lose access to life-changing therapies.

ICER analyzes drugs’ cost-effectiveness using a metric called a “quality adjusted life year.” A QALY quantifies the cost of providing a patient with 12 additional months of perfect health.

Imagine a healthy woman has an incurable – but dormant – genetic disease that will kill her almost instantly once it’s activated. If a treatment could delay activation by one year and it costs $30,000, then ICER would say the treatment costs $30,000 per QALY. This metric effectively discriminates against the elderly, persons with chronic conditions and other [illnesses], and peo-

ple living with disabilities. ICER’s position is that these individuals aren’t in perfect health to begin with. So, the group doesn’t count an additional 12 months of life expectancy as a full QALY. For example, our hypothetical treatment for a genetic disease might still extend a 90-year-old infirm patient’s life by one year, but ICER might count the gain as only 0.5 QALY, due to the perceived lower quality of his/her life. As a result, that same $30,000 treatment would cost $60,000 on a QALY-adjusted basis – potentially blocking access and affordability for patients.

Rare disease drugs are expensive for a reason. It can take over a decade and $2.6 billion to bring a new medicine to patients. Few experimental compounds even make it out of the lab.

Pharmaceutical companies have to charge enough to earn back their development costs. For common conditions that affect millions of patients, companies might only need to charge a few dollars per pill to recoup their development costs.

By contrast, rare diseases affect just 200,000 people at most. So companies need to generate far more revenue per patient just to break even. Rare disease treatments also tend to be fragile, large-molecule drugs that require numerous manufacturing, shipping, and storage precautions -- further inflating costs.

ICER largely disregards these differences. The group evaluates rare disease drugs using roughly the same cost-effectiveness thresholds it uses for traditional, mass market medicines. Given this rigged scale, it’s no wonder that rare disease treatments score poorly.

Scientists are developing more than 560 medicines to treat rare diseases. That research will likely come to a halt – causing patients to lose access to lifesaving drugs – if insurers fail to recognize the faults in ICER’s reasoning.

Randall Rutta is the former president and CEO of Easterseals

— Randall Rutta | Washington, D.C.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

22

THUR JANUARY 2

LGBTQ

Paula’s Drag Kitchen

Take a seat and let Paula serve it to you. What’s on the menu, you ask? Some fierce flips, tricks shenanigans that only the most fabulous drag queens in Philly could pull off. | 7:30 pm. $8. L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St.

THE SCENE A WEEK'S WORTH OF ADVENTURES A C R O S S P H I L LY N E I G H B O R H O O D S

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Shoot the Messenger

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STIRsdays Karaoke

This is a step up from your typical karaoke night in the city. Why? Drag queen mother-daughter duo Mercury and Yari are the hosts for the evening.

Let them guide you into a carefree world where you can belt out your favorite songs, regardless of your singing skill level. | 8 pm. Free. Stir Lounge, 1705 Chancellor St. facebook.com

COMEDY

Comedy Academy Grad Show

The Helium Comedy Academy offers students a stand-up 101 course, in which they learn to tackle a five-minute stand-up set.

Drop by this show to see if the student comedians have learned anything, or if they’ve just been goofing off the whole time. Though, maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if they were. | 8 pm. $10.

Helium Comedy Club, 2031 Sansom St. philadelphia. heliumcomedy.com

MUSIC

Local indie to satisfy all our needs. Catch this three-piece in performing along with Sarah Winston and Mike Lorenz and The Witherbees. It’s always the right day to support your friendly neighborhood music hustlers. | 7:30 pm. $10.

Bourbon & Branch, 705 N. 2nd St.

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from anything that has to do MUSIC with math – but this happens to be an electro-punk band worth getting close to. | 7:30 This interna pm. $10. Kung Fu Necktie, extremely w in music and 1250 N. Front St. industries. T eventbrite.com N’ Roses gui part of rock Apollo. He al FOOD & DRINK have created hot sauces, production p Vegan food is so can’t he do? misunderstood – it’s not all MilkBoy, 110 just salads and shitty tasting eventbrite. fake cheese. Some of the most delicious plant-based options you could buy are available at this weekly food market. | 5 pm. Free. The Pop Up Store, 410 South St.

Bumbl

Philly Vegan Night Market

facebook.com MUSIC

The Maguas

Grlpwrphl Happy Hour If you’re a woman in Philly, you should know that you always have a strong support system behind you. Meet up with other successful and creative ladies in the city each month at this networking event. Get inspired and share ideas with some people who understand you.

The group is kicking off 2020 with a monthly happy hour and will gather at R&D Cocktail Bar in

Fishtown from 6-8 pm for eats, drinks and good company. Swag on swag on swag, too!

Free to register, food and drink are pay-as-you-go.

Grlpwrphl is a city collective for women in Philadelphia to network, collaborate, get inspired and share their story through events and workshops, conferences, weekend retreats, body-pos photo shoots and more.

What: Grlpwrphl Happy Hour. When: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6 pm. Where: R&D Cocktail Bar, 1206 Frankford Ave. How much: Free. More: eventbrite.com

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Let’s lend our support to a band on the rise. Five guys from Scranton have banded together to give us some authentic alt-rock that we love. Head on down to this bar steeped in local music history to check them out. | 8 pm. $10. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave. eventbrite.com COMEDY

David Arnold

Arnold has been making magic happen for years with his comedy writing. He worked behind the scenes on shows such as Real Husbands of Hollywood.

Now, he’s showing us all his talents through his new TV show and his stand-up career. | 8 pm. $30. Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. punchlinephilly.com MUSIC

Math the Band

Don’t let the name scare you.

If you’re anything like us, you usually want to stay far away

FRI JANUARY 3

MUSIC

All Systems Go You may have no choice after hearing how incredibly catchy this group’s music is. Guys from New Jersey really know quality pop punk. | 9 pm. $10. The Fire, 412 W. Girard Ave. eventbrite.com COMEDY

The Interrogation Room

Own up to something that you got away with once – if you’re ballsy enough.

Tell your true story and comedians will twist it into a show. You may have been keeping this secret your whole life with no idea it would one day make a great comedy routine. Life imitates art. | 9 pm. $12. Philly Improv Theater, 2030 Sansom St. eventbrite.com

CALENDAR

LYWEEKLYPHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY MUSIC

MUSIC

Bumblefoot

This international icon is extremely well established in music and several other industries. The former Guns N’ Roses guitarist is now a part of rock group Sons of Apollo. He also happens to have created his own line of hot sauces, and is a music production professor. What can’t he do? | 8:30 pm. $15.

MilkBoy, 1100 Chestnut St.

Badfish

Allow us to make one thing clear – cover bands will never replace the real thing.

However, these guys come pretty close. Take a trip to the West Coast with a band who has adopted the allure of the original Sublime. | 8 pm. $20.

Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St. venue.tlaphilly.com

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INTERESTS

23

LGBTQ

The Philly Pigeon Poetry Slam

Philly Drag Awards

Don’t get caught up in the competition. Share that piece of poetry you’ve been working on, mulling over, hesitating over – even if it’s not the best of the bunch, it’ll feel great to get it off your chest. | 8:30 pm. $15. The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.

Philly’s hardest-working queens have been performing around the city all year in preparation for this. The fourth annual installment of this award show will feature the hottest names in the Philly drag scene. | 8 pm. $15. Voyeur, 1221 Saint James St.

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Frankie Vado

Vado is Philly through and through, and you can tell by his lyrics. He also goes against the grain. While most musicians drop out of school to chase their careers, he did the opposite, and it actually worked in his favor – while going to Penn State, he met Phoe Notes, his producer. | Friday, 9 pm. $10. Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave. eventbrite.com

ART

Corridor Contemporary Grand Opening

We’re lucky to live in a city immersed with art. Allow us to introduce you to something fresh. Come out to this gallery grand opening to see works from local and international artists alike. | Friday, 6 pm. Free. Corridor Contemporary, 1315 Frankford Ave. eventbrite.com

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

YOU’RE READING THIS. SO ARE YOUR CUSTOMERS.

CALENDAR

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Philadelphia Weekly is how engaged Philadelphians discover their city. PW readers crave new experiences, and they want to know about your business. Together we’ll develop a custom ad plan that builds your brand — and delivers results.

FOOD & DRINK

Tim Burton Brunch

Everything you will see here is not as it seems. Step into a mystical world full of enticing dishes and mind-warping visuals. The food may or may not be laced with LSD. | Saturday, 1 pm. $22. The Victoria Freehouse, 10 S. Front St.

REACH PHILLY’S MOST DESIRABLE AUDIENCE. STARTING AT $62.50 / WEEK. sales@philadelphiaweekly.com

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SAT JANUARY 4

MUSIC

Colleen Green

We didn’t know that we needed someone like Green. This lo-fi musician covered Blink-182’s 1997 album “Dude Ranch” in its entirety this summer, and we can’t get enough of it. You can bet she’ll play at least some of it – we’d feel deprived if she didn’t. | 8 pm. $10. Boot and Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St.

learn more and sign up for early access at nourity.com

bootandsaddlephilly.com SHOW

Glitter and Garbage

Plenty of glitter will be in the air at this flashy, wild cabaret performance. If you party too hard in the crowd, you’ll feel like garbage afterward. The name is starting to make sense now, right? We’re not really sure that’s what it’s supposed to mean, but whatever – we’re artists, too. | 7 pm. $15. L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St. facebook.com

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

MUSIC

Zoe Mulford

Mulford’s music reminds us of all the simple pleasures of life.

Her raw contemporary music has been covered by Joan Baez, who covered “The President Sang Amazing Grace” on her most recent album. Be ready for an evocative and emotional sonic experience. | 8 pm. $12.

Philadelphia Folksong Society, 6156 Ridge Ave. eventbrite.com MUSIC

FESTIVAL

HERspace Women’s Art Festival

HERspace supports powerful female artists doing their thing.

Come out to support a variety of works by artists of nearly every medium. There’s no better way to get involved with a community than by showing your love for the art they create. | 6 pm. Free. Philly Art Collective, 253 N. 3rd St. eventbrite.com MUSIC

Philly Remembers David Berman

Drop It Like It’s Hot

Berman was a local indie musician who passed suddenly in August. This show held in his honor will be headlined by Speedy Ortiz, who will perform music from Berman’s bands Silver Jews and Purple Mountains. | 8 pm. $17. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.

2000 was 20 years ago, and we still can’t really accept that. How about we just act like no time has passed at all? Let’s run out on the dance floor in our apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur, and dance to all our favorite songs that we downloaded illegally from Limewire. | 10 pm. $5. The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St.

worldcafelive.com

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CALENDAR

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SUN JANUARY 5

INTERESTS

Burlesque and Brunch: Muggles and Mischief

A meal and a show – what a deal. Prepare your appetite for an early afternoon full of tantalizing performances that will put some magic into your day – even if you’re just a measly muggle. | 11:45 am. $20-$40. The Foundry, 29 E. Allen St. thefillmorephilly.com MUSIC

Mister Mann’s Jam Session

We just can’t wait to have our spirits lifted up this Sunday.

Mister

Mann Frisby is the host of this soulful jam that will set everybody on the right track for a smooth new year. | 3 pm. $15-$26. City Winery, 990 Filbert St. citywinery.com COMEDY

Time Flies

We’ve found ourselves at the start of a new decade, and we’re wondering where all the time went. Luckily, this comedy show is the only one to feature an actual time machine, so we can just hop in it and go back to 2010 – or even further – if we wanted.

Comics from all different time periods will be spit from the time machine and will tell jokes of their generations. | 7:30 pm. $18.50. Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. punchlinephilly.com

LGBTQ

Amateur Drag Night

Put yourself in the spotlight at this monthly showcase for local queens to do their thing, and possibly win $100 because of it. Come get your money, honey. | 8 pm. Free.

L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St. facebook.com INTERESTS

South Philly Green TreeCycling

What’s going to happen to all those leftover Christmas trees? They should all be brought here, where they’ll be recycled and not become yet another piece of afterholiday waste. Give back to the

25

Earth to assure we’ll have thousands more years of holidays to come. | Noon.

Free. Guerin Rec Center, 2201 S. 16th St. facebook.com KID FRIENDLY

PECO Free First Sunday Family Day

Think there’s nothing going on in Philly on a Sunday for your kids? Make some arts and crafts, gaze at some exciting works on display, sit in on storytime and listen to a performance by West Philly native Jahwula Seapoe. | 10 am. Free. The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. facebook.com

KID FRIENDLY

Family Festival: 2020 Vision

What do you envision for the year ahead? Put it all down on paper or canvas at this interactive, family-friendly creative event. Craft some art that illustrates what you picture the new decade being like for you. | Sunday, 10 am. Prices vary. Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. philamuseum.org

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

26 X

CALENDAR

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MON JANUARY 6

INTERESTS

Franky’s Follies You’re in for a special holiday treat every week at this burlesque and cabaret.

Come by each week for a fresh performance by a cast of talented locals. We don’t really know what will be in store, but that’s the fun of it. | 9:30 pm. $10. Franky Bradley’s, 1320 Chancellor St. eventbrite.com INTERESTS

HomeGrown Open Mic Mondays

This open mic will give all musicians the chance to grow. Come out and share your talents, and you could win some studio time, promotion and radio exposure. | 7 pm. Free.

MilkBoy, 401 South St. facebook.com

INTERESTS

Beer and Bonsai

This isn’t your typical BYO art class. Hell, you don’t even have to bring any art supplies. A free pint is provided to get the creative juices flowing as you and your friends learn how to meticulously craft your own bonsai landscape. Wow, could you think of anything more relaxing? | Monday, 6 pm. $55. Evil Genius Beer Co., 1727 N. Front St. eventbrite.com

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

COMEDY

MUSIC

Sets in the City

Goth Dad

Late local comedian Chris Cotton wouldn’t want us to always cry over his loss – he lived to make us laugh our asses off, and he’ll continue to do so. Gather with the Philly comedy community to properly honor his life. | 8 pm. $15. City Winery, 990 Filbert St.

We wish our dad was goth – he would’ve been more forgiving while we were going through our heavy black eyeliner phases. These shoegaze stars from down South are so cool they’ll make you wish they were your parents. | 8 pm. $8.

Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St.

citywinery.com

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TRIVIA

2010’s Themed Quizzo So much has changed since 2010, and now you’ll have a chance to look back on it all at this trivia night. Do you remember everything about the culture of this decade, or did you spend most of it in a nostalgia-induced haze? | 8 pm. Free. Cedar Point Bar and Kitchen, 2370 E. Norris St. facebook.com

DISCUSSION

Kiley Reid

Congratulate Reid on the release of her first book, “Such A Fun Age.” It’s an introspective story of relationships and complicated life as a grown-up. It truly is something we could all relate to. | 7 pm.

Free. Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books, 5445 Germantown Ave. unclebobbies.com

MUSIC

Bandit65

Hell, let them run loose – all we care about is the fact that these guys are in town. Pro guitarist and Philadelphian Kurt Rosenwinkel is at the center of this rock trio – he’s trained with members of The Roots, and has cemented himself in the local music scene for the past 25 years or so. | 8 pm. $20. Ruba Club, 416 Green St. arsnovaworkshop.com

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

CALENDAR

10 Under $10 Low on dough? You can still have a blast

MUSIC

The Unlikely Candidates

Never doubt the underdog. Hell, that’s kind of what we did when Trump was running for the presidency, and he won. Just goes to show that you also can’t underestimate how deeply these indie rockers will make you fall in love with their music. | Tuesday, 8:30 pm. $10. Boot and Saddle, 1131 S. Broad St. bootandsaddlephilly.com

TUES JANUARY 7

MUSIC

January Synth Night

Join the Secret Synth Society for a serious jam session every month.

The synth is an instrument that translates successfully in pretty much any genre. All appreciators and creators are welcome to gather around the synth for a warm night. | 8:30 pm. Free.

Bridgeset Sound, 710 South St. facebook.com FOOD & DRINK

Beer Bingo

Finally – a bingo prize we actually need. Philly-based Workhouse Brewing will be in the house to facilitate a fun night of games, booze and generous prizes. | 7 pm. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. facebook.com

PODCAST

The Guilty Feminist

Comedian Deborah Francis-White hosts this podcast about what stands in our way of achieving complete equality of the sexes.

We may all have goals to achieve this harmony, but Francis-White’s show dives deep into the societal obstacles that sustain that gender wage gap and more that drives women apart from men. No need to feel guilty about not being the perfect feminist – we all have something to learn. | 8 pm. $35.

Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St. punchlinephilly.com INTERESTS

INTERESTS

Grlpwrphl Monthly Happy Hour

If you’re a woman in Philly, you should know that you always have a strong support system behind you. Meet up with other successful and creative ladies in the city each month at this networking event. Get inspired and share ideas with some people who understand you. | 6 pm. Free.

R&D Cocktail Bar, 1206 Frankford Ave. eventbrite.com INTERESTS

Wasted Talent

Philly Rising Open Mic

This is the spot to be if you’re an artist trying to put yourself out there. We promise everyone here will be eagerly waiting to see what you can do. | 8 pm. Free. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.

Maybe your parents told you that you’d never amount to anything in your life, and that you’ve wasted all your redeeming qualities. Well, prove them wrong by getting the crowd roaring at this open mic in a bar. Wasted or not, your talent has been requested. | 8 pm. Free.

The Grape Room, 105 Grape St.

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facebook.com

HERspace Women’s Art Festival

2010’s Themed Quizzo

HERspace supports powerful female artists doing their thing. Come out to support a variety of works by artists of nearly every medium. There’s no better way to get involved with a community than by showing your love for the art they create. | Saturday, Jan. 4, 6 pm. Free. Philly Art Collective, 253 N. 3rd St.

It’s really damn strange to think that this decade is over. So much has changed since 2010, and now you’ll have a chance to look back on it all at this trivia night. Do you remember everything about the culture of this decade, or did you spend most of it in a nostalgia-induced haze? | Monday, Jan. 6, 8 pm.

Free. Cedar Point Bar and Kitchen, 2370 E. Norris St.

eventbrite.com

Facebook.com

Drop It Like It’s Hot

Philly Rising Open Mic

2000 was 20 years ago, and we still can’t really accept that. How about we just act like no time has passed at all? Let’s run out on the dance floor in our apple bottom jeans and boots with the fur, and dance to all our favorite songs that we downloaded illegally from Limewire. | Saturday, Jan. 4, 10 pm. $5.

The Fillmore, 29 E. Allen St. Facebook.com

Amateur Drag Night

A proper drag queen thrives when they’re performing on stage. Put yourself in the spotlight at this monthly showcase for local queens to do their thing, and possibly win $100 because of it. Come get your money, honey. | Sunday, Jan. 5, 8 pm. Free.

L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St. Facebook.com

HomeGrown Open Mic Mondays

This open mic will give all musicians the chance to grow. Come out and share your talents, and you could win some studio time, promotion and radio exposure. | Monday, Jan. 6, 7 pm. Free. MilkBoy, 401 South St. Facebook.com

Goth Dad

This is the spot to be if you’re an artist trying to put yourself out there. It’s a dog eat dog world. It’ll serve you well if you find a supportive community to share your art with. We promise everyone here will be eagerly waiting to see what you can do. | Tuesday, Jan. 7, 8 pm. Free. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Eventbrite.com

Beer Bingo

Finally – a bingo prize we actually need. Philly-based Workhouse Brewing will be in the house to facilitate a fun night of games, booze and generous prizes. | Tuesday, Jan. 7, 7 pm. Free. Devil’s Den, 1148 S. 11th St. Facebook.com

Drinks and Dragons

Hop into the RPG world at this open game night.

Whether you’re a newbie or a total D&D nerd, you’re welcome to come join the party. Throw back some drinks and get your head in the game. | Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7 pm. Free. The Thirsty Soul, 1551 W. Passyunk Ave. facebook.com

PECO Free First Sunday Family Day

We wish our dad was goth – he would’ve been more forgiving while we were going through our heavy black eyeliner phases. These shoegaze stars from down South are so cool they’ll make you wish they were your parents. | Monday, Jan. 6, 8 pm. $8. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St.

Think there’s nothing going on in Philly on a Sunday for your kids? PECO is here to save the day from becoming lazy. Make some arts and crafts, gaze at some exciting works on display, sit in on storytime and listen to a performance by West Philly native Jahwula Seapoe. | Sunday, Jan. 5, 10 am. Free. The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.

Eventbrite.com

Facebook.com

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

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WED JANUARY 8

TRIVIA

The Office Quizzo

LEARN

Homeschooler Days: The Evolution of Plants

This is a fascinating lesson you probably wouldn’t learn in school. This is a chance for kids ages 5-13 to get out in the real world and learn about the blooming life around them. Learn how this garden fosters its plants from the initial planting to harvest. | Wednesday, 10 am. $12. Bartram’s Garden, 5400 Lindbergh Blvd. facebook.com

INTERESTS

Mindfulness and Mosaics

Unwind and relax in some busy surroundings. It may seem kind of contradictory, but don’t worry, you’ll be guided through the whole process of meditation. Whether it’s your first time or your 500th, you need to take this chance to chill. | Wednesday, 6 pm. $10. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, 1020 South St. phillymagicgardens.org

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Think you can beat us at this game of trivia? Think again – we’re quite the formidable opponent. We know you’ve also probably watched the entire series on Netflix at least 20 times, so show off everything you’ve learned about Dunder Mifflin and give us some quality competition. | 9 pm. Free.

City Tap University City, 3925 Walnut St. facebook.com

Drinks and Dragons

Hop into the RPG world at this open game night.

Whether you’re a newbie or a total D&D nerd, you’re welcome to come join the party. Throw back some drinks and get your head in the game. | 7 pm. Free.

The Thirsty Soul, 1551 W. Passyunk Ave. facebook.com COMEDY

Comedy Hustle Open Mic Comedians hustle more than anybody we know. This open mic just proves that if there’s an opportunity for comics to share their chops, they’ll take it. Get put on the map with this

event that highlights the brightest stars in the tri-state area. | 8:30 pm. Free. World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. eventbrite.com COMEDY

Sketch Riot

It’s rookie vs. veteran at this weekly sketch comedy battle.

Up-and-coming sketch groups will face seasoned members of the scene in a hilarious competition of endless creative performances. | 7:30 pm. $5.

Philly Improv Theater, 2030 Sansom St. eventbrite.com MUSIC

The Invasive Species

Philly has been invaded!

Check out these fascinating specimens of the local indie rock scene. Once they’ve sunk their teeth into you, you will become one of them.

The takeover has begun. | 7:30 pm. $6. Century, 1350 S. 29th St. facebook.com DISCUSSION

Daralyse Lyons

This talented author, journalist and yoga instructor will be in town to discuss her new book, “Yoga Cocaine.”

It’s about a woman who is literally torn between her habits of doing yoga and using cocaine – and her seemingly never-ending battle to live a clean life. | 7 pm. Free. Wooden Shoe Books and Records, 704 South St. facebook.com

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

CALENDAR

Best BETS Philly Drag Awards

Philly’s hardest-working queens have been performing around the city all year in preparation for this. The fourth annual installment of this award show will feature the hottest names in the Philly drag scene. | Friday, Jan. 3, 8 pm. $15. Voyeur, 1221 Saint James St. Eventbrite.com

Mister Mann’s Jam Session

TRIVIA

Star Wars Quizzo

Three words: Baby. Fucking. Yoda. We just can’t get enough of that little guy. We’re sure you feel the same - share your passionate love for him and the entire film series at this trivia night for the coolest nerds around. | Thursday, 6 pm. Free. The Bourse, 111 S. Independence Mall E. eventbrite.com

THUR JANUARY 9

MOVIES

January Philly Film Showcase

Local filmmakers share the projects they’ve been working on at this monthly screening. | 7:30 pm. Free. Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St. filmadelphia.org ART

West Philly Drink & Draw

Have a chance to get away from work, the kids or whatever else sucks up the bulk of your days on Planet Earth and get with some like-minded people who just want to enjoy a cup of coffee and... doodle. There’s a reason it’s been around for so long. That shit is therapeutic. | 5 pm. Free. The Satellite Cafe, 5000 Baltimore Ave.

We just can’t wait to have our spirits lifted up this Sunday. Mister Mann Frisby is the host of this soulful jam that will set everybody on the right track for a smooth new year. | Sunday, Jan 5, 3 pm. $15-$26. City Winery, 990 Filbert St. Citywinery.com

MUSIC

Chris Lane

A new generation of musicians has infiltrated the country genre.

Lane is one of the fresh faces shaking up everything we knew about what country sounds like.

His music could unite the entire fanbase, from city to rural folk. | 8 pm. $60. Theatre of Living Arts, 334 South St. venue.tlaphilly.com LGBTQ

Martha Graham Cracker: Philly Loves Bowie Week Edition

The fabulous cabaret performer will be performing some of her favorite Bowie songs for this benefit show for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Give all your dollar bills in support of pediatric cancer research. | 8 pm. $20. L’Etage, 624 S. 6th St. brownpapertickets.com

MUSIC

Reggie and the Full Effect

We dare you to find another band that could do it all like they can.

Emotional love songs, comedy, catchy beats. ... It’s rare for musicians these days to be such a triple threat. | 7:30 pm. $15. Kung Fu Necktie, 1250 N. Front St. eventbrite.com

INTERESTS

First Thursday Happy Hour: Jews and Tattoos Love comedy? Have tattoos, or at least wish you did? Jewish? You’ve checked off all boxes to qualify to participate in this communityminded happy hour. Have a drink or two and find where you fit in. | 6:30 pm. Free. Tattooed Mom, 530 South St. tribe12.org

Sets in the City

Late local comedian Chris Cotton wouldn’t want us to always cry over his loss – he lived to make us laugh our asses off, and he’ll continue to do so. Gather with the Philly comedy community to properly honor his life. | Monday, Jan. 6, 8 pm. $15. City Winery, 990 Filbert St. Citywinery.com

The Band’s Visit

A town isn’t really a town until it has a soundtrack. This 10-time Tony Award-winning musical is a shining example of the powerful impact music has on a community. If you want to laugh, cry and feel wholesome tonight, this is exactly where you need to be. | Tuesday, Jan. 7, 7:30 pm. $20-$119.

The Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St. Kimmelcenter.org

Star Wars Quizzo

Three words: Baby. Fucking. Yoda. We just can’t get enough of that little guy. We’re sure you feel the same - share your passionate love for him and the entire film series at this trivia night for the coolest nerds around. | Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 pm. Free. The Bourse, 111 S. Independence Mall E. eventbrite.com

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SAVAGE LOVE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Bottoming out it because I’ve asked them to, because someQ: I’m a 29-year-old gay man living in California. Why are most tops such assholes? I times that turns me on.” have had plenty of sexual partners ranging in Mitchell suspects bottoming has been a age, ethnicity, and expressed sexual consistently terrible experience for orientation. But what unites them you because either being penetratall is a general callousness toward ed isn’t something that feels good bottoms or even a delight in the for you or you aren’t advocating for knowledge that it is they who get to your own pleasure in the moment. “use and abuse” bottoms. Is this a “TMIW may need to communicate cultural artifact? I find the notion of more with his partners about what putting someone else in pain for my does and doesn’t feel good for him,” pleasure so repulsive that I have yet said Mitchell. “And if he finds no to top anyone. I’m starting to think pleasure in bottoming, he should that pleasurable sex is for tops stop bottoming and get off some othalone, and bottoms are supposed to er way.” just shut up and take whatever they As for what may be going on culcan get out of it. Help me square turally, TMIW, Mitchell definitely the messaging that bottoms are not had some thoughts. as valuable as tops and the noncha“A lot of men are bad at attending lance that accompanies the orgasm @FAKEDANSAVAGE to their partners’ pleasure because gap, especially in gay sex. we live in a fucked-up patriarchy” – Tell Me I’m Wrong said Mitchell. “From childhood on, men are systematically taught that sex is “I feel for this guy, I really do,” said Ty a matter of instinct instead of intention, and Mitchell, a gay porn star that our dicks are magical and writer. “But where wands that bring people does he get off? No, really, satisfaction just by showwhere in his body? Because ing ’em off and sticking ’em it doesn’t sound like he gets in people who don’t have off on butt stuff, or even one or aren’t using theirs. believes anal pleasure is Gay men aren’t immune to real.” these messages and even Mitchell, whose handle reward men who are loyal on Instagram is “probotto straight-passing mascutom,” definitely gets off on linity.” bottoming and other butt But we both want you stuff, TMIW. “Getting pento know there are good, etrated feels great for me, attentive, compassionate way better than topping,” gay men out there who said Mitchell. “Much to my chagrin, most of can fuck the shit out of a guy while at the the guys I wish would fuck me seem to feel same time checking in to make sure the guy this way, too. But the guys who do fuck me they’re fucking is enjoying the experience, want to know they’re making me feel good. too. The minute a guy says or does something Even the ones who fuck me like I’m scum do that proves he isn’t one of those guys, TMIW,

DAN SAVAGE

“The guys who do fuck me want to know they’re making me feel good. Even the ones who fuck me like I’m scum do it because I’ve asked them to.”

JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

SAVAGE LOVE

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY show him the door. Showing someone the door is one of the most effective ways we can advocate for our own pleasure; the sooner you show someone who doesn’t care about your pleasure out, the sooner you can show someone who does in. And Mitchell thinks a quick tweak to your search criteria will help you find yourself a good guy: “Flip on that ‘vers top’ filter [on the hookup apps], and stick to guys who at least have some empathy toward the anal experience,” said Mitchell.

Follow Ty Mitchell on Twitter @TyMitchellXXX (where you can find his porn work) or @TyMitchellxo (where you can find his rage and writing). You can find Mitchell’s essays at probottom.substack.com.

Q: Gay male here. Every so often, I call an old-fashioned phone-sex party line to get off with strangers. Usually the talk is pretty standard stuff about what we would be doing to each other if we were together. Sometimes I like to pop into the older/ younger room, and more than once I’ve found an use some-older guy who likes connecting with younger guys s been a(me). rience for That’s fine, but as this penetrat-guy phone-fucks me, he feels goodstarts slipping into some cating fordisturbing comments. moment.Specifically, he’ll go from mmunicatetalking about how much bout whathe likes fucking me – a confor him,”senting, over-18 male – to e finds notalking about how much he shouldhe’s enjoying fucking unsome oth-derage girls in his own family. I have no control ng on cul-over who the system matches me with, and definitelyof course I can click out at will. I also have no way of knowing where this guy is calling attendingfrom. But I’ve encountered him a few times. e becauseDo I have some kind of obligation here? atriarchy” – Perturbed, Horny, Offering No Encouragechildhoodment hat sex is ntion, and Anonymous strangers on phone-sex e magicalparty lines – who even knew those were ng peoplestill a thing – are not mandatory reporters. by show-Meaning, you aren’t legally obligated to go to icking ’emthe police if you suspect someone might be don’t haveabusing a child. ng theirs. But even if you did file a report, what would mmune toyou say? Someone, somewhere is saying some and evenseriously fucked-up shit on an anonymous are loyalphone-sex line? You would get shrugged out ng mascu-of the police station. My advice would be to tell the guy, if you ever get matched with him want youagain, that his child-rape fantasies are a huge are good,turnoff and you’ve thought about reporting passionatehim. Then hang up. here who hile at the Q: My best friend (gay male) and I (straight re the guymale) are students in our penultimate year of xperience,university. While I and my other friends all do somethingreasonably well romantically, my gay friend ys, TMIW,hasn’t had anything significant happen in the

three years I’ve known him. He’s never had a relationship.

It’s always been a bit of a soft spot for him, but recently, after going through an unreciprocated crush on a straight friend, he’s been very down about it. His constant complaint is that all the men he likes always wind up being straight male metrosexual types who don’t seem to realize they’re leading him on or are outright homophobic/super-hetero dickheads.

He’s gotten on Grindr, but still no luck. Conversations about romance or sex almost inevitably end up with him lamenting his fate.

While I’m always there to listen and talk, I’m not sure what I can say or do, other than the generic “It’ll happen one day” platitudes.

He’s definitely attractive and charming and relatively confident, so it really does seem like the issue might just be one of scarcity. Just wondering if you have any advice.

– Begging Advice Regarding Ending Bestie’s Elongated Dry Spell If your roommate is the only gay guy on your campus and Grindr is actually an empty cupboard, if this is truly a scarcity issue, then your roommate has all my sympathy, BAREBEDS. But if he’s one of those gay guys who finds gayness so repulsive in others that all openly gay men are automatically disqualified – if he’s one of those gay guys who’s only into straight-identified boys, straight metrosexuals, and his fellow homophobes – then your roommate has a lot less of my sympathy.

If you’ve seen him pass on other attractive, charming, confident gay boys he could have so he could go moon over straight boys he can’t have, BAREBEDS, then he doesn’t need to hear, “It’ll happen one day.” He needs to hear, “It’ll never happen until you get over your internalized homophobia, dude.” Because even if one of his straight crushes turns out to be just heteroflexible enough to let your roommate suck his dick, that guy isn’t going to be interested in more than a few blowjobs and certainly won’t be capable of loving him.

But, hey, if it really is about scarcity, and only graduating and moving away will change things, you can always tell him, “Sorry, it’s obviously not going to happen for you here – but instead of lamenting your fate, let’s talk about all the ass you’re gonna get when you move to New York/London/Berlin.”

On the Lovecast: Did you get herpes for the holidays? Listen in: savagelovecast.com.

“My advice would be to tell the guy … that his child-rape fantasies are a huge turnoff and you’ve thought about reporting him. Then hang up.”

NICE RACK

REACH OUT TO US. Carry PW’s at your spot. drops@philadelphiaweekly.com.

THERE’S ALWAYS MORE OF SAVAGE TO LOVE! Read: PhillyWeekly.com Have a question?: mail@savagelove.net PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020

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Spirit of the season SEPTA is trying to make the commute more bearable with holiday decorations, but they still suck. A big thank you goes to Jeffrey Sidelsky for sharing this photo with us on Twitter. If you have a photo you’d like to share, send it to mail@philadelphiaweekly.com or tag us on social media using the hashtag #PWBigPic.

THE

Lookin' out his back door Since moving to his new place on 2nd Street, Jeff Freedman has beautiful sunrises, scenes and sunsets from his back door deck. Many thanks to Jeff for sharing this photo with us – and you. If you have a photo you'd like to share, send it to mail@ philadelphiaweekly.com or tag us on social media using the hashtag #PWBigPic.

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MARKETPLACE PHILA FLEA MARKETS Recent Flea Market

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Inside The Sheet Metal Workers Union Building 1301 S. Columbus Blvd., Phila, PA 19147

Assistant Teacher Position CHILDCARE ASSISTANT

We are looking for nurturing and loving caregivers for our infant and toddler classes. Full time and Part time positions are available at ALL of our Alphabet centers.

EXPERIENCE PREFERRED PAY-RATE BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND CREDENTIALS CALL 215-595-2250 EMAIL A RESUME TO AMANDA@ALPHABETACADEMY.COM

1340 South 13th Street Phila, PA 19147 LEARN, LOVE, AND GROW WITH US!

AB MALE BLOOD DONORS NEEDED Will be compensated up to $85.00 for a complete donation, starting on their 2nd visit!!

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Be in good health. Walk-ins are welcome. New donors will be paid $40.00 for a full donation.

INTERSTATE BLOOD BANK 1250 N. BROAD STREET. PHILA PA. 19121 215-765-2554

BLOOD DONORS All donors paid $40.00 No appointment necessary.

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GENERAL AND TREATMENT FOSTER PARENTS NEEDED Open your heart and home to children of all ages New Foundations, Inc. 215-203-8733 www.nfi4kids.org

Penns Landing Caterers

8AM - 4PM

But Early Birds Are Welcome!

Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Jewelry & Fashion, Home Furnishings, Textiles, Art Work, & So Much More!

Apartments for Rent

FLAGGERS ($12.50/hr) Traffic Plan seeks Flaggers to set up and direct traffic around construction sites. A valid PA driver license and clean driving record a must, good pay and benefits. If interested please fill out an application at 510 Hertzog Blvd, King of Prussia, PA on Mondayʼs 9am - 12pm or online at trafficplan.com.

8500 BUSTLETON AVE. Corner of Evart St. Winter Special 1BR $875, 2BR $1,100, water & gas incld. 215-742-2261

HAPPY WINDOWS

Shutters, 2-Inch Wood, Pleated Shades, Roman Shades, Drapes, Verticals, Mini-Blinds Discount Price With Installation

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JANUARY 2 - 9, 2020 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

sell your ex’s stuff.

Free Parking • Free Admission • ATM • Food Court • Handicap Accessible

21ST & PINE AREA- Lg. Studio, wood floors, sep. eat-in kit., $900+cooking gas & elec., heat incl. 215-384-4202

Windows

PW Classifieds is a great place to

215-625-FLEA (3532) • www.PhilaFleaMarkets.org

Plumbers/Carpenters/Helpers Immediate openings- must have experience & valid drivers lic 215-342-7200

HOME IMPROVEMENT

break up?

Grant Garden Apartments Winter Special, upgraded 1 & 2 BR,1 BA. $750 - $980 includes water. Laundry room on site.

Off of Blvd. 215-464-6411 Legal Notices

Notice of Public Sale: The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by CubeSmart, 456 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia PA 19123 (215)922-3715 to satisfy a lien on January 13th, 2020 at approx. 8:00 PM: www.storagetreasures.com: A019 Damar K Been C265 Thomas Rafter F572 Kenneth Fry

NOTICES Legal Notices

AT&T Mobility, LLC is proposing to modify a wireless telecommunications facility on a building located at 23 South 52nd Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA 19139. Modifications include removing nine panel antennas and installing six new panel antennas mounted at RAD center heights of +/-93 feet and +/107 feet AGL on the roof of the +/-108-foot tall building.

Additionally, fifteen RRHs will be removed and nine will be installed. Any interested party wishing to submit comments regarding the potential effects the proposed facility may have on any historic property may do so by sending such comments to: Project 6119003311- JLD EBI Consulting, 6876 Susquehanna Trail South, York, PA 17403, or via telephone at (203) 231-6643.

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Whatever your choice of Celebration was We Hope that it was Full of Blessings, Peace and Happiness this Holiday Season and all the Best in the Coming New Year.

Thank You for Another Great Year!

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