TRR: The Lighter Side of Rittenhouse |
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The Lighter Side of The Rittenhouse Review, with a slice of Philadelphia just for the heck of it. 
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March 09, 2007
Philadelphia is a big city; a huge metropolitan area. There's something for everyone here. I've known that for a long time, and yet I still sometimes encounter something that really hammers the point home. I did so today when I discovered, while reading the Weekend section of the Philadelphia Inquirer, that there is in this city a flute group, known, if at all, as the Flute Society of Philadelphia. Wow, cool, flutes! I love flutes. Not really. And do you know what I like less than the flute? The piccolo. Smaller, uglier, more piercing and annoying. So I think I'll pass on the Flute Society's upcoming event, "A Piccolo Extravaganza!" The group's web site advises, "Come early and try out a variety of piccolos!"
Oh God. Wait, I mean, Oh God! March 07, 2007
The Washington Post today features "Philadelphia's BYO Revolution," by Jason Wilson, about the proliferation of "bring your own bottle [or booze]" restaurants in this city.
Wilson generally gets it right, in terms of both the advantages and disadvantages of the trend for diners. But with respect to the latter, what Wilson doesn't mention is the typical BYOB charges fairly high prices for its appetizers and entrees, presumably to make up for the profits lost by not selling wine and liquor. So, if you're not drinking, your money likely would be spent better elsewhere. February 27, 2007
I'm worried about my neighbor. Whenever she comes home, no matter the time of day or night, I can hear her vomiting through the wall. No, the vomit doesn't come through the wall, the sound of the act of vomiting penetrates the divide. I think that's what she's doing, anyway, and it's kind of freaking me out. What's causing this behavior? Bulimia? Or the fallout from an addiction of some sort? Something else, perhaps an asthma-induced coughing fit that while violent, really doesn't involve actual vomiting even if it sounds likes it does?
What should I do? Nothing? A friend is taking a college-level mathematics class, aiming to earn a degree in the field, and gee whiz, good for -- and brave of -- her for that. A recent e-mail took me on a walk down memory lane, a very dusty path that, when she was saying something -- I didn't catch it all, even though I could have read it a hundred times -- about polynomials.
Oh, yeah, polynomials. Right, those. I remember. No I don't. And peeking in here, it probably will stay that way. January 15, 2007
I overheard this bit of conversation in Center City Philadelphia this morning:
Woman No. 1: How was your weekend?
Woman No. 2: Nice. We came into the city and saw Chiquita Rivera at the Merriam Theater.
Chiquita? Bananas, I say. January 07, 2007
Okay, about the Mummers Parade: Yep, it sucked again. Here's a hint, guys. Nobody, and I mean nobody who is not a Mummer or who is related to a Mummer or who knows a Mummer or who drinks like a Mummer, cares about "a parade" that lasts eight fricking hours. Save this otherwise wonderful thing! You know what? The Rose Parade runs two hours and captures the attention of a nation.
Goombas, get with the program, would you? In trying to get to the Adirondacks for a family skiing-oriented gathering later this month, I've been visiting, and then hitting and missing, various web sites, the names of which I will withhold, that promise, um, what should we call them, cheap tickets, which I've learned require considerable flexibility when planning to travel. May I just say that as far as itineraries go, Philadelphia to Charlotte to Pittsburgh to Raleigh to Albany has me reaching for the Preparation H before I sit down once, let along four times?
I'll keep looking. January 05, 2007
Hey, listen, I've been away for a while on vacation, and now that I'm back I'm wondering, Did the Mummers Parade suck again this year? Oh, I see. Sort of yes and no, I guess. December 21, 2006
Of course we care! Reichen Lehmkuhl -- Not his real name; duh! -- is involved!
Still, I want to know why this guy I hadn't heard of until today, Brandon Beemer, who hooked up with Lehmkuhl -- Just on MySpace.com, I mean! -- isn't getting more work. Center City Philadelphia
Overhead this morning in Center City Philadelphia, spoken by a fifty-ish man: "Right now it's 0-6, but when we get back from the holidays it's gonna' be 0-7. It goes straight from one to the other. That's amazing. I can't believe it happens so fast like that." December 14, 2006
Surgically hacked Alex Kuczynski, "critical shopper" for the New York Times, gets all catty in today's review of Loehmann's, though not so much about the store as about a pair of well known designers:
Loehmann’s is home to the misfit toys of the retail world, the “designer” clothes and purses you’ve never quite heard of, or the major designers who have had a sketchy year. I’ll never forget the year Badgley Mischka gowns filled the evening wear department; within a few months, they were manufacturing a bridge line. Meow! And what, really, to make of this observation, considering the number of times Kuczynski has put herself under the plastic surgeon's blade, proceeding to live and tell about it, incessantly:
Perhaps the store’s most unintentionally famous features are the communal dressing rooms, fluorescent-lighted spaces the size of boxing rings, which, at least in my experience, can house up to 20 women at a time. This is why Loehmann’s is for only the bravest of creatures, women unafraid to bare their fat rolls, dimpled thighs and other unappetizingly jiggly bits without shame. As a teenager years ago, this shocked me, but today it’s kind of a relief to see up close and personal that no one is a supermodel.
Research? December 11, 2006
Nothing good will come of this:
A new Cambridge company is planning to launch a service that would allow drivers to hunt for parking spaces using their cellphones.
A kind of eBay for parking spots, the service will be an online market for anything from driveways that private property owners want to lease for a few hours to empty spaces at garages and curbside metered spots that are about to become vacant. . . .
To use the service, customers would punch in the address of a destination, along with the date and time they want to arrive. A map would pop up with a list of nearby available spots, showing the price of each and the time it would take to walk to the final destination.
The service, to be tested in Boston, Cambridge, New York, and San Francisco, uses information from local garages, which will list spaces they have empty at any given time, and posts from those who own spaces they don't use during vacations or work hours. Eventually, Rollert said, the service will include postings from motorists who have parked at metered spaces and want to auction their departure time to the highest bidder.
Because what we really need right now, is a reason for more drivers to be spending more time on their cell phones. November 29, 2006
Does anyone else think it's weird that Milton Street, Philadelphia Mayor John Street's indicted older brother has a lawn jockey in front of his Moorestown, N.J. home? Sure, it's a white one, but it's still a little odd, I think.
[Post-publication addendum (November 30): Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Monica Yant Kinney noticed the lawn jockey too: "Why did the most entertaining political brother since Billy Carter insist on running for office in Philly, when everyone knows he lives in the little green bungalow with the white lawn jockey in leafy, lovely Moorestown?"] I guess I do have some sort of an accent.
True that. (Note: First saw this test over at Plucky Punk's Happy Land.)
[Post-publication addendum: By "Me Talk Funny One Day," an obvious (I would think) reference to David Sedaris, I meant to indicate, but failed to, that I was surprised to see how much the test thinks I speak like a Philadelphian, because I assure you, and myself, I certainly do not. I don't even call this city "Philly." The word makes me cringe. And that statue atop City Hall? That's William Penn, not, ugh, "Billy."] November 28, 2006
I ran across this beautiful video of Carly Simon and her son, Ben Taylor, performing "Love of My Life," a song featured in the film, This is My Life.
The woman I love most in my, well, life, sent me the words to this song at one of the lowest moments of my, well, life. The lyrics were so appropriate and so apt -- and so needed -- at that time, and I will never forget it.
Ever. A friend recently returned from a ten-day trip to Italy with absolutely beautiful, impressive, and gorgeous photos of Rome, Venice, Siena, and Capri, the photos of Siena -- a "side trip," she explained -- offering numerous pleasant surprises. I will admit I was a little jealous looking at these shots, but I'm pleased to say that that I was more happy than jealous, and therefore I was happier than I was jealousier. (I know that's not really a word; I just made it up.) Anyway, the whole thing reminded me that as little as I have traveled in my life, having not left this country since 1980, that I have a list of my own, a list of my top-ten preferred foreign destinations, in order, as follows. 1. Scandinavia. Okay, so that's really four countries, so maybe this should account for four entries, and if it did they would appear in this order: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. And they preferably would be visited by cruise ship. 2. Finland. And no, it's not the same thing, because Finland is not a Scandinavian country. Nordic, yes; Scandinavian, no. 3. Italy. 4. Ireland. (I know, Mom, it's one rung below Italy. I'm sorry.) 5. The Netherlands. 6. South Africa. 7. Argentina. 8. Chile. 9. Uruguay. I know, other than the whole "Who wants to go to Uruguay?" thing, these last three make up the "Southern Cone" and all that, and really, I should group these three together, like I did with Scandinavia, which would allow this list to extend to a count of twelve. And so see the associated continuation of this list below. 10. Germany. 11. Australia. 12. Czechoslovakia. Oh, wait. That's two countries now, isn't it? What was the point of all this? Well, I guess I was putting it all to paper, or to the web, to serve as a reminder to me, and maybe to some of you, that we need aspirations, just a little something to look forward to, even if that something is thousands of miles, and dollars, away.
[Afterthought: England, France . . . been there.] November 20, 2006
Thank you, Steven Stern, personally, and thank you to the New York Times, as an institution, for "Liberal Arts in Philadelphia," from Sunday's edition of T Style Magazine: Travel, which managed to tell readers about the arts scene in Philadelphia without descending into condescension. Thanks. Really, thanks. We're so grateful.
Because we live and die by what you think of us up there. We just had two weeks of "unseasonably mild," as they call it, weather here in Philadelphia, and now it's cold again. Inside and out; more inside than out. I think my landlord hates heat. Or, at least, he hates giving it to us. What does he care? He lives in New Jersey. I assume it's warmer over there. Anyway, it doesn't matter much. I'm going away for the holiday on Wednesday, so there's relief in the near future. Oh, wait, I'm headed north. Way north. Like, kooky north. The kind of north that makes you say, "What the hell are you people doing up here, anyway?"
(Actually, the forecast isn't that bad. I remember going home for Easter one year during college, the day after three feet of snow fell on the ground. In April. Now, that was weird.) November 14, 2006
A fairly easy Tuesday puzzle from multi-millionaire Will Shortz and the New York Times today.
Here's an obvious, sort of personal, tip: 28 Down: Jenny Lind, e.g.; answer: S-W-E-D-E. November 11, 2006
I forgot the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center appeared in this video of Carly Simon's Oscar-award-winning song, "Let the River Run," from the film Working Girl.
Of course, there's a lot about New York I've tried to forget since leaving late, post 9/11, in 2001. Gee whiz, I need to get a social life. I learned something tonight, Saturday night, all on my own, and don't ask me why: There are only three zip codes in use in the United States in which the five digits run in consecutive order.
They are: 12345, Schenectady, N.Y.; 23456, Virginia Beach, Va.; and 45678, Scottown, Ohio. November 05, 2006
Just down the block from where I live there is a building of some sort, one formerly commercial, I believe, the second story of which is being rented by a bunch of local hipsters, five or six guys who show up a few evenings each week and on most weekends, in order to "make some music," as they say. They are a reasonably pleasant bunch, with comparatively few piercings and tattoos; and they're nice to the dog and all. Apparently they have a no-smoking rule enforced in their "space," so I see them outside quite a bit, which is fine, except it means I have to overhear their conversations. And their conversations are always all about the band. You see, these guys are in a band. They are a band. They're band guys. They're a bunch of guys who make up a band. I don't know enough about contemporary music to know if they're any good, despite how many hours of their music-making I've been subjected to.
I only know this: If you guys were half as good as your sidewalk chats make you out to be, what the hell are you doing "practicing" and "rehearsing" in your "space" every single Friday and Saturday night, week after week, month after month? October 10, 2006
I’m all for banning, from all forms of advertising, from this day forward, any variations of two phrases, first, "See it again for the first time," currently being used by Samsung, and second, because election day is approaching and why not nip it in the bud beforehand, "Now more than ever," an old Nixonian phrase that later was adopted, without success, by the then-embattled Ferdinand Marcos. October 07, 2006
A black Muslim woman, heading north on 11th St. toward Market St., fully decked out in a black burqa, with the veil covering her entire face and all that, talking on a cell phone to who knows whom:
Muslim Woman: So I said to him, "The two things I got going for me are my charm and my looks."
Your looks? Who would know? This one is sad. A 60-something woman walking with her dog and a friend, speaking rather loudly into a cell phone:
So the doctor told me I have cancer in my cervix.
I know! So I sort of threw my head back to look at her after I heard that, as did the two young women walking on my right, one of whom, while also looking back, said to the other, "Did she just say what I think she said?" October 06, 2006
Terry Gross, host of "Fresh Air," produced at Philadelphia's NPR affiliate, WHYY, is generally informative and interesting, and often entertaining, even if at times she is inadequately prepared for her guests (her interview of Barbara Ehrenreich, after the publication of the latter's Bait and Switch, which I had just finished reading a few days before, stands out in my mind as a trashed opportunity to thoroughly analyze and promote an important and timely work). But here's a general warning: When you learn -- or are warned -- that Gross's program will feature, even in part, anything to do with music, turn the dial, quickly. Today's program, a rebroadcast of her 1989 and 1999 interviews with "minimalist composer" Steve Reich, provides an egregious example of Gross's appreciation for the truly awful and she embarrasses herself with an absurd display of giggly adoration for yet another slight talent.
If you're able to listen in and catch, early during the show, what sounds like the emanations of tragically warped vinyl, don't scoff, but instead, like Gross, praise and adore. Oh, and gush. Don't forget to gush. October 04, 2006
Andy, we have to talk.
Picked up at MSNBC's "The Scoop": "Will Paris Hilton start raising a racket with Andy Roddick? The partying heiress and the tennis star were 'inseparable' during a party at Tao's in Las Vegas, according to In Touch Weekly. They reportedly were later spotted smooching at the nightclub Pure." October 03, 2006
It happened again today. Here's roughly how it goes, every single time:
Jim: Hi, how are you? Good to see you. [There is a handshake.]
Vague Friend/Acquaintance/Co-worker: Good, good. How are you?
Jim: Fine, thanks. How's [insert female name here, a reference to the wife]?
Vague Friend/Acquaintance/Co-worker: She's great. Really great.
Jim: And how are the kids?
Vague Friend/Acquaintance/Co-worker: They're terrific. We're crazy busy, you know. The kids are playing soccer this season! Oh, God. The soccer chat. Again. I hate this. Invariably the guy yammers on and on, going into excruciating detail about his kids "learning teamwork" while playing a "great sport," that when you get right down to it, the way it's organized in the suburbs these days, is glorified after-school care. And the whole time I'm thinking, Really, pal? The kids are playing soccer? No way! Because, I like, never hear that from anyone. How unusual, different, and interesting that your kids are playing soccer. Soccer! Of all things, soccer! And, wow! They're playing in the fall! Because I remember they played in the spring and summer, too. Gee whiz, you have some serious athletes in the making there, buddy. Christ, do you ever spend any one-on-one time with these brats? Then, if the guy's really hardcore, he starts either: (a) criticizing the "coach," who I gather is usually, in "real life," a part-time bus driver or something like that; (b) harping on some other "Dad," who's just too totally involved in it, you know?, and so they're not speaking anymore; or (c) if he's a real freak, carping about "a thing" his wife has about the snacks some of the other "Moms" bring.
Please, spare me. Hey, thanks, NBC 10, for the "Breaking News" e-mail telling me the Dow Jones Industrial Average today closed above its previous all-time high. But where was the e-mail blast alerting me and thousands of other Market-Frankford El riders to the hellacious evening commute that was ahead of us? Now that would have been both interesting and useful.
And I heard nothing on KYW AM ("Traffic and transit on the twos!"), nor saw anything at its web site, nor that of sister station CBS Channel 3, which is weird, and frankly inexplicable, because I can't imagine there wasn't a single person at either operation who failed to notice hundreds of people standing about, confused and uninformed, at the intersection of 5th and Market Streets, right outside the stations' front door!
When you're a panda nerd, you can't help yourself. So here's another video you have to watch, this one showing nine panda puppies all gathered on a single table. (Hat tip: Pandafix.) September 29, 2006
I know Mariska Hargitay wins awards for Hargitay's performance on the series reminds me of the also-lauded and awarded efforts of Candice Bergen on the tiresome series, Murphy Brown. Yeah, Candice, I get it, you can scowl. You can really do cranky. Here's another Emmy. It's pretty much the same with Hargitay. Nice, Mariska, you've really got that quizzical look of concern down. Care for some swag?
And so I've never understood why people are so crazy about Hargitay. And now today I see from my friend Tom
I suppose. But, really? Because I'm still not getting it. September 28, 2006
You've just got to watch this video, hosted at Pandafix. Warning: Sound, and sound that is essential to the experience.
(Hint: If the video doesn't start to play when you hit the arrow at the center of the picture, try clicking the play button in the lower left-hand corner.) Gawker, in its continuing run-down of all that is awful (everything) about New York's Meat Packing District (MPD), today offers a quick take on born-in-Philadelphia Buddakan:
Surpassing all expectations, Buddakan has proved that what's essentially an Orientalized cafeteria can turn out solid Asian cuisine at prices that, while certainly not bargain-basement, don't require you to refinance your mortgage. . . . If you're in the MPD (which, remember, you shouldn't be) you could definitely do worse.
Regular Gawker readers will recognize that as a compliment. Spotted this sign at 17th and Race Streets, Philadelphia, near Friends Select School:
SPEED LIMIT 15 DURING OPENING CLOSINC AND RECESS September 27, 2006
Listening to the Phillies on the radio in this city is cause for mental conflict. The games, you see, are carried on WPHT, 1210 AM, a CBS station that calls itself "The Big Talker." And though the game-time coverage is well done, with excellent commentary, and while I like their in-house promo ads, those with the woman with the cool voice who chimes in, "W-P-H-T -- Phil . . . A . . . Del . . . Phia," listening in is a pact with the devil. In exchange for all this, you see, one must endure incessant hype touting the station's daytime gasbags, Michael Smerconish, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc., ad nauseum.
It's almost too much to bear, especially when the team isn't performing up to its collective ability -- as they aren't tonight, so far anyway, even though slacker Pat Burrell is sitting, deservedly, on the bench. September 25, 2006
So the great big "smoking ban" took effect in Philadelphia today, a good 90 days before almost anyone thought it would given the disinformation, or lack of information, campaign perpetrated by Lilliputian Mayor John F. Street and others ahead of his delayed signing of the bill produced by city council. I wasn't opposed to this law, and frankly I thought Mayor Street was being a baby about the politics surrounding the measure and the exemption for sidewalk cafes, but this immediate enforcement is not what I signed on for.
And I'm still sitting here wondering why nobody ever asked whether the mayor's deeply held religious beliefs (which extend so far as to affect scheduling the man) guided his stance on the issue, since any Catholic politician -- whether devout, merely practicing, or simply of the family-heritage variety -- who holds even the slightest reservation whatsoever about abortion on demand is immediately accused of bringing religion into the public square. September 21, 2006
Big doings in Center City Philadelphia this afternoon! An underground explosion near City Hall, around 1:00 p.m., with nearby office buildings evacuated and all that. As word spread at work, concern grew and there was all the talk and worry and such, particularly among suburbanites wondering if they could get home in due time. After I explained the situation to a co-worker, one I knew relied on Septa's Regional Rail to get home, he asked, "So is this a terrorist situation?" "No," I answered. "It's apparently a Peco thing. So I guess, yes, it's domestic terrorism, but of the local variety."
Unless you've had the experience of opening a Peco bill, or enduring one of the utility's outrageously long outages, you probably will not get the joke. September 18, 2006
The people behind the antiperspirant brand, Arrid, have set up a web site going by the name of, and I kid you not, Wetness Protection Program. September 14, 2006
Thursday puzzles, the day when the going gets a little rough and question becomes, Are you tough enough? Here's your hint for the Philadelphia Inquirer / Washington Post puzzle: 33 Across: Island leader? Answer: R-H-O-D-E.
A tricky New York Times puzzle today, don't you think? A little help: 31 Down: Army post near Mt. Holly, N.J. Answer: F-T-D-I-X. September 12, 2006
A decent pair of puzzles for a Tuesday, though the Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Post, etc., puzzle had a pretty lame theme, if that's what one might call it. Here's your tip: 9 Down: Disloyal. Answer: U-N-T-R-U-E.
The New York Times puzzle today is a good one. Here's a big-picture hint, related to the squares with circles embedded therein: Greek letters. More specifically, take a look at 52 Across: Go from pub to pub. Answer: B-A-R-H-O-P. September 11, 2006
It's the Monday puzzle, so it was somewhat of a snap, regardless of whether you did it in the Philadelphia Inquirer or the Washington Post, or whatever other newspaper carries the same game. Here's your tip: 25 Down: Presidential plane. Answer: A-I-R-F-O-R-C-E-O-N-E.
September 08, 2006
Just a few photographs yet to display of the new miniature golf course in Franklin Square, Philadelphia. The photo below shows the downsized version of the Ben Franklin Bridge, which is nice to have since I think you can get in trouble for taking pictures of the real thing these days.
September 07, 2006
Holy cow! Yet another Evan Esar quote in today's Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post crossword puzzle.
Here's your tip: 18 Down: Miscue. Answer: E-R-R-O-R. September 06, 2006
If you worked it out yourself, I'm sure you will agree that today's Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post crossword puzzle was a dud. Here's your tip: 28 across: Seismologist's forte? Answer: F-A-U-L-T-F-I-N-D-I-N-G.
Sorry, once again I didn't pick up the New York Times. So I heard today that by a vote of 6-2, this city's "Arts Commission" has decided to allow a 2,000-pound, artistically undistinguished, schlocky prop of I don't know what to stand at the foot of one of America's premier art museums. (See "Rocky Wins Split Decision to Stand Near Art Museum," by Michael Vitez of the Philadelphia Inquirer.)
Please come visit Philadelphia. We want your tourist dollars. Apparently we care about little else, let alone anything greater. September 05, 2006
Today's Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post crossword puzzle provided only a mild diversion. Here's your tip: 63 Across: Pilaf base. Answer: R-I-C-E.
Sorry, I didn't pick up the New York Times today. Still another photo taken at the new miniature golf course in Franklin Square, Philadelphia.
September 04, 2006
A small tip for those working on the Philadelphia Inquirer and Washington Post puzzle, which for all I know might be carried elsewhere: 30 Down: Stay informed about. Answer: K-E-E-P-U-P-W-I-T-H.
And for those figuring out the Times puzzle, take a look at 20 Across: The best place to sleep. Answer: P-E-N-T-H-O-U-S-E-S-U-I-T-E. Have you ever heard that guy who screams the script for the ad carried on, at least where I heard it, KYW Radio, who screeches something about food or clothes or whatnot? You know, the one in which he screams: "FOUR MORE MEALS!" It turns out he's yelling, "Forman Mills!"
Let me tell you, if a listener, someone like me, has to Google your slogan, and several times at that, in order to nail it down, you're wasting your money. September 03, 2006
Yes, it was a great career, albeit spotty at times, and so Andre Agassi, as promised, has left, presumably forever, the professional tennis tour. I'm not sure I'll miss him, since I never really liked him. His game, while at times impressive, was rather ordinary. His personality, typically strange, was hardly endearing.
Still, there were some great moments, and so to you, young man, Godspeed. August 31, 2006
Thursday puzzles make for a nice challenge. The Philadelphia Inquirer puzzle, which I recently learned is the same as one of two also featured in the Washington Post, was a little disappointing. The tip-off that a letdown was ahead: a quick glance at the clue for 17 Across: "Start of an Evan Esar quip." Esar again? Give me a break. (Who is this guy anyway? If the weirdos writing Wikipedia haven't come up with anything, why should I?) Anyway, here's your hint: 39 Down: Call it quits. Answer: R-E-T-I-R-E.
And for New York Times players: 45 Across: Pay no heed to smoking rules. Answer: L-I-G-H-T-U-P. This morning I woke up to the news that there were eight separate shooting incidents in Philadelphia just last night, a spate of violence that racked up three deaths, including a man and a woman who reportedly were trying to prevent a sexual assault.
"Civil war" doesn't describe the situation here; that's more appropriate for Iraq. But "out of control" seems to come pretty close.
Today the kids at Gawker are having lots of fun with one Daphne Oz -- here and then here -- though I'm surprised in the second take they didn't jump all over Daphne's siblings' names, which when strung together with her own, sound so horribly (and I mean that) precious: Arabella, Zoe, Oliver, and Daphne. Here's another photograph taken at the new miniature golf course in Franklin Square, Philadelphia. This one is of Boathouse Row, which in real life sits on the Schuylkill River, just west of the Art Museum. What's neat about the design for this hole on the golf course is that they replicated the river and even put a couple of miniature sculls on it.
I overheard this brief exchange last Saturday at the entrance to the Market-Frankford line at 15th and Market Streets, Philadelphia: Panhandling Woman: Can you spare some change? Man Entering Station: What are you, kidding? I make minimum wage. Panhandling Woman: So do I, man. So do I.
I wonder, was the woman saying she earned minimum wage from panhandling or, just as likely, trying to tell the man she has a minimum wage job during the week and that the whole begging thing is just a weekend gig? August 30, 2006
I didn't pick up a copy of the New York Times today, so you're stuck with, if that's the correct phrase, a hint for the Philadelphia Inquirer puzzle: 1 Across: Seethe. Answer: F-U-M-E. We're number one at something: "Among the nation's 10 largest cities, Philadelphia ranks first in the percentage of people living in poverty: 24.5 percent."
Kind of wish it were something else. August 29, 2006
It's Tuesday, and the puzzles are kind of easy. Your hints: A tip for those working on the New York Times puzzle: 57 Across: Like many immigrants. Answer: B-I-L-I-N-G-U-A-L.
And for those taking a stab at the Philadelphia Inquirer's brainteaser: 36 Across: I surrender! Answer: T-H-R-O-W-I-N-T-H-E-T-O-W-E-L. Another fine photo from the new miniature golf course in Franklin Square, Philadelphia.
August 28, 2006
An Occasional Feature It's Monday, and the puzzles are easy. Your hints: For the New York Times puzzle: 50 Across: Palestine's locale. Answer: M-I-D-E-A-S-T.
For the Philadelphia Inquirer's game: 35 Across: Chill out! Answer: T-A-K-E-A-D-E-E-P-B-R-E-A-T-H. August 24, 2006
An Occasional Feature Today's Philadelphia Inquirer crossword puzzle features as its "theme," a quip. Zzzzzz. Anyway, here's your hint.
24 Down: Sour tasting, old-style. Answer: A-C-E-R-B. Another photo from the new miniature golf course in Franklin Square, Philadelphia.
August 23, 2006
An Occasional Feature The New York Times crossword puzzle today feels like a rerun or a repeat. There's something very familiar about it. Perhaps it's the trite and overused theme that unites the "long" answers. Think warbler, in the larger sense of the term. Anyway, today's specific hint is: 54 Down: Bad-mouth. Answer: R-I-P-O-N. Seriously. Will Shortz allowed that. I think it's two words, as in rip on.
Possibly it's a colloquialism? I've never heard it. August 22, 2006
Overheard earlier this evening at the corner of Spring Garden and North 2nd Streets, Philadelphia, a slice of a conversation between a mother and her 10-ish-year-old son: Mom: Come on! Would you hurry up?
Son (leaning over to pick up something from the sidewalk): Hold on! Look! I found a bullet! An Occasional Feature Today's New York Times crossword puzzle is a tricky one, but it's not difficult, once the solver gets over his annoyance with editor Will Shortz and the unnamed and unaccredited (And why is that, always?) author. Hint: Going against all convention, six times in the puzzle six different words appear in the answers two times each, one time across and one time down, each cross-ing the other. Get it? Frankly, I thought I thought it was a little contrived, even for Shortz. And for those working on the Philadelphia Inquirer puzzle: Hint: 8 Down: Daughter of Ops. Answer: C-E-R-E-S.
(Note: That's Ceres the goddess, not Ceres the potential planet.)
The photograph of Matt Lauer posted at TMZ.com yesterday is real. Really real. Gawker says so. I'm impressed. Among other things. August 21, 2006
A New, Occasional, Feature Here's a hint to those working on today's New York Times crossword puzzle. Hint: 48 Down: Worker with an apron Answer: G-R-O-C-E-R
Trust me with this one. I know whereof I speak. I told you I would be back with more.
Two weeks ago I went to the opening festivities for the newly revamped and refurbished Franklin Square, which offers, among other diversions, possibly the best mini-golf course ever. Or at least the best one I've ever seen. In the middle of a city anyway. In Philadelphia, maybe. I'm probably now underselling the site, but regardless, it's way cool, and takes as its theme the city that surrounds it.
More to come from time to time.
August 18, 2006
Satchel, from the comic strip Get Fuzzy, is "half Shar-Pei, half yellow lab"? Really? I thought he was a Bulldog. The entire venture is suddenly less interesting to me. August 16, 2006
Overheard earlier this evening in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia:
I saw photographs from Madonna's concert in Germany. She's up there against the cross and wearing a crown of thorns! I mean, why doesn't the Lord just strike her down dead then and there?!
For that and so many other transgressions, religious and otherwise. I'm totally not understanding this. The story. The news, I mean. About Lisa Richette. What happened to her.
Not, you know, well, the photograph. Because that's creating an entirely different level of confusion. |
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