January 25, 2006

Jon Stewart, Comedian

Marriott Hotel, Sat., Jan. 21, 11:15am.

On Philadelphia: "This is going to be a big night for me here. Tonight the National Soccer Coaches Association is honoring me, and as anyone who's seen my career knows ... I shouldn't be here. Soccer is not like basketball. It's a sport that can be played by people of a more squat stature. I'm like the George Bush of soccer. I'm gonna spread soccer throughout the world whether they like it or not. A lot of these soccer guys I haven't seen for years. But it's always a lot of fun seeing the guys you played with. Chances are many of them are still drunk. I once played at Veterans Stadium before a North American Soccer League game. My memory is that my cement basement was a better field. It was literally the hardest surface I'd ever played on. I couldn't believe they were forcing people to actually play athletic sports at Veterans Stadium."

Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, was in town to receive the National Soccer Coaches Association honorary All-American award at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Posted by jfusco at 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

January 18, 2006

Eric Utne, Founder, Utne Reader and Urban Almanac

White Dog Cafe, Wed., Jan. 18, 11:15am.

On Philadelphia: "I've stayed here before but hadn't really seen the city. Yesterday I was one of 300 candle-lighters on a gigantic birthday cake for Ben Franklin. That's why I'm in Philly. Back before I started Utne Reader I was going to launch a magazine called American Almanac. I read everything I could about Ben Franklin and Poor Richard's Almanac. I burned out at Utne Reader after 14 years, and now find myself teaching Ben Franklin's biography in middle school. This is such a great walking town. And you can feel the presence of Ben Franklin here. His name seems to be everywhere."

Eric Utne was in town for Ben Franklin's birthday celebration, as well as a dinner and discussion of his work at the White Dog Cafe.

Posted by jfusco at 12:29 PM | Comments (0)

January 16, 2006

Michael Musto, Nightlife Columnist, The Village Voice

Alexander Inn, Mon., Jan. 16, 9am.

On Philadelphia: "I've been here many times. I had an early morning today, so I didn't get to go clubbing last night the way I normally would. I'm definitely coming back to do it up right. The first time I came I was on a school trip in fourth grade, and then through the years to see David Bowie, to interview Patti LaBelle, and last year with a friend for a day trip. I did go to an early birthday party at Sisters, the lesbian bar, and to dinner at Valanni, which had bar lighting and gave me a taste of the nightlife feeling. I'm amazed that I haven't availed myself of Philadelphia more often because to me it does feel like a thriving metropolis, like New York. There are areas that remind me of the Village."

Michael Musto was in town to tape In Bed With Butch, hosted by Butch Cordora.

Posted by jfusco at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

January 07, 2006

Alejandro Escovedo, Singer

World Cafe Live, Sat., Jan. 7, 5:45pm.

On Philadelphia: "I've been coming here since '77, '78. Used to play the Chestnut Cabaret and Dobbs, and we've played the Tin Angel and North Star. Oh, and the Kimmel Center-I played there with Los Lobos. Wow. What a gig that was. I've never played in a room like that anywhere in the world. The acoustics were remarkable, and the audience was so warm. I like Philadelphia a lot. It has a character that's very unique. It's always been like a real tough town, but a good audience. You really have to prove yourself. After this I'm going home to rest and figure out if I made a good album or a bad one. The record comes out April or May."

Alejandro Escovedo, a folk-blues artist, played with the Nuns, Rank and File and the True Believers before launching a solo career in the early '90s.

Posted by jfusco at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)