February 27, 2006

Barry "High Rise" Hardy, Harlem Globetrotters

15th and Sansom sts., Mon., Feb. 27, 10am.

On Philadelphia: "Last time I was here they just had the Spectrum. It was good to pull up some 10, 12 years later and see that the Spectrum is still standing. There's so much history there. Philly people remember Meadowlark, they remember Curly, and they wanna see a duplicate of those guys. But it's almost impossible, just like you'll never see another Dr. J. We can only do our best, and as far as Philly, they're so receptive. The people here are great. It's cold. But it's just like Detroit, where I'm from. You get the extremes. Philadelphia is a great place to visit if you want to know about this country. And they know their sports."

The Harlem Globetrotters play a doubleheader against the New York Nationals Sun., March 12, 1pm and 6pm. $12-$160. Wachovia Center, 3601 Broad St. 215.336.2000.

Posted by jfusco at 12:44 PM | Comments (0)

February 20, 2006

Jess and Lisa Origliasso, the Veronicas

North Star, Tues., Feb. 20, 5:50pm.

On Philadelphia: Lisa: "We've been here before, because someone told us we had to try a cheesesteak. It was really good. Yesterday we had a day off, which was really cool, so we went to the King of Prussia Mall. I spent lots of money. It's very cold here, colder than I remember. We're from Australia, so we're not really used to this. We had a few radio things today so we arrived on the tour bus and there were kids all outside, knocking on the door and all that. The people are really cool. We went to this really cool restaurant last night-Alma de Cuba. We spent more time here than the other cities we've been to so far. It's definitely a really cool city."

Twin sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso are touring in support of The Secret Life ... of the Veronicas.

Posted by jfusco at 12:42 PM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2006

Bernard-Henri Lévy, Author

Four Seasons Hotel, Thurs., Feb. 16, 3:30pm.

On Philadelphia: "I stayed here while doing research for my book. I went everywhere, but my target was Eastern State

Penitentiary. It was the embodiment of one of the two models of American jails, so it was important for me to report on this place. I really spent some time here-the downtown, Old City, the suburbs, the poor areas, the gentrified places. Philadelphia is one of the cities in the States in which I found the biggest charm. There is a European spirit, European architecture, European mood. And for all these reasons it is one of the cities where I breathe better, where I feel better. Boston, Savannah, Chicago, Seattle and Philadelphia are my five favorite cities in the U.S. In Philadelphia you have America's beating heart. There is something, a sort of lightness, a spirit of freedom, which is impalpable, difficult to define, but which is here."

Bernard-Henri Lévy, along with translator Charlotte Mandell, is the author of the recently published American Vertigo: Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville.

Posted by jfusco at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)

February 09, 2006

Maria McKee, Singer

Tin Angel, Thurs., Feb. 9, 6pm.

On Philadelphia: "The first time I came here I was with my band Lone Justice in the '80s. We were opening for U2, and it was really a bummer because it was our first gig of the tour and I got really sick and couldn't play, so we had to cancel. It was horrible. That was like 20 years ago. We're here to play the Tin Angel, which I love. It's intimate and cozy and it's got history and it's beautiful. We're staying at the Latham. What a really cute hotel. We went to Lee's today for cheesesteaks-that was really good. The first photo shoot I ever did for New Musical Express was in Philly. I remember it was really cool because we were down by the docks, the warehouse area, and it was really desolate and kind of romantic. That was like 20 years ago too."

Maria McKee's most recent album, her sixth, is titled Peddlin' Dreams.

Posted by jfusco at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)

February 03, 2006

Eugene Jarecki, Director

Four Seasons Hotel, Fri., Feb. 3, 2:45pm.

On Philadelphia: "I've been here a few times over the years and recently at Penn shooting a short movie for HBO. Philly's a place with a very varied population but a very consistently strong and pioneering spirit. And yeah, it's a cool place. The preview audience here for Why We Fight was really engaged. They stayed for a long time and asked smart and challenging questions. It was wonderful."

Eugene Jarecki's Why We Fight, a documentary that examines the forces that shape and propel American militarism, opens Feb. 24.

Posted by jfusco at 12:32 PM | Comments (0)