Last week, new Mayor Michael Nutter presented the first budget of his tenure. See a review by Metropolis columnist Ryan Briggs here. Below, see highlights of the address.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMnTfGFreVI 350 292]
Category Archives: A&E
CHOP nurse and cancer activist dies
Pat Brophy, a nurse practictioner at Children’s Hopsital of Philadelphia who cared for charity founder Alex Scott, died Feb. 12.
Brophy died from a long battle with colon cancer. She was the nurse who helped treat Alexandra Scott, the 8-year-old cancer patient who began a lemonade stand in her front yard to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Scott passed away in 2004.
Brophy was featured on CBS3’s “A Stand for Hope” in June 2007, a day-long fundraiser for Alex’s Lemonade Stand. In an interview, she said she didn’t like being called a hero to child patients and their families. The best rarely do.
The Aston, Pa.-native is survived by her husband, Robert, two children and five grandchildren.
Cheeks to stick with Sixers
According the the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Maurice Cheeks is close to signing a contract extension. The Sixer’s new president and general manager Ed Stefanski is apparently pleased with Cheeks’ work since coming on as head coach in the 2005-2006 season. He is on the last year of his contract, which is worth about $3 million this year.
Allen I. versus R. Allen tonight, reminds us again
Some Philly sports fans still think about Allen Iverson.
The man brought us to an NBA Championship Series, didn’t he?
Tonight his new team, the Denver Nuggets are taking on the dominating Boston Celtics, with a now understated, role (star) player named Ray Allen.
Made me think of collegiate magic more than a decade ago…
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYznIWiw_kQ 350 292]
The Celtics/Nuggets game gets down at 8 p.m. EST in Denver tonight.
Nutter and Briggs on the Convention Center expansion
There has been lots of controversy surrounding the inclusion of minority workers in the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Read the view of our own Metropolis columnist Ryan Briggs here, or see what Mayor Michael Nutter thinks below.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL67DcCdM8s 350 292]
New Opera has east coast debut in Philly
After debuting his first full-length Opera in Detroit, David DiChiera, the father of Michigan Opera scene, has brought “Cyrano” to the Opera Company of Philadelphia until tomorrow.
It is a modern form of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” Edmond Rostand’s famed 19th-century play of unrequited love.
DiChiera, 72, is old enough to begin his Opera-writing career, but he has been trained and involved in the art all his life.
(Photo: David DiChiera, in Philadelphia before Wednesday’s performance of “Cyrano,” the 72-year-old’s first full-length opera. By Jim Graham For The Washington Post, from an article referenced in this post)
Philly is the nation’s fifth most miserable city.
A recent Forbes.com article has ranked Philadelphia as America’s fifth most miserable city.
The ranking looks at cities’ unemployment, tax rates, commute time, weather, crime, and toxic waste locations.
Philadelphia’s downfalls were commute times, violent crimes, and toxic waste locations. It ranked in the top 20 in each of those categories.
The rest of the top five most miserable cities: Detroit, Mich, Stockton, Calif., Flint, Mich. and New York, NY.
Nutter to be featured on ABC ‘World News Tonight’
Tomorrow, new Mayor Michael Nutter will be interviewed by ABC’s Charles Gibson, host of the network’s signature news
broadcast, World News Tonight.
ABC will also follow Nutter to film a day in the life segment. Gibson will host World News from Old City tomorrow night, as well.
The feature comes as Nutter comes into one power of one of the largest cities in the country, determined to take on urban problems with big plans.
World News broadcasts at 6:30 p.m. on ABC 6.
The death knell for municipal WiFi?
Bad news for Wireless Philadelphia subscribers … all 13 of you. CNet’s news.com is reporting that Earthlink has put their municipal wireless business up for sale.
Analysts have long said that municipal wireless was inconceivable — the technology just moves too fast. But the truth is that WP is probably Philadelphia’s second-most inefficient utility — the incomprable PGW coming in first. Just look at those happy customers.
Do you actually subscribe to Wireless Philadelphia? We’d love to hear about the service.
Student band playing North Star Bar
Marc Snyder is a changing man. Lead singer of The Major Leagues and a senior finance major, his voice can transform from the low-pitched rumble of Magnetic Fields’ Stephen Merritt to the hopeful yelp of Dr. Dog’s Scott McMicken. At times, Snyder’s rounded croon sounds like it should be rising out of a jolly, beer-bellied man – much like My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. Or Santa Claus, if he could sing. But it isn’t. Snyder looks like an eats-all-his-veggies-while-biking kind of boy, which lends to the band’s paradoxical appeal.
The Major Leagues’ versatility also presents itself in song genres. “Moonlit Daydream” is as whimsically light as the title and features a country-bumpkin guitar, jangle-y piano and a steady bass line; whereas “Equal Uncle” accelerates forward with adolescent, garage-band energy and then collapses into a seventies-dad-rock guitar riff. It’s no surprise, then, that the indie band was once a metal band called Doses Molly (which should be the name of techno band that employs glow sticks in its outdoor shows, but whatever).
The band, which consist of Snyder, senior economics major Andrew Mattey and three local members, will be playing at the North Star Bar tonight at 9 p.m. The Neighborhood Choir, another Temple indie band with lighthearted lyrics and swaggering guitar chords, will be opening for The Major Leagues.
