Jawnny Rachets? South Street’s former Johnny Rockets gets a new sign, thanks to art installation

South Street’s former Johnny Rockets gets a new sign, thanks to art installation

by Allison Steele
The shuttered Johnny Rockets at the corner of 5th and South just got a new look: Meet Jawnny Rachets, an installation by local street artist Kid Hazo aimed at promoting an upcoming gallery show.
‘Hot, Cold, Heavy, Light’: Essays on art by a poet with a keen eye
Review

‘Hot, Cold, Heavy, Light’: Essays on art by a poet with a keen eye

by John Timpane
Witty, engaging, without the hauteur assumed by so many art critics, this collection of essays on everyone from Bronzino to Picasso, as well as several modern and postmodern female artists, is an engaging, wondrous read, with attentive, sometimes thrilling accounts of what the artworks actually do.
‘Hot, Cold, Heavy, Light’: Essays on art by a poet with a keen eye
Review

‘Hot, Cold, Heavy, Light’: Essays on art by a poet with a keen eye

Witty, engaging, without the hauteur assumed by so many art critics, this collection of essays on everyone from Bronzino to Picasso, as well as several modern and postmodern female artists, is an engaging, wondrous read, with attentive, sometimes thrilling accounts of what the artworks actually do.
‘Late Migrations’ by Margaret Renkl: Nature, family, praise, in a book made of summer
Review

‘Late Migrations’ by Margaret Renkl: Nature, family, praise, in a book made of summer

by John Timpane
In this lovely little book, the author interlaces brief, vivid celebrations of the natural world with stories of her family and upbringing in Alabama. She finds the whole world holy and is moved to praise at every turn.
‘Late Migrations’ by Margaret Renkl: Nature, family, praise, in a book made of summer
Review

‘Late Migrations’ by Margaret Renkl: Nature, family, praise, in a book made of summer

In this lovely little book, the author interlaces brief, vivid celebrations of the natural world with stories of her family and upbringing in Alabama. She finds the whole world holy and is moved to praise at every turn.
‘Joan of Arc in the English Imagination’: Girl, warrior, witch, myth, and more
Review

‘Joan of Arc in the English Imagination’: Girl, warrior, witch, myth, and more

by Scott Manning
The author, a Maryland professor and expert on the young French warrior, uncovers four centuries of opinions on Joan, a messy collage of misogyny, nationalism, guilt, justification, inquisition, and awe surrounding her still-amazing legacy.
‘Joan of Arc in the English Imagination’: Girl, warrior, witch, myth, and more
Review

‘Joan of Arc in the English Imagination’: Girl, warrior, witch, myth, and more

by Scott Manning
The author, a Maryland professor and expert on the young French warrior, uncovers four centuries of opinions on Joan, a messy collage of misogyny, nationalism, guilt, justification, inquisition, and awe surrounding her still-amazing legacy.
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Sally Field, ‘Sesame Street’ to receive Kennedy Center award

Sally Field, ‘Sesame Street’ to receive Kennedy Center award

by Ashraf Khalil, Associated Press
Actress Sally Field and the long-running children's TV show "Sesame Street" are in the latest class of Kennedy Center Honors recipients
$200M lawsuit over bronze Brâncuși pits Warhol friend against Philly high society scion

$200M lawsuit over bronze Brâncuși pits Warhol friend against Philly high society scion

by Jeremy Roebuck
“The story is ‘Grand Theft Brâncuși,’” said Manhattan art collector Stuart Pivar. “Philadelphia lawyer hornswoggles savvy New York collector out of $100 million. That’s my story. That’s what happened.”
It worked in Paris for Manet and Cézanne. Now Philly has its own Salon des Refusés.

It worked in Paris for Manet and Cézanne. Now Philly has its own Salon des Refusés.

by Edith Newhall, For The Inquirer
A standout show at Vox Populi and a husband-and-wife exhibition at Wexler Gallery are two more of this month's must-sees.
PlayPenn events in Center City this month are your free way to see (and meet) theater’s rising stars

PlayPenn events in Center City this month are your free way to see (and meet) theater’s rising stars

by Shaun Brady
Six of the nation's hottest young playwrights bring their works-in-progress to the stage, in free staged readings.
8 ways to get your geek on if you aren’t at San Diego Comic-Con

8 ways to get your geek on if you aren’t at San Diego Comic-Con

by Abbey White and Seraphina DiSalvo
Here's where you can celebrate the spirit of San Diego Comic-Con this weekend in Philadelphia.
Summer Shakespeare in Philly: Here’s what’s on stage now (and in parks)

Summer Shakespeare in Philly: Here’s what’s on stage now (and in parks)

by John Timpane
There's a bumper crop right now of six productions: three indoors and three outdoors.
‘Kalamazoo’ at Act II Playhouse: Swipe left on this rom-com about septuagenarian love
Review

‘Kalamazoo’ at Act II Playhouse: Swipe left on this rom-com about septuagenarian love

by Jim Rutter
Two septuagenarians looking for love … on the Internet. That premise kicks off Kalamazoo, an obvious, occasionally and sometimes unintentionally funny play about life, romance and starting over—this time at 70—at Act 2 Playhouse.
John Leguizamo on ‘Latin History for Morons’: ‘Courage to say what I want to say’

John Leguizamo on ‘Latin History for Morons’: ‘Courage to say what I want to say’

by John Timpane
The Latin comic and media pioneer talks about his Bogota-to-Broadway life story, and the inspiration for his one-man Broadway shows. He comes to the Merriam Theater on July 19-20.
’Antony and Cleopatra’ at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Maybe too much of not a good thing
Review

’Antony and Cleopatra’ at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival: Maybe too much of not a good thing

by Cameron Kelsall
Even with the generous editing employed here, it can feel like you're watching a dozen different dramas smashed together.
Inspired by M. Night Shyamalan, a grandmother’s documentary on women over 60 doing phenomenal things hits the big screen in New Hope

A conversation with M. Night Shyamalan changed her life. Now this Valley Forge grandmother is making her film festival debut.

by Diane Mastrull
After dreaming for years about becoming a director and then spending an inspiring day on a movie set with M. Night Shyamalan, Valley Forge grandmother Melissa Davey has made a film.
At the Philadelphia Orchestra, a record-breaking $55 million gift raises the bar for local philanthropy — and that’s not all

At the Philadelphia Orchestra, a record-breaking $55 million gift raises the bar for local philanthropy — and that’s not all

by Peter Dobrin
The huge gift also hits the re-set button for a new era of momentum and civic meaning.
‘Soulless’ by Jim DeRogatis: R. Kelly’s ‘problem’ — and injustice to black women
Review

‘Soulless’ by Jim DeRogatis: R. Kelly’s ‘problem’ — and injustice to black women

by Solomon Jones, For The Inquirer
The longtime pop critic of the Chicago Sun-Times tells the story of a star with a reported predilection for underage females. The story is persuasive and angering -- especially the racially insensitive failure of the system to punish crimes against black women.
‘The Moth Presents Occasional Magic’: True stories of everyday bravery that will leave you asking for more
Review

‘The Moth Presents Occasional Magic’: True stories of everyday bravery that will leave you asking for more

by Holly Collier Willmarth, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Even those unfamiliar with the popular Moth podcasts, which features spoken-word performances of true stories of everyday life, will be won over in an instant by this collection, which holds you from cover to cover.
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