Citing Ron Blount's legal situation, the Philadelphia Parking Authority has refused to meet with him, even though he's been elected president of the Taxi Workers Alliance. Blount, meanwhile, has maintained his innocence, though he's come to question whether he's doing his cause more harm than good. His supporters think he was set up.

Sometimes, the story becomes a part of the story.

by Brian Howard

What separates one needy child from another?

by Jonathan Zimmerman

What You Say

With all the jockeying, what seems clear is that no one knows what to do. Nearly every aspect of life here benefits from a donation, so much so that it feels like Daniel Ortega isn't the president of a country, rather of a nonprofit, surviving on the whim and generosity of donors.

A DJ is your life and it's your wife.

5,318,008: Number, as any sixth-grade schoolboy will tell you, that must be typed into a calculator for it to display the word "boobies" when turned upside down.

We could have asked a bunch of questions about Sarah Palin, and how she's a moose-hunting wrecking crew aimed at the Democrats' heads. Instead, we asked about Philly.

Richard Costello — a former registered Republican, a former registered Independent and now a registered Democrat — is waging a heated campaign against state Rep. Richard Perzel for his seat in Northeast Philadelphia.

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

by Mary F. Patel

How a Germantown artist found his muse in a stained-glass menagerie.

by Shaun Brady

Demons in the Spring by Joe Meno

by Jakob Dorof

John Vettese sees what develops

by John Vettese

Stella meet-and-greet, Thu., Sept. 18, 6 p.m., $15 (waiting list only); exhibit runs through Sun., Sept. 21; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Hamilton Building, 128 N. Broad St., 215-972-0522, pafa.edu.

by Rachel Dukeman

Opening reception Fri., Sept. 19, 6-11 p.m., free; exhibit runs through Oct. 24, Jinxed, 620 S. Fourth St., 215-978-JINX, jinxedphiladelphia.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

Alchemical Rotation | Just Desserts | Norse Mythology & the Viking Age

Brian Greene at the Free Library

by Shaun Brady

You're Too Old For Tapestries

by Amanda McKenna

There are years when, with foresight and a little luck, you could see every best-picture nominee during Toronto's 10 days. This is not likely to be one of those years.

Jasira's narration, drawn largely from Alicia Erian's novel, grants her a childish wisdom, painting the adults as bumbling buffoons, while Jasira appears at once extraordinary and representative, perceptive and naïve.

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

One thing that all of Ribot's music has in common is its bristling energy, a force as potent as electrified fence. No matter what the project, he avoids pastiche with his scrap-metal shredding.

See, they're both Geminis, and if she didn't already have a twin brother, you'd almost swear Alanis and Ice Cube were separated at birth. Still can't choose between them? Read the facts and decide for yourself.

by Peter Burwasser

Vivian Girls | Sugarland | Death Vessel | Evans-Halvorson-Walter Trio | Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra

Sat., Sept. 20, 9 p.m., $20, with Darker My Love, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011, livenation.com.

by M.J. Fine

Sun., Sept. 21, 8 p.m., $12, International House, 3701 Chestnut St., 866-468-7619, arsnovaworkshop.com.

by Shaun Brady

Fri., Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., $25-$35, World Café Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, worldcafelive.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

Entering Distrito for the first time can be as dizzying and exhilarating as walking the streets of an unfamiliar foreign country. It's an integrated part of a landscape that, along with an innovative approach to Mexican fare, creates what is perhaps Philadelphia's most unusual dining experience.

I made friends with a head-spinning array of gadgets before making my way into a ceilinged room containing one big, bad, noisy grain mill — step one of the brew, where much of the heave-hoing takes place. The Yardsies dragged out sack after cut-open sack of German pilsen base malt to pour into a fixed funnel. I feebly tossed in two sacks myself, so I can now make the entirely specious claim that I helped.

Kung Fu Necktie | Adobe Café | Minar Palace |
Le Virtù | Chipotle | El Fuego

From the five-napkin sandwiches to the semi-subversive ideology, this is a burger joint like no other.

Chimay Tasting at Morton's | Dinner in London Cooking Class | The Chester County Restaurant Festival | Dish It Up

Martin Atkins heads East.

by John Vettese

Anjali Kumar Trunk Show | Smak Home and Gift Section | Plaid Pony Trunk Show | Reward

Open-Mouthed Open Mic

by Campbell States

Out at Night: Gay Day at Six Flags

by Greg Niedt

Booty Jokes Do It For You

by Amanda McKenna