He's real and he's spectacular...

Last year's Daily News Sexy Singles included Manayunk Resident Lauren Reilly. She currently remains sexy and as far as we know she is no longer single. So we are pleased that this year's DN competition brings us a little balance.

Our (funny) man Dave Dougherty has been put on the this year's Sexy Singles list. As well talked about last week, Our "Doc" is a funny guy with a great personality. He is also competing to get his name in lights at Helium Comedy Club.

For more on Dave checkout is website at http://www.davedoc.com/.

To vote for Dave, click here .

Swing and a miss....

Well, the inaugural Captain's Cup came and went at Center Square. The Martini Glass trophy was won by Trevor Tierney. He won with a score of 92 on the day. Your humble narrator scored 121, not great, but not bad and thankfully not last. So we hit all our major targets. So we are content. Now it is time to train to win next year's competition.

Weekend Whirligig

Have a drink on me...I insist.

This is why we enjoy the Flat Rock Saloon. The owner often has the beer I like the best, especially from Adnams Brewery in England. It was the brand I enjoy best when I travel there. But anyway, if you haven't guessed, Dave Duong is playing again tonight.

But here's the listings if you plan a night of debauchery in Our Town.

For Grape St., click here.
For Kildare's Manayunk, click here .
For more Manayunk-Roxborough places, stop here to find what you may be looking for.

Also a shout out to the "Cheap Date" series at uwishunu.com, we couldn't agree more about how great the pizza at Alex's is.

Personally, I will be competing against my family members for The Captain's Cup. This new inaugural golfing tournament is being played at Center Square Golf Course on Saturday. Captain was the nickname of my late grandfather. As I am the eldest Grandson, I have to stake my claim and attempt to win this newly coveted trophy, which is in the shape of a martini glass. If you knew, Bernard A. Scally, III, my grandfather, you would understand. The man kept a bottle of Skyy in the freezer at all times. I face stiff competition from all my family from my younger cousins to aunts to uncles and even my own father, Bernard A. Scally IV.
(Author's Note: I, Bernard J. Scally, am of course a terrible golfer. So to actually win this is a very, very big, huge, almost impossible long shot. Wish me luck.)

All we hear is Radio Ha Ha...

Our Sports Man About Town, and WPEN 950AM's Dave Dougherty (seen left with legendary Phillies announcer Harry Kalas) was on the John DeBella Show this morning in WMGK 102.9 FM competing for a chance to perform stand up at Helium Comedy Club. If you didn't know, Dave is a great, personable guy. It is also hysterical. Dave definitely has a good shot in the WMGK competition because 1) he had the hosts laughing before his given allotment of time to perform and 2) he even got a little extra time because he had the hosts laughing.

Now let's play degrees of separation. It's funny how things get connected. When I first met Dave, I was at the Bayou Bar & Grill on Main St. I had stopped there earlier in the day because WMGK was broadcasting live from there. I had met Andre Gardner the week before when I helped judge the House Band Competition at Bourbon Blue. So I gave Andre a copy of The Review for which he was so thankful for; he let me speak live on the radio.
Fast Forward a few hours. Still at The Bayou, now joined by my friend from western Pa., where Dave was going around the bar asking people about the future Eagles Season.
He first starting talking to my friend who is a hardcore Steelers fan. (Who didn't see that coming.) So he moved on to me and I gave him my best analysis, which was that the Eagles would go 10-6. So after we spoke Dave asked me:
"Think you could say all that again."
So twice in one day, I spoke on two radio stations from the same bar. So now, like me Dougherty was heard on WPEN and WMGK. Here's to you buddy. Good Luck.

The sights of progress...

Demolition began last Monday on the old Sykes building located on Rector and Mitchell Sts.

(Satire Ahead)

If you believe the rumors, they may be possibly clear the location for the coming of Trader Joes. Just kidding, everyone knows that that great franchise is going to be put into the old Gary Barbara Dodgeland. And of course, everyone knows about the bidding war between book selling giants Barnes & Noble and Borders wanting to expand their reach in this great land of literacy. (Too Bad, Harry Potter just wrapped up its insanely successful series.) Although, the residents from next door might be expanding their little empire on that part of the block to build a little park with benches and pigeon feeding stations.

(End Satire)

The face of Manayunk-Roxborough is changing, let us hope that change is for the better.

Just in time for Festivus, the Feats of Strength.

World Strongest Man, Bill Kazmaier, was in Our Town yesterday inspiring young campers at the Roxborough YMCA. . "Kaz", who was a judge at the YMCA Summer Day Camp Olympics held at the Roxborough YMCA, entertained the kids with his strength bending steel bar, frying pans and dragging their bus with the kids inside.

A cooling thought - Our Town January 1961

Found this little reminder that after we complain about how hot it gets, we'll complain about the winter conditions in Our Town. But then again will Global Warning put an end to snow days like these or cause more of them?

Weekend Whirligig

We at The Review think young Mr. Duong has actually bought stock in the Flat Rock Saloon. He seems to be playing there every weekend. But he is worth it, so show him some love, because you never know the booker might get jealous and cut him. We should hope not. But anyway, the usual things happening in there usual places

For Grape St., click here.

For Kildare's Manayunk, click here .

This is another great stop to find what you may be looking for. Some things shouldn't be on the list, but shouldn't be discarded either.

Tonight, Duong rocks the house at the Flat Rock Saloon. On Saturday, a new boy, Alex or something is his name, will be playing. We might go check him out. But first, we want to try to newest product from Tanqueray. Have a good weekend hopefully, I'll see you here

"Skin Radio and Aurum Recording present Pretzel Park Music & Arts
Festival 2007! Join us at Pretzel Park for our first ever music and arts
festival. Featuring local artists of every medium. Live music from 11-4pm by Dani Mari, All Crazy, Twirlin' Martha, Zygomatic, & Three Legged Fox.
The event is free for all to attend.

Food, fun, and games for the whole family.
Where is Pretzel Park ?
Sponsors include - Philly Car Share, Main Street Music, Main Street
Clairvoyant, The Bayou Bar & Grill, heyphilly.com, Philadelphia Vintage Photographs and Custom Framing, U.S.A. Sport and Social Club, Orbit Art Gallery, Mugshots Coffee, and Couch Tomato Cafe."

A hundred billion castaways looking for a home...

So it was a great time at Citizens Bank Park, (my sisters brawling notwithstanding). The Police had not one but two opening acts before they performed. It was really a shame to miss the first band called Fictionplane. Their merchandize was sold all over. Then I remembered that Fictionplane is the name of Joe Sumner's band. Sumner is the son of Sting. What I heard in the distance was ok, but I wasn't real attentive. But I'll try and find out more about them soon.

Finally, after getting into my seat, the second opening act was excellent. Perhaps, you may have heard of them, they are called The Fratellis. Man, so many good bands coming out from Scotland, who knew Glasgow was so musically inclined. The band pretty much played their whole album, "Costello Music". And I recently heard that are playing in Camden for a music festival, brilliant. They even played up to the (at that time, sparse) crowd. Someone in the crowd brought the Fratellis some beer that they had been asking for. I'll definately check those lads out again.

So finally, the Police came out at around 8:45, not bad really. It was the first time they played in Philly since the early 80s, I believe I was too young to even understand the concept of concert, or even music. But anyway, things kicked off with Message in a Bottle, and keeped the pace from there playing the many popular favorites such as "Don't Stand So Close To Me", "Everything She Does Is Magic", "The Bed's Too Big Without You", Invisible Sun, "Roxanne" of course and so much more.

The only drawback to my seat was that it was obstructed by a stage lighting pole. So I saw Sting and Stewart Copeland perfectly, couldn't see Andy Summers unless he moved around. But the band's music and the light show, Copeland playing all sorts of percussion instruments was fantastic. In the end, while they couldn't jam all night, they did enough to make many fans happily chant "EEEEEOOOOOO" all the way back to their cars.

Breaking: Gorgas Park to soon have own endowment fund

Word has reached The Review office that The Friends of Gorgas Park received at least $10,000 for an endowment for the park. It is a significant number for the Gorgas Park, which is just as good as any square downtown.

"All the good parks have endowments," said John Boyce, president of the Friends of Gorgas Park.

The Review is excited over this since Gorgas Park is definitely a gem of Roxborough, with the open space to run around in and its proximity to Westerman field. Great place for a summer lunch break. Helps us because we are practically next door. Outdoor concerts are also pretty good and free as well. Who can resist Zydeco-A-Go-Go?

An endowment will also help keep things at the park going long after some of us have gone.

Stay tuned for more on this announcement.

And this is why big groups should sit together...

So anyway, as I posted yesterday, I attended The Police concert last night at Citizen's Bank Park with my family. I'll have my thoughts about the rocking trio posted soon, but I had to discuss this serious issue first.

Back when my father decided to buy tickets for this show back in March, he was unable to get four seats together. This is probably due to the fact, he wasn't sure if my sister and I wanted to go at first. But no matter. So we had two sets of seats in opposite sides of the stadium's 300 level. My mum and sister took the far side and my father and I took the near side. (We came in through the left field gate.) So anyway, my father and I get back to the car after a pretty rocking time, my mum and sister arrive and tell us of their time.

For them, like me and dad, was chill until The Police arrived. Composing the stories from my mum and sister, as soon as the band started playing some scantily-clad woman who thought she was gods life to mankind, (the words such as Syphilitic sponge, Clap trap, and other mean and-or disgusting words, come to mind for some reason) got up and started dancing.

Now, I am not opposed to dancing and grooving at concerts, but not in the upper level of a stadium.. Partly, because the area is way too narrow that may be liable to fall on somebody or off the section; but mostly it blocks many people's view of the stage.

But anyway, this apparently wafer-thin piece of bio hazard attracted a leech. According to my folks, some obese, beer googled male of the species found this woman desirable and started dancing with her. People around my mum and sis were starting to complain, so it must have been pretty foul. Ironically, there were in section 307 looking at the Foul pole.
My mum and sis asked them to be seated. The man reacted by throwing beer (and possibly bottle) at my sister. So I sister the natural thing and pommeled the man. Mum threw a few swings and brought over the security and the ugly step children were escorted elsewhere.

So you people had to learn the hard way, DO NOT MESS WITH THE SCALLY WOMEN.

Panthers take Game 1, 5-4, over Del Val

Joe Parisse struck out 13 batters and hit a go-ahead home run in the Ivy Ridge Panthers 5-4 win over the Pen Del Senators in the Philadelphia County American Legion semi-finals last night at John Boyce Field.

Parisse confounded Senators’ batters with a cut fastball and curve. Afterwards -- unaware of his 13 K performance -- Parisse discussed why he was successful. “I just pitched my game,” the soft-spoken hurler said.

Not only did Parrise pitch a gem, he also used the bat to help his cause. With his club down 3-2, the right-hander led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to straight away center field. “It was actually my first hit of the year that wasn’t a single,” he said.

The homer started a three-run inning for the Panthers. Each run was needed. The Senators scratched to within one run in the top of the seventh. With runners on second and third and two outs, a ground ball to shortstop Tim Weglicki ended the game.

The Panthers could end the series with a win tonight, as both teams head to South Philadelphia for Game 2.

Of course I'm serious and don't call me Shirley!

Your Score: Serious Cat

48% Affectionate, 42% Excitable, 55% Hungry

Hungry for knowledge in any internet forum, you demand decorum. Any off-topic remarks, absurd statements, or tomfoolery on the interweb is deeply frowned upon by you. Truth has no room for drollery.

To see all possible results, checka dis.

Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test written by GumOtaku on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

Yes, I couldn't help myself. I fell for the lolcats. But it does illustrate a point about this blog with a slice of humor.

DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME

Yep, The Police have not disbanded as of yet and as long as the weather holds out I will be attending the show tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The Police are another of those bands that influenced me when I was a child. Strange how most of the concerts I have attended to where those old childhood favorites. Such as Paul McCartney, The Who, Black Sabbath and David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, now The Police. If only I hadn't missed those Duran Duran shows. So I'll make sure to give my thoughts after the show tomorrow after I've finished "Walking on the Moon", so to speak.

It was so nice we posted it twice

We've gushed about the Delaware Valley Opera Company in the paper, but seriously, who knew that Roxborough had its own place to see opera. It seems Our Town really is a village all its own.
From The July 18 edition of The Review:

By Bernard J. Scally

It was a truly enchanted forest last Saturday at the Hermitage Mansion...and the Opera was fantastic as well. This month's presentation from the Delaware Valley Opera Company is Mozart's The Magic Flute. Judging from the size of the crowd on opening night, it was highly anticipated. The opera company did not disappoint. Director Connie Koppe's bold choice of puppetry immediately evokes the fairy tale setting of the piece. The hanging cloth sets only enhance the natural beauty of the outdoor theater, nestled naturally enough the urban woodland of Fairmount Park. The story of the Magic Flute is classic fairy tale drawn from stores during Mozart's time. The main protagonist is Tamino, a prince played royally by David Price. Despite being an adventure story, Price was unable to show off his biceps like he did in last month's production of Die Fledermaus. Price was still able to have the noble bearing the character demands. Tamino, after becoming lost in an enchanted forest discovers, is tasked by the Queen of the Night, played by Katherine Katzin to rescue her daughter, Pamina, from Sarastro, a priest of Isis and Osiris. What follows is the battle of good and evil, the magic of true love and triumph over adversity. Speaking of adversity, James Wiest and Tim Oliver, who also played Sarastro's treacherous servant Monastatos, worked hard on music and lighting cues for this production. Sadly, a vital member, Jack Keisler, who often works sound and lighting, passed away suddenly the day before Magic Flute's opening night.Despite this tragic setback, this summer's season has gotten stronger with each production. Katzin makes a stunning DVOC debut as the Queen of the Night. While the Queen is undoubtedly the villain of the piece, Katzin was also able to bring out the humanizing elements of her character. While audiences will follow the romance of Timino and Pamina, the Queen's daughter, played by Hoejin Sim, it was the secondary Characters who also got a noticeable slice of the action. Coming off a hilarious turn as Frank the prison warden in last month's Die Fledermaus, Raja Vaidya came into his own playing cowardly bird catcher-sidekick Papageno. Despite his own cowardice, Papageno is on his own quest, finding a wife. But what will happen when he unexpectedly meets someone who is sweet on him?But all the audience's eyes had go to Milo Morris, returning to the DVOC stage as the holy man Sarastro. It's a signature part of Morris who gives the character great bearing and majesty. It also helped that his costume and manner evoked images of both "Raiders of the Last Ark" and "Stargate SG-1". With Michele Scanlon's deft hand as musical director and a strong ensemble, DVOC's production of The Magic Flute is defiantly the opera to see this summer. Tickets are still available for performances to held on July 19 and 21. For more information and reservations, call 215-725-4171.

The following is a excerpt from the July 14 performance, David Price plays Prince Timino and Raja Vaidya plays Papageno.

Second Saturdays on Main St.

We've been talking this event up in The Review for a number of weeks. It has, of course, brought its share of scoffers, especially considering the first event took place on Bike Race weekend. Race weekend was also the time of the now defunct Main St. Stroll. But in case you were not there. This recent event raised money for Alex's Lemonade Stand; but featured so much more. For the full write up, click here .

"" Two children ran up Cotton St.ahead of their mother towards Mugshots Coffeehouse and Cafe just after 4 p.m. Mugshots had a screening of the animated film Happy Feet.
"You going to see Happy Feet," Terry Hatcher called out to the kids as they ran by.
"Yes," the kids shouted back.
"We're running a little late," said the children's mother. "They had to get their faces painted first."
Film screenings and face paintings were just some of the things that families could experience during the Second Saturday event. Artists painted, drew or sketched outside shops along Main St. Musicians performed in front of Propper Bros and Orbit Art Gallery."'

A number of excellent artists and musicians were on display during the day, here is some videos taken from the event. The first is artist Charles Cushing working on his latest piece, can you identify the location?




There was also live music for those who decided to stroll along Main St. on Bastille Day. A number of singers and songwriters performed along Main St., here the Tony Mecca Trio perform in front of Orbit Art Gallery.



Hope to see you at the next Second Saturday, Aug. 11.

Weeekend Whirligig - Vive La France

Attention all free citizens, July 14 is Bastille Day. (A rendition of the storming is pictured above.) Join in celebrating with our French brethren as they through off the shackles of tyranny. WHAT!?!?! You no "aimer" the "Français". Just think as all those things the French have given up to the world as so succinctly put by Sacha Baron Cohen playing Jean Girard in "Talladega Nights: the Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

"We invented democracy, existentialism, and the ménage à trois."

Besides it makes a great excuse to go have some fun. Here is what is happening around Our Town.

Tonight:

Grape Street Philadelphia, 4100 Main St., will have live music starting at 8:15 p.m. Si Senorita, London File, Led Better Heights, Sounds From Atlantis, The Roddies, and Bill Monaghan are scheduled to perform. Cover is $10.

Flat Rock Saloon, 4301 Main St., Will have the usual rotating players starting at 10 p.m. No cover and great food and drink.

Kildare's Manayunk, 4417 Main St., MoFaux will perform starting at 10 p.m. Cover is $5.

Bourbon Blue, 2 Rector St., DJ Q-Ball and Mike Scott starting at 10 p.m. Cover is usually $5. But Cover is free with dinner.

July 14: Bastille Day!

During the afternoon and into the evening, Main St. will be holding it's Second Saturday event. One of Manayunk's newest and successful efforts, will also be raising money for a good cause. As mentioned in The Review, this event will raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand. Performers and artisans will be found all along Main St. from noon until the evening. Shops will have specials and/or donation points. Look for this roving reporter, somewhere along the strip.

[Editor's Note: He'll probably be found at the Cigar shop on Cotton St.]

For the Evening, there will be:

Grape Street, 4100 Main St, will feature Preston Swift, Ritter, Case of the Mondays, Rivers Monroe, Strangeway, Imprint and Shotgun Etiquette. Shows start at 7:15 p.m. Cover is $10.

Flat Rock Saloon, 4301 Main St., has popular favorite Dave Duong (pictured) at 10 p.m. We can not stress how good this boy is. Flat Rock's head bouncer has actually seen potential business walk away when they learn he is not playing. Dave plays a mix of 80 and 90s music with a smattering of improve comedy. and the great thing about the performance is that there is NO COVER.

The Delaware Valley Opera Company, Hermitage Mansion, 700 Hermit Ln, will perform Mozart's Magic Flute. Mozart's opus is a fairy tale legend about a light fighting darkness, princes rescuing maidens. The performances are held in a outdoor amphitheater, so it is great opportunity to bring a sweetheart to a late night picnic. Tickets are $20. Performance begins at 8 p.m. A review of the opera will be found in the July 18 edition of the Review.

Kildare's Manayunk, 4417 Main St., will feature Runamuck. Cover is $5.

Bourbon Blue, 2 Rector St., will feature modern rock band 52 Pickup. Cover $5.

[Author's Note: since this blog is still relatively new and the weekend feature even more so. We'll try to make it better as we go along. So please feel free to comment on places and events happening around Our Town that should be noted.]

And thus quoted Sally Field, "You love me. You really love me."

And just when we thought that we were running on empty, that we were through, that we had nothing left. We received this in the mail. It was enough to get up, dust off and continue on because these are your stories you just let us tell them.

Obeying the law

Remember when the Pennsylvania legislature passed this law for pedestrian right-of-way. A number of these signs are often found in the middle of the road, where drivers can see them.

In places like Conshohocken, Narberth, and other pedestrian-friendly shopping corridors, these signs are noticeable.
But the popular thing in Manayunk apparently is to keep these signs on the pavement. Keeping these signs on the pavement, one must assume keeps these signs from further damage (as evidenced by this signs condition).
But the flip side is the 20 minutes of waiting to cross Main St. at intersections without a traffic light on weekends because motorists do not know the law because somebody moved the important sign.

July 4th Churches and Sunday School Parade 2007

Despite dark skies, the weather held out for the annual parade of Our Town's Churches and Sunday schools.

Attention Sports Fans

Tonight is the cable premiere of "The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball" on ESPN Classic. "The Palestra" documentary made by Mikaelyn Austin. Austin is one of the Phrustrated Fans who created the documentary "The Curse of William Penn", which featured interviews of people from Our Town.

"The Palestra" has been receiving rave reviews from daily newspapers here in Philadelphia and on the West Coast. The documentary received good buzz during its screening at the Philadelphia International Film Festival. "The Palestra" has been a labor of love for her. Austin, a 2004 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, was co-captain of the 2004 Ivy League Champion Women's BasketBall Team. Austin is president of Philly Philms, an independent film and video production company here in Philadelphia.

Broadcast days and times for "The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball" All times are given in Eastern Standard Time. Set your recorders appropriately

Tonight at 10 p.m. on ESPN Classic

July 11 at 10 p.m. on ESPN U

July 16 at 9 p.m. on ESPN U

July 27 at 9 a.m. on ESPN U

August 4 at 8 a.m. on ESPN Classic

Welcome to Reviewing:The Blog

Greetings!

Welcome to the beginning of a new feature for The Review. The neighborhood's peppy and most read newspaper has now entered into the digital age. We appreciate your applause.

Reviewing:The Blog is a new thing for us at the paper. It is not just an extension for our Reviewing Around Feature which can bee seen every week in The Review's Places to Go section. It is more than that. Reviewing:The Blog is a place to expand on stories, share anecdotes, place extra photos (in glorious technicolor), recognize achievements and even possibly vent staff thoughts that may not have made it into our print edition.

In keeping with the traditions of a newspaper, we reserve the right to edit or remove comments that contain profanity and/or may be considered libelous.

We hope you will continue to enjoy Reviewing:The Blog.