Civil Disagreement

Jesus hung out with sinners whose behavior he clearly did not approve of. But he reserved his strongest disapproval for those other sinners who would condemn them. He did not say, ‘Hate the sin but love the sinner,’ but he did say this: ‘Let him who is without sin cast the first stone’.

Silk City – Not So Smooth

The Hip Couple that live in my building invited me to a very civilized Sunday afternoon of brunch followed by perusing an “Open Studio” of resident artists’ galleries. I was super excited! I love brunch and art! Especially when it’s all located on gritty Spring Garden Street in sunny Philadelphia.

What does Barry like for dinner? Reservations!

You know how you walk by a joint on the regular and never try it. You see the joint, but just never get around to going in. Perhaps it’s on some out-of-the-way street that’s on your way to someplace that has nothing to do with food. Well, I’ve been walking by Meme at 22nd and Spruce for a solid two years now and haven’t thought of going there for dinner.

Colman Domingo, A Broadway Star, Comes Back Home

Colman Domingo could have been like one of the characters he played in ”Passing Strange,” Mr. Franklin – a gentleman who keeps part of himself in shadow in order to spare himself pain and conform to the world’s expectations. Instead, spurred on by a love-filled upbringing in West Philadelphia, he has chosen to live fully as himself, exploring – and expressing – all the multifaceted reality of his own identity, not to mention those who shaped him and the people he encounters in the world. He tackles all of those all by himself in his solo play ”A Boy and His Soul.” Now Domingo, who has won critical acclaim for his ability to portray a wide variety of fully-fleshed-out characters, is bringing his autobiographical play to the city that shaped him.