New York Times bestselling author Augusten Burroughs just released a new book, A Wolf at the Table: A Memoir of My Father. But while his oddly comedic Running With Scissors amused a hefty following of voyeurs — and scored a movie deal starring Annette Bening and Gwyneth Paltrow and, oh yeah, elicited charges of fabrication — Burroughs’s latest chronicle carries a darker tone. We talked to him about reliving memories, writing about the past and being called a liar. Catch him at the Free Library this Saturday. — Cheryl McEvoy

(more…)

That little headline is sadly not the work of my journalistic brain, but rather the tagline of Haverford’s newest (and possibly cutest) clothing boutique, Katye K, which I had the pleasure of popping into last week on a day when I was working extremely hard outside the office (i.e., certainly not buying no less than two items wherever I went. Ahem.).

The shop is nestled in a mini shopping strip set a tad back off of Lancaster Ave. in a pleasantly open, white and light space. Owner Katye Stanzak’s looking to freshen up the Main Line with designers not often found around those parts — comfy, flirty dresses and tops from JWLA, For Love and Liberty, Daftbird, Burning Torch and By Francine. She’s got denim from Genetic and Kasil, plus William Rast and People’s Liberation, and bags by Kooba and Deux Lux.

In the back, find comfy PJs, and a smattering of the cutest baby stuff — itty bitty “Philly Baby” onsies stuffed into to-go coffee cups from Baby Take Out, and one-of-a-kind girly dresses from Green Pomegranate, made out of vintage linens, old-fashioned hand towels, table scarves, antique lace and mid-century buttons. (So can you really blame me for “not” buying no less than two items?)

If you haven’t checked it out yet (she’s only been open a month!), pop by on May 8th, when she’s having a Girls Night Out party — wine and hors d’oeuvres from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 10 percent off your purchase.

Now you have no excuse.

Our new mayor rode into office as a reformer ready to whip city finances into shape. But his first budget looks like he’s giving away the store

Michael Nutter promised to bring Philadelphia back to fiscal responsibility while tackling a crippling wage tax and debilitating pension costs. But with Hizzoner’s first budget, currently being debated by City Council, the belt-tightening looks more like a pair of elastic-waist sweatpants: a $3.98 billion spending plan, bloated by $50 million freed up by a $4.5 billion bond issue. The argument goes that investing in infrastructure, education, safety, and a more business-friendly tax environment will bolster revenue and fill city coffers; in other words, sinking the city into red ink now — the plan will balloon city debt to $11 billion — will pay off later.

(more…)

No reservations: Stephen Starr continues to take over the Philly food world with a venture into catering. So now instead of waiting for a table at one of his mega-popular nosh spots, guests at some major local venues — like the Hub at the Cira Centre and the Convention Center — will be served a little bit of this and a little bit of that from Cuba Libre, Continental Midtown and others. [Inquirer]

Extreme comments: Vince Fumo shocked the General Assembly yesterday by arguing that his colleagues would pass a bill for slavery if they had the option. The harsh comments were made during a committee hearing on a bill that denies gays marriage rights. [Inquirer]

(more…)

Long before their breakthrough HBO series, Canadian troupe The Kids in the Hall comedy-sketched their way across theater stages, in front of live audiences. Tonight, they get back to those basics at the Keswick in Glenside, where very limited seating is available. Need a refresher? Watch this clip of the Inexperienced Cannibal. $39.50 to $45; 8 p.m.

Chile is the only country in the world to produce wine from the carménère grape. Originally a French grape from the Bordeaux region, it has long since lost out to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in plantings there. But in Chile, where cuttings from Europe were planted widely the 1800’s carménère thrived because it was mistaken for merlot. More than a century passed before the error was discovered, and this smaller berried grape with higher quality potential was hailed as the lost grape of Bordeaux.

Flavor-wise, carménère bears strong resemblance to its relations in the Bordeaux family, with the black plummy core of fruit so pleasing in merlot, cabernet sauvignon’s depth and chocolatey aromas, and the herbal edge of cabernet franc, yet it also has a Mediterranean character all its own. Carménère is a delight with savory foods, from cheese pizza to pot roast. One of the best values — just $10.99 — and most widely available in Pennsylvania, is premium Casillero del Diablo from Concha y Toro.

TASTE DAILY: A Chilean gem you’ve gotta try

GOOD LIFE DAILY: New shop alert — buy now, party later!

TRAVEL: Head to Kennebunkport for a weekend full of breathtaking views, seaside dining and casual shopping

It’s not a game — it’s a documentary: Chicago and Miami transit authorities have already caved in to activists who call the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV” a “murder simulator,” but in a rousing stand for free speech — well, OK, no, it’s undoubtedly the 83 grand in revenue — SEPTA is refusing to pull GTA ads from the sides of its buses. The agency courted similar controversy last year by accepting ads for the game “Hitman.” [KYW]

From brownfield to green energy: The mayor yesterday announced that a German company will be building an $8 million array of solar panels on six acres of Navy Yard wasteland. The plant should be pumping out sun juice by the end of the year, and will eventually produce enough wattage to power 200 homes. [Metro]

Drexel law school gets rugged, manly name: Mack Law. Well, officially, the Earle Mack School of Law, thanks to a $15 million donation — one of the largest ever given to an American law school — from real estate development tycoon/former ambassador to Finland Earle I. Mack. But it sounds best without a pause — MACKlaw. Now that’s power. [Inquirer]

According to the Mighty Dan Gross, via TMZ, former Willingboro-ite and West Philadelphian Gary Dourdan was arrested yesterday in Palm Springs for allegedly possessing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and prescription drugs. As Dan pointed out, we knew the CSI actor was a weed-head from this snippet from an interview in our May 2007 issue, but the hard stuff? Gateway drug, indeed.

(more…)

They’re not sore winners, they’re right: The Flyers pulled out at 3-2 win in game 3 against the Canadiens, but Daily News sports columnist Sam Donnellon raises a red flag on some questionable calls throughout the series — one of which sent defenseman Derian Hatcher off the ice in the third period last night — that lead him to cry favoritism. [Daily News]

The first step is admitting you have a problem: The war on crime seems to have trumped the war on drugs in Philly as more than 100 officers in the city’s narcotics unit have been put on babysitting duty in an effort to suppress the recent spike in violent activity on the streets. [Inquirer]

(more…)