TAKERS Premiere

By Brian Lynch

A chorus of women yelling “Lick your lips! Lick your lips!” would seem out of place at – well, any other event – but the Sunday premiere of the new film “Takers”, coming to theaters on August 27th, brought a dedicated, albeit oddly focused, throng of attendees out of the woodwork. The event, which was hosted by local hip-hop/R&B radio station Power 99, featured a personal appearance and pre-film introduction by multi-platinum selling rap artist T.I.

T.I. (whose real name is Clifford Harris) brought emotions to a fevered pitch with his arrival, and posed for pictures before being brought inside the theater. Women clamored for his attention, all in spite of his recent marriage to longtime girlfriend Tameka Cottle; cries of adulation, support, and “Lick your lips!” punctuated the evening air. Two small boys were darting about, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idol. One of them thought quickly, produced a cell-phone, and snapped a more permanent image – to compliment the T.I. posters they carried.

It was a short, glimmering touch of star power that graced 2nd and Sansom’s Ritz East theater Sunday night; one can only hope for more.

Photos by Aileen Bannon: abannon@philly2philly.com

Mt. Airy Mural Dedication Brings Everyone Together

On Tuesday, July 13, a very special mural, called "It's all about community!" made by artist Jonathan Laidaker and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, was dedicated at 6533 Germantown Avenue, at the corner of Sharpnack Street. For many years, the Public Awareness Committee of Philadelphia Mental Retardation Services (MRS), a division of Department of Behavioral Health/Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS), dreamed of having one of the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program's murals depict people with developmental and intellectual disabilities as taking their rightful place in the community.  That dream became a reality, thanks to the collaboration between DBH/MRS, Mt. Airy USA, and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.
   
The joyful dedication ceremony featured remarks by Farah Jimenez, executive director of Mt. Airy USA; Elizabeth Moselle, director, Commercial Corridor Revitalization, Mt. Airy USA; Jane Golden, executive director of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program; Arthur C. Evans, Jr., Ph.D, director of the city's Department of Behavioral Health/Mental Retardation Services (DBH/MRS); and Kathy Sykes, director of Mental Retardation Services (MRS).
    
    For information call Judy Kresloff at MRS, 215-685-5923

Stars of "The Last Airbender" Come to Penn's Landing

Jackson Rathbone and Nicola Peltz pleased fans with their promotional appearance for The Last Airbender.  The two up and coming stars held a Q&A session, signed autographs and awarded one lucky fan tickets to the premier of The Last Airbender in New Your City.  

Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con 2010

More than 150 celebrities, comic artists, and writers came to the Philadelphia convention center for the 2010 Comic Con attracting fans of pop culture, comics, toys and collectables. www.wizardworld.com