US – Friday, November 20
Icing on the ‘Ace of Cakes’
For a reality TV show, “Ace of Cakes” presents an almost unheard of problem to fans. Instead of delving into petty problems between castmates, it focuses on the cake — no backstabbing, no messy hook-ups, no drama except the occasional bumpy fondant. Which is fine, until you fall in love with cutie decorator Jeff and what to know more than his theories on royal icing.

 

Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Books
We all speak Simpson-ese
Does Barack Obama speak Simpsons?
 
Philly Arts
It’s all work and two plays for local writer
With two plays running simultaneously in Philadelphia and New York, playwright P. Seth Bauer’s work is certainly getting around. Add to that the recent production of his play “Karma Cookie” by 1812 Productions, and Bauer appears to be the hardest working writer in Philly.
Philly Arts
A breath of fresh air in new gallery
In the abstract art world, Jason Hackenwerth has a blockbuster on his hands. His massive balloon sculptures have been in high demand since 2004, and like an indie rocker with an unexpected hit, he now spends much of his time in airplanes and hotels, en route to his next installation. “I guess it’s because it’s so colorful and unusual,” says Hackenwerth. “Kids love it. Anyone can love it. You don’t need an art degree to appreciate it.”
 

Philly Books
Author or lab rat? He’s got both covered
A.J. Jacobs has done some difficult things in the name of research. For his 2004 book “The Know it All,” he read all 33,000 pages of the “Encyclopedia Britannica.” Then for 2007’s “The Year of Living Biblically,” he spent 365 days adhering to scripture. Even so, he wasn’t prepared for the month he had to practice Radical Honesty for his latest, “The Guinea Pig Diaries.”
 
Philly Arts
The rest is ‘History’
The wilder West
Just a lump of clay
A fine art
Fringe shines in a new light
When theater stops being polite
Duchamp leaves door open
Where there’s a Will, there’s a show
Sin pays
The Bard goes West
Philly Arts
‘Philly Fiction’ is back for round two of local tales
3 INFLUENCES What inspires local artists?
A week on the Philly arts scene
Burton Quartet is Philly bound
On the rebound
Carrying the tune
This week’s best bets
Riches to rags, a true life story
Cookie monster
A conductor for the 21st century listener
 
 
 
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Music
MMMpod
The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!



 
 
 
Metro Life Panel
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