Page 2 and the Newspaper Guild’s response memo after the jump… PW: Layoffs Coming At Inquirer And Daily News?

This was news to us, but apparently this is a regular feature, wherein some local philebrity cracks wise on The Week That Was, to wit: Lynn Swann ate his cheesesteak covered in hot peppers at Pat?s yesterday. That makes him more of a man than John Kerry, who ate his with Swiss cheese, right? That was a low point for Democrats. Kerry might as well have been wearing a Speedo. But Swann?s like O.J. Simpson: It’s not about race, it’s about class. He?s a very rich man and that’s why he?s a Republican. Health care coverage costs continue to soar […]

In which Trolleyvox, our fellow pegged pants-wearing Murmur-loving jangling veterans of foreign rock wars, put down the yellowing back issue of The Bob and go down to the demonstration to get their fair share of abuse. They didn’t start the fire, either. But dammit they ARE gonna put it out. See ’em tonight at the North Star Bar, along with B.C. Camplight and the Novenas. It’s their record release party for the just-dropped The Trolleyvox Present the Karaoke Meltdowns. Viddy by Woodshop Films. Enjoy, my droogees. And be not afraid. We SHALL overcome. Some day.

Renowned architect Frank Gehry on his plans for disposing of the Rocky statue overseeing the Art Museum’s $500 million drive-thru window expansion. More from the Inky’s Inga Saffron: The Philadelphia Museum of Art has selected Frank O. Gehry, the architect famous for rambunctious and sculptural buildings such as the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao [pictured, right], to design a vast new underground gallery space, a project that will be virtually invisible from the street. As official word of Gehry’s appointment began to trickle out yesterday, Philadelphia’s architectural and cultural leaders hailed the museum for departing from the city’s habitual caution and choosing […]

With special musical guests, Beretta 76! Philly Rollergirls: Putting The ‘Bitch’ In Bitchslap Since 2005 (Got a cool flyer for your show or event? If it doesn’t suck — the flyer or the event — we might give it some luv in The Early Word. Send artwork to feed@phawker.com)

On Monday we put out the call that Harrisburg should back off pending legislation that would give the state, not the city, oversight over the slot-parlors or there was gonna be trouble right here in River City. Big trouble. Lynn-Swann-elected-governor trouble. And yesterday, Harrisburg blinked. It’s like if we write it, it comes true! In all seriousness, this is a great victory for the people of Philadelphia. If only they knew it: Neighbors of Philadelphia’s five proposed slot-machine parlors scored an unexpected political victory yesterday when Pennsylvania Senate leaders dropped efforts to override the city’s zoning laws when it comes […]

Welcome to the second installment of our Grumpy Old Men series, wherein we learn from our elders and soak up their salty yarns like Bounty Quicker Picker-Upper. Yesterday we had Robert Christgau, today Francis Davis. Tomorrow? The Pope. What’s that you say? You never heard of Francis Davis. Oh buddy, it’s good thing you found us! Check out his CV: He has written about music, film, and other aspects of popular culture for The Atlantic since 1984 and was appointed lead jazz critic for the Voice in 2004. He was jazz critic for The Philadelphia Inquirer from 1982 to 1996, […]

In honor of esteemed jazz critic and Coltrane biographer Francis Davis coming on the show today. We couldn’t be more proud. Francis rocks! More than you’d think for a man called Francis. But it’s true. You’ll see.