Mural ceremonies set for Saturday
The John Coltrane mural at 3218 W. Diamond St. will be dedicated at noon Saturday, with a free jazz concert to follow. The mural, created by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, is a few blocks from the late saxophonist's house at 1511 N. 33rd St., now the headquarters of the John Coltrane Cultural Society. The house is on the National Historic Registry, and a plaque noting this designation will be dedicated Saturday.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Tattle | Hanky Talkin': Kid & Pam to wed
WHO KNEW Hank Williams Jr. was such a blabbermouth? The rockin' country singer told a concert audience in Dallas that his buddy Kid Rock is set to marry Pamela Anderson next month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
( By Regina Medina, medinar@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Chris Fariello | Gender identity, orientation not same
Q: I have a friend who says he is a woman in a man's body. He dresses and acts feminine, but I think he's just gay. What do you think?
( By Chris Fariello, good.sex@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Ed Weiner | Sniper Web sites: Patriotic...or putrid?
'MAKE NO mistake; while the media currently loves to bandy about the term SNIPER in relationship to the murders in the Washington, D.C., area, the truth is they are MURDERS committed by a serial killer, not a SNIPER."
( By Ed Weiner, cyberia@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Michael "Mad Dog" Tearson | Road Warriors want another shot at WWE
ROAD WARRIOR Animal called the Mad Dog recently to catch up. Naturally, we discussed what he and Hawk, the Legion of Doom, have been up to.
( By Micheal "Mad Dog" Tearson, mtearson@yahoo.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Stu Bykofsky | I like Mike
THERE'S GOOD News and Bad News for Ed Rendell: In the polls, he's covering Mike Fisher like syrup over pancakes. The Good News is that the Rendell steamroller dries up Fisher's donors. Who wants to throw bad money after good?
( By Stu Bykofsky, stuspy@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Ill B mixes it up for Philly hip-hop fans
"The hip-hop mixtape." Just thinking of those words conjures up sonic images of exclusive material from hot artists, including the unheard-of remix or that combination song that features two or more artists who have never recorded together before.
( By DAMON C. WILLIAMS, williadc@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

'Kulture Fest'
"Holy Hip Hop Kulture Fest 2002: Taking Hip Hop Back" will be held Friday at the New Covenant Church Sanctuary, 7500 Germantown Ave.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Catch a couple of Giants at TLA
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS and Friends 8:30 p.m. Saturday, TLA, 334 South St. (show was originally scheduled for the Electric Factory.) Tickets: $25 in advance, $28 at the door. Info: 215-922-1011.
( By JONATHAN TAKIFF, takiffj@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Dr. Shock's got cure for what ails hip-hop
The hip-hop current running through the city is just as fragmented as it is talented; there's a ton of artists in the region, but they come up short due to a lack of knowledge on the business end of the industry.
( By DAMON C. WILLIAMS, williadc@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Shubaby& Freestyle at Club Damani
The American Musicians' Resource Network will have its fourth annual musicians' party tomorrow at Club Damani in West Philadelphia.
( By AL HUNTER JR., huntera@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Ladies, go to Delaware...
Hip-hop and urban culture goes on a rampage this week, with a slew of area performances clamoring for attendees. Setting things in motion is tonight's "All New Ladies Night" at Club Utopian (212 W. 9th St., Wilmington, Del., 9 p.m., 21+, www.djdocb.com). Power 99 FM's Coka will host, and DJ Doc B will provide the aural delights. Hit up the Web site for more details.
( By DAMON C. WILLIAMS, williadc@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

At 74, Bacharach still doesn't miss a beat
BURT BACHARACH & company, 8 p.m. tomorrow, Keswick Theater, Easton Road and Keswick Ave. in Glenside. Tickets: $48 and $38. Info: 215-572-7650.
( By JONATHAN TAKIFF, takiffj@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Kimmel hosts all-star performers
We're on the international touring map at last, with world-class artists parading through the Kimmel Center stage door to offer concertgoers dizzying, often impossible, choices.
( By TOM DI NARDO, For the Daily News, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Steinways on display
Cabinet maker Henry Engelhard Steinway built his first piano in the kitchen of his Seesen, Germany, home. After emigrating to lower Manhattan and making 481 more, he launched Steinway & Sons in 1853 by selling No. 483 for $500. With factories in Hamburg, Germany, and Astoria, Long Island, Steinway now makes more than 5,000 pianos annually, with 900 Steinway artists - all unpaid endorsers - on their roster.
( By TOM DI NARDO, For the Daily News, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Zadie Smith, Bigger Lovers part of 215 Festival
Promising "Sex, Books, and Music," the 215 Festival kicks off tonight at the Free Library of Philadelphia with readings by Zadie Smith, Sarah Vowell, Jeffrey Eugenides, and others (7 p.m., 19th and Vine streets, 215-567-4341, $12), followed by an afterparty at the North Star Bar with Bigger Lovers and Lefty's Deceiver (10 tonight, 27th and Poplar Streets, 215-684-0808, $7).
( By SARA SHERR, For the Daily News, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Heavy portions served at Mixto
IT'S REFRESHING, after our recent mini explosion of hip Latino restaurants, to find a new Latin-Caribbean place in Center City that's more interested in authenticity than following trends.
( By SONO MOTOYAMA, sono@phillynews.com, 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Dear Abby | Blame pastor for church gossip
DEAR ABBY: "Mystified in the Midwest" wrote that her pastor's wife confides things about people who see her husband for counseling.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Stars -- Horoscope
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Exceptions to all the rules happen, so don't even bother trying to enforce anything. Every situation has its own set of challenges, and you'll need to assess each one carefully before proceeding. Good girlfriends help.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

Byko's Birthday Book
Radnor's Grant Shaud acts 42. Eminem shades 28. George Wendt cheers 54. Norm MacDonald gags 39. Chris Kirkpatrick is nsync at 31. Wyclef Jean rhymes 30.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

HEY, TOM, TAKE A PEEP
ARE YOU THE kind of person who strolls through city neighborhoods, peering into windows (from a respectful distance, of course) and wondering about the lives inside the houses? Are you fascinated by home furnishings, housewares and decorative wall finishes? Are you looking to pick up ideas for designing your own home? Are you just plain nosy?
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)

DANCING TO THE BEATS OF A DIFFERENT DRUM
'FLAMMABLE CONTENTS" is the incendiary result of a collaboration between two Philadelphia groups - Rennie Harris Puremovement and Spoken Hand drumming orchestra - and Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain.
( 10/17/2002 03:01 AM EDT)