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Saturday night’s show at the Starlight Ballroom headlined by the English punk rock legends Amebix has moved and just gotten more enticing. Just head south and five hours earlier.

Amebix, who is touring to promote a new DVD, will now be joined at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon in the Trocadero by five other bands, including Mischief Brew, fronted by Erik Peterson, a familiar face on Philly’s rich underground punk scene.

“It has the makings to be another chapter in Philly punk rock history,” Peterson said. “It’ll be something epic, something legendary.”

Mischief Brew, based in Upper Darby, will lead a crush of openers welcoming Amebix, including Pittsburgh-based Behind Enemy Lines, Richmond, Va.-based Parasytic, Kylesa from Savannah Georgia and hard punk rockers Lost Cause, also from Philly.

Peterson, who gained punk noteriety for his acoustic punk-folk ballads, first toured with a full band in 2005. After joining the Philly punk music scene as a teenager and becoming a regular in basement shows around town, Peterson and Mischief Brew have since appeared in Philly sparingly. Instead, the locals with a serious following have taken to visiting other punk hubs in the United States and abroad.

“Different places have different thrills,” Petereson said. “But Philly really has a great punk scene.”

Mischief Brew recenty released a split LP with Joe Jack Talcum, formerly of the famed Philly punkers Dead Milkmen. Petersen and his ilk are releasing a host of new music this spring, before launching another European tour June 10. The next time Mischief Brew will play in Philly will be sometime in March at Johnny Brenda’s, Peterson said. To see more visit mischiefbrew.com.

To see the diverse sounds of Mischief Brew, a host of others and crust punk immortals Amebix, hit the Troc at 10th and Arch on Saturday afternoon.

Amebix & Mischief Brew at the Troc
Sat. Jan. 31, Doors open at 3:30 p.m.

The Trocadero
1003 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA

Photos by B. Krist for GPTMC

Since moving to Philadelphia two years ago, I’ve discovered that I’m officially “that guy” for my friends and family back home in New Jersey. I’m in charge of all the important stuff. Taking everyone to see the traditional historic sites, showing my friends where the best breweries are, and of course, taking the family to grab cheesesteaks.

My personal favorite, Jim’s Steaks over on South St, was voted one of the best late night eats in America by Details. The lines there are always long, and often stretch around the corner down 4th street, but you know what… it is always worth the wait. You can head over to Details’ website to read the post, which includes several other establishments across the country.

Late Night Eats @ Style

Jim’s Steaks
400 South St, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 928-1911

If you are into fashion but don’t have the funds to support your habits of buying the newest Coach purse or those super cute Marc Jacobs boots, check out Walish Gooshe. This women’s ready-to-wear line will be hosting the “Stay Stylish” sample sale today from 4-8pm and tomorrow, January 31, from 12noon-6pm.

The owner of Walish Gooshe, Gregory Taylor, is a native of Washington, DC and attended the Philadelphia Art Institute where he created this line for the professional urban woman. (And he was only 19 years old!)

I can’t promise that Walish Gooshe’s original prices aren’t that of Michael Kors, but what I can promise is that the sample sale will have items discounted, and up to 80% off! The sale will be featuring items from the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 lines and with designs from Chi Chi and Chi E. Some original designs will be available to you before they even hit stores! How cool is that?

If I haven’t convinced you yet, here’s my last persuading point “” there will be free food and wine there, too. So are you going be at Showroom 77 this weekend? I know I will.

Showroom 77
1520 Kater Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.walishgooshe.com

Listen up sports fans of the queer perspective, I have another announcement that pertains to you. The Philadelphia Gryphons, our city’s own gay rugby team is having the mother of all bar crawls to recruit new players tomorrow, Saturday, January 31st.

The fun begins at 9:30 PM sharp at The Westbury, before heading to Woody’s at 11:00 PM and Tavern on Camac at 12:30 AM. And if you choose so “” late night registering will continue well into the wee hours of the morning at Pure.

This is a chance to meet new people, enjoy a night out at Philly’s most popular gay hangouts and join an organization that encourages unity, exercise and most of all fun!

So grab your sneakers and a mouth guard because practice begins the following weekend.

For more information please visit: phillygryphons.com

A lot of you guys probably know about the local rap group Plastic Little, but you may not know that the members of said group are fantastic artists, too. Case in point: Jayson Musson. He not only raps and sings and has good taste in shoes, he also puts on a mean art show.

Tonight at The Last Drop, Jayson’s newest works will be on display for your viewing pleasure as part of his “Barack Obama Battles the Pink Robots” show. I don’t know what to expect–probably some drawings, some paintings, some social commentary and some fun text-based art to make you chuckle–but I’ll be there and so should you. It’s a great warm up to First Friday and a low-pressure way to experience some local art.

Drop in, get a latte and take a gander at Jayson’s work. He’s a very nice guy (I’m vouching for him), so say “hi” and give him a high five while you’re at it.

Barack Obama Battles the Pink Robots
Friday, Jan. 30, 7pm-9pm
www.jaysonmusson.com

The Last Drop Cafe
1300 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 893-9262
www.lastdropcoffeehouse.com

Before society as we know it existed, there was art. Before computers and the Internet, and even cities and families, cavemen created art on cave walls. Now, in an advanced world, art is often pushed into the background, isolated in galleries and museums, and we’re instead consumed with the “stuff” of everyday life. (Think: clothing, media, electronics, accessories.)

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction seeks to correct this travesty, by incorporating art (well-executed, intellectually stimulating art) into this same “stuff” of daily life. The result is a very cool, very tuned-in line of clothing, accessories, books, stationary and more, designed by artists up and down the coast.

In the past, they gave us the JFK/Abe Lincoln hoodie (pretty much the gift to get, Christmas 2006); now they’re bringing back the whole 16th-president-chic look with The Great Lincoln! Memorial Tableaux, a new collection of art and merch based on “Ëœole Honest Abe.

The collection celebrates big Abe’s 200th birthday (February 12, 2009), as well as the inauguration of President Obama, who counts Lincoln among his greatest heroes, with an impressive display of original paintings, drawings, and multi-media creations, hand-selected by Art in the Age staff and available for a limited time only.

They’re complemented by Art in the Age’s signature swag: cool, cameo tees, based on an 1865 lithograth (talk about vintage chic!), rare-edition silk-screen posters, and the sweet, multi-colored Assassination postcard (shown above.)

The opening reception runs during First Friday “” February 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. Come celebrate history “” and look really, really cool while doing it.

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: The Great Lincoln! Memorial Tableaux
116 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-2600
www.artintheage.com

Fresh off their great feature in the New York Times, Triumph Brewing Company in Old City has some very good deals going on, including a $7 Lunch Menu, 1/2 price burgers during Happy Hour and a $6 late night Bar Menu:

* NEW – Check out Triumph’s $7 lunch menu beginning February 2, 2009, that’s right – everything on the menu is just seven bucks.

* NEW Р$4 at 4pmӬWe decided to start happy hour earlier (why not?) Monday-Friday from 4-5pm, we will feature $4 beer and half price pizza Рlike you needed incentive to leave the office early!

* Happy Hour РMonday-Friday / 5-7 pm,ӬTPS reports got you down? Boss out of his mind? We can help readjust your attitude with $3 beers, $4 house wine, & $5 mixed drinks. NOW OFFERING 1/2 PRICE BURGERS AND SELECT APPETIZERS DURING HAPPY HOUR

* Late Night Specials РSunday-Thursday / 9-midnight,ӬStop by for a late night drink or snack Р$3 beer, $4 wine, $5 house cocktails and $6 bar menu.

Honestly, all of that sounds terrific to me.

CLICK HERE to visit the Triumph website.

Edit: The show is sold out!

Temple grads Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim bring their cult hit television show Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! to a live audience at the TLA (4th and South Streets) January 29th.

For those unfamiliar with Tim and Eric (the show), little of what occurs on stage will make sense. For those familiar with the show, the same applies. Tim and Eric is the next frontier in comedy, where content bows to style. The show is a product of 1980s and early 90s low-budget television, put through some sort of Dada-esqe transformation and emerging as a playful and harmless version of a funhouse nightmare.

Bad makeup. Celebrities making cameos as dull, lobotomized versions of themselves. Uncomfortable close-ups. Deliberate technical glitches… get ready for the ultimate in aimless brilliance.

Theatre of the Living Arts
334 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 922-1011

If you don’t live around East Oak Lane, Under the Oak Cafe is a good reason to go there, if only for its divine dessert selection. One block south of the Melrose Park Train Station, Under the Oak is located in a picturesque stone building that the proprietors have transformed into a charming Victorian-style gathering place for local residents.

From the peanut butter pies to the raspberry scones, many of the baked goods are made on-site, by owners Devitt McShain, Kelly McShain Tyree and her husband, Robert, who are also a part of PA Buy Fresh Buy Local. In addition to a variety of pastries and beverages, the Cafe also serves lunch and dinner. My personal favorites include the hearty turkey stew, which comes with a buttermilk scone (inside the soup!) and their quiches all six of them.

But New Year’s diet or not, you can’t leave without trying one of their cinnamon knots, an oh-so-scrumptious delight that comes with cream cheese icing on the side in the most beautiful glassware I’ve ever seen in a Philadelphia cafe. With seating that can accomodate up to 20 people, Under the Oak Cafe is the ideal spot to while away your winter blues with friends and family.

During the winter, the Cafe is open 7AM-5PM, Tuesday through Saturday and 10AM-3PM on Sundays.

Under the Oak Cafe
804 Oak Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19126
(215) 924-1410

Lately with all this awful cold weather, all I want is something warm, soft and fuzzy. I’ve been screaming inside for some hot chocolate… and Fork delivers, only with a twist of liquor. Ellen Yin at Fork teamed with chocolatier Chris Curtin to create their new Hot Éclat.

The luscious and totally decadent cocktail combines Barbancourt rum and Bailey’s Irish cream, steamed with hot milk, and is served with a chocolate wand. Stir away until it melts to your own personal chocolate perfection. Ellen Yin calls her new cocktail “the grown-up version of hot chocolate.”

This affordable ($11) treat is available both in the restaurant and the bar, and is a perfect ending to dinner. But the best way to enjoy the hot Éclat is on a cold winter afternoon, in Fork’s cozy atmosphere, with a good book. Personally, I can’t wait for the next arctic blast!

Fork Restaurant
306 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.forkrestaurant.com