PW : Arts Entertainment

Paris Hilton and Britney Spears recently graced the cover of Newsweek, with the headline: Girls Gone Wild: Paris, Lindsay Nicole They seem to be everywhere and they may not be wearing underwear. The cover validated what we all already know: If fluff-pop and politics were, until recently, simply friends with benefits, they re now officially shacked up. Think of the last few art shows you attended.

You probably stared uncomprehendingly at graffiti doodlings, got drunk, did a vaulted oso doloroso through a window and then threw up somewhere on Second Street. Gatito used to feel that same lack of enthusiasm. But then he discovered the old-timey American tradition of square dancing.

I know what you re thinking. at the Nodding Head, but a face-bandaged mute in a blood-caked trench coat and homburg wasn t it. How old are you?

I ask nervously. Ostentatious opens his mouth. There s a sickening chitinous sound.

Fri., Feb. 23, 2pm.

American Mortals, Seventh and Walnut sts. 215.574.

1234 I ve been doing hair for about nine years now. Things come in waves, like the shaggy mullet or the very heavy bangs or the faux-hawk for boys. But there s no specific trend now.

Hair is just kind of everywhere. Some people come in with an exact picture, and some people are like, Yo, I wanna totally change my hair but I don t wanna lose length. Deserves props for: Directing Hustle Flow and Black Snake Moan opening this Friday both set in Memphis, Tenn.

You ve said Black Snake Moan is about real blues music, that you re bringing sex back into it. As I worked on this film I began to understand what the blues was about. It s exorcism music; it s music that doesn t shy It might be an overstatement to say Philadelphia is the best-kept secret in American theater, but considering the rapid growth of the city s theater community in recent years and the rising quality of their work, it s unarguably true that Philadelphia hasn t received the national recognition it deserves.

No one has squawked more about the sorry pizza situation in this town than yours truly, but last week I sampled hope at Osteria Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin s new casual Italian spot. What does hope taste like? Bosky bluefoot mushrooms, the ripe tang of Taleggio cheese, a delicate swipe of tomato and a crackling paper-thin crust fired in a brick oven.

What would Chinese New Year be without the soft pretzel? Kicking off the celebrations a vendor in Eagles gear hawks his doughy wares from a grocery cart for 50 cents a piece. Partygoers flock with cash in hand.

Where s all the food around here anyway? asks a customer. FON a Madrid-based Wi-Fi community will pay you $1 for each customer you help steal from Starbucks.

Oh, and they ll also give you a free wireless router if you live next to a branch of the coffee chain. In an aggressive promotion FON is giving away 10,000 free wireless routers to anyone living within wireless range of a U.S.