Another year, another stack of superhero stories, fascinating biographies, funny books, and extraordinary illustrated tales that defy classification! While not necessarily a "Top 10" (especially since I selected 21!), and definitely not in any order of greater or lesser importance, the following are just 21 really cool, fun,… continue reading 21 Great Graphic Novels and Comics from 2021
By written by Peter SM January 19, 2022
Words mean things. We communicate with them, express ourselves with them, define and describe our surroundings and world with them. In the 21st Century, in the absence of physical reference books, we also look them up through online dictionaries. Overwhelmingly, 2021's words of the year were of the time and moment while also being… continue reading 2021's Words of the Year
By written by Peter SM January 7, 2022
Turn the lights down, grab some snacks, and tune into your screen of choice—the National Film Registry 's 2021 recommendations and selections have been announced! 25 films have been selected each year—for the past 33 years—to be preserved in the Library of Congress , showcasing the range and diversity of American film… continue reading Newest Additions to the National Film Registry
By written by Peter SM January 6, 2022
Howllo Boils and Ghouls... welcome back to the Free Library of Phrightadelphia's boo-log, as we draw near to the most haunted of holidays— Halloween ! This year is a monstrously momentous occasion for celebration, as two of the most popular film icons of all time are marking their 90th anniversaries— Dracula and Frankenstein !… continue reading Famous Monsters of the Silver Scream: Dracula and Frankenstein
By written by Peter SM October 29, 2021
40 years ago on this day, October 15, 1981, a film debuted that not only scared audiences but would send shivers through Hollywood for years to come, serving as not only an artistic influence on future filmmakers but also a D.I.Y. guide to filmmaking . Let's reopen the Book of the Dead and look back on the cult classic horror film The Evil… continue reading Reopening the Book of the Dead: The Evil Dead 40th Anniversary
By written by Peter SM October 15, 2021
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Free Comic Book Day ! The all-ages event was founded in 2001 to encourage both curious, first-time comic book readers and seasoned comic book fans alike, offering a huge selection of free titles throughout comic book shops across North America , designed to appeal to a broad range of age levels and… continue reading The Return of Free Comic Book Day!
By written by Peter SM August 13, 2021
What do you get when a secret government agency assembles an equally secret team of supervillains and anti-heroes to fight against a worldwide threat? Sounds like a mission for The Suicide Squad ! Consisting of an assassin with a grudge ( Idris Elba as Bloodsport ), a rogue obsessed with polka dots ( David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man ), an… continue reading The Suicide Squad are Dying to Save the World
By written by Peter SM August 5, 2021
After the postponement of the 2020 Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the torch will be lit once again this year as the rescheduled Summer Games will take place in Tokyo, Japan starting today, Friday, July 23, and run through Sunday, August 8 . This Summer Olympic Games, the 29th held since 1896, will feature over 11,000 athletes competing… continue reading Local Athletes Competing in the Summer Olympics
By written by Peter SM July 23, 2021 1
Up from the depths and onto your screen, it's... Shark Week ! The Discovery Channel's annual feeding frenzy of shark-related media kicks off its 33rd year with shows featuring comedian Tiffany Haddish ( Tiffany Haddish Does Shark Week ), rapper Snoop Dogg ( Sharkadelic Summer 2 ), musician Brad Paisley (Brad Paisley's Shark… continue reading Are You Ready for Shark Week?
By written by Peter SM July 9, 2021 1
The Rare Book Department has some true treasures within its collections, but perhaps one of its most special collections is the First Folio of William Shakespeare . What is the “First Folio”? It contains the collected works of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, printed on larger-than-normal size paper for the… continue reading Who Said It: Shakespeare, Milton, or Shake Milton?
By written by Peter SM April 28, 2021
Dracula vs. Frankenstein Alien vs. Predator T-800 vs. T-1000 These are just a few of the most over-the-top sci-fi b-movie fight scenes ever filmed, but the main event will finally take place when Godzilla squares off against King Kong for the title of King of All Monsters! This year, March Madness has some different contenders as Godzilla vs.… continue reading March Monster Madness: Godzilla vs. Kong
By written by Peter SM March 31, 2021 2
Ursula K. Le Guin 's award-winning writing often depicted futuristic alternative worlds steeped in the themes of politics, the natural environment, gender, religion, sexuality, and ethnography. Now her legacy will live on in a different future as a Forever Stamp from the United States Postal Service ! The stamp, the 33rd in USPS’s… continue reading Women's History Month | Ursula K. Le Guin Honored with Commemorative Stamp
By written by Peter SM March 29, 2021
Today, on March 10—or Mar10 , if you will—we celebrate everything about the red-and-blue-suspendered plumber with extraordinary jumping abilities and a knack for exciting adventures— Mario ! Mario has been Nintendo 's mascot now for 35 years, after his first appearance as "Jumpman" in the 1981 arcade smash,… continue reading Digital Media Spotlight | MAR10 Day and the World of Video Games
By written by Peter SM March 10, 2021
2021 marks 45 years since The Muppet Show debuted on television and today Disney+ is bringing back all 120 episodes streaming on-demand! As Kermit the Frog would say—arms flailing— "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!" The Muppets were created by Jim Henson in 1955, and appeared in various forms on television starting in the mid-1950s… continue reading Digital Media Spotlight | The Muppets
By written by Peter SM February 19, 2021 1
Celebrate Lunar New Year 2021 and the Year of the Ox ! In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal. Because of its role in agriculture, positive characteristics, such as being hardworking and honest, are attributed to it. As for zodiac sign characteristics, oxen are honest and earnest. They are low key and never look for praise or to be the… continue reading Celebrate the Year of the Ox!
By written by Peter SM February 12, 2021
During Black History Month, the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME) is hosting a series on Black Generational Wealth , in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Commerce and the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) . These weekly economic empowerment events being held throughout February will aim to supply the tools… continue reading Black History Month | Black Generational Wealth Series
By written by Peter SM February 8, 2021
Seen any good movies lately? If you've exhausted watching everything on your streaming media platforms of choice, take a look at the National Film Registry 's yearly recommendations and selections to be preserved in the Library of Congress ! 25 films have been selected each year—for the past 32 years—showcasing the range and… continue reading Newest Additions to the National Film Registry
By written by Peter SM January 11, 2021 3
As we wind down 2020, I have a few choice words that I can think of to describe the year... but none that would be appropriate to print here. Luckily for us, Merriam-Webster added plenty of new words and definitions —over 500 to be exact—to the dictionary this year that we can discuss! The English language is constantly evolving,… continue reading 2020's Newest Word Additions and Definitions to the Dictionary
By written by Peter SM December 29, 2020
If ever there was a time to lose oneself in the extraordinary stories and colorful illustrations of comic books—2020 was that year! While not necessarily a "Top 10" (especially since I selected twenty!), and definitely not in any order of greater or lesser importance, the following are just 20 really cool, fun, entertaining, and… continue reading 20 Great Graphic Novels and Comics from 2020
By written by Peter SM December 28, 2020
Space western adventures! Out of this world creatures! And one cute green baby (Yoda)! We're talking about The Mandalorian , the latest installment in the ever-expanding Star Wars universe of characters and stories. The season 2 finale debuts today and without giving away any spoilers , it's been another epic storytelling experience… continue reading This Is The Way... to Mandalorian and Star Wars Reads
By written by Peter SM December 18, 2020
