Metro, April 27-May 1

This week: a report on the West Philadelphia Orchestra, just returned (and thankfully symptom-less) from Mexico City, where the swine flu epidemic nixed the festival they were scheduled to play; a piece on Tavares Stachan's new show at the ICA; and a preview of the 8th annual Philadelphia Wine Festival.

Metro, March 9-13

This week, an overview of the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail's annual Barrels on the Brandywine festival of barrel tastings, small previews of Matthew Shipp's trio at Art Alliance and Curtis Opera Theatre's Wozzeck at the Kimmel, and a much-reduced interview with longtime James Brown saxman Maceo Parker, in town with his own group.

Metro, June 23-27

On Wednesday, my email interview with Rickie Lee Jones, just in time for the second of her three-week residency at the Painted Bride. Also note the [shudder] tiny image of my head on the byline. On Friday, a piece on PIMA Bingo, the annual fundraiser for dancer/choreographer Melisa Putz' PIMA Group; and a brief history of Sand Castle Winery, the rare good producer of vino in PA, on the event of the 20th anniversary of their first sold bottle of wine.

Citypaper, May 8

This week in CP: a feature on the great young Philly jazz quartet Shot x Shot; Soundadvice mentions for local saxist/psych Ph.D. Michael Pedicin and tenorman Donny McCaslin; a Day Tripper for the NYC gallery showing of photog Peter Beste's True Norwegian Black Metal; a review of the Wachowski Bros' anime sugar rush Speed Racer; a pick for the debut of Philly dancer/choreographer Meg Foley's new company Moving Research; and a preview of this year's Philadelphia Wine festival - more on which later, after we get to tasting on Saturday night.