Physicians at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania will offer complimentary screenings for vascular conditions such as peripheral artery disease and abdominal aortic aneurysms today in the Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall. Peripheral artery disease, or P.

Upon entering El Vez, one of the first things to catch the eye is a glittering low-rider bicycle slowly rotating above the bar. The installation, says hostess manager Nicole Bell, epitomizes the "Mexico meets East L.A." theme prevailing in both the ambiance and cuisine of popular restaurateur Steven Starr's ninth dining venture.

The City of Brotherly Love has a less savoury nickname: Killadelphia. Offensive, but well-earned. Crime in Philadelphia is out of control. The homicide rate is approaching record-breaking levels as usual and crime abounds around the perimeters of campus.

Policemen from across Philadelphia are conducting a citywide manhunt for the gunman who shot a Philadelphia Police officer at a Dunkin Donuts on the 6600 block of N. Broad Street this morning. Charles Cassidy, 54, was shot when he walked into a robbery-in-progress at the Dunkin Donuts shortly after 10 a.

Bill Belichick and the blowout-happy New England Patriots just might be the villains of the year in the NFL, but things are different in college. College football, put on display by amateur athletes on hundreds of teams around the country. College football, where the financial considerations trouble only the minds of sponsors and athletic directors, not quarterbacks and linebackers - at least where the NCAA's efforts to keep it that way are successful.

Kids these days just don't care. Last time America was entrenched in a seemingly endless war against a nebulous and poorly defined enemy, college campuses were a boiling pot of protests, sit-ins and petitions. Student activism was the norm, even at that complacent haven of privilege known as the Ivy League.

Amira Fawcett is an Engineering junior from Houston. Her e-mail address is fawcett@dailypennsylvanian.com.

The fire alarm that broke up the Zeta Beta Tau party last Saturday night may have been pulled intentionally, officials from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority affairs say. OFSA Director Scott Reikofski said he has heard "two or three" possible causes for the alarm going off but is awaiting a final report from the fire department before issuing a formal statement.

It's silly to cross the Schuylkill when there are great BYOs like Rx right in Penn's backyard. Rx, located at 4443 Spruce Street, is just a brisk walk from campus. It's truly a neighborhood restaurant; our waitress hugged a patron goodbye with a warm "see you next week.

Walking into the Rose Tattoo Cafe, at the corner of 19th and Callowhill, feels like entering a secret garden. This undiscovered gem nestled near the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Franklin Institute boasts a romantic atmosphere and is bursting with fresh, green plants and cast-iron decor.

Oh, the woes of a local burger aficionado. Near Penn, choices are slim for that most quintessential of American meals: On the one hand, beefy checks and relatively long waits are the norm at the Marathon Grills or Copabananas of campus, while on the other hand - McDonalds.

Step inside a small Italian villa - err, step inside Branzino restaurant. Located at 261 S. 17th St. in Center City, Branzino is a small, but cozy BYO to gather with friends for wine and good food. I especially liked the decor, which included soft green hues and murals that made it seem like one was looking out onto a countryside.

Since its construction, the Cira Centre has served as the shiniest welcome sign to University City Penn has ever seen. It has simultaneously served as a building that has confounded students with an array of questions: What exactly goes on there? Is it an office building? A conference center? And how exactly do people walk inside when it's shaped so weirdly? One question (is the food there good?) was answered at Rae, the building's first floor occupant, with a resounding yes.

I have an admission to make: My "fine dining" experiences here at Penn have largely ignored restaurants close to campus. What can I say? I'm an adventurous kind of guy. Not that there aren't great restaurants nearby. Penne's subdued setting below the Inn at Penn and mature clientele don't exactly endear it to the BYO-fanatic student crowd.

Despite the costume controversy that marked Penn President Amy Gutmann's Halloween party last year, there will be no official censorship policy implemented for tonight's annual soiree. Gutmann came under criticism last year for posing with 2007 Penn alumnus Saad Saadi, who was dressed as a suicide bomber.

The Ivy League title hopes of Harvard, Columbia and Cornell all rest on Penn. All four of those teams are tied for second place in the Ivy field hockey standings at 4-2, but it is the Quakers who take on 5-1 Princeton on Friday at Franklin Field. A Tigers victory will ensure that they will be the champions of the 2007 season and garner the Ivy League's automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

A new program at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences will hopefully attract more students to Penn, University officials say. Beginning with the Class of 2012, SEAS will implement its first Honors Program. Selected students will take honor-level courses, complete a research requirement and contribute to the community.