As I sat in a comfortable booth at LaScala's waiting for my order of lasagna to arrive, I felt like Garfield the cat. Alternating layers of cheese, pasta and sauce - it's a simple concept but one that tends to elude me on Penn's campus. So when I finally had a chance to eat at a downtown Italian restaurant, there was no question that I would order anything but the preferred dish of everyone's favorite feline from the funny pages.

Cuba is a country of color, Castro and cigars. The better two of these three are represented at Cuba Libre restaurant. Enter Cuba Libre on any weekend night and you will find a bustling crowd clamoring to get a table. I would recommend reservations, unless you desire to wait for a few hours before eating.

Long, dark and highlighted on each side by thin rows of orange-lit rocks, the entranceway is, without a doubt, distinctive, if not a little intimidating at first. Even more so the dining rooms, of which there are three quite large ones. From the short, brown-leather chairs and the red-and-gold tapestries to the peach lighting that glows from the base of benches and the tiny candles hid in alcove after alcove along a long blue wall, the decor is striking, to say the least.

Former Wharton professor Scott Ward pled guilty today in federal court to producing child pornography for importation into the United States. Ward, who has been held in custody since August, is scheduled for sentencing May 11. His charge carries a sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison, according to a press release issued by the U.

They call Philadelphia the Paris of the Western Hemisphere. Oh, wait. No, they don't. The truth is, Philadelphia is not quite the haven for Francophiles - outside of the three Center City mainstays, Le Bec Fin, Lecroix at the Rittenhouse and Brasserie Perrier, the City of Brotherly Love offers little in terms of fine French cuisine.

Two male students were assaulted in separate incidents near campus this weekend. Division of Public Safety officials said a male student was robbed near the intersection of 40th and Locust streets at about 4:15 a.m. yesterday. About four or five men exited a dark sport-utility vehicle on Locust Street and attacked the student, inflicting a wound to the back of his head, DPS officials said.

In an era where women are matching men in most fields, women's-only colleges are a relic of the past.

The artistic morsels at Gayle fuse exotic tastes with a playful sense of humor. Throughout the experience, chef Daniel Stern takes great pains to make the meal memorable. Tucked away just off of South Street, Gayle offers quality homemade cuisine that will stir the Oliver Twist question within: "Please miss, may I have some more?" After arriving at the restaurant my guest and I were shown to one of the two window tables.

Just because Ibrahim Jaaber doesn't flirt with double-digit steals in a weekend, it doesn't mean that he's not making the opposing offense skittish. The Ivy League's all-time leader in thefts has made a name for himself by taking the rock away from his counterparts - particularly those within the conference.

Everything your mom ever told you about breakfast being the most important meal of the day is confirmed at Morning Glory Diner. This South Philadelphia corner eatery delightfully combines the atmosphere of a bustling neighborhood diner and a snug country-inn kitchen to create a homey and relaxed environment that is well worth the train or taxi ride from Penn's campus.

The Penn community should know if staff convicted of sex offenses posed a risk.

The strategy for beating the Big Green seems simple: don't foul Ashley Taylor. Yet teams cannot keep but sending her to the line, and Taylor has made them pay. The 5-foot-11 forward tied a school record by making 16 free throws, including 12 in the final two minutes against Yale, to lead Dartmouth to an eight-point win last Friday.

While Italian restaurants are seemingly a dime a dozen, Il Portico quietly makes a statement with its classic dishes. The restaurant has a perfect balance of Italian staples - olive oil, cheese, bread, herbs, dim lighting and love songs - that blend together to create an excellent dining experience.

If you are a vegetarian with a dainty appetite, Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steak house, is not for you. But if you like your meat, Fogo de Chao will be your culinary nirvana. For a fixed price ($44.50), each diner receives a paper disc with a red side and a green side.

Last week, he was announcing his candidacy for mayor. This week, he was behind bars. Milton Street, older brother of Mayor John Street and Democratic mayoral candidate, spent several hours in jail yesterday after he was arrested for unpaid traffic fines in Moorestown, N.

Don't be put off by the seemingly French name - Le Castagne offers Old World Italian with a modern and almost distinctly Philadelphian taste. Located on an otherwise-quiet block at 19th and Chestnut streets - castagne means chestnut in Italian - the restaurant greets you with pleasant lighting and a friendly seating hostess.

PENN On Feb. 19, 2003, the University and Penn Law School Dean Michael Fitts signed individual "friend of the court" briefs to submit to the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the University of Michigan's affirmative action admissions policy. The policy, challenged in the Supreme Court at the time, established race as a factor in admissions.