Waiting paid off for College sophomore Yulia Rivelis on Sunday night.
After attending a Kanye West concert at Temple University's Liacouras Center, Rivelis headed to the corner of 40th and Walnut streets. She had heard the rapper would be attending a private party at MarBar.
At 12:50 a.m., West arrived on 40th Street in a black Ford van with tinted windows. The rapper was last out of the van, which carried bodyguards, friends and fellow performers.
MarBar bouncers immediately escorted West to a VIP section in the back of the bar, where he socialized and danced with close friends, frequently to his own music.
MarBar owner Cary Borish said he was asked if he would like to host West by a friend from Cornerstone Promotions -- a marketing company that has worked with Def Jam Recordings, West's label. Cornerstone paid for the event, Borish said, which was also sponsored by the liquor brand Hennessy.
"Its unusual [for] us in Philadelphia to be surrounded by celebrities, so I always find it interesting to see who they're working with, what the vibe is," Borish said.
West "was roped off, but you could get close and you could see him," College senior Ben Rosenblum said. "He walked in with a big group. He's kind of a small guy; people do the pushing for him."
While the event was not open to students, Rosenblum said he was invited by a friend who works at MarBar. Some other students who work at the bar had invited friends as well.
After a half hour, Rivelis and a friend were admitted to the party by bouncers.
"I was basically jumping up and down screaming," Rivelis said of her reaction.
Most guests were associated with Def Jam. Some had ties to other production and entertainment groups.
College junior Matt Lambach, who has been bartending at MarBar since August, said that Monday night was the first time he had been in the presence of a celebrity. If he got the chance to pour West a drink, he said before the rapper arrived, he didn't think he would lose his composure.
"He's going to want the perfect drink. Not too hard, not too soft," Lambach said.
West's party was not the only recent private event at MarBar. In August, the bar hosted a party for Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson and singer Patti LaBelle.
The bar -- at which 42 were cited for underage drinking Thursday night -- has stepped up its efforts to attract Penn students this year. Borish said that he hopes West's presence, even at a closed event, would raise interest in hanging out at the bar.
Accommodating Penn students, Borish said, is the bar's "primary focus."
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