UCD's '3rd Thursday' may have what it takes to bring city and suburban residents to Penn. Rather, Penn needs to highlight the unique aspects of our neighborhood -- the things you can't find downtown. The University City District -- funded in large part by the University -- has exactly the right idea. Its "Go West! Go International!, 3rd Thursdays" campaign kicks off today. Eighteen local restaurants and performing artists will set up shop at the corner of 36th and Sansom streets. And Penn and the city will offer free and discounted parking around campus. Some might fear that "3rd Thursdays" -- a $250,000 effort -- will meet the same fate as Penn's "Steppin' Out Night" program, which was cut short in the spring of 1997 after it failed to attract people to University City nightlife. But because "3rd Thursdays" also taps into the area's cultural resources, it should provide wider appeal. Many Philadelphia residents -- and even a good number of Penn students -- just aren't aware of the Institute of Contemporary Art at 36th and Sansom streets, or the myriad ethnic restaurants in the area, ranging from Thai to Ethiopian. Hopefully "3rd Thursdays" will help open their eyes.
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