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(10/21/97 9:00am)
If University students drink significantly more than the average American college students -- and many respondents to a recent poll said they do -- and if 11 percent of the students polled stressed that drinking was a part of "college life" -- and they did -- Penn's dry minority is lamenting it. While most students were aware of recent administrative efforts to increase awareness about binge drinking, which range from meetings with bar owners to a mandatory session with freshman athletes, many conceded that drinking is an integral part of life at Penn. "I don't think there's much they can do," said one female student, who admitted to binge drinking 20 times so far this year. But a sizable minority of students, for one reason or another, said they don't drink alcohol and that it isn't a vital aspect of their social lives. "Most of the places where alcohol is offered, you can still have a good time even if you're not drinking," said one female student. "I'll go to all the parties, I just don't drink," another female student said. Others wished more people would remain sober. "Since I've been here, that's all I've seen," said one female freshman. "And I do resent it somewhat, especially on the weekends. Everybody's really loud." College freshman Michelle Henry said it's often hard to find companions who, like her, don't drink. "Usually on weekends I just hang out with one or two people," Henry said. "Because that's about all I can find who's sober -- especially in the Quad. "I spend lots of time in my room chilling with my roommates and my friends," she added. "I went to a couple frat things at the beginning of the year for about five minutes but I couldn't handle that any longer because everyone was always drunk." Now, she and her friends draw and paint, go to South Street occasionally and dye their hair often. "We search out drugstores so we can buy hair dye," she said. "Once, my roommate and I pierced our ears because there was nothing to do." Students bent on having fun sans beer agreed that the lack of non-alcoholic options near campus is sobering. "I wish there was something besides the three Cinemagic movies," said a female student. "I've seen them all." Engineering sophomore William Attman, who also does not drink, said he spends his leisure hours playing computer games. "I've found it cheaper in the long run than going out and spending 10 bucks a night on booze," he said. "I especially like role playing games: Dungeons and Dragons and all that crap. I find it much more richly rewarding." Attman said that while he doesn't "do the party scene," he doesn't "think this school is in any way diminished by it." He said he found it amusing when during last year's Spring Fling, a teacher begged, "Please come to class, go ahead and bring your questionable beverage, just please come."
(10/16/97 9:00am)
The speaker group will use a lottery system to distribute its 300 tickets to the first lady's speech. Quelling rumors that there will be "no boys allowed" to hear first lady Hillary Clinton speak next Wednesday, Connaissance is using a simple lottery system for distributing its 300 student tickets for the event in the Annenberg Center's Zellerbach Theatre. The group will distribute lottery tickets tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. on Locust Walk. "We have 600 [lottery tickets] for tomorrow, and if we need more Friday, we'll print out some more," College junior and Connaissance Co-Chairperson Carter Caldwell said. For the honor of attending the first lady's speech, students will have to divulge some personal information -- their e-mail addresses, Social Security numbers and years of graduation, for starters -- so that the United States Secret Service can conduct background checks on speech attendees. In contrast, preparation for President Clinton's speech in the CoreStates Center last week was much more lax. Students attending needed only to write a $25 check to the Democratic National Committee and include their addresses and phone numbers. Secret Service presence during the first lady's speech has limited Zellerbach's capacity for the event to 900 from its usual 975. Of the seats available, Connaissance will distribute 300 tickets to lottery entrants. After names are drawn, "winners" should be notified via e-mail this weekend, according to Caldwell, who said Connaissance will pick guests -- randomly, of course -- either late Friday or early Saturday. But members of the Trustees Council of Penn Women, who are hosting Clinton as part of their 10th Anniversary festivities, emphasized that student representation is not limited to the 300 Connaissance tickets. According to Sharon Hardy, a former council director who is assisting with next week's celebration, 200 additional tickets will go to specially selected students. "We're giving [Connaissance] 300 tickets for the lottery, another 200 to various other constituencies and there will be at least 500 allotted to students," Hardy said. All 139 members of the Trustees' Council of Penn Women were invited last summer to the celebration. Along with guests and faculty, staff and city representatives, they will make up the non-student audience. Any empty spots from cancellations will be given to Connaissance, who will keep a waiting list for ticket-less students. Although Clinton must return to Washington immediately following her 1 p.m. speech, other events celebrating the anniversary will be open to students from Wednesday to Friday. University President Judith Rodin will speak in College Hall's room 210 Thursday afternoon. And Washington Post assistant managing editor Mary Hadar, a 1965 College for Women graduate, will lead a panel on future women trailblazers.
(10/16/97 9:00am)
Constructing across the University is forcing PAC to regroup. The University has seen simpler times. In the days before e-mail and computer-chip-equipped ID cards, when Mask and Wig and Penn Players rounded out Penn's performing arts scene, to have 35 different performing groups probably seemed unimaginable. Today, the number of performing groups recognized by the Performing Arts Council reaches that number -- and those positions are coveted. After Provost Stanley Chodorow told PAC last year to hold off expansion while the renovation of some important venues -- Houston Hall and Irvine Auditorium, specifically -- cramps space, nascent groups are learning that PAC membership has its privileges. And PAC members -- along with the organization itself -- are faced with the task of a re-assessment. "Our goals change every year," explained PAC Co-Chairperson Elizabeth Scanlon, a College senior. "But I see this executive board as really working with the administration to find more space and working with student groups to examine their mission." Formed 10 years ago to organize the ever-burgeoning performing arts community, PAC has been the administration's tie to the needs of Penn's dancers, actors, comics and musicians. PAC membership is necessary before a group can join the Student Activities Council -- and hence be eligible for University funding. And because campus has always had limited space, PAC has a partial monopoly on its distribution. "If a group is serious about performing, it's a member of PAC," Scanlon said. Indeed, it is PAC that holds monthly meetings with Valerie Swain-Cade McCoullum, the vice provost for university life. It is PAC that lobbied for new options when it learned that vital spaces it was using were in jeopardy. It is PAC that put a detailed write-up of its members' space needs on line in 1995, and PAC that walked around with Executive Assistant to the Provost Linda Koons last year to survey campus for possible options. "Having PAC is a really good idea," Chodorow said. "You could talk to 30 to 40 student groups, each with its own story, [but] PAC has taken on [organization] by itself. That's real student government," he added. Representing four subcommittees -- SMAC (Singers, Music and Comedy), AC (A Cappella), DDAC (Dance) and TACKY (Theater Arts) -- PAC has provided a "security" for its members through the transitional "interim" period before 2000. Space Solutions Even when the Annenberg School Theater is restricted in May to performing arts groups in order to make way for the coming Public Policy Center expansion, when Houston Hall goes under renovation next year and while construction to Irvine Auditorium continues, most of the University's performing arts groups will be able to rehearse, perform and operate. This is primarily because PAC has helped find alternate space. To cope with losses both temporary and permanent, the University has leased two new spaces -- a scene shop at 4100 Walnut Street and the 450-seat MTI Theater at 37th and Chestnut streets. Additionally, the University has received permission to use the St. Mary's Church at 40th Street and Locust Walk for rehearsal space. In order to orchestrate the "interim period," however, Chodorow placed an informal moratorium on the number of PAC groups last year. "You can't work with a moving target," he said. So PAC kept its membership under control, and in turn, the administration tried to satisfy the group's requests. Granted, transition from current to new space hinges on a few unknowns. City inspection and plumbing kept the 4100 shop space from becoming usable until two months after its scheduled July 15 opening. And although few are questioning that the MTI Tabernacle theater will be viable by the time groups need it in January, PAC is uneasy about banking on anything. "There are lots of good plans in place," said Engineering senior Ron Isaacson, PAC co-chairperson. "I'm just concerned with the follow-through. If if the delays are as long as they were for 4100 Walnut, we're going to be in big trouble. It seems like we've had more of our share of problems." Isaacson added that many of PAC's current concerns -- surrounding office space once Houston Hall closes -- are relevant to a population much broader than the performing arts community. "When Houston Hall closes I think we're really gonna be in the rough, and it's not entirely clear yet where transitional office space will be," he said. "But it probably won't be more difficult for us than for other student groups." And in the year 2000, PAC -- albeit with mostly new members -- should have facilities that are highly superior to what exists now. "We're spending a lot of time on space issues," Chodorow said. "In the year 2000? it's going to be [an all-around] vast improvement." Amending the PAC Constitution Amidst the turmoil surrounding space, the question of performance group redundancy has been brought to the forefront of discussion. "[The Perelman Quad project] prompted a lot," Scanlon said. "And we have to fix the constitution. We want to become better." While the University undoubtedly sees its numerous groups as an attractive feature and a point of pride, different performing arts groups undoubtedly cover similar territory. And a few are wondering whether this is unfair for unique groups who want to join PAC, but have been prevented due to necessary parsimony. The most common example of such redundancy is a cappella groups -- of which Penn has a booming 12. But while a cappella is often fodder for criticism for the overlapping of PAC groups, its demands for rehearsal space are minimal. The groups can rehearse almost anywhere -- from the American Diner to Chimes Cafe -- and are otherwise self-supporting, Koons said. But other PAC groups do have preference for space -- and they take advantage of it, limiting resources for outside organizations. Much of the controversy stems from an aspect of PAC's constitution that has been widely interpreted over the years: groups must put on a performance to qualify for membership, in addition to writing a constitution. In recent years, PAC has required that groups perform for an audience comprised of at least 50 percent students. Faced with less-than-ideal spaces and hours for rehearsal, budding groups see the situation as a sort of Catch 22. Meanwhile, groups already in PAC have felt little pressure -- until now. "Currently, there is no mechanism for saying 'get busy or get out'," Scanlon noted. "And institutional memory is so short, groups go through fluctuations every year." PAC held its first meeting regarding constitutional change October 6. Among the reforms planned: a "unique" clause mandating that all groups establish mission statements that differ in goal and the installation of a mission review system. SAC has always had a similar unique clause, though groups sometimes stray from their mission statements. But citing SAC's revocation of Circle K's funding last April due to its shared mission with Kite and Key, Isaacson stressed that PAC would not do anything "iron-fisted." "It's much too touchy a subject to make an example of that," he said. In fairness to start-up groups, PAC plans to remove the requirement that groups perform before they join, although performance will be recommended and must be intended at some point. As for the results of the proposed constitutional reform, Scanlon is optimistic. "I think you might see the consolidation of a few groups -- groups seeing that they can help each other rather than just starting a new group," she said.
(10/06/97 9:00am)
A "random" -- and sparse -- sampling of the student body will be invited to Philadelphia's second Clinton visit this month, as First Lady Hillary Clinton arrives for a speech on campus October 22. Two weeks after her husband joins the mayor for a Democratic National Convention fundraising event at the CoreStates Center, Clinton will grace the University's Zellerbach Theatre for a speech to approximately 350 Penn students, according to Connaissance Co-Chairperson Carter Caldwell, a College junior. While not in charge of the affair, Connaissance -- the student group handling Wednesday's James Earl Jones speech -- is overseeing the distribution of tickets set aside for the student population. "Connaissance is essentially playing a consultant role," Caldwell explained. "We had experience in distributing tickets? in a manner that will allow for a good cross-section of the University to be present." He added that the group will distribute tickets separate from those already earmarked for student leaders chosen by the Office of Student Life. Clinton's speech will kick off a three-day celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Trustees' Council of Penn Women, a self-professed "old-girls network" of 139 high-profile Penn alumnae. The celebration will also feature a speech October 24 by ABC News special correspondent Cokie Roberts. Claiming to be the "first organization of its kind," the council uses its clout to solicit both involvement and funds from alumnae and to advocate women's issues. And aside from creating the PENNQuest pre-orientation program and "supporting multicultured awareness programs," the council has been devoted entirely to issues concerning Penn women -- both in school and in the real world. Additionally, the council funds women organizations and studies, most recently supporting the Kappa Delta Phi Asian sorority for its community service. The council also hosts an annual career dinner for junior women, and brought a speaker on eating disorders to campus in 1995. And on October 22, it will bring one of the country's most powerful women to campus as the keynote speaker for their anniversary celebration and as the recipient of the Beacon Award, an accolade based on a recipient's involvement in women's issues. This is neither the first time Clinton has been honored by the University nor the first time she has given a speech to the student body. In 1993, the first lady presented the commencement address and was given an honorary degree. For Roberts, the 10th anniversary celebration is not her first visit to campus, either. Roberts -- the college roommate of former University Secretary Barbara Stevens -- spoke in 1993 as well, and visited campus occasionally as a personal friend of former University President Sheldon Hackney. But while Roberts' October 24 breakfast speech at the Palladium will be reserved to council members and guests, many events throughout the three days will be open to students. Along with the annual junior women's career dinner, the celebration will include a "luminary panel" October 24 featuring Christine James-Brown, the president of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania; 1974 College for Women graduate Sylvia Rhone, the CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group and Pennsylvania Senator Allyson Schwartz. A response panel moderated by last year's career dinner keynote speaker Mary Hadar, a 1965 College for Women graduate and a Washington Post editor, will discuss future "women trailblazers." And -- appropriately for the first Ivy League university to boast a female president -- Penn President Judith Rodin will speak in College Hall's room 200 on Thursday afternoon.
(10/06/97 9:00am)
More than 80 firms will give presentations on campus this year. Not since Frasier's Brooks Brothers-and-cappuccino-laced heyday has giving advice appeared so lucrative. For the students sipping wine and schmoozing with alumni at the open bar and presentation for Gemini Consultants last week, the business of telling others how to run their businesses -- otherwise known as "consulting" -- is a fact of life, and often the ideal job for the bright business (but not banking-inclined) student. It was not always this way. The consulting industry has grown an average of 13 percent annually since 1990, and at a university boasting both some of the brightest and most pre-professionally oriented minds, consulting firms recruit hard. "[We spend] a lot of time recruiting," 1994 Wharton graduate Chris Crawley, an analyst at Marakon Associates, said at the firm's Faculty Club presentation last Monday night. "Our business is people. That's what we're about," he continued, adding that the firm, which currently employs approximately 200 consultants, is looking to hire 30-35 college graduates this year. More than 80 consulting firms gave presentations on campus last year, and firms are still signing up for this year, according to Career Planning and Placement Services Director Patricia Rose. And although Rose and several firm representatives stress that students from all schools -- not just Wharton -- can work as consultants, few universities attract as many recruiters as Penn. Crawley said Marakon only holds presentations at Penn, Princeton, Yale, Northwestern and Duke universities. And while student newspapers at all the Ivies are also riddled with advertisements for recruitment receptions, their catalogue of recruiting firms pales in comparison to Penn's. Only 26 firms will recruit at Cornell and Princeton this year, according to career planning officers at the schools. And although 83 firms plan to interview students throughout the year at Harvard, only 40 are giving presentations in Cambridge, Mass. For Cornell, however, 26 is more than twice last year's tally -- which may be a testament to the fact that firms are increasingly seeking out students without a business background. In particular, management consulting firms like Marakon emphasize that they are searching for students with a variety of degrees. "You definitely have to have good communications skills, be able to solve problems and have basic computer skills," Rose said. "Obviously, if you're talking about actuarial consulting or systems consulting, [you're going to need someone] with more expertise." Such lax prerequisites have attracted throngs of College of Arts and Sciences and Wharton students to presentations like Marakon's. Approximately 40 percent of the students at the presentation were from Wharton, with most of the rest coming from the College. "There's a lot of variety, it's really interesting and you get to travel a lot," College senior Jenny Axt said at the presentation. Indeed, travel -- along with 60-hour work weeks -- is central to the job. But for would-be investment bankers, consulting has a much more relaxed atmosphere and the hours are less demanding. And for College students unsure of the future, consulting is a ticket into the business world. "We're looking for students with an intellectual curiosity who are interested in dealing with new things because it changes all the time," Crawley said, stressing that industry knowledge is not a requirement because the company does not like to "pigeon-hole" its analysts. So what exactly does a management consultant do? Hundreds of students turned up to learn the answer last Tuesday night at Steinberg-Deitrich Hall's room 351 for a workshop given by Andersen Consulting, a major player in the field. "It may seem like you're stating the obvious," College senior Erin Arthur said. "But when you're working for [a company], it's amazing the things you can't see." The workshop, led by 1990 Wharton graduate David Blumberg, focused on the mock interview commonly given to consultant hopefuls. During the interview, the prospective analyst must attempt to begin solving a problem from a "client company" by asking questions and conducting a preliminary "investigation." "They're looking for your willingness to jump in and get wet with the problem," said Blumberg, who also stressed that responses be "thoughtful" and "structured." "Listen. Don't be thinking about how you're going to tell him how you were captain of the swim team," he said. "Use transitions like 'If I understand you correctly?' and remember you don't need prior industry knowledge." Andersen -- which has grown an average of "at least 35 percent over the past few years," according to Blumberg -- sponsored the workshop for the same reason other firms have been held their presentations in the Palladium's wine cellar -- "sheer selfish goodwill," Blumberg said. "We wanted students to like us, and we wanted the Penn students to be as good as possible," he said. "If we can answer for them the five stupid questions they're going to run into, we can get people better suited for the job."
(09/26/97 9:00am)
The 'shock jock' broadcast his show live from Philadelphia as a publicity stunt. Sandwiched in the already-congested corridor between Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's at 30th Street Station yesterday morning, over 100 Philadelphians assembled to watch talk-radio "shock-jock" Don Imus dispense garter-belt witticisms, comment on journalistic ethics and take gibes at Philadelphia 76ers President Pat Croce. While admittedly a convenient spot for attracting morning commuters, most of the onlookers at the four-hour "Imus in the Morning" live broadcast were die-hard fans. "I've been listening for seven, eight years," boasted Harvey Elfenstein to the stranger next to him. "You?" "Oh, I've been listening since '72," was local fireman Steve Foreman's response, "and even if I had a Monday through Friday job, I'd be calling in sick for this." Millions of listeners nationwide tune into Imus' syndicated show every morning from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., whether via their local AM talk station -- in Philadelphia's case, WPHT 1210 -- or cable network MSNBC's simulcast. Although the show wasn't broadcast on a Philadelphia station until last year, Imus afficionados in the city have traditionally listened to the 26-year-old show on New York's WFAN, the station on which Imus' show first rose to fame. "I started listening in 1974? it was more of an outrageous show back then," recalled local listener Tom Bouldon, noting that the show has significantly "matured" with its listeners. "Before, Imus was more of a trash-jock? he's still funny, but he does some serious political commentary and some neat interviews." A chat with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) on campaign finance highlighted yesterday's interview lineup, though some were disappointed Imus conducted the interview via telephone. "I thought Specter would've shown up in person," remarked Elfenstein. "It's not an election year, he doesn't need to show up," joked his coffee-bar comrade Foreman, during a chance conversation true to the City of Brotherly Love. Most of Imus' show centered on sportscaster Marv Albert's recent sex scandal and the discussion of whether it was journalistically ethical for Imus to reveal the name of Albert's second anonymous accuser. Stern-faced fans watched the now-graying, bushy-haired disc jockey intently -- in part due to the train station's erratic acoustics -- hanging onto every word, clapping at the appropriate moments and bursting into fits of laughter at the Imus' antics. "Here's a guy who says he's the part-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers," said Imus, introducing Pat Croce. "That must have cost, oh, $20 or $30." Although the crowd thinned out slightly come 9 a.m., most remained the full four hours, comparing Princess Di theories, waiting to get their books autographed and marveling at the grandeur of the train station and Philadelphia in years past. "Man, it's been awhile since I've been here," said Foreman, leaning across the counter to order another cappuccino. "This place used to be so decrepit," he added. "Yeah, when you'd ask for a cup of coffee and would get an odd, black liquid," recalled Elfenstein. And as the last of the throngs got up to leave, a few pledged to show up again today, when the mayor will pay Imus a visit.
(09/23/97 9:00am)
John Brown, who sells records at the corner of 40th and Walnut streets, hopes to make vinyl a big business. On a corner boasting chic eyewear, nudie magazines and falafel -- the entire range of street-vendor wares -- perhaps it isn't shocking that classic Isaac Hayes and Santana LPs are often among the sidewalk smorgasbord at 40th and Walnut streets. But although record vendor John Brown's mantras about supply and demand and his "marketing strategy" immediately distinguish him from the average street vendor, his story is even more atypical. Brown is, among other things, writing a book -- All About Records -- on the virtues of vinyl. He said he supplies several area record stores with LPs, and that he soon hopes to join the throngs of businesses on the World Wide Web. And, as in years past, he will be gracing the Philadelphia Free Library corner for a limited time only. Brown says his aim is "to bring music out to the people," but with a collection of what he claims are "roughly 2 million records," he can only offer a "dwindling sample" on the corner. The zany proprietor said he hopes not to be limited to the periphery of campus for long. "You can only liquidate X amount of goods in a space so large," he said, leaning against his vintage record-mobile yesterday afternoon. His long-term goal: to begin a used-music franchise. "I would like to sell used CDs as McDonald's sells hamburgers because there is an underground demand for vinyl -- both as collectibles and as a form of music," he said. And while Brown may not appear a budding CEO, the 40-something Philadelphia native said he did major in Economics, and scattered financial principles throughout his explanation of the vinyl business. "During the '70s with the oil shortage -- you know, with the Shah of Iran and all that," he said, "there was a shortage of petroleum, and not only did records move from wax to vinyl, but there was an increased demand for technological innovation, and you got CDs and tapes." Brown went on to explain why the "hypothesis" that LPs would become obsolete did not hold true. "It was a hypothesis -- something that is totally logical yet not necessarily correct," he said, "And if you look at it from a supply-demand perspective, the demand [for LPs] didn't diminish that much. But the supply was low." Dionne Warwick's Alfie, John Coltrane's Soultrane and The Who's My Generation are among Brown's eclectic collection, which will line the street until dark "for the next few weeks." The records -- most of which are prime selections, if slightly beat-up -- cost around $4 or $5 apiece, and Brown usually sets the scene with a little Wes Montgomery blaring from a stereo in his car. Formerly a musician himself, the gregarious Brown -- who claims to know "99.9" percent of the playlists from his records -- is happy to discuss music with his patrons. "At one point I had a combo, and we went into the studio to record a record, and for production, distribution, copying and cover art they gave us a huge figure -- and they wanted a percentage revenue above and beyond that," he told a sidewalk shopper. "It was that point I decided I wanted to have enough money to make my own music," he continued. Now a veteran in the vinyl business, Brown told another customer that jazz LPs have the most consistent demand because "best of" jazz CDs -- due to copyright laws -- often leave out the actual "best" tracks, creating a high demand for original albums. "Rhythm and blues? is also marketable, as is classic rock," he said. "But there is literally no demand for pop, because it is so common." As for Brown, his favorite record -- and the reason he loves it -- reveals a great deal about the character of the 40th Street entrepreneur. "If I could have one record, it would be What's Goin' On by Marvin Gaye," Brown said. "It's not standard Marvin Gaye, because he fought the distributors and took a gamble. Just like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis, they were sure of themselves and they also knew that they could make it marketable, and they took a gamble and that's why they were the great ones."
(09/19/97 9:00am)
The College junior's new book provides an alternative to traditional driving manuals. Four years ago, College junior Michael Schein was like most 16-year-olds, eagerly anticipating that monumental trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the freedom that would come with his driver's license. Four years ago, Alan Schein thought taking his son on a lengthy road trip -- say, one from the family summer lodgings in Ventnor, N.J. to their home in Miami, Fla. -- would be an appropriate prerequisite to this rite-of-passage. Somewhere between Ventnor and Miami, Alan Schein realized his son was oblivious to a few vital rules of the road that seemed like second-nature to him -- like signaling before turning or slowing down before turning. "My dad and I got in all sorts of fights," Schein recalled of the trip that was the initial inspiration for his new book, Teenage Roadhogs. "There are so many things you come to learn from experience -- things you should learn from an instructor before you hit the highway after a party driving around [with] five drunk friends, which is how it usually happens." In Teenage Roadhogs, which is published by Macmillan, now-English major Schein took it upon himself to educate young drivers -- humorously -- about what he calls "common sense tips" for driving. He hopes to save his readers the grief -- and their parents the frustration -- of driving cluelessly. "Keep a serious, somber expression while driving with your parents," warns the seventh chapter, "How to get the car." "Many parents believe that playing loud, fun music while driving will inevitably lead to you becoming overexcited, losing control of the car, destroying the car, and killing everyone in it," Schein writes. Other chapters tackle issues like "The Bladder and the Bowels," common -- though not-often-admitted -- fears of driving (such as "fear of changing lanes" and "fear of parallel parking") and how to "break" the news of a fender-bender to parents. But the book also dabbles in more serious driving issues -- like "oh my gosh" vehicle registration, driving under the influence of marijuana and carbon monoxide poisoning -- serving as an alternative to the dry driver's education manuals distributed at most high schools. "It started out as just funny stories," said Schein, explaining that two incidents -- a friend of the family losing his legs in a car accident with a careless driver and a talk with an agent at Macmillan -- compelled him to do some further research. "For it to really have a purpose, and for it to really sell, [research] was a necessary evil," Schein said. "I called up all the DMVs and all that stuff. And it's not over yet." Now, Schein is campaigning to make the required driver's examination "more stringent." Talk show host Oprah Winfrey called the other day, asking if he would appear on a show debating the 16-year driving age. And that's just the tip of the public relations iceberg. "I'm trying to write letters, to really get this publicized," said Schein, who added that he thinks his book is better preparation for driving than the average driver's manual. "I seriously put off getting my license because I didn't want to read the book," he recalled. "It was just boring."
(09/19/97 9:00am)
Connaissance will bring Jones' famous voice to campus in October. Refraining -- presumably -- from any mention of the Bell Atlantic yellow pages or the Dark Side, actor and "voice" James Earl Jones plans to make "Protecting the Future Through Education" the platform of a speech at the University in October. The 66-year-old Jones -- who began his acting career in 1954 on the soap opera Guiding Light -- was a 1977 Academy Award nominee and has starred in dozens of plays and movies, ranging from The Exorcist 2 to Star Wars and Field of Dreams. Only about 975 students, including 25 local middle schoolers, will be able to hear Jones speak. With Irvine Auditorium -- which often hosts major speakers -- under renovation this semester, the Annenberg Center's smaller Zellerbach Theater will be used. At about half the capacity of Irvine, Zellerbach cannot seat most of the students who will demand admission. But Connaissance -- the self-titled undergraduate "speaker people" group that organizes visiting speakersE-- has yet to decide how tickets will be distributed. "We haven't really come up with a way to make it simple," said Connaissance Co-Chairperson and College senior Elie Haller, adding that the organization usually likes to put its own bizarre "twist" into ticket sales. When singer Billy Joel spoke in spring 1996, for example, Connaissance filled the first two rows with the best respondents to the question, "Why do you deserve to be in the front row?" That wasn't the first hurdle to see the popular Long Island-based musician, though. Just to be eligible for tickets --Ein any row --Estudents had to vote in Undergraduate Assembly elections. As in past years, tickets to Jones' speech will be sold on Locust Walk -- another tradition Connaissance members seem to relish. "Billy Joel was our biggest problem," recalled Connaissance Co-Chairperson and College junior Carter Caldwell. "We basically had 60,000 people wanting to come to a venue that housed 1,800 -- the line was just tremendous." In addition to Jones and Joel, Connaissance has brought a well-known speaker to campus every semester and has subsidized speakers for other University clubs. Members discuss possible speakers, usually about 25, at monthly meetings -- the first of which takes place next Tuesday at Chats. The group then compares its list with glossy catalogs profiling available celebrities and weighing their costs and benefits. But Caldwell said Connaissance is not limited to what the catalogs offer. "If we wanted Eddie Murphy, our bureau has contacts with various other speaker bureaus," he said. "It could be arranged." But Connaissance's work is not over after they've landed their speaker. After selling tickets and making arrangements with technicians and caterers, members must cater to their honored guest. Sometimes the visits -- those of Danny Glover and Dick Vitale, for instance -- run smoothly. Other visits are not as successful. "[Film director Oliver Stone's trip] was horrible," Haller recalled. "He was sick, he was grumpy, he walked in and demanded a new hotel room? and I don't know what he was on."
(09/16/97 9:00am)
Shampoo boasts nine rooms and decor that can only be described as "fabulous." The Five Spot prides itself on a loungy atmosphere and cocktail culture. Delaware Avenue is a constant battle for the most outrageous club. None of these nightspots, however, ranked in the top 100 college hangouts listed in Playboy magazine's September "college issue." Instead, in what may be indisputable proof that "location, location, location" is a bar's most important feature, the 64-year-old Smokey Joe's Tavern was Philadelphia's lone contribution to the nationwide list. Students unwinding at the "Pennstitution" at 40th and Locust streets last Thursday night said they were dubious of the unpretentious pub's qualifications for making the national list. "It's not a sexy place, it's just a bunch of people," Engineering sophomore Josh McGrath said. It was University students themselves, however, who elected Smoke's to the list in a nationwide survey by the college marketing company "Beyond the Wall" -- an enterprise run, coincidentally, by a Penn alumnus. "People all over are saying, 'Oh, I can't believe they made the top 100 -- I used to hang out there all the time, they had $1 pitchers and sink or swim on Wednesday nights'," said Brian Gordon, the 1991 College graduate who co-heads the company, which, in addition to conducting the survey for publication in Playboy, has given the top bars commemorative T-shirts and other promotional items. While emphasizing that favoritism played no part in the results, Gordon noted that for him, like many students, Smoke's was a second home. "I was [at Smoke's] seven days a week," he added. "And I don't care if you went to private school, if you went to boarding school -- if you had to pick one bar to hang out all four years, that was it. Occasionally you'd go to the Palladium for a change of pace, but Smoke's was it." Indeed, the bar still draws a diverse array of clientele from all circles of the University -- along with its faithful regulars. "We're like Norm and Cliff," said Ben Schwartz, a College senior sitting at the bar Thursday. Most patrons cited Smokes' "ambience" and the comfortable variety of people inhabiting the bar as their favorite things about the bar. "Where else can a guy in a three-piece suit mingle with a college frat guy in a T-shirt and ripped jeans?" said a bartender who requested simply to be called "Fun" Bob. And 1982 College graduate Lisa DePaulo -- a contributing editor at George magazine who waitressed at Smoke's while at the University --Epraised the bar for its "cross-section" of people. "It was a great balance to Penn," she said. "At a University so big, it's all subdivided, [and Smoke's is] the only place where you get the head of law school sitting at lunch with captain of football team with some nerd that slithered out of a Wharton class. I get really misty [going back.]" "You could say that I learned more working at Smokey Joe's than I did in most of my classes at Penn -- not all of it good -- but it was definitely a life experience," she continued, adding that she once incorporated her waitressing job into a Sociology project examining how bartenders judge their patrons based on the drinks they order. Like several patrons Thursday, De Paulo cited the kindhearted Pat and Paul Ryan -- whose family has owned the bar since 1952 -- as a primary reason for the bar's success. And while not awestruck by his bar's top rating, Paul Ryan stressed that his pub was a bar like no other. "In what other bar could a 44-year old man stand up and sing with G. Love?" said Ryan of his winter duet with the singer. Not all the regulars are free from gripes, though. "It's dark, lacking windows and the bar is inaccessible," said a female student with Schwartz. "And people get decked out to come here -- it's all about how low on the hips you can go to show that fashionable, yet trendy tummy ring." DePaulo, too, did not refrain from cynicism regarding her Smoke's experience. "A lot of frat guys would be hanging out, and sometimes the same guys who would sit down next to you in Marketing would treat you differently because they didn't see you as a college person but as a waitress," she recalled. "It said a lot about the Penn attitude." But most students Thursday treated Smoke's simply as their favorite spot to drink and be seen -- and hopefully find someone to flirt with. "You can't get the full effect of Smoke's unless you go home with someone," said a College senior, who requested to remain anonymous. And according to Wharton senior Jill Botwick, "Smoke's is only fun after seven shots." Asked what he liked best about his hangout, a student requesting anonymity put it bluntly: "The bottom line? The pitchers are cheap and the girls are easy."
(09/11/97 9:00am)
After thousands of rehearsals, hundreds of run-throughs and five live performances in Scotland, six Theater Arts majors performed Sophie Treadwell's 1928 play Machinal for the first time before a University audience in Annenberg's Studio Theater last night. But while all six players are veterans of the University's theater scene, the last nine months had been, in the words of College senior and cast member Melissa Donald, "invigorating, inspiring? and intimidating at times." Not only was Machinal -- which the group studied all spring in Theater Arts 275 and performed for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August -- the first play any of them had studied so intensively, but the first any of them had performed in another country. "[There's a] huge difference between learning how to act in the classroom and acting in a theater in front of your school -- and in front of an audience where no one knows your name, and they have no preconceptions," said cast member and College junior Neil Hellegers. College senior Lara Siegel added she "loved Scotland and everything it had to offer," noting, "I would love to go back for a big chunk of time." And although class has started again and the cast left Edinburgh almost two weeks ago, the actors were enthusiastic about finally showing the play to their peers before performing it the last time Saturday night. The Theater Arts program has sent students to Edinburgh's festival for a University-funded trip called "The Edinburgh Project" for seven years. Out of the 150 groups performing in the Fringe Festival -- which is part of Edinburgh's annual theater festival every August -- Penn's troupe was one out of only five college casts. Planning for Edinburgh begins at the end of fall, when interested theater majors apply for the program. "We choose based on their demonstrated record of responsibility and commitment -- and acting ability, but that goes without saying," said the play's director, Rose Malague -- one of the two faculty members who traveled with the students. In contrast to its numerous performing arts groups, the University has a fairly small amount of theater majors -- approximately 50 -- and most plan to pursue performance after graduation. "[The Edinburgh Project] approximates the time commitment of a long-run performance," explained Malague. "You discover new things --you own the material more. It makes for a richer performance." In the semester that the chosen cast members -- along with six other theater majors -- studied Machinal, they concentrated exclusively on the play. "I loved it from the straightaway," said College senior Raluca Georgescu, who played the story's main character, a trapped woman of the 1920s who kills her husband for freedom. Based on the true story of Ruth Snyder, the first woman sent to the electric chair, Machinal premiered on Broadway months after Snyder's controversial trial concluded. "I was absolutely intrigued that it was based on a true story," said cast member Rebecca Scott, a College junior, who mentioned that in deciding how to perform the play, the class did some "detective work" on the case. Cast member and College junior Marya Kaminski explained how the class used the play as a "vehicle" for exploring other acting theories and techniques, such as cross-gender casting. "[Casting males as females] isn't strange -- with the shortage of males, it's pretty common here," said Kaminski. "But it was a stylistic choice for this," she added, explaining how the cast -- which includes only one male -- was trying to offer alternative portrayals of men to distinguish between the way the main character viewed males. In addition, the ramifications of taking the show to Europe -- and having to set up, perform and remove the set in two hours for the festival -- forced students to experiment with sound and props. Eventually, the class decided on a minimalist set comprised mainly of colorful panels and a frenetic, unsettling soundtrack.
(09/09/97 9:00am)
The a cappella group performed several songs yesterday morning on Y-100's "Barsky in the Morning." Most of the students biting their nails outside the Provost Tower study lounge last night were still in bed for Off the Beat's performance on Y-100 yesterday morning. But all of them said they knew about the live radio performance -- which aired at 8:30 a.m. on the "Barsky in the Morning" show -- and that the 10-year-old a cappella group they were auditioning for is known far beyond its University audience. The award-winning ensemble got the gig on Philadelphia alternative rock station Y-100 (100.3 FM) when their business manager, Engineering sophomore Jeffrey Marrazzo -- also a soloist in the group -- sent their latest CD to the station. "Barsky heard it, played it on the radio and got a lot of positive feedback," explained Sid Khosla, the group's president. "We were actually pretty lucky." Bleary-eyed and fatigued from a long weekend of orientation performances -- from Friday and Saturday's performing arts nights to the Into the Streets project -- the entire group rose at 5 a.m. to make the gig. "It was easy because we were stoked," said the group's music director, College senior Dave Gross, as the group ate a pre-audition dinner in the lounge. Khosla said the CD Marrazzo sent the station, When Mama's Not Around, is the most successful album the group ever produced. Indeed, the CD won the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award last year for the fourth consecutive year, and the group sold all 1,000 copies of the album in the eight months the CD has been available. But Khosla and Gross said they hope their CD, No Static, due out this fall will be their best. When the group has chosen its new members -- shortly after tonight's callbacks -- all the members will choose the lineup for the new album, which could include the three new songs they performed on the radio -- Sheryl Crow's "Everyday is a Winding Road," Tonic's "If Only You Could See" and Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry." Off the Beat is far from the only a cappella group on campus to have recorded a CD. Counterparts, the Penn 6-5000 and Penny Loafers among others have all recorded albums. But since Off the Beat is probably the most widely known of the University's 12 a cappella groups, it is especially difficult to gain membership. "If I'm going to be in one [group], this is the one," said a sophomore before her audition. Another noted that the group was her first choice of the three she auditioned for. But each a cappella group -- all of which held auditions last night -- emphasized that notable differences in style and choice of music set them apart. Off the Beat has always aimed for a "cutting edge" selection of songs and particularly complex arrangements, while other groups -- the Hindi "Penn Masala," for instance -- have significantly different styles. "I'm not picky," said one nervous freshman, auditioning after making a pact with a friend. "I'll take whoever calls me back."
(09/08/97 9:00am)
Around 40 percent of the freshman class participated in projects to introduce students to the neighborhood. For slackers and late sleepers, the Quadrangle was an unusually peaceful place Saturday. Approximately 40 percent of the freshman class was off campus by 10:30 a.m. on their second Saturday at the University, working at a slew of community service sites around Philadelphia for the annual Into the Streets project. Just three blocks from the high rises, Spruce Street House residents planted flowers on 4045 Ludlow Street. But for many freshmen, Saturday meant a trip off campus and a first encounter with SEPTA. What started seven years ago as a program exclusively for residents of the lower Quadrangle's Community House attracted 1,040 students and 16 corporate sponsors this year, according to the head coordinator, Program for Student-Community Involvement Co-Director Liz Price. This year, in fact, the event generated so much interest that an entire Community House hall could not go. "[The program has trouble] on a Saturday, because many agencies aren't open," noted David Grossman, co-director of PSCI. "But we don't really have too much flexibility? the freshmen orientation schedule is fairly packed." Otherwise, responses from this year's Into the Streets seemed positive, although the four coordinators -- Price and three hired student interns -- have not yet reviewed the evaluation forms. "It was a lot of fun and a great way to meet people in my hall," said College freshman Jennifer Jong. While it wasn't the first year Mayor Ed Rendell or City Councilperson Jannie Blackwell paid the Quad a visit for the event, it was the first time the picnic -- which also featured student performing arts groups Off the Beat and Mask and Wig -- was held in the morning, which Grossman noted was not only logistically better for students arriving back at different times, but gave the students a better sense of "context." "We wanted to convey to people before they went out as a group some of what we hoped they would get out of [Into the Streets] before they went out," Grossman said. And sound system difficulties aside, most students said they enjoyed the kickoff event, which boasted bagels from Fairmount Bagel Institute, coffee from the Bucks County Coffee's "coffeemobile" and food from Dining Services. In addition, both Price and student coordinator and College junior Adil Ali emphasized that all lines of communication -- among students, agencies, residential advisors and University community groups -- worked better than in years past. "We really tried to emphasize community participation and get the agencies to include regular volunteers to make it seem like a joint effort," said Price, who also noted that several residential advisors had already expressed the desire to follow through with future hall-based community service events. "As a one-day event, it serves a lot of purposes -- introducing neighborhoods and community agencies, and also as a whole bonding experience," Grossman said. But beyond the events of the day, Grossman and Price hoped the clearer lines of communication and several changes -- including fewer cleanup sites at this year's event and a listserv for interested students -- along with annual events like this Wednesday's Volunteer Fair on Locust Walk -- would encourage students to make community service more habitual. Grossman also noted that the University has more courses involving community service than any other he knew of. "I'm not sure that you would speak to representatives at any urban university that would say their relationship with their community is peachy-keen," he said. "[But there are things] they can do to build bridges of understanding."
(09/04/97 9:00am)
As freshmen ambled around on campus tours Saturday, first-year transfer students traveled in herds to South Street. During the Penn Reading Project and the Class of 2001 Barbecue, the transfers visited the Art Museum and Liberty Place. And as the first freshmen were just trickling in Thursday and Friday, transfer students were meeting and socializing at off-campus parties organized just for them. Just as the University turned over operations of The Book Store to Barnes & Noble, the organization of orientation events for transfer students has been a task handed over to a committee of past transfer students for years. The committee allows transfer advisors -- like College of Arts and Sciences Assistant Dean Eric Schneider -- to handle the academic advising of transferring, while students take complete charge of the social aspect of orientation. Equally crowded as freshmen orientation weekend events, the transfers' weekend was less like "summer camp" and more like a field trip. Students saw the Liberty Bell, ate cheesesteaks and explored SEPTA. And when they encountered problems -- whether with residence halls, roommates or schedules -- Julie Vance was there. Vance, a 1997 College graduate who transferred to Penn in the fall of 1994, headed the makeshift committee of transfer students for the last time this year. "Honestly, these are my favorite five days of the year," she said. "Transfers have unique problems that only transfers know how to solve." Standing in the High Rise North lobby all weekend, head transfer advisors Vance and College senior Sarah Greenbaum greeted transfers with a warm smile and helped them move into their rooms. "[Greenbaum] made me feel like I wasn't at a new school. She was really helpful," said College sophomore Sarah Vakil, who transferred this semester. Admittedly, the transfers, numbering approximately 240, are a much more manageable group than the freshmen. But they are also scattered thinly around campus buildings, with a much higher chance of being dissatisfied with their living situations and a much lower chance of forming a cohesive group -- if it was not for Vance and other former transfers. "Julie works harder than anyone else I know? She works very hard to make everything come together and she always does," said College senior and former transfer student David Austin, who added that all transfers involved come back to campus a week early to help Vance organize events. "There's a lot of responsibility for the students who coordinate it," said Schneider, whose office welcomes transfers for academic assistance. "Honestly, my interest would be in praising the group to the skies because they've always done a fabulous job." During the five days of orientation, however, the responsibility is a huge one. For Vance, it meant losing $1,000 of her own money on last year's festivities -- and having to raise the students' donation for activity fees by about $10 this year -- along with innumerable hours of unpaid work. Additionally, autonomy means a limited source of funds. The Student Activities Council pitches in $600 every year and New Student Orientation Coordinator Lori Reed foots the bill for the pizza party, but as Greenbaum admitted, "we would love to know who to go to" for more money. Yet the advisors are generally happy to shoulder the organization headaches -- and a few dollars, here and there -- to welcome the new transfers. The high attendance -- over 150 at every event, according to Greenbaum -- is a sign their efforts have paid off. "I didn't go to my freshman orientation and I went to this," said 1997 transfer Julie Gerstein at last night's ice cream social in the High Rise North Rathskellar Lounge, the last orientation event. "I don't usually participate, but [this time] I did. That says something."
(09/04/97 9:00am)
Almost unkn own in the U.S., several Penn graduates embraced "the ultimate team sport." All sports incorporating boats and oars were not created equal. A crew boat sits eight rowers at most. They sit single file and row a steady 35 times a minute. They are usually painted in nondescript shades of blue and brown. Dragon boats, on the other hand, are a fanciful-looking species -- with snarling dragon "heads" at the bow and vibrant shades of red and gold adorning their bellies -- they require 20 rowers paddling in sync 85-100 times a minute. Which is why Steve Hartman, a Penn alumnus and avid dragon boater, calls it "the ultimate team sport." But take a tally of Philadelphia residents who have even heard of the sport -- much less that Philadelphia has a gold-medalist team -- and the number will likely be almost nil. Not so for crew. And not so for dragon boating in East Asia, where the sport is an immensely popular tradition that dates back 2,000 years. When the Philadelphia Dragon Boat team, representing the United States this past June at the International Dragon Boat races in Hong Kong, took the gold medal in the men's 500-meter, the Philadelphia Inquirer allotted two lines to the news. With such little recognition, and only two big races to look forward to every year, what has kept the 20 paddlers -- all of them with demanding full-time workloads -- meeting on the Schuylkill five times a week since March 1, doing hundreds of sit-ups a night, and working out year-long? International competition. "There is nothing like sitting at the starting line, and on your left you've got Indonesia, and on your right you've got Japan," said Hartman. Like his teammates, local attorney Hartman's career would normally prevent the former Penn rower from continuing to row seriously. But even 1985 College alumnus and Penn Medical School graduate Ken Allwood -- a neurosurgical resident at HUP -- manages to make it out to Manayunk's Philadelphia Canoe club to paddle with the team. "He used to bring his beeper and cellular phone on the boat with him," paddler Pete Macnamara said "He'd have to stop mid-segment and take calls." Even still, Philly's team was up against impressive competition last June 14 in Hong Kong. Both Australia and Germany boast teams with Olympic rowers, and Indonesia's team -- which is professional -- practices 14 times a week. In China, where the sport originated and crowds of "at least 250,000," according to Hartman, gathered in 1995 for the World Championships, the teams are also exceedingly competitive. And China also has the gold-medalist women's dragon boat team, an endeavor which Philadelphia has recently taken on under the coaching of Carol Lee Lindner, a Haverford resident and canoeist. "I used to think 'what is that? It looks like some kind of joke!'" said the 57-year old coach in reference to the 39-foot canoe-like dragon boats. But little by little, the sport has gained popularity. Lindner, who attracted 75 women to the team when she posted flyers at Main Line Nautilus, caught the attention of her youngest paddler, College sophomore and Penn rower Anne Plutzer, at a health club. "I'm always looking to try something new, and Carol Lee posted something at [the place] where I work out," said Plutzer. "It's different from crew, because it's more one-sided, and mostly you use your upper body." The women -- whose ages range from 18-42 (while most of the men are in their 30s and 40s) -- are not slated to come close to the men's level of competition any time soon. But it is they, in part, who will enable the men to return to Hong Kong. The women each pay $100 per session to receive lessons from the men, and until the team gets corporate sponsorship, it is a large source of funding for the Philadelphia Men's Dragon Boat team. But with the sport's recognition spreading and currently more than 40 teams nationwide, that may not be long.
(09/03/97 9:00am)
Somewhat reluctantly, hungry freshmen gathered in lagging, hopelessly long lines outside Hill Field Sunday, talking about parties and bands, complaining they would never get food and evaluating life at Penn so far. By and large, the students loved the University. "I can't say that anything was actually tedious as of yet. I'm going to wait till classes for that," Wharton freshman Ariel Glasner said. "Even CUPID wasn't too bad." Perhaps unbelievable to an upperclass student body jaded by University activities, dormitory life and food at Chats, the Class of 2001 had no huge complaints -- aside from the fact that their refrigerators were delayed -- after the long weekend's nonstop string of orientation events. Starting with move-in and hall meetings, orientation weekend, as in past years, focused on building hall comraderie and teamwork. Larger events such as Casino Night and the Wild Video Dance Party brought the entire class together. This year was the first to boast a "Class of 2001 Olympics," incorporating various events -- from a scavenger hunt to a banner contest familiarizing freshmen with University icons -- in which college houses competed against each other. This year, freshmen -- in residential groups -- participated in the Class of 2001 competitions, which included a scavenger hunt and class cheer. Stouffer College House triumphed as the overall winner, followed by DuBois College House and Kings Court/English House. As in previous years, last night concluded the four active days with an outside "drive-in" movie, Devil's Own, a first chance to unwind for most freshmen. "It just feels like summer camp," Glasner said. "A little cheesy, but it's neat the way everyone has been so open." And even though the "summer camp" comparisons resonated wherever freshmen could be found last weekend, the Class of 2001 seemed to enjoy "cheesy" events -- like Houston Hall's faux gambling extravaganza Monday -- the most. "Casino Night actually was pretty good because it provided an alternative to the frat parties," Glasner added. As one freshman pointed out, the multitude of off-campus parties held to attract them were "too crowded, too feisty and [had] too little beer." "The parties were just one long line of supplicating people with empty cups," lamented College freshman Lee Esposito. "And though I thought the crazy Wild Video Dance Party was the stupidest idea in the world, but I met some really cool people. I thought it was going to be a pseudo-high school reject thing, but it turned out to be a relaxed affair." As classes begin today, the main freshman gripe is "exhaustion." As one College freshman painting a banner for the Residential Advisory Board-sponsored banner contest -- held as part of the Class of 2001 Olympics -- said, "I'm doing this because it's artistic, because I'm bonding with my hallmates and because it's stationary."
(08/29/97 9:00am)
Instead of heading into Center City for a bite to eat or a day of shopping, sample some of University City's finest establishments west of 40th Street. and Doree Shafrir Discussion of the area past 40th Street -- if it occurs at all -- tends to take on a negative tone for many Penn students, and sadly enough, the demise of Murphy's Pub (commonly known as Murph's) last semester means fewer and fewer University students will venture out west this year. Without the lenient carding policies and the lure of cheap lager to draw the student body, why make the trek? Just a few reasons are listed here. Not only is University City replete with thrift stores, it is an ethnic food mecca -- the Thai, Ethiopian and Indian restaurants just west of campus are probably the best in Philly. And if, amidst the urban rush of Penn life, you feel a mite nostalgic for suburbia, a walk west (on Pine, Spruce, Locust and Osage especially) can be just what you need. So if you're bored with classes, longing for a good swingset, in dire need of something polyester or just hungry (and sick of the Food Court), don't swing for a cab -- just walk west. Here are a few places we recommend: RESTAURANTS ·Hong Kong 39th Street Cafe 3900 Chestnut Street 386-1802 Just outside Hamilton Court and Cav's, our West Philly exotic dining experience begins. This charming former pizza place (the decor still harkens memories of Ocean City) is rarely full and always bending over backwards for customers. More importantly, the food rivals some of the best Chinatown venues for authenticity -- and it's cheap. Try the $3.95 lunch specials (the slightly spicy, intensely flavorful Szechuan braised bean curd, a.k.a. mapodofu, is a great vegetarian option) or B.Y.O.B. at night and share a few of their noodle dishes. And if you decide to carry out, the magazines (from The Economist to Vanity Fair and Details) in the front make it doubly worth the wait. ·Pattaya Grill 4006 Chestnut Street 387-8533 Just off 40th on the ethnic food locus that is Chestnut Street, you'll find an amazing Thai restaurant. Make that three amazing Thai restaurants -- all of them affordable and delectable. But each has its own personality. While Thai Singha House (on the other side of 40th) is dark, intimate, and more traditionally Thai, Pattaya Grill is light, airy, and fused with French cuisine. Thai staples --from the "peanutilicious" noodle dish pad thai to the effervescent whole-body experience known as lemongrass soup -- are fairly inexpensive, while the more French-influenced specials (mostly seafood dishes) are pricier. Your best investment is in the fabulous (and fabulously cheap) Thai curry selections, and a good white wine. The sommeliers will cordially help you out with the last part, making you feel delightfully swank in the process. ·Jow's Garden 349 South 47th Street 471-3663 Another experiment in Thai-fusion, the farther-out Jow's Garden (located on 47th St. between Pine and Spruce -- walk out on Pine and enjoy the quaint residential neighborhood and passing dog-walkers) is an absolute must-do during your stay in West Philly. The Thai menu is more extensive and traditional than Pattaya Grill, and not necessarily adapted to the wimpy Western palate -- but if you can't handle the fiery flavor, they'll help you out (and the timid can always order pasta and sauce). Jow's also has a lunch truck on Walnut St. -- the most affordable Thai option in the city. Order curry (and get acquainted with the menu) one afternoon, and make the journey out to the restaurant (with some friends, okay?) later on. ·Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant 229 South 45th Street 387-2424 If you're brave (or taking the Penn Shuttle) you can enjoy dirt-cheap Ethiopian food and a full bar as late as 2 a.m. at this charming 45th and Locust venue. Vegetarian dishes start around $3.50 and deliver enough food for your entire house to share. This is a great place to get take-out, and every entree is spicy and satisfying -- and equipped with enough spongy sour bread to mop up every last morsel. Enjoy. ·Koch's Take Out Shop 4309 Locust Street 222-8662 Hands down, Koch's is the best deli in the city of Philadelphia -- and so many newspapers and magazines have waxed poetic about its mouth-watering array of fresh cheeses and meats (which the beguilingly surly Koch family will assuredly pass around for you to sample), its soothing kugel and rice pudding, and its luxurious milkshakes, that you'll have no dearth of reading material while you wait in line and debate what to get. Our recommendation? Anything. This place is worth a daily pilgrimage, but at least make it out once every few weeks -- Bob Koch will remember you, and remind you that West Philly is a pretty pleasant neighborhood to live in. It's closed right now, but a sign outside promises they'll be back September 4?see you then. ·The Restaurant School 4207 Walnut Street 222-7346 F.Y.I: Prix-fixe at Le Bec-Fin is roughly $100 a person. In search of another option for that three-month anniversary? Three courses at under $15 each sure ain't bad, and if you go here, you don't even need cab fare. The chefs-in-training serve a different menu nightly, differing (predictably) in tastiness, but if you're indecisive -- and not all that picky -- dining here is an elegant, uncharacteristically bucolic (for West Philly, anyway) experience that almost always tastes accordingly. ·Assorted purveyors of naan, samosas and yellow rice It's virtually impossible to go wrong if you're eating Indian in U. City. Around five Indian restaurants within a two-block radius creates competition, and consequently, every one is scandalously cheap (generously discounting students, too) and offering an enticing buffet. Go when you're ravenous and you'll feel like a thief -- with the spectacular array of lentil/chickpea-based, masala and saffron-effusing stews, soups, and traditional Indian breads, it's impossible to go wrong. Better yet, there's no agonizing wait (just say "buffet" and grab a plate or two), and there's even a salad bar. ·Dahlak 4708 Baltimore Avenue 726-6464 Just up Baltimore Avenue is a little taste of East Africa -- Ethiopia, to be exact. Welcome to the wonderful communal world of Dahlak, where everyone shares everyone else's food and no one uses plates or utensils. Anything with chicken or lamb usually goes over quite well, even among the culinarily cautious, and the menu is also full of vegetarian options, which comes in handy when dining with non-carnivores. Even better, most entrees (both meat and non-meat) are under $10, and to go along with the meal, a pitcher of mango juice is always a safe bet. SHOPPING ·The Second Mile Center 214 South 45th Street (between Walnut and Locust streets) 662-1663 If you're in need of a green velvet couch, a pair of winter boots or polyester shirt (or some combination thereof), the Second Mile Center is the answer to your prayers. This cavernous warehouse of all things used is a welcome refuge from overpriced vintage "boutiques," which pretend that paying $45 for a frumpy housewife's dress is reasonable, dahling. At Second Mile, however, most stuff is under five bucks, which shouldn't put too much of a dent in anyone's wallet. ·Toviah Thrift Shop 4211 Chestnut Street 381-7251 On your walk home from Second Mile, pop into this small (and somewhat claustrophobic) secondhand shop, which doesn't specialize in anything special but where you might just find a prize hiding among the racks. The store also has an excellent collection of old -- and sometimes used -- postcards, which are always fun to send to long-lost friends and other loved ones. ·52nd Street Forget about Liberty Place or even the Gallery -- the place to go for trendy clothes in Philadelphia is 52nd Street between Market and Spruce streets. Easily accessible by the #21 bus, which runs down Walnut Street, or the Market-Frankford El (which stops at 52nd Street), this four-block area features shoe stores and nail salons galore, not to mention more tight polyester pants in pastel colors than anywhere else in town. And best of all, everything is cheap. Really cheap, as in $9.99 for a pair of sandals and $12.99 for a pair of pants at Rainbow, just one of the many clothing stores catering to the fashion and budget conscious shopper. At the end of the day, grab a snack at Dunkin' Donuts or McDonald's or sample the (inexpensive) fare at one of the many mom-and-pop establishments that line the street.
(07/24/97 9:00am)
The "Eat at Joe's" diner, set to open on New Year's Eve, will offer both traditional 50's fare and healthy alternatives. For the most part, the University's latest retail ventures -- such as building the upscale Inn at Penn, limiting street vendors and creating a Barnes & Noble "super" bookstore -- have not been directly related to student demand. But when an Undergraduate Assembly survey last fall revealed the student body's craving for more late-night dining options, the University promptly started soliciting diners who could fill the bill. Eat at Joe's -- a Cherry Hill-based company founded and headed by a 1990 Drexel finance graduate -- will open at 40th and Walnut (adjacent to Baskin Robbins') next New Year's eve. And while most students will not be on campus to witness the restaurant's premier, it is University City's student population that the "semi-chain" will cater to specifically. "With a chain, you really lose sight of your customer base," explained Anthony Cosenza, the company's president and self-professed "big bopper." "Eat At Joe's?will serve not only classic '50's fare, but also cater to the demographics of the specific population." The "demographics" in this case refers to students at the University, which owns the space Eat at Joe's is renting. So along with garlic mashed potatoes and fried chicken, Joe's will serve healthier food, including vegetarian choices. "We will be serving 'macrobiotic' foods, very nutritious items like burgers with no meat," explained the company's executive chef. But if "macrobiotic" seems reminiscent of the none-too-appetizing meatless sandwiches at Chats, Cosenza -- who also operates the Philly Steak and Gyro Co. booth at the 3401 Walnut Street Food Court -- stressed that quality was his primary concern. Eager to get feedback on menu ideas, Cosenza said he hopes to forge a "comfort level" with his consumers. In fact, the 29-year-old entrepreneur sympathizes with University students. "[At Drexel] we were always looking for a diner. We wanted an alternative to the meal plan, or what the fraternity was offering," he said. Cosenza also acknowledged that Eat At Joe's -- which he promised would offer a good "$5-and-under-meal" -- would serve as an alternative to Billybob's, which is one of the two 24-hour eateries currently on campus. Last semester, the University put Billybob's, located at 40th and Spruce streets, under 24-hour police surveillance in an effort to prove it was a menace to the community and a crime magnet. "I don't know that Billybob's is the sole reason for the crime in that area," Cosenza said. "I've eaten there, a number of years ago?I though they did a credible job."
(06/26/97 9:00am)
Pulsating car stereos and rummaged-through litter aside, the 4000 block of Baltimore Avenue becomes Marlboro country at sunset. I retire to this charming neighborhood after an arduous day of working in a downtown high rise's arctic corridors. The rosy light glimmers through the trees. The air, heady with malt liquor and the onion-garlic-deep-fried magnificence of the nearby double bypass -- Billybob's and Allegro restaurants -- is cozy and inviting. More often than not, my retreat to the porch includes a cup of coffee or on longer days, a beer, and a cigarette. Between the cushions of the shabby couch on our porch lie my Parliament lights -- soon to be labeled "nicotine delivery devices"-- that constantly lure me into turning into one of the notorious 3,000. News sources say that 3,000 American teens become "regular smokers," a status gained by smoking at least once a day for an entire month. I myself have yet to enter these ranks. My inner pessimist, however, knows it's only a matter of time before I join my comrades and fold under the pressure of Big Tobacco. After all, what strength can I claim when I'm constantly exposed to such powerful imagery as the tanned, carefree couple savoring their Parliaments on the billboard beach just outside my window? Or the seductive copper-haired glamour-puss clutching her martini and a Kamel Red inside my latest issue of Details. Or, most alluring of all, that suave cartoon camel named "Joe," who incidentally also nurses a large bottle of alcohol? But harbor that cynicism no longer, America! Soon, unless you subscribe to Playboy or Hustler, in which case the Surgeon General has apparently decided you're corrupted beyond repair, you'll no longer be tempted by those glossy ads. In fact, every time you buy a pack, not only will it cost an average of three bucks -- you'll be reminded in half-inch-high letters that "Cigarettes Can Kill You." This, along with $368.5 billion and a surrender to federal regulation, is Treacherous Tobacco's indemnity for annually robbing the nation of a collective "four million years of life," according to social historian Richard Kruger. Neither side is entirely happy with the deal, which was announced Friday. But neither side is particularly indignant. Some think that $370 billion is too low a cap for the tobacco companies' bill -- which means its losses will be hefty but predictable, guarded against any more groups of sullied lungs ganging up in class-action suits against the business. Tobacco, predictably, resents regulation of its additive partners in cigarettes. But the settlement satisfies both sides, because "any decent person wants both sides to lose," as Time magazine noted. Tobacco, which naturally contains an extremely addictive substance, has taken the lives of millions -- directly and indirectly. That said, we've known this for more than thirty years. It's been banned from television and kids under 18. Warnings are plastered on every box. Perhaps it's a testament to America's current upbeat state that Clinton took on the tobacco companies. The economy is excellent. People are employed and thus working hard and making more. In their search for relaxation, Americans often turn to vices and old taboos, such as martinis and microbrews, cappuccinos and, doubtless, Marlboros. Suddenly, the number of smokers, after a years-long decline, is slowly rising. Although one may argue that there's little else for Clinton to approach politically, in an economy thriving on austerity and deregulation, a government whose job is to regulate has to find something. Tobacco is arguably, and somewhat ironically, the most innocuous thing for him to approach right now. And by promising to punish the industry further if teenage smoking doesn't decrease, the pressure is slight, but there. The settlement will invariably decrease smoking to an extent -- anyone who's ever seen a supply-demand curve knows that a higher price means lower demand. So it will be considered a success. But it won't erase smoking any more than Prohibition ended alcohol consumption. The lure of a cigarette is undeniable and embedded in our culture. While the advertisements from big tobacco companies such as Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco are given an added dose of exposure because of the current tobacco hype, they are far less memorable than the free press cigarettes get in movies, on television and in their supposed basis, reality. When it comes to censorship, reality is amazingly elusive. Pardon me while I escape it with a cup of coffee. And perhaps a nicotine-carrying device.
(06/12/97 9:00am)
The new restaurant is not in keeping with the innovative dining tradition the city is known for. So Philadelphia has become an "A-list city," eh? Such were the words of Hard Rock Cafe CEO Jim Berk last Thursday after announcing that the world-renowned theme restaurant was finally expanding its chain to include Philly. Being deemed "A-list," in corporate speak means Philadelphia is up-and-coming, a burgeoning tourist spot. More like Philly is so desperate for tourism that it's willing to cough up $8 million to revive it and sacrifice another $12 million in tax breaks on development of the Reading Terminal Headhouse -- where the cafe will be located -- in an effort to increase the yearly tourist count from last year's dismal 5 million. And for this sincere endeavor to generate revenue, the nation's first capital will this year join the ranks of Guangzhou, China; Taichung, Taiwan; and even Universal City, California as a city tourists will emerge from never to forget. They'll have the T-shirt to prove they were there. Sadly, restaurant ingenuity has always been a strength in Philadelphia -- even when employment has slumped, the number of abandoned buildings grows, and crime flourishes. Rated the top American city to dine in by the Conde Nast Traveler Readers Poll, Philadelphia's streets are teeming with an ever-growing array of inventive dining options. Where else could you find kim chee at a food truck (for the time being, in University City) or Mexican-Indian food (South Street) or s'mores and liquor at your favorite late-nite coffee shop (Center City)? The Hard Rock Cafe -- while an innovative restaurant idea 10 years back -- is, like Sansom Commons in University City, not really a fixture that is going to change the lives of its citizens much. Places like the new Hard Rock Cafe and the revamped Reading Terminal Headhouse, however, will undoubtedly change the perceptions tourists have of Philadelphia. As a blatant tourist trap from the start, the Hard Rock Cafe will -- especially with the city's millions in investment and tax breaks in the project -- most likely fulfill its purpose and draw tourists. If one accepts the vision of tourism Mayor Ed Rendell vocalized at Thursday's announcement, Philadelphia's investment in the Hard Rock seems congruous. "Cities are going to be the theme parks of the 21st century," the mayor said. Rendell spoke, unfortunately, without sarcasm. While Philadelphia is fraught with imperfection, its only other option is not to become a generic, Disneyland-esque shopping mall. But putting a chain restaurant that serves burgers and wings in a city where food invokes endless possibilities is a decided step in that direction.
