World Cafe great venue for food, music

By Amanda Hamedany
Collegian Reporter
October 11, 2006

Take the shuttle down to Broad Street and Olney Avenue. Get on the subway to 15th and Market Streets for a free interchange and take the Blue Line to 30th Street. Finally, walk just a couple of blocks to the World Café Live, located at 3025 Walnut St. The World Cafe Live is affiliated with local radio station WXPN, which is owned and produced by the University of Pennsylvania.

The cafe was founded with the goal of creating the perfect venue for small bands to gain recognition and visibility, and caters to up-and-coming talents. Don’t let the neighborhood fool you: the club, which was at one point a toilet factory, is now one of the most lavish and popular spots in Philly.

The only toilets you will currently find in the venue are in the restrooms. The World Cafe is comprised of a downstairs music hall and an upstairs café, both of which are home to live music, decent food and drink and space to decompress after a fairly monotonous week of classes and work.

The menu is eclectic American food, featuring fun items like eggplant fries, duck quesadillas and meatloaf. There are lunch specials every day, which vary by week. Many Friday lunch hours feature a Free at Noon concert, but tickets are offered to the radio station’s members first, which can make them difficult to come by, especially if the act is a popular performer.

Upcoming acts for the venue include Damien Dempsey and Five for Fighting. Ticket prices vary. Some concerts offer free admission, while others cost as much as $35.

Monday through Friday the World Cafe holds its Live After 5 event. From 5:30-7:30 p.m., the café holds a happy hour. For those over 21, there are a variety of drink specials, but there are also deals for the under 21 crowd as well. Appetizers are sold at prices that fit a college student’s budget.

Every Friday in October is dedicated to celebrating Oktoberfest with free giveaways and a different theme every Friday night. The café has invited guest bartenders from the Philadelphia music scene, including former Y100 personalities like Jim McGuinn, who now hosts Y-ROCK on WXPN, and Steve Morrison, part of the Preston and Steve duo now heard on WMMR.

More information can be found at www.worldcafelive.com. Tickets to shows are available online or at the door, but are less expensive if purchased the day before the show at the venue.

hamedanya1@lasalle.edu