Maybe you hit on the cute girl living next door and got shut down HARD. Maybe Spruce Street, constantly strewn with lost hair extensions and band-aids is finally getting to you. Maybe you just hate Penn. The point is, you need to get out of here. Hop on the Market-Frankford SEPTA line and get to Northern Liberties, a neighborhood roughly bounded by Fifth and Second, Poplar and Fairmount streets. "Every night is like throwing a party," promises Mark Bee, a restaurant owner in the area.
Thanks to the visionary talent of young owners, drawn to an area with enough financial breathing room to take risks, the bars, restaurants, shops and salons have a unique flavor. The atmosphere is more stylish than trendy, augmented immeasurably by the feeling of camaraderie between neighbors, businesses and artists. The inhabitants are in their late 20s to early 30s, and it's a place where, as JC Mazza, owner of Closet Fever salon describes, "even the moms who have [young] kids are photographers and painters."
Nothing here is quite what it seems. Closet Fever dismantles easily to become a fashion runway, profiling local designers and spinning the hottest beats. A Northern Liberties variety show will feature seemingly mild-mannered people from the neighborhood performing everything from burlesque to bagpipes at the RUBA club. And even though she looks like she could beat the shit out of you, designer Kim Montenegro is really nice, and you can get that kick-ass motorcycle jump suit from her boutique, Very Bad Horse.
So you didn't actually fade those jeans you're wearing, they came that way from Urban Outfitters. It's cool, Northern Liberties don't discriminate. There are no egos at places like N. 3rd, a bar where people are rocking Gothic black mesh right next to girls flaunting designer sweat pants with varsity letters across the butt. If that tribute to brotherhood isn't enough to lift your spirits, you can just get wicked hammered off some excellent, blood orange margaritas, made by Mikey, the one-eyed bartender.
The eats are diverse, moderately priced and high caliber. Hit Aden Restaurant for a first date, Pigalle for a one-year anniversary, and N. 3rd for fuck-that-bitch-who-dumped-me comfort food. Don't be shy about ordering dessert. They don't discriminate against fat people either.
Though a trek from campus, Northern Liberties is worth it. Explore, because this is the hot downtown bar without the cocky bouncer. This is the bossman having more tattoos than you and not regretting any of them at 30-something. This is live music, art, food, drink, clothes and unbridled creativity, all tied together by an eclectic mess of people kicking it a.m. to p.m.
