You probably walk past it all the time on your way to Monday night Quizo at New Deck, but you never actually stop inside. The Black Cat, which is under the same ownership as White Dog Cafe, is often overlooked by the majority of Penn students, but has much more to offer than most other stores around campus.
When you set foot in Black Cat, you become immersed in an atmosphere that is distinct to this little shop. It's like the door is a gateway out of the mean streets of Philadelphia (OK, it's only Sansom Street) and into a cozy world with cloth butterflies hanging from the ceiling and the soothing smells of scented candles and body lotions. Music softly plays, at times faintly Arabic, at times faintly Lilith Fair, but nothing so jarring that it stirs you out of the calm state that you develop as you wander around.
The Black Cat has a myriad of merchandise, ranging from skin care products to books to picture frames. For the hungry college student, you can get a two -foot spoon to, um, eat cereal. For the hipster, "Lancaster Ave. -- the Rodeo Drive of West Phila" T-shirts, and for the hell of it, "If marijuana were legal that would be cool" breath spray. The store sells everything but the kitchen sink, although the lavender soaps in the basin are for sale. Eric Tucker, the general manager and buyer, says he picks items "on instinct, going to fair trade shows and buying from local sources." The local designers are prominently featured in the jewelry section, which displays all sorts of items, like the big colorful necklaces that you've only seen on your crazy high school art teacher, as well as smaller pins and earrings. Many of the handbags are also made by designers in the Philly area. The merchandise is reasonably priced, if not a little on the expensive side for the average college student. However, for a gift or the occasional splurge, whatever you pick is worth the price.
Rather unique to The Black Cat is that the store has a decidedly left-leaning slant. According to Tucker, Black Cat gives people "the opportunity to express themselves. Stores don't usually take political opinions. We make our opinion pretty well-known." The more liberal customer would love bumper stickers like "Where are we going? And why am I in this handbasket?" and Bush playing cards, T-shirts and buttons. There are also books on the state of the economy and the environment.
Conservatives may not appreciate this merchandise, but there is still plenty more to buy in this store. If you look around long enough, anyone could find something to like in The Black Cat -- I did mention the breath spray, right?
