Arts night draws crowds, but few Penn students

Students need not wait so long for their culture fix between First Fridays anymore. The popular art and music event is now being duplicated on nearby Lancaster Avenue on the second Friday of each month.

Appropriately dubbed "Second Fridays," the event takes place just a few blocks north of Penn's campus. The area is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, art galleries, vintage clothing shops, skate shops and more.

As a spin-off of the First Friday event, during which business owners in Old City extend their hours once each month, local businesses are staying open until 11 p.m., boasting wine, cheese and art installations -- and drawing crowds of unusual size.

Retailers say it's working, but they have not yet been able to tap into the student market.

David Lawrence, owner of Art on 38, an art gallery that sells original paintings and African sculptures, says 200 people were in his gallery for the last week's event.

"If we get 100 people in here, maybe 10 might buy an original painting," Lawrence said. "That will kind of carry us for the rest of the month."

For his part, Lawrence's gallery offered live jazz music to entice the onlookers.

Despite the buzz around the event, Penn students remain unaware of Second Fridays.

"No, I haven't heard of it," College freshman Matt Davis said. "But sure, I'd be interested in going. ... I don't know if it's going to be as hip as First Fridays, but if it's easier to get to and close by, that's great."

The Community Education Center on the 3500 block of Lancaster Avenue also took part in Second Fridays. Along with the East African Resource Center, it recently featured an exhibition by nine artists from Nairobi, Kenya, as well as a documentary.

Despite the rain, Second Fridays participant and community member Sheryl Simons said she "was amazed to see every seat filled."

The Vintage 36 Boutique & Gallery also had a photography showing, and the Fencing Academy had fencing demonstrations, as part of the event.

In addition to supporting area businesses, Second Fridays is responding to the community's need for nightlife activities in the neighborhood, according to organizers.

Organizers say this demand helped to popularize the event and that much of the publicity was via word-of-mouth.

"People are telling friends," Simons said. "They heard about it, they told a friend, they brought friends."

Area eateries like the Mexican restaurant Zocalo, Thai restaurant Lemon Grass and Greek restaurant Moka's Restaurant and Bar are staying open late, as well, to cater to the crowds.

The event was the brainchild of Vintage 36 Boutique owner Ben Wiedemer and Lawrence. University City District -- a nonprofit organization largely funded by Penn that promotes neighborhood development -- assisted the effort with some monetary aid and publicity; however, much of the funding was provided by the businesses themselves.

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