Submitted by puffy-jacket t3_y8y86b in philadelphia
I really wanna catch the Ichiko Aoba show next week and live about 2 hours from Philly. None of my friends or family are able/willing to go with me and I’m totally about to just drive down there myself but people are warning me that part of town is sketchy at night and it’s not worth the risk… thoughts?
I agree, that's probably one of the safest parts of the city to hang out late at night. There's a ton of foot traffic around that area generally. Parking might be a bigger issue than crime.
>that's probably one of the safest parts of the city to hang out late at night.
I would not say that. That portion of Walnut is right by the bridge and usually devoid of pedestrians. Places without people at least always seem more dangerous.
+1 on that not being a sketchy part of town at all. There's also a parking garage right around the corner at Cira Green that I consistently get $6 parking for via the SpotHero app.
>pay the meter
It looks like you only have to pay for street parking until 8pm, according tothe sign on Google maps street view.
Agree with all of these comments about it being safe
Jesus, I get being safe but whoever’s telling you that is just a complete Philly hater.
There’s lots of people that say they’ll never enter city limits cause crime is just that bad, so it doesn’t shock me one bit.
Aka pearl clutchers watching too much news
Yeah, it’s not like people live here or anything.
My wife is one of those and even she will go to World Cafe.
When suburbanites say “that part of town” is bad they mean the whole city cause they can’t fathom the idea of a large metropolitan area being anything other than a shithole
do your friends think that part is sketchy or do they just think all of Philadelphia is a third world country because they saw a video of Kensington on tiktok
Lmao it's so silly cause they can legit just drop the little man on google map and it's like 2 blocks away from HUP. And that area is basically all Drexel/Penn area. It's legit what I do when I'm checking for AirBnbs or hotels when I'm traveling to see what type of neighborhood it is.
nah they’d rather believe whatever they hear on Fox News. why question whatever you hear from your sole very biased news source instead of using your own senses and doing your own research?
University city is pretty fine…whose telling you this?
people who live two hours away
Suburbanites
Ruralites
I see the address as 3025 Walnut? It says at U of PA, but that's also just about Drexel's campus, right? Anyway, it's probably one of the safest parts of the city with young people out late and campus police for both schools along with Philly's finest. I'm not being sarcastic about Philly police; who wouldn't want to be on patrol in a safe neighborhood?
It's just sort of on the Walnut Street Bridge near 30th Street Station, on the river. It's not really in any particular neighborhood yet there.
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That part of town isn’t sketch at all, except for the lack of things nearby at night making it a bit empty. It’s right off the highway, directly adjacent to UPenn’s campus, and there’s parking right there.
it's like one of the safest areas of the city lol
This is insane. People are really telling you that going to see a concert at World Cafe Live is a risk? Hundreds of people go there to see concerts almost every single night of the week. It's fine. Suburban brain rot has gotten crazy lately.
Thanks for the input guys. I was surprised when I heard this and was willing to go either way but it’s good to hear the concern I’ve heard was unfounded.
I’m a woman and have crossed that bridge alone at night thousands of times unscathed.
Yeah, it’s my dad who made the biggest deal out of it. He’s not even usually like this, he used to live in nyc and Atlanta and makes fun of people who are afraid of the city so I can only imagine he’s thinking of a completely different area and doesn’t realize it. He ended up wanting to come so I think he’s gonna feel dumb when we get there
That an extremely safe place to see a show, it sounds like everyone warning you might just be wary of cities in general. World Cafe/WXPN is affiliated with UPenn and is technically on their campus, which is well lit and taken care of. Plus the venue itself has a restaurant and bar in it, so if you’re really feeling unsure about walking around you can get everything you need for the night in one spot. Also that should be a pretty good show!
It always blows me away how much people that never set foot in this city “know about Philly”.
Your neighbors are dorks. It's a very safe area.
University city is sketchy? I don't personally feel that way at all. It's basically on drexel's campus, and all those schools have their own security patrols and those phone boxes with the blue lights are set up so you can call for help of you need them. I went to school at drexel, went to world Cafe live many times at night, never had any sort of issue. I guess maybe they think "west philly" and associate with neighborhoods that are much further west.
> It's basically on drexel's campus
Do you mean UPenn? It’s directly across from their fields and next to their research labs
They're basically the same campus
it's situated near the core of drexel's campus, not penn's
>it's situated near the core of drexel's campus, not penn's
r/technicallythetruth
Penn's campus is large, and this is on the edge of it. Drexel's campus is smaller, and Drexel's main administration building is in the southeast corner of campus. So if you draw a dot on the map to mark the core of each campus, you'd draw the Drexel dot closer to WCL than the Penn dot. But if you drew boundaries around each campus, WCL would be inside the Penn boundaries and not inside the Drexel boundaries. Penn's Translational Research Laboratory is north of WCL, between it and Drexel.
Also, WXPN is Penn's radio station (or one of them). Drexel's station, WKDU, is a couple blocks to the west, and still run by students.
Sounds like those people are just against the city in general. I went to a show there a few weeks ago, parking in a structure a few blocks away. It is the least concerning neighborhood I've been in within the city proper in the time I've lived here.
No, it's not. You of course want to be mindful of your surroundings anywhere but that area might be less problematic than the average place.
Haha if that area is sketch then you should never come to Philly! Seriously it’s very safe there. And if you’re driving it’s easy to find parking close by at night.
It's a good neighborhood. Not much sketchy around there. Maybe a few homeless around 30th St Station but wouldn't be anything more than that.
World Cafe Live is awesome! I was literally just there 2 nights ago. I used to always drive but now I take Septa to 30th and walk (I live in Blue Bell).
They just built a super nice parking garage right at the corner of 30th & Walnut, too, where Circa Green is, giant green P sign for parking on the outside. I’ve never tried parking there but I would give that a shot.
World Cafe Live is on UPENN’s campus. There is a public parking garage less than half a block from WCL if you can’t get on-street parking. This area is among the safest stretches of street in University City. It’s pretty quiet at night.
I’ve been to many shows there at night. If there’s a show, there’s people. More people less risk. Just park on S 31st or the lot between chestnut and Ludlow, then enter via the WCL alley off 31st. You’ll be max 3 mins from your car. I’ve actually found it quite interesting wandering around there at night. Enjoy the show!
I still haven't been to World Cafe, but I bike by it all the time on the Walnut bike lane. There are always a lot of folks getting in and out of their cars, etc. Seems like a lot of eyes on the street.
You’ll be ok. But I always say if you’re scared, stay home
I’m not, it’s mainly my dad and I respect his feelings but I’m also grown and can’t just sit out every thing that might worry my parents
Why would you listen to people with such shit taste in music? Don’t let their fear and prejudice hold you back from your adventure!
It’s very well lit, lots of vehicle traffic and lots of foot traffic (mostly students). Enjoy the show!
I've been a semi-regular there for years and it sure seems safer now than it did in the past. I usually walk over from center city and it's perfectly fine. It's so nice and bright now with lots of college-age kids walking around. There are certainly some dangerous parts of the city but this isn't one of them. Love that venue!
Not a sketchy area at all. World Cafe Live is dope.
I’ve taken my 12-year-old to see shows there- Never had a concern. I also work in the area-you’ll be fine!
Not sketchy there… go and have fun
I was just there the other week. It’s perfectly fine. There’s a garage for easy parking if you can’t get a spot on the street.
It mean it's a city at night but it's not a very sketch area. There are parking garages like a block away. Be aware of your surroundings and all but I wouldn't worry too much, especially since you'll probably be in a crowd of people who are also going to the show.
Not a sketchy area at all. WTF?
I saw Low here a few months ago and had never been to this venue before. It seemed fairly safe, parking lot was right next to the venue. Great sound in the venue too.
It's an awesome venue and they've really got the sounds set up locked in soooo nice. Great spot.
Tuck your chain, tuition isn’t cheap. Also, don’t make eye contact with anyone wearing LL Bean, they won’t hesitate to credit check you.
Been many times to WCL and never had a problem. Enjoy the concert. I love the venue.
Lol that's a good area. People probably just hear "west Philly" and think it's dangerous. Where are you coming from? I would recommend you take regional rail over driving tbh so that you don't have to worry about parking. That or the NJ transit line. Everything goes to 30th st, so get off there and you'd only have to walk like 5 min.
Its literally a part of UPenn's campus. Couldn't be in a safer area. Seriously.
Just looked her up. Really cool, I might go myself.
Sketchy? It’s friggin by Drexel and UPenn!
I parked in a parking garage when I went to a show there. I think it was maybe $10? Super easy. Nothing bad happened. University City isn’t a bad spot.
lmfao wtf 😂 this has to be a joke
there is absolutely nothing unsafe about that area in any way. have you ever been to a city? you need new friends
I went by myself to a show there (a few years ago). I apparently wasn't worried about the area or parking. I had to look it up on Google maps because I couldn't remember, but it does look like they have a lot.
It's not sketchy at all lol.
Oh yes beware!!!! I hear mummers might just jump out and throw battery filled snowballs at you, steal your money and pour cheese-whiz down your pants and leave you suspended from the rocky statue by your tighty-whiteys
Lmfao
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Bullshit. There's a paid lot right beside WCL, and often street parking too. It'll be hopping. Nothing to worry about.
The only sketch part is if you end up underneath walnut st which you would need to do on purpose. Just dont walk down a big staircase to street level and you're good b
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The neighborhood is fine. I've been there with a group of girls and never felt unsafe.
I WANTED TO GO SO BAD BUT SOLD OUT
I found resale tickets that went up yesterday
ah not resale i like my tixs $5-45
That’s fair lmfao I love her and haven’t been to a concert since pre covid so I’m willing to pay the stupid resale prices this once
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A former temple student was randomly murdered in that area recently, but beyond that it's not sketchy. WCL is right by a traffic light and it's well lit
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yea dont come not worth the risk
vertical_attorney t1_it2ftpg wrote
It’s not sketchy. You can usually park right out front and pay the meter. They also—I think—have a parking lot. Things can happen anywhere, so don’t be too careless, but I’ve been around there at night a million times since I was a kid and never had a problem. Have a good time.