Also this issue:

They Wanna Live Forever
Is fame really democratic? Philly puts it to a vote.
-Juliet Fletcher

Icepack
-A.D. Amorosi

March 27-April 2, 2003

naked city

firstlook

by A.D. Amorosi

Forget Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame. Here’s my pop theory: Everyone once involved in indie-alterna-punk ventures will someday own or operate a restaubar. It’ll bristle with old, sturdy mahogany and have a vague foreignness about it. There will be large-handled taps, subdued vintage light fixtures and scads of artwork from locals.

Think Simons/Dilworth/Frank of Khyber fame and look at their Royal Tavern. Think Hot Club owner David Carroll and look at Magazine. If memory serves, a shirtless Kurt Wunder used to play a fish in a band before he owned 700. And while I am uncertain as to whether or not Loie owner Avram Hornik has ever played a bass, I bet he could. This leads me to The Abbaye, a No-Lib drinking-and-dining locale filled nicely with the odor of Belgian beers. Owned and operated by Khyber expats Meghan Wright, Marc Sonstein and Siltbreeze label's Tom Lax, with a staff of Bridgid's and Standard Tap vets, The Abbaye -- spiritually and physically -- fits the neighborhood. The space used to be Dave's, the original "old man's bar," says Lax, "back before it was Palette."

A gaslight lantern welcomes you into the foyer of The Abbaye, its name writ large and horizontally on its tall brown front door. Step inside and there's the glow of mustard sponge-painted walls and signs for Chimay, Oerbier and La Chouffe. To the right, there's a mahogany bar and back-mirrored bottle display, topped by tiny hanging Deco light fixtures. This all winds its way to the dining room, a half-stucco/half-brick salon lined on one side by the most handsome ox-blood leather banquette. The same amber glow reflects hauntingly onto several well-scriven chalkboards and what seems like dozens of paintings -- nudes, dancers -- by Peter Checchia. Despite the fact that it is, in essence, all one room, one spin of your head and you'll feel as if The Abbaye has three distinct holes. It just goes to show that those once in the rock biz really know how to open cool, dark restaubars.

The Abbaye, 637 N. Third St., 215-627-6711.