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Categories: Music Venues, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Fairmount, BrewerytownMon-Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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Went here to see a couple local bands last week. The staff was very friendly, but quite lazy. The sound guy was texting or something on his phone rather than doing sound stuff. The bar tender in the room with the performing was reading a magazine. It was a Tuesday or something and they weren't very busy, so that could have been part of it.
We tried some food, which was pretty good. My friend ordered the veggie burger, which was supposed to have guacamole on it. When she received it, however there was not. She asked the waitress to bring some on the side, but the waitress said they were out. That was disappointing and she could have mentioned it when we ordered. Also, drinks were a bit pricey. A lager and a rum and coke was $11.
The place was pretty clean, which is always a plus. The space was much bigger than I expected. It is separated into three sections: a bar area, tables and juke box kind of area, and a larger room with a stage and second bar. They also have a small parking lot. All and all it was pretty good. It is definitely worth another shot.
People thought this was:
I got the opportunity to support a local band by entering this Fairmount hot spot. If you want a change from spaces like Johnny Brenda's or Khyber or Trocadero or Vox Populi or Barbary or TLA or Electric Factory or Transit (OOOOOPPPSS! They be closed yo!) or Tritone or Bob & Barbara's or Avenue Q or the guy who peed himself at the corner of 8th & Bainbridge...
Oh you've been paying attention.
So anyway, this is the only venue that's way out on the north west end of the city and a hop skip and jump to the infamous Eastern State Penitentiary if you want to rock out with your wahjiggadeehuh?!?! out with a bunch of prison ghosts... Be my guest you FREAK!!! I wouldn't suggest it. But I do suggest you bringing your combat boots for some serious thrashing in this place... Or whatever ails you? There is always creative new faces playing, screaming, goofing, or Tim and Ericing (EW!!!??!!?!) here. Even the guy who wore that striped green shirt from Blue's Clues performed here under the name Steven Burns, which is his real name and his album unrelated to that kid's programming is actually quite good. Ok, I'll quit geeking here. But again geek away b/c for the most part there isn't much hate here to say the least. You're a star at the North Star... Only if you're in the band or know the band or paying a round of drinks or tipping your bartenders or you're not drinking and have to be the D/D to take the rest of the puke-machines home. You're not just a star...
YOU'RE A SUPERSTAR!!!
...actually you just have a freakin' overload of patience and I commend you but at the same time pity you for not having a beer you creepy uptight "I found Jesus in my Fruit Loops" never kissed anyone but his mom weirdo!!!
Sorry got to log off now. My mom needs to check her facebook.
;)
People thought this was:
I would hangout at the North Star more often if it was easier to get to. The best public transportation option is the 15, but I never take it because I don't want to wait for it on the return trip home. Biking is the best option (weather permitting) and driving is the worst. Parking is definitely a problem in this neighborhood.
If this isn't your neighborhood, you're probably trekking to the north star to see a show. It's not that great of a space, but not a deterrent from seeing a good band. The show room is narrow, don't expect to see then band very well if you're under 6 foot. Your best options are to either grab some of the balcony rail or just go straight to the front of the stage (where balcony people will be dripping beer on you). The sound is good enough to enjoy a show.
Great beers, friendly staff. The space is great, both rooms. I like the table area when I'm there with people. I haven't eaten there in a while but remember the food being good.
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I've lived in the Fairmount area for 3 years. I have been telling myself I needed to get this place; and now, finally, I've been, and I am impressed. Fun vibe, great prices, decent eats, nice folks, everything you'd want in a local bar. But wait, it's a venue? Oh yea, that's why I wanted to come here. I had lots of fun and I expect to be back.
Last time I was here was to see The Bird and The Bee (best duo ever). In the past, I've never been able to enjoy a show here because I've been towards the back of the room or someone's spilled an entire beer on me or I lost a shoe. So there I was, woe-is-me-style when I saw TBATB was playing at North Star. "I'm never going to enjoy it," thought I to myself. Either succumb to defeat or devise a plan. I felt like a champion on that particular day, so I went with the latter.
I got to the show early. Well, early enough. My friends and I squeezed our way towards the front and had an awesome time. Inara George (lead singer of TBATB) is mesmerizing. If you have a chance to see her, please go. So, what have we learned? If you really care about the performer, get to shows early so you have a good view. Sure, this goes for any venue, but North Star is a stand out in the awkward room category. If you can work out the early arrival, you're in for a treat.
People thought this was:
I recently made the trek up the parkway to the Art Museum neighborhood with a buddy of mine from out of town to see a show at the North Star Bar. After what turned out to be a longer than expected hike, we finally arrived about an hour before the show was scheduled to begin. We were there for an evening of progressive rock featuring Echolyn and The Syn.
There are actually two bars, on one side, the North Star bar is more or less a dive bar, but with a slight hipster look and feel and a really good beer selection. There are tables in the back, and I guess you can order food. We however bypassed this option and went straight for the bar. The brew selection consists of a small but elite collection of microbrews, and the prices are reasonable.
The other bar was for the concert venue. It's not a huge space, perhaps holding a couple hundred people, On one side, there's the stage, the other the bar, and there's even a second floor with a balcony. There are bathrooms upstairs and downstairs, and though they look kind of dirty, they weren't too bad. They actually had a pretty good audio setup, as there was good acoustics, good equipment, and not much distortion(the sound guy actually knew what he was doing). Both bands were good but both started late.
To get into the concert, you have to pay a cover charge. Through their website, you may buy "tickets" in advance. However, upon arriving I realized this was pointless. They don't really have a box office or anything like that. When we got there, at about five minutes after the show was scheduled to start(but a half hour before it actually did) a woman came around and asked if I had paid in advance. I said yes and pointed to my name on the list on her clipboard, and she stamped my hand. That's will call at the North Star Bar for you.
Overall the North Star Bar gets a thumbs up from me. Unfortunately, since it's so far away from, well, everything, I don't know if I'll be back anytime soon.
People thought this was:
North Star Bar has done it: best happy hour in the city of Philadelphia. Four reasons: First, 5:30-7:30. Far too many bars cut happy hour at 6pm. It is hard to find many bars that go until 7pm, and North Star even exceeds that. The time slot is excellent. Second, it's available everyday of the week. Understandably, a lot of bars run happy hour during the week, when the need the boost in business the most. North Star bucks the trend again. Third, $.25 wings, and they are good. When you can get two dozen wings for $6, it's surely a decent joint. Lastly, and most importantly, beer. 1/2 off drafts of a good beer selection that is moderately priced in the first place. I had a Rouge Dead Guy, Stone's Arrogant Bastard, Yard's ESA, and Sierra Nevada Pale ale, and they were all $2 or $2.50.
Other than the wings, I've never had food at North Star, and I will assume that it's good, and nothing more. As far as location goes, North Star is a bit off the beaten path, which isn't too bad and makes parking easy to find. Inside, there are a decent amount of tables and a small bar, all with a nice neighborhood bar atmosphere. They recently opened an upstairs dining room that looks really nice. To top it off, the bartender and the waitress were providing great service.
Last but not least, the North Star bar is an excellent venue. They have a mix of all ages and 21+ shows that are usually in the 8 to 12 dollar range. It has a small stage with an upstairs balcony that gives you a great view. They specialize in intimate and cozy shows, and it's great. I've been to a handful of shows here over the last 4 years and always leave thinking how great a spot this is.
Bottom Line: When compared to the best of the city, the North Star Bar does not hold up. But with awesome shows and happy hour filling the week, and it's gritty local attitude, the North Star Bar manages to establish itself as a stable in Philadelphia, especially the north Fairmount/Brewerytown section of the city, which is starved for decent spots. I'm a fan.
People thought this was:
I'll first admit... I've never actually been to a show at North Star. I just live in the area and use North Star more as a neighborhood bar. Admittedly, it does neighborhood bar quite well.
First and foremost, (and as many have said) I love their happy hour... 5:30 - 7:30, everyday. Can't beat it! Half price pints and 25 cent wings. The pints used to be a really really good deal. Now they're just a really good deal. They used to have Yards ESA for $3 ($1.50 during happy hour), but they increased prices to $4 ($2 during happy hour).
They wings are small, but that's alright with me. I've always found smaller wings to be a little more tender than those really big ones.
Every time I've been here, the staff has been very friendly. The atmosphere is cool; I've been in on a chill Saturday and they had some movies showing on the TV behind the bar and everyone was just relaxed, drinking a few cold ones.
The food... It's alright. Nothing really to get excited about, but after a few beers and you're craving something salty, it does quite nicely.
I've only been here for shows, but I wouldn't mind coming here for just the bar. I always have a hard time finding parking and usually have to park blocks away and walk for a while, but I don't mind. Overall, it's a really great place to see bands. They always have great music and good food and beer.
People thought this was:
It's a nice big space but it's not my favorite venue to see bands play. The last notable show I saw here was what may turn out to be Guitar Wolf's last show in Philadelphia. This was probably 4 years ago, though. My issue with the show was how the sound didn't have that awesome garage rock loudness that Khyber does so well. Yes, it's because Khyber is a smaller venue, but for a band like Guitar Wolf, who once touted an album as loudest one ever (possibly as a joke, but still), this turned out to be a disappointment for me. I probably shouldn't blame NSB for this since there may be other factors and in the 4 years past, the venue may have gotten better.
When I didn't drive, I took a cab here. That seemed to be the easiest way. Driving, I was able to find parking in the neighborhood. There seems to be a parking lot near the bar, but I don't know much about it.
People thought this was:
Their food is good an fairly cheap, the bar is authentic and unpretentious, and the music is great. For such an oddly-shaped room (long and narrow, split by a balcony right in front of the stage) the sound quality is admirably good. This is a good place to see bands that, five years from now, you will have to pay thirty or forty bucks to see at a larger, crappier venue.
People thought this was:
North Star is a great little venue to see a band. I've been fortunate enough to catch some pretty awesome acts come through here - the kind of acts that end up making it huge a year later, and never play small intimate shows like you'll find here. The sound is pretty consistent, and you shouldn't have trouble hearing anything... they like to crank it up (that said, earplugs are recommended). The beer list is actually pretty decent for a music venue - somewhat similar to Johnny B's. I came here a couple weeks ago and tried the food for the first time. They have a happy hour w/ 25 cent wings, so I gave those a try... they were pretty dinky, but I was satisfied after 10 of them and a basket of fries. Keep in mind - There is a dining area upstairs if there's no seating available downstairs. There are 2 bars - one in the main entrance, and one in the back in the performance area. There is also a bathroom, where the balcony is. Overall, I really like North Star, and always have a good time.
People thought this was:
the best venue in the area, a great value and an asset to the neighborhood. have seen many great local and national tours come through here. They should make something happen with the upstairs, as of now it's just a dark bathroom hallway that happens to have a partial view of the stage. I think they should put a satellite bar up there and liven it up. but that's my only real criticism. The food is decent and there is a good selection of brews. As an area resident I am grateful that they host community recycling collections for us. the venue is easily accessible by SEPTA 15 and 33 and 48.
I'm going to break my own rule and review a live music venue based on one night of music
Pros (+4)
* Great selection of beer & great prices
* Cool 'pit' area in front of the stage
* Cool bar where you can hear the music and not pay a cover
* Cool upstairs where you can look down on the band
Cons (-1)
* When you think there are 2 bands and a 9:00 show time and you show up around 9:30 figuring the opening band will start a little late and the opening band actually comes on at 10:00 (so bad that the guy behind me asked if the music would get better... as he was ready to chew his own face off), followed by an unannounced band that plays a 45 minute set, followed by the headliners coming on at midnight to a crowd that dwindled signficantly due to the earlier bands.
Will I go back - of course. Will I show up much later - hell yeah.
People thought this was:
My favorite bar to see a show. Good selection of beer on tap.
Showroom is separate from the bar/dining area, which has a pool table. If I were putting together a list of Philadelphia dives, the place would get an 8 out of 10, not that it's dirty or anything, it just has the feel.
A small stage, maybe 20 feet wide. A dance floor recessed a few steps below the regular floor of the room. A bar in the back for the 21+ shows and a balcony and bathrooms upstairs.
Saw Yeah Yeah Yeahs here right around the time they put out Fever to Tell. Street Dogs, the Matches, Youth Brigade/Swingin' Utters were some other good ones.
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Everyone talks about how great the happy hour is, and rightly so. I would drink just about anything draught for half off, but when my choices go beyond the normal dive-bar selections to include PBC, Sierra Nevada, Mared Sous, and other inventive micro-brews then why complain? The kitchen is pretty creative with their specials, more on the 'pub' end of 'gastro-pub' but this is a drinking spot more than an eating spot. Add in reruns of Cash Cab and this makes for one of the city's better happy hours.
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The North Star Bar was a really interesting experience. To be fair, I went to see Uh-Huh-Her there and the place was covered in lesbians, so we may not have been the regular clientele. I really liked the room that the concert was actually in--it was spacious and really nice for shows. The back bar was a good addition too. I also appreciated the beer list, which was extensive.
I did not like that everyone has to wait in the much smaller main bar before the show and that the show started incredibly late (apparently this is a chronic condition for the North Star). So....I think it'd be fun to hang out it, but I'm not sure that I'll go to another show there.
People thought this was:
Great joint, only eclipsed by The Khyber as far as the best dive to see a band in the city (though the NSB has closed the gap a bit).
The goods...better than average bar food, more than one bar (though both can be tough to navigate when it gets crowded), pool tables (same negative when crowded), and the upstairs view to see a band can be really cool (though if you aren't up front upstairs, you are SOL as far as seeing anything). Sound is like every other place...sometimes good, sometimes not.
The bads...neighborhood used to be a dump, but it was getting better...parking can be tough, always felt more crowded than it really was. Still, I saw some fantastic shows here, and the negatives can't rightfully be applied to the venue itself. On my "win" list, for sure.
People thought this was:
Great spot indeed... like a few things about this place for different reasons and at different times... I've been to shows here and have had amazing times... also love to shoot pool here during their bangin happy hours! Last time I was in here was awhile ago I but none the less a memorable time at happy hour- unaware of the band that was packing in early for sound check I turn around to walk out and catch a smoke when Tom Morello was walking in playing with his solo project The Nightwatchmen!
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Ode to North Star Bar- A Haiku
Good time drinking, bar
tender cool J F A tat
food OK stage super small
Pros- I liked this place a lot. I liked that it was off the beaten path and I even like it's tiny stage. I think the PBR tallboys were cheap (I think, I really don't remember...it's ok I took a cab people) . Staff were cool and even friendly, enjoyed chatting with everyone.
Cons- Parking, although I sneaked into a rock-star spot I could tell I lucked out. The menu looks great and after being underwhelmed by my chicken sandwich, I believe a bit ambitious.
Happy hour is the cheapest in the neighborhood and it's two and a half hours long. The beer selection is continuously rotating and North Star is one of the few bars that always seems to carry a micro porter or stout on tap. The food is surprisingly good considering it's served in a paper basket. Overall my favorite bar in the Fairmount neighborhood and only loses points because they don't show sports on the tele, but that's not their shtick.
People thought this was:
again... this place really depends on what band you're going to see and what you enjoy seeing. the beer isn't that expensive, but I guess they can get away with it being a venue bar. strange crowd otherwise. hands down. strange.
This place is ok. I've only been for shows, but it doesn't seem to be interesting otherwise. The… Read more »
This was a great place to see a show if you're into small venues - intimate atmosphere, bar attached, bands hanging out in the parking lot before and after the shows. Plus it's really easy to get there from Center City - definitely walking distance, just a stone's throw from the Art Museum. I'd definitely go back again!
I sit in my car on a Fairmount side street. I was worried about parking, but found an ok place near 27th st. I hadnt gone bar hopping in decades, frankly, even when I was young and pretty, I didnt really do it all that much. But here i was today. I was to meet a few friends to check out a few of the local bars.
I took my cellphone, car keys, and grabbed my Costanza-like wallet.
" Do I really need this? " I thought
I decided to just take my money and credit card, and that I probably wouldnt need my Acme card for this. I lingered over my license, wondering if I would need it. I chuckled to myself. Ive been going grey since 19. In pictures I often look older than my dad. Even with a little help from JFM (Just for Men) I NEVER get carded. So in the first of what would be a series of bad decisions over the night, I left my ID in the car.
North Star wasnt the first bar we hit that night, but we werent drunk when we got there. It looked like a cool place from the outside. A couple of tricked out Harleys stood out front. I wondered what kind of crowd was in there and if they would see my flame colored hawaiian shirt as a cry for help.
A large intimidatig black man was leaning on a mailbox, talking animatedly on a Bluetooth. His bass-like voice filled the quiet street. I was not savy enough to realize that this was a bouncer. We dont have bouncers in the Burbs. We went to walk in.
" Excuse me Gentlemen! Can I see your ID?" he bellowed
He couldnt mean me. My friends showed their IDs and began to walk in. I was realizing that I had made a huge mistake by not bringing ID
" Hey guys!" I mumbled, " I dont have my ID"
The bouncer still stood there but was back into his phone conversation.
one of my friends turned around and told me to come anyway, as he couldnt have meant for my old ass to show ID. I began to walk in until I felt a hand on my shoulder.
" Hey!" , he said sharply, " were you just going to go in and ignore me!"
My mind raced. Was I going to get my ass kicked? Was I going to run away? Was I going to make a smart-ass comment that would increse my chances of getting my ass kicked? I optioned for being apologetic.I realized that this guy knew i was of age but it was his territory and he ruled over it. I also realized that he wanted to F* with me. He admonished me, told me to bring my ID next time and told me I could go in.
Inside, it looked like a really cool dive bar. We stayed in the front bar. Apparently there is a back bar with a stage for live music. There was a concert going on but we werent interested, and to avoid paying a cover, we opted to stay in the front. We got a table with extremely uncomfortable stools. The crowd was diverse, the good , the bad and the tattooed. I guess the band playing dictates the crowd, a lot of black clothing alot of tattoos.
My friend bought me a beer to make up for almost getting me killed by the bouncer, so I didnt deal with the bartender. They looked the part, and i noticed there was a computer with Youtube on it behind the bar. I wondered the signifigance of that. I had a Guiness to clear the pallate after the Belgian beers we had earlier.
I was hungry, and I heard that the burgers were good here. There was a chalkboard advertizing an Olympic Burger, which was basically a souped up cheeseburger served with onion rings instead of fries. (get it! ? Olympic rings) I wanted it. Plus I heard somewhere to always try the special when you go to a new place and may not go again.
We called a waitress over and I adored her from the moment she tripped over my friend's bodybag-like backpack. She was cute and friendly and even though she was really busy, gave us her time and didnt rush away.
It was loud in there but not so loud that we couldnt have a conversation. Plus , we could hear the music from the concert without having to pay. Suckers! I didnt get the same vibe as in Bridgids, about interacting with other patrons. Everyone basically stayed in their own group.
My burger was fantastic. Ill have to go back sometime when i hadnt had 4 beers so i can really enjoy it. The waitress checked on us often. This is not something im used to in the burb bars that are often less busy.It was time to go. As we walked out I passed my friend, the bouncer. He shouted in my direction,
" Whats the score!?"
I stopped. He said the same thing 2 more times. It wouldnt be wise to ignore him again , but what score? Phillies? Eagles? Me vs Him ( hes winning 1-0) I turned and said,
"which score?"
He looked at me like an idiot. Of course. the Bluetooth again, i HATE those things. He wasnt talking to me. Why does every outing end with me looking like an ass. Overall I gave it 4stars. I didnt really take any points off for either Bouncer incident, as it was mostly my fault and he was just doing his job. It was a cool place with good food and good service.
People thought this was:
Always heard great reviews about it so I decided to check it out. It was like super dark in there. There main lighting was these tiny candles on the tables. I couldn't even read the menu. So I left. Maybe in the day its better and less "too cool to have lights"
People thought this was:
just like forrest gump's dumb-assed box of chocolates, with the north star you never know what you're gonna get.
did i actually use forrest fucking gump in a review? yes. i did.
when the north star antes up and gets solid sound, folks, then maybe i'll de-forrest this review.
People thought this was:
The North Star is a living testament to the old saying, "Location, location, location." This is a solid live music space with good food and drink to boot, but the real factor that holds the space back from real greatness is its location. Tucked away behind the Art Musuem, this space is impossible to get to unless you have a car. Mass transit opportunities are few, and it's a total pain to bike, be it from any part of Philly. Unless the city decides to extend the El or Subway, or someone lifts this place to another location, it's always going to be relegated to second-banana status.
People thought this was:
North Star can definitely be a fun place for shows. The stage is also one of my personal favorites for when it comes to getting good photographs of bands. And I love it for the variety of shows too. You can see plenty of great local acts, as well as fun national acts like Pretty Girls Make Graves. They also have the occasional all ages show.
North Star also has the best selection of beers when it comes down to Philly Concert Halls (Johnny Brenda's come pretty close though).
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can someone please explain to me what this place has going for it other than tickets being cheap? i've been to several shows here and each is a terrible experience for a whole different reason.
first: underage shows. maybe i just got unlucky, or maybe i have immature taste in music. but i hate me an all-ages show in philadelphia, and at north star bar they're even worse because you can't even hear the music from the bar room. but: you've got an upstairs! section it off and card us so we can drink *somewhere* and not miss the show! come on!!!
second: when people aren't drinking at shows, the crowd is not as into the music. they just aren't. the band feeds off the crowd, and when the crowd is statuesque as a result of collective sobriety, i really don't think the musicians perform as well. bands that i've seen multiple times have all played their very worst at north star bar.
third: get some freakin A/C so sweat's not rolling down my back while *standing still* (see above paragraph) in the middle of the summer.
four: the 'balcony' provides the worst balcony view i've ever seen. if you're in the first row you can gaze upon the musicians' bald spots and protruding pot bellies, if applicable. oh, and if there's crack showing at all, you're gonna get a piece of that, too.
five: sound system is terrible.
six: after i go back in the bar room and miss a couple songs in order to take some shots, the steps leading down to the area in front of the stage are, shall we say, less than friendly. and so i don't seem like a total alcoholic --- there are plenty of shows where i've kept it reasonable and watched others (who didn't hold back at the bar) fumble with the steps in their own hilarious way. they are a lawsuit waiting to happen.
this place gets live music so, so, so terribly wrong.
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Talk about an intimate setting for a show. North Star is my favorite place to see live music in Philly. I saw Pinback there in May and we were literally two feet from the stage. Even if we had decided to stand in back, we would have only been about ten feet away. There is also a balcony upstairs, where you can almost reach down and touch the top of a band member's head...if you want to.
These are some of the acts they've had this year: Pinback, Dick Dale, Sound Team with Cold War Kids and Midlake and the French Kicks will be playing there in October. http://www.northstarba...
It's also a bar, which means you have to be 21 and older.
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I saw Fall out boy here last night. Been meaning to go for some time, my sister always raved about the place. Its got the old-school dive feel. But i like the 50's wallpaper and small stage. If you're a dude the bathrooms are ok (sorry ladies)...it just has a great vibe, like something cool definately has and will go down here. The beer selection is great. and the prices especially during happy hour are good. if you go try the jerk wings and have a Rouge or Yards...mostly make sure you see some music. places like this should be supported so they stay open
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i sat next to the grandmother of the drummer
the drummer was great, the grandmother was better
she told me how she had courted in that very bar 35 years earlier
it's tough to be a legit bar and a concert venue
N*Bar does it, well.
People thought this was:
It's an okay venue, though it's pretty small, with odd dimensions (there's steps in the audience, which allows people to sit). The sound was average. The bathroom situation is what killed it for me. There's only one men's and one women's downstairs. Not sure about upstairs. They ran out of tp in the women's even before the show started. If you're gonna have live music, you need to be prepared for a large number of people.
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So I headed to this place last Thursday and was greeted with the typical 'ID?' It was going to be my first visit tagging along with some friends who frequent there. But no go as the sad loser at the door decides to stop me claiming my ID was not on his 'special list' of permitted IDs. It was an Australian driver's licence with the full photo sch-bang... And in my 13 months in Philly my 'authentic' ID has never been an issue in any bar... for goodness sake it allows me to get on planes and fly interstate..! This deuchbag at the door goes on to tell me that I need my passport instead..(what a ridiculous notion--- it's a dive bar!! as if I would wander around with my passport!!) and tell me about how he can end up in jail with a $5000 fine if he let's me in....(here's a nickel.. tell someone who cares...). Seriously, does this entail this loser's one moment of excitement for the day? Ok- so my bug bear is with this clown and not the bar itself as I never did get to have a 'non-alcoholic lemonade' there...
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I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong. I had my doubts about the North Star, after all from what I had heard about it (indie music and hipsters), NS is not exactly my scene. However, after a long night there, I was pleasantly surprised.
My friend (Kyle R. who also reviewed) wanted to see "We Are Scientists" and did not want to miss a minute of the action. So we got there around 8 and watched three bands play before "WAS." I'd say of the three; 1 was good, 1 was bad, and 1 was average. I was relatively unfamiliar with We Are Scientists, but the intimacy of the club made it fun and enjoyable.
The North Star is a great place to chill or to see a band. I recommend standing on the balcony to watch a show, its a great perspective.
**Also, a few months ago John Legend quietly showed up here and played some of his new songs** so you never know what you're gonna get.
People thought this was:
I spent a rainy Sunday evening in the North Star Bar with my friend Leanimal, her roommate and a local drunk named Al playing cards. There was some live music going on in the other room, but from what we heard calling it 'music' is a bit generous, although the people preforming were most definitely alive.
As far as dive bars go this one had no special characteristic (besides the live 'music,' I guess) to separate it out from all the other dives along Poplar street. I will say they were letting underage kids in to go to the show, which does give them some extra dive-bar points, but not enough to push it over the top.
Since we were playing cards, Leanimal kept trying to turn the lights up, and the waitress kept dimming them. Which we did not understand, because we were the only people in the bar who were not at the 'concert.' After a few rounds of this game the waitress finally told us that the owner has cameras all over the place and watches the feed at his house, and he was calling in and saying that the lights in the back were too dim. WTF? The owner of the bar sits at home and watches live feed of the back room of the bar? I'm guessing some pretty shady stuff goes on here after closing hours.
The PBR pounders were cheap and the french fries were greasy, but there is really nothing too spectacular about this place to warrant a return visit.
Oh, also, their website claims that they are 4 blocks from the Philadelphia Art Museum. If by 4 they really mean 15 then they are correct.
North Star was one of the first bars I went to since living in Philly. The reason being I have friends who live in the neighborhood and I now live only a few blocks away. It is mosdef a dive bar, but also has a decent size concert hall with another bar connected to it. I have only been there for a couple shows since they usually charge a cover for a band I never heard of. Occasionally I have snuck in and listened to some good music. It is not my first choice of a bar to go to, but it is the first place I will go to for happy hour in the neighborhood. 25 cent wings and half price drafts from I believe 5-7 pm. You get a choice of buffalo or teriyaki wings. Wings are small so make sure you take advantage of the price and get a ton of both kind. Just don't eat to many or you might pay the price with heart burn later. As for the food I haven't really tried much on the menu partly because the sandwiches don't even come with fries! Overall, it is a cool bar with a chill atmosphere and great happy hour.
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Unlike everyone else, I go to North Star just to hang out. I've never made my way into the part with the stage, honestly, simply because I prefer to be near the bar. BUT I do know that they have some pretty awesome acts all the time ranging from teeny weeny to pretty darn large.
I eat here. I think this place has some of the best food in the area and, as Bill M. mentioned, an exceptional beer menu that's very reasonably priced. Burgers, chicken sandwiches, veggie versions of their food are what I eat and recommend. They have some pretty bangin' fries, too.
Oh! And the bartenders are always really cool, too. I've never had a problem getting a drink or getting attitude or any bar BS.
Just an FYI: If you have Philly Car Share and drive up there they have a PCS parking spot in their lot, too. (Lot is little, park on street.)
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They have good shows here, was there last night actually. I'd give it 4 stars, but the bouncers here can be real jerks sometimes. My one friend couldn't get into a show once because his license just expired. He's like 30 years old too...seriously thats just lame.
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We journeyed to Philly from New York for a show by our friend's band, Von Hayes, and I have to say it certainly gives the Mercury Lounge a run for its money. First of all, we rolled up and somehow the bouncer was so dumb that he let my boyfriend go past without paying the cover. That's an extra $8 with which to drink! Best. There's a front bar area, a middle room with tables and stuff, and then a large separate music room with a bar in the back, which also has tables -- so unusual. But great. And the stage is SO HIGH off the ground, it has to make for excellent sightlines when a band plays that draws more than 20 people. I wouldn't know. But it's a pretty good guess. And the drink prices were pretty good as I recall. I really have not even the tiniest beef with the North Star. Good job, Philly! Five stars.
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Neighborhood: Cedar Park
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Olde Kensington
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Fairmount
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Fairmount
Category: Pubs
Neighborhood: University City
Category: Music Venues
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