November 2, 2004 The Lion's Eye Fve on Entertainment Page 5 Lion’s paws: Get real ... and to the Point \ Concert Venue The Point On a Friday night several years ago, three bored friends and I decided to forgo the typical weekend options for high school juniors to check out The Point, a café/concert hall in Bryn Mawr. Since then, I have been hooked on the outstanding live music and comfortable coffeehouse atmos- phere that the venue offers. A musical hotspot in the 1960s, the cafe (then known as the Main Point) hosted such "unknowns" as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. The site was reopened in the late 1990s and has flourished by welcoming a musical mix while high- lighting local acts. Main Line Today magazine, Philadelphia magazine and Citysearch.com have voted The Point as best live music venue in the Philadelphia region. . By day, the quiet café is the perfect spot for friendly conversation over coffee or group study session. The light fare menu changes daily and offers a variety of interesting but moderately priced options including vegetarian lasagna and numerous wraps. The desserts are consistently fresh and delicious and the service is friendly and helpful. Even more satisfying than the cookies, are the nightly concerts that the venue provides, with tickets usually ranging from just $10 to $20. I've discovered many of my favorite bands by selecting random concerts at The Point. Most groups have opening acts, often equally impressive as the headliners. The bands aren't limited to the cus- tomary guitar, bass, and drums. Depending on the act, instruments like the mandolin, accordion and keytar also make appearances. The musical menu is as diverse as the worldly collection of teas and coffees. The schedule includes folk singers, jam bands, rock, country, and most genres in between. The all-ages venue is BYOB and attracts a clientele that varies with each concert, often including college students from nearby Villanova, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford. The Point provides the opportunity to discover new bands without risking a large sum of money. Tuesdays are open mic nights, Friday and Saturday nights feature bigger acts, and brunch is served on Sunday. The intimate setting and great acoustics provide an excellent concert experience for audience and musicians alike. Fans can inter- act with band members before, during and after performances. The Point could be described as a stepping stone for some bands on the road out of obscurity, but I prefer the acts aren't well known. I'm reminded of the bumper sticker that reads, "Real Musicians Have Day Jobs." The bands that play there aren't aiming to sell out the Tweeter Center or have their singles aired on Q102. They perform because they love playing music. The Point is located at 880 W. Lancaster Ave. Bryn Mawr, www.atthepoint.com. — JULIA HAGAN Cars Audi S4 The engine roared with power as I mashed the accelerator. This car was unshakable. Not a single wheel slip or spin. The 2004 Audi S4 Sedan has the perfect mix of aggressive muscle car with ele- gant, subdued design. This is truly the car for those who want it all and don't want to flaunt it. The S4 engine uses a naturally aspirated V8 engine churning out a whopping 340 horses along with 302 pounds of torque. The growl from under that small hood was just a taste of things to come. The car is just as power- ful from 0 to 60 as it is 20-80 or 40-100. The elec- tronic speed limiter is set at 155 mph. It always has more to give no matter what gear you're in. Of course, who can forget the obligatory "Quattro" all-wheel-drive traction system. The S4 comes in three body styles: wagon, convertible and sedan. My test model, the S4 sedan, looks like a typi- cal German four-door. The fine interior featured supple silk Nappa leather Recaro sport-seats with sturdy side bolsters that keep you locked in place while you carve up the corners at law-breaking speeds. The gorgeous leather interior is accented with Aluminum trim, although I'm told that the S4 also has genuine wood trim available. The Audi S4 is a sports car but it maintains its practicality too. It has a luxurious interior and roomy trunk with an adequate back seat (I wouldn't stick any basketball players back there). As a bonus, its "sleeper" appearance means you can get away with flooring it at 90 and then dropping back in with traffic. The police had a hard time noticing I was breaking nearly every speed limit in my 150 mile jaunt that afternoon and evening. Sadly, my joy ride came to an end but I was left with the last impression this is one perfect car. I urge any of you lucky few who are in the market to add the S4 to your list of "must drives." — DAN PROCACCI TV Show MTV’s Real World MTV's "Real World" has made its recent stop in Philadelphia. The seven cast members range from 21-24 years old. The house being used was once the Union National Bank of Philadelphia and the headquarters for the Merchant Seamen's Institute and Church. It's a 10,000-square feet with ameni- ties that go along with it. This includes fitness equipment, a pool table and a hot tub. The cast includes Landon, 24, who dislikes being labeled a "dumb jock" and thinks others won't accept him; Karamo, 23, who has opinions about interracial dating; Melanie, 22, sometimes known to be wild; Md, 23, who once dreamed of playing pro football; Sarah, 22, who uses her sex appeal to get what she wants; Shavonda, 22, who is the life of the party; and Willie, 23, who is quite "stubborn." Oh, and Willie and Karamo are both gay. This is new, two gays on the same season. You may have been surprised to find out Karamo, as masculine and tough as he may seem, is gay. This season seems based more on stereotyping and racism, which is seen in almost every episode. It's addicting; you find yourself tuning in to see the latest fights; Melanie's comments about Sarah's spending habits; who had a run-in with the police; Karamo carries a gun; who's hooking up with who; and will Sarah ever win Md's heart? Sarah thinks she is God's gift to men and win any guy's heart by acting sexy. Shavonda, MJ and Landon are the easiest to like. They get along with everyone and have great personalities. I forget about Melanie half the time, and Karamo and Willie bring an interesting twist. Even if you don't like the "Real World," tune in because it is in Philadelphia. If you're like me, you'll recognize places they go like clubs, bars and restaurants. — KATIE NEWS
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