January 18, 2008

All the City's a Stage

By DAVID GLENN

A sociologist explores the charades that create urban nightlife

David Grazian takes a corner seat in the lounge at Tangerine, a highly stylized bar and restaurant in Philadelphia's Old City district. The lighting is dim, the décor is burnt orange, and the speakers are playing tepid, down-tempo electronic music, a dentist's idea of hip.

It's early on a Wednesday evening, and there's an affable, sober, after-work crowd, people mostly in their 40s. At this hour, only two