Left to Right, Tom Piazza, Owner of Mahogany (Cigar Lounge), Edwidge Adam and Maurice Baynard, Managing Partners of PSYP

It's almost 6:00pm as I walk down Market Street into the lower numbers. Old City seems to be in reverse as harried nine-to-fivers hurry to their respective modes of transportation home. The October air is brisk and the wind whips around me as I plunge against the opposing crowds that become thinner as the blocks stretch on. Tired myself from the daily grind, I am thrilled to spot my destination-Patou-a bar/restaurant on the third block of Market Street.

As I timidly peek through the long front windows, I become surprised. It seems that not all of Center City has retired for the evening. The restaurant is packed. Filled to the brim with young somethings. Laughing, drinking, snacking, talking, mingling. I pull open the heavy door and am greeted with a rush of warmth. The atmosphere is as electrifying as the lighting-- dancing off the mast-high ceilings and reflecting off the porthole-style mirrors that line the walls.

"Hi! Sign up to win a free trip to France!" exclaims a bouncy, fiery-headed woman with a pen in her outstretched hand just inside the entrance.

I scribble my contact information down as she babbles about the Eiffel tower and strolling along the Seines. I then plunge into the crowd, taking it all in. From the young women in suits lounging on the plush sofas that are the color of the Mediterranean, to couples admiring the vintage photos, to the small clusters by the bar, I receive friendly smiles.

Jazz competes with conversation as I snag a complimentary piece of French toast layered with foi gras and a slice of pizza and weave myself through the main bar and restaurant upstairs to a less crowded bar. I order a glass of French wine-seemingly appropriate. I feel for the occasion and admire an artist sketching two-minute portraits with charcoal, as though we are on a sidewalk in Paris.

Left to Right, Hannah Hubler, PSYP Intern, Ali Fisk, PSYP Associate and Kelly Racedo, PSYP Associate

So what brings all these twenty- and thirty- something's to this place, this time, this date? This is not your ordinary crave for cocktails and conversation after a long day at work. No, these people are stringed together by the Philadelphia Society of Young Professionals (PSYP).

PSYP is a socializing and networking organization geared towards working young adults in the Philadelphia area. It is free to join with unique events ranging in price from upscale to $5 to $10 ones. The first event in Philadelphia was held in August of 2002 and by the end of the first year, PSYP had 1,000 plus members. The average turnout for each event varies from up to 200 attendees to smaller crowds for a golf clinic.

"This is a great idea. I'm new to the city and only know a few people. I thought it would be a little weird coming here alone but everyone seems really cool, says Jack Herrmann, 22, who works for AMAX. This particular night at Patou is part of a series of "Around the World," happy hours, where every week, a new bar is visited, which represents another part of the globe. WYBE is hosting the event and there are television cameras everywhere you turn.

Edwidge Adam and Maurice Baynard, managing partners for PSYP, plan all of the events but are always welcoming new ideas.

"We have a pretty diverse membership, so in our planning, we work hard to ensure we reach our audience-a rich blend of cultures, backgrounds, professions, and income levels," says Adam.

	Left to Right, Robert Keon, Controller of Radisson Warwick Hotel and Julianne Glatz, Owner of Julianne Glatz Cigarbox Handbags

Examples of events in the near future include additional "Around the World" happy hours, a capture-the-flag game, a fashion show, a whiskey-tasting event, and a cocktail fundraiser. PSYP hosts about five events per month, each one of them a great way to meet new people and to network. It's not a singles organization but there are a few designated singles events planned throughout the year. The majority of PSYP attendees attend alone.

PSYP is part of a much larger networking organization for young professionals. The Society of Young Professionals (SYP) has chapters also in Washington, D.C., New York, Baltimore, Boston and Los Angeles. The group's mission to initiate interaction between people is inherited by its guests. Case in point: when Michael and Greg originally moved to D.C. (separately), they didn't know a single person. They both found that by attending a lot of events, they made more friends and then started to see the trend. They joined forces to host parties in D.C. in 1999 and SYP has been expanding and multiplying ever since.

"Get out to events. It can be scary at first, but it is the best way to make friends. If you do not like an event, you can always turn around and leave. But at least you tried. If you attend a few events, you will almost certainly make some friends out of it. You will not meet anybody staying home," says participant Michael Karlan. He and participant Greg Bland launched a new company called Professionals in the City on November 1.

Karlan continues, "People love that we offer this service. It definitely fills a void. Bars are a really tough place to meet people. Our events create a sense of community for people."

And even though Patou is considered a bar, on this Wednesday evening, it is certainly not difficult to meet anyone there. The hard thing will be keeping all the names straight.

To join PSYP and to find future events, visit www.phillyyoungpro.com or e-mail events@phillyyoungpro.com. More information on Professionals in the City can be obtained at www.prosinthecity.com.

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