Closed: The Five Spot   

5 S Bank St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-574-0070
www.thefivespot.com/

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Closed due to fire as of February 2007 Opened in 1996 as the city's answer to the swing revival, the two-floor Five Spot has since become one of the city's most diverse -- and versatile -- clubs. The lounge-like upstairs bar and after-hours ambience, inspired by the Rat Pack and 'Swingers' alike, made it ideally suited for a series of swing and salsa performances and lessons. But soon, other artists looking to cultivate that same late-night cool started booking at the Five Spot, leading to its current standing as Philadelphia's all-purpose house of swank. Most famously, it's been home to 'Black Lily,' a hip-hop-heavy, female-centric open mic jam that launched the careers of Jill Scott and Jaguar Wright, and has been the occasion for numerous unexpected celebrity sightings and surprise performances. While the Five Spot has played host to any number of indie-rock after-parties and the occasional avant-jazz show, it's this near-legendary hip-hop cred that's guided its booking, including DJ nights featuring Roots drummer ?uestlove.