Foodies brave rain, lightning

A food festival in University City Thursday night turned into a wet T-shirt contest and light show when an intense thunderstorm and lightning hovered over the city at about 8 p.m.

Still, some of Philadelphia's hard-core foodies stuck it out and splashed their way across a parking lot on 39th and Market to try dishes and sweets from vendors participating in the Philadelphia Night Market.

The event is organized by The Food Trust, a non-profit that works to ensure that all of Philadelphia's communities have access to healthy and affordable foods.

Organizers said there will be more night-market events throughout the summer, and hopefully the weather will be a little more cooperative.

"We had a lot of people, a lot of food, all kinds of different people enjoying themselves, music - and then, the heavens opened up and the rain came down," Yael Lehmann, executive director of The Food Trust said as a bolt of lightning tore through the sky behind her.

Despite the rain, the crowd - enthusiastic and soaking wet - still lined up for burgers, sausages, pizza, tacos and cupcakes, and crossed their fingers that the beer garden would stay open through the downpour.

"It was a great crowd, the food was amazing - this is sort of an interesting surprise," said John Weidman, while rain hammered on the thin roof of a white tent toward the corner of the parking lot.

He was huddled under the tent with his wife, Ebony, and many others who ran for cover.

"Extreme weatherwise, there's still loyal people out here, I think it shows that there's a real need, a real interest for local foods, music bringing people together," Ebony said, just before John darted into the parking lot and the pouring rain to grab a burger.