First Friday’s in Philadelphia!
Every first Friday of the month is a great time to invest in Philadelphia’s rich art and culture scene. The Old City neighborhood in Philadelphia holds the spirit of Philly’s visual art and culture scene. Some compare it to SoHo in NYC, however, Old City definitely has flavor of its own. With over 40 galleries in a 3 block radius, most found between Front and 3rd streets and Market and Vine streets, including boutiques, restaurants and more. This is where culture is found. You can find almost anything in this neighborhood; unique fashions, handmade goods, diverse galleries, restaurants from many different countries, historical tours and much more.
First Friday’s started in 1991 by a group of galleries as a collaborative open house evening, it later grew into one of Philly’s most essential, signature cultural events. With the addition of many more galleries since 1991, a diverse variety of people and artwork is provided. Galleries open their doors from 5-9pm and many provide refreshments for the large crowds that flood their venues all night.
This is where art enthusiasts go to network, view art, eat, drink and socialize among other fellow art lovers. There is no limit to what type of artist you’ll encounter. Students and indie artists that may not have affiliation with professional galleries also make the Old City sidewalks their temporary home to sell handmade goods. In being consistent with the neighborhood, artists bring their most unique crafts to sell and musicians aren’t far from the scene either. A funnel of sight and sound is created for the entire 4 hours while hundreds of guests walk from one gallery to the other. You already know that Philadelphia is one of the leading cities in art and culture. With so many organizations and talented people, there is an assortment of artistic culture in many different forms. Particularly in Old City you can find the best of specialty galleries that focus on different type of artistic expressions unlike anywhere else. Below you can find a blueprint layout of galleries and other spots of interest in Old City. Next First Friday is January 1, 2010…see you there! (click map for a more detailed view and information)
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