First Friday Events in Downtown Greensboro for June 7, 2019

It's a new month—time for another First Friday, a downtown Greensboro tradition featuring live music, art happenings, and special events. The current forecast for this coming Friday evening is low 70s, with a possibly of isolated showers later (after 8pm). Looks like great temperatures for walking around; maybe have a light jacket handy. If things get wet, you can always pop into one of the many venues that are set on entertaining you for the evening!

This month's events and locations:

Aspen Boutique – 227 S. Elm Street (across from Triad Stage) will be featuring beach-scene necklaces handmade by Huntersville, NC artist Rosa Muro, and singer and guitarist Ben Singer will be at the boutique playing live. Come sip some wine, listen, and browse, and while you're there, ask about the upcoming yoga class on Saturday, June 15^th . https://www.facebook.com/AspenGSO/

beerthirty Crafts on Tap – 505 N. Greene Street (between Smith and Paisley) – will feature live music from 7pm-10pm by Bruce Drake and Brooke Johnson, known as Starstruck Acoustic Duo. They are a local band who play all over the Triad and perform hits from Tom Petty, Pink, Adele, Little Big Town, The Outfield, Kelly Clarkson, Fleetwood Mac and many more! Also the bottle cap artwork of house artist Mike Valle of ReCaps will be on display and for sale, as well as pieces by local artists Laurie Mendenhall and Helen Palmenteri. https://www.facebook.com/beerthirtygso/

Center for Visual Arts (CVA) –200 N. Davie Street will hold its annual 100 for 100 fundraiser from 6-9pm. This year, CVA's annual art fundraiser will feature one-of-a-kind artworks created by notable local artists Hillary Clement, John Gall, Cindy Hawkes, Jack Stratton, Jasmine Best, Krystal Hart, Nancy Radtke, Amy Gordon, and many others. Every piece is 10"x10" and costs only $100. The event is free to attend and will feature special entertainment by dancers, the Moving Canvas interactive art display, and more.

Elsewhere – 606 S. Elm Street (near intersection with Lewis St) – It's Pride month, and Elsewhere is hosting a celebration of Pride and the 50^th anniversary of Stonewall. The Living Museum will showcase and screen selected works by past LGBTQIA+ residents. Suggested admission $5.

GreenHill Gallery – 200 N. Davie Street (in the Greensboro Cultural Center, across from CVA, above) Walk-through tour of “Bliss”, Kristen Baumlier-Faber’s installation on salty, sweet and fatty foods, from 6:00-6:30pm, live music by classically trained guitarist, Stephanie Arcos, from 6:30-7:30, and at 7:30, Art Alliance instructors will share about their mini-exhibition "Influence," on view in GreenHill's shop. Suggested donation for entry. Cash bar available. More info at www.GreenHillNC.org/SWEET

Greensboro Children's Museum - (across from the Main Library) - Climb on XXL Neptune Climbers, build forts in Imagination Station and more at the Greensboro Children's Museum for just $3 per person from 5:00- 8:00pm. Kona Ice of Greensboro will be at the Museum selling sweet treats!

Greensboro Downtown Yoga - 219 Summit Avenue (between E Lindsay and N Church, next to former location of the Flat Iron) will host a First Friday Fundraiser to benefit Jan's Animal Rescue! Brittany Carty will lead this fun and relaxing Friday evening yoga class for beginners and seasoned yogis alike. To get a spot in the class, you can donate ANY amount you choose; all proceeds will go to Jan's Animal Rescue in Greensboro! Jan's Animal Rescue "helps dogs and cats go from life-threatening situations to a loving home" in the Greensboro area. https://www.jansanimalrescue.org/

Oscar Oglethorpe - 226 S. Elm Street (next to Triad Stage and across from Aspen, above) will partner with Reconsidered Goods to host a fun and free DIY workshop for all ages. Participate from 5pm-8pm on First Friday to learn how to make super cute felt succulents, either to take home or to become part of a permanent display in the store. Materials as well as snacks and drinks will be provided; just bring your creativity!

Preyer Brewing - 600 Battleground Avenue (next to Crafted: The Art of Street Food and across from Deep Roots Market) will host First Friday Jazz, featuring Wally West, Kevin Timmons, and Will "MoBetta" Ledbetter. In addition, Western Guilford High School Jazz Ensemble will be having a CD release party! They'll have CDs for sale as a fundraising effort for the music program at WGHS, and musicians from the WGHS Stinger Jazz Ensemble will be performing in several small configurations during the evening. Admission is free.

Downtown Greensboro is happening, and even moreso on First Fridays, so bring your family and friends for a fun-filled evening of food, spirits, creativity, and entertainment this Friday, June 7^th!

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/brushes-painter-work-shop-bowl-3129361/

Downtown Greensboro First Friday Events for June 3rd

GreenHill arts center, 200 North Davie Street (near the corner of Davie and Friendly Ave), celebrates First Friday from 6-9pm, featuring a performance by gospel singer Mary D. Williams from 6:30-7:30. Also at GreenHill this month is the exhibition Influence, a collaboration with Art Alliance Greensboro, featuring ceramics, sculpture and works in 2D by a dozen Art Alliance instructors. The First Friday celebration will also serve as the opening for the Influence exhibit, which runs through the end of June. Cash bar. Admission is free, but donations gratefully accepted. 

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum, 134 South Elm Street (in the historic Woolworth Building) celebrates June as Black Music Appreciation month with a live performance by Smooth Grooves, and will also host a silent auction for the ICRCM Annual Golf Classic. Admission to this event is free to the public.

Chakras Spa and Salon will host its First Friday event with drinks and refreshments art by Sarah McClinton, and music by Kim Kennedy & Mandy Brooke. Chakras is offering a 15% discount at any spa or salon services scheduled by event attendees. See my feature article on Chakras Spa and Salon here:  http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/12/chakras-spa-is-delight-for-senses-and.html

Elements Gallery, 526 S. Elm Street, an artists' cooperative gallery, will feature a fifth-anniversary celebration on First Friday with a wine-tasting, food, and live music among a display of member artists' work, featuring pottery, jewelry, and other handicrafts. 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/music-jam-guitar-lady-girl-844869/

Greensboro's Next "First Friday" is October 2

First Friday has been a tradition in downtown Greensboro for quite a few years, now, but for visitors and new residents who haven't gotten the memo yet, this is the memo: Join downtown businesses as they put on an "open house", featuring even more special specials, more active activities, and more chill chillin', as you walk around, enjoying the party atmosphere. Typical for First Fridays: sidewalk sales, street musicians, gallery shows, special readings and performances.

There will be many participants, as always, but check out the following special events:

• The International Civil Rights Center & Museum at 134 South Elm Street will feature College Night from 6p - 8p, with free admission and performances by students from local colleges

 

• Urban Grinders at 116 N Elm Street will feature "Sprayday", an art exhibit by Tony Waldron, a Durham-based artist and UNCG grad who creates his works with "street" materials such as spray paint and markers

• Greenhill at 200 N Davie Street, is featuring music by local band Raving Knaves, playing rock and roll with a 50s-style, Chuck Berry influence. Band will play from 630p - 730p; free admission (cash bar)

• co//ab at 229 N Greene Street will be giving tours and answering questions about the space from 530p - 8p. Find out what coworking is all about!

• Chakras Spa at 229 S Elm Street will have an art show and competition featuring original art created on skateboard decks. With music by Winston Salem's DJ SK and food and drink by Castle Catering, this sounds like quite the party! Free admission, 730p - 10p

• Just Be at 352 S Elm will host Russian textile artist Aida Brodt for a meet-and-greet from 6p-9p, showcasing Brodt's work for sale in the store

Also happening on First Friday this coming Friday, October 2, will be jazz at The Worx, art and exploration at Elsewhere, reggae at VybzNation, and much more. Come party downtown Greensboro and join in the fun! 

You can also find What's Good in Greensbroro? on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Whats-Good-in-Greensboro-848569635208317/ . See you there!

Image is my own photo of Chakras Spa. Read my article about Chakras here  http://whatsgoodingreensboro.blogspot.com/2014/12/chakras-spa-is-delight-for-senses-and.html