Downtown Greensboro

Download First Friday Map – February 1st

Greensboro, N.C. – The public is invited to discover Downtown Greensboro and its creative community on Friday, February 1, 2013.

First Friday is a self-guided walking tour of Downtown Greensboro’s galleries, shops and alternative venues that participate with specially programmed arts events with extended hours (until 9:00pm) on the first Friday of every month. Look for green balloons outside of venues to denote First Friday participation.

First Friday is a collaborative  program led by Downtown Greensboro Inc. and the United Arts Council. For further information and a downloadable map/guide, visit the First Friday Website, downtownfridays.com. Join DGI’s Facebook  (http://www.facebook.com/DowntownGreensboro ) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/downtowngso) pages for updates.

All events are free and scheduled from 6:00 – 9:00pm unless otherwise noted:

It’s Right Here #DGSO

205 Collaborative – 205 Lyndon Street
Experience the art of February’s featured artist, Patricia L. Cooke as she works with recycled materials to create her innovative life-sized figurative sculpture. One night only: 25% off sculptures and paintings by Tricia. Enjoy refreshments and music while touring Gallery 205 working studios.

Ambleside Gallery – 528 S. Elm Street
Group Exhibition – Recent Works by Sander Gibson – Watercolors, Leigh Rodenbough – Pastels and Oils, Karen Spencer – Encaustic and Mixed Media, Karen VanGamper – Oils and Watercolors. Live Music by Triad Early Music Society. Refreshments served.

African American Atelier Inc.- 200 N. Davie Street
African American History Month opens with the Triad Story Exchange and the Smooth Grooves Urban Ballroom Performers! Enjoy an extended viewing of the current exhibit, “Founding Members Invitational Exhibition 2013”, which exhibits the works of artists such as: Roy Nydorf, Henry Sumpter, Floyd Newkirk, Vandorn Hinnant, Elisa Fox and Jim Langer. Members of the Triad Story Exchange will be performing entertaining stories from the “Freedom Road”, for all ages! Smooth Grooves Urban Ballroom performers, will also do two live demonstrations of their “Chicago style stepping.”

Artmongerz – 610 S. Elm Street
Home to 11 of the area’s leading artists, see exhibitions of new work in a vast variety of media including acrylic/oil painting, fine art photography and other works on paper as well as 3 dimensional abstract, conceptual and representational sculpture. Refreshments served.

Blu Martini – 318 S. Elm Street
Featuring glasswork by artist  Mary Johnston of  Dragon Fly Studio. Enjoy a new cocktail as Blu Martini will host its first Mix Off, an exciting competition for their creative bartenders. These mixologists will create new beverage concoctions with Herradura Tequila, Cointreau, and debut new liquors Bombay Sapphire East, Remy V, and Grey Goose Cherry Noir. With your help Blu will be choosing which of these refreshing drinks will be added to Blu Martini’s feature menu!  Note: Ages 21 and up with appropriate attire.

Center for Visual Artists – 200 N. Davie Street
BLACKOUT is a themed art exhibition of 2-D + 3-D artworks based on the use of the color black.  Works will be accepted in numerous media including, but not limited to, painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, collage, photography, sculpture and fabric.

Earthworks Gallery – 500 S. Elm Street
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Masks by blacksmith Michael Dix. A selection of gift ideas for Valentine’s Day will be available.

Elements Gallery – 526 S. Elm Street
This First Friday, Elements Gallery presents Karen Spencer (oil and cold wax) and Karen Lewit (clay and glass).

Green Hill Center – 200 N. Davie Street
Lake Isle will perform for the public opening of Two Artists, One Space, an exhibition curated by Edie Carpenter, highlighting the work of two emerging women artists who create process-oriented works. Andrea Donnelly’s wall-size weaving’s representing figures in meditative poses or imprints of the artist’s body are created by a time consuming process call “warp weaving”. Heather Lewis’s installations investigate the drawing medium through stenciling, cut paper, and light projections which transform the silhouettes of everyday objects into new contexts.

International Civil Rights Center and Museum – 134 S. Elm Street
Begin your celebration of Black History Month at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum recognizing the significance of the role of youth, women and the church to civil rights activism in America.   The illustrious Yvonne Johnson Singers from James B. Dudley High School and the renowned Bennett College Choir will render spirituals and songs from the traditional black church followed by the Northern Guilford High School Band. These talented musicians will play an original composition recognizing local civil rights history and other inspiring musical selections.  The True Vine Pentecostal Praise Team will delight audiences with their spirit-filled repertoire rooted in African American faith.

Jules Antiques and Fine Art – 530 S. Elm Street
A private collector is downsizing and currently offering work by Eugene Delacroix (French 1798-1863), Pierre Ramel (French 1927-1989) and Dr. Andreas Nomikos (Greek/American 1917-1999). Also included are rare Persian miniatures and framed antique Japanese scrolls. Dr. Nomikos was a world famous set and costume designer and the show has many of his original hand painted designs from ballet and opera productions around the world.

Katie Klein Photography - 121 W. McGee Street Suite D
An exciting viewing of the latest vintage inspired portraits, entitled The Original Sweethearts. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres and enter the raffle to WIN your own Original Sweetheart experience! The winner will receive an Original Sweethearts photography session, including professional hairstyling and makeup application. One signed 11×14 fine art image is also included, along with a web gallery to display the final re-touched and edited images from the session.

The Junior League Bargain Box – 122 N. Elm Street
Love is in the Air - Come and shop to the sounds of a guitar trio from the Western Guilford High School.  The Bargain Box will feature a special selection of jewelry just in time for Valentines Day. Find something you LOVE while supporting the Junior League of Greensboro and the work we are doing in our Community. Refreshments served.

Just Be – 352 S. Elm Street
The inspirational copper jewelry of Jean Skipper will be featured.  Her bracelets, earrings and necklaces would make a great Valentine’s Day gift!

Mack and Mack – 220 S. Elm Street
Mack and Mack’s improvisational house band, F-Art Ensemble presents a special show this month.

Nico’s Restaurant and Bar – 201 N. Elm Street
On this First Friday, Nico’s showcases the work of local artist Mary Robinson. Her work, “Facing What Surfaces,” Mary asks the viewer to think about how our emotions play a part in sharing with the world an intimate moment of ourselves that humble us as individuals. Mary uses layers of material in this Mixed Media series such as: charcoal, ink, acrylic, oil, paper, leaves, petals, bobby pins, wax, wire, and wine.

The Sweet Shop – 631 S. Elm Street
Jazz vocalist Brenda Bey will perform. Show: 7:30pm.

Thrill of the Hunt – 604 S. Elm Street
Clarice Johnson, personal chef & caterer of Bessie’s Table, will be giving out samples of her delicious marzipan ginger torte and will have Valentine’s gifts of homemade goodies for sale. Make a valentine for a senior tonight and receive $5 store bucks. All materials provided. 15% off store wide this evening only!

Twisted Dance Studios – 315 S. Greene Street
Hooping is a beautiful, graceful, happy and joyous form of dance. Join the Twisted Dance’s Hoop teachers, Tammy and Jessica, will be hosting an evening devoted to the hoop.  There will be some awesome performances by teachers, a hoop demonstration mini-workshop and some open hooping so you can try out your new hooping skills. No experience or hoops needed to try it out!

Additional Events

The Idiot Box Comedy Club – 348 S. Elm Street (Fee)
No Nonsense Comedy, a showcase of local stand-up comedy, $7, 8:00-10:00PM

Greensboro Children’s Museum – 220 N. Church Street (Fee)
From 5-8PM, enjoy a special rate of $2.00 admission to the museum.

Greensboro Fringe – Dance Project: the School at City Arts – 200 N. Davie Street
Push It, Seal It, Post It. references the old adage “push the envelope” and this show aims to do just that. The audience will be encouraged to open themselves up to a new and experimental dance performance, which requires their involvement. Furthermore, the show uses metaphors of mail to address race issues, political themes, stereotypes, and current events, creating a cohesive production. A Greensboro Fringe Festival event – 06:00 pm – 07:00 pm.

Greensboro Fringe – City Arts Theater – 200 N. Davie Street
See new works by the John Gamble Dance Theater with Katrina Blose, Amanda Diorio, Heather Doyle, Stephanie Blackmon Woodbeck and Alex Smith. A Greensboro Fringe Festival event – 8:00pm – 9:00pm.

Greensboro Fringe – City Arts Theater – 200 N. Davie Street
15 Feet – Celia and Diane meet and meet again in this romantic comedy of family and politics. In a modern tale of mismatched lovers Celia, the daughter of conservative anti-abortion protesters, and Diane, a nurse at a women’s clinic, retell the story of how they fell for and then left each other. A Greensboro Fringe Festival event. 10:00pm -11:00pm.

TAVO Restaurant and Tavern – 212 S. Elm Street
Featuring Hott Gritz for the first time ever in Greensboro NC!  Hott Gritz is a variety band that specializes in Jazz, Funk, R&B, Rock, Country, and Smooth Jazz. Some of their influences and covers are Bon Jovi, Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, The Temptations, Miles Davis, Earth Wind and Fire, Rick James, Franky Beverly & Maze and Prince. As always @ TAVO, this is a NO COVER charge event. Make your seat reservation now for Friday Feb 1st. Show starts at 10:00pm.