What to look for at September’s First Friday
The inaugural First Friday takes place Sept. 6. Photo by Jon Mirador
Georgia Geen, Executive Editor
The inaugural First Friday, Sept. 6, of the school year is this week, and it’s also likely to be the last before cold weather kicks in next month. Spread your time among exhibition openings on Broad Street and beyond, and grab a bite to eat or grab a drink when all the walking gets old.
Pop-ups
En Theos, 128 W. Broad St., 5-9 p.m.
Shop the bohemian selections and sip on drinks at boutique En Theos’ pop-up store between stops at galleries down Broad Street.
Hand-Made in RVA, 101 W. Broad St., 6-11 p.m.
Visitors can shop local goods and eat vegan food at this pop-up run by Hand-Made in RVA, a market that showcases the work of artists and artisans of color.
New Exhibits
Black Iris Gallery, 321 W. Broad St., 4 p.m.-midnight
Endeavor RVA invites First Friday patrons to visit its new exhibition, “The Endeavor Order” clad in black to embrace their darker sides. The walls of Black Iris will be painted — you guessed it, black — and the lights dimmed to set the tone for the works from the featured artists. The exhibition aims to shed light on what lies in the shadows.
Elegba Folklore Society, 101 E. Broad St. 5 – 9 p.m.
The cultural center of Elegba Folklore Society is opening its doors on First Friday for visitors, offering music, food and framed prints for sale. Elegba Folklore Society aims to provide educational opportunities through the arts, and its namesake comes from the Yoruba cosmology of West Africa.
Visual Arts Center of Richmond, 1812 W. Main St., 5:30-8 p.m.
An exhibition from New York artist Damien Davis examines the role of wood in transportation, in historical contexts, such as the mid-Atlantic slave trade, and modern ones, like e-commerce. The exhibition was curated by Jennifer-Navva Milliken, and it debuted at the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia this year.
Gallery5, 200 W. Marshall St., 7 p.m.-midnight
“Mother India” is Gallery5’s first Indian art show, set to feature classical and contemporary live music and art — which includes paintings, photos and crafts — will be on display in the venue’s gallery room. The night will conclude with a Bollywood dance
party from DJ Carlito, and the opening is one-night-only.
Something to eat
Charm School Social Club, 311 W. Broad Street, 2-11 p.m.
With an ever-changing menu that includes ice cream flavors such as Thai Iced Tea, ginger lime and vegan options, Charm School offers an attractive aesthetic and a cool break from walking around town on a summer night.
Tarrant’s, 1 W. Broad Street, 11 a.m.-midnight
The restaurant’s happy hour ends right as the events begin, but if you’d like a quick bite in between galleries, stop by Tarrant’s for their chalkboard specials — grab a taco or a slice of pizza, or both.
Switch Pop-up Bar, 13 W. Broad Street, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
The very idea behind Switch is fantastic. A bar and art space divided into two floors, each with its own theme. On the main floor you’ve got “The Rabbit’s Glass,” an Alice in Wonderland theme that you just have to see to believe. On the basement level, nostalgia for the 90s with “1993,” featuring murals of pop culture moments and icons from The Notorious B.I.G. and Kurt Kobain, to Daria as Agent Scully from the “X-Files.” Grab a drink and some food while you take in the beauty of this spot.
Walter Chidozie Anyanwu contributed to this report.
