This Weekend: First Fridays

My fondness for Fridays has been documented in this space before (the day, not the restaurant, although of the major Americana chains, T.G.I.'s is probably my favorite). There is just something magical about Fridays. When you leave work to go home on Friday, there is a sense of infinite possibilities. The second you change out of your work clothes, the second you take that first sip at happy hour, the second you sit down on the couch; whatever that moment is that lets you know the weekend is finally here, it's a glorious thing.

I had never realized that Central Pennsylvania has not one, not two, not three but four First Friday celebrations to help you shake off the work week at the beginning of each month. First Friday is a great thing. It's a chance to grab a bite with friends, have a few cocktails, look at some art and celebrate the downtown experience. This weekend would be the perfect chance to check out First Friday in Carlisle, New Cumberland, Lancaster or Lebanon.

I know that some of those are a bit out of our normal coverage area, but I find it interesting that so many communities in this general area have embraced the concept of First Friday. After doing a little bit of research about each of the events, it seems like the four can be divided into pairs pretty easily. The events in Carlisle and New Cumberland are family-oriented community events with live music, children’s activities and other similar attractions. The events in Lancaster and Lebanon are more traditional First Friday celebrations, which is to say that they are basically gallery and restaurant walks. Between those four events and the Harrisburg Gallery Walk on Sunday, this is the perfect weekend to do something artsy.

Saturday, you can check out art of a completely different kind at the PA National Quilt Extravaganza. I hate to stereotype, but I get this picture in my head of hundreds of friendly, white-haired old women making quilts together in the Farm Show Complex. If you are looking to get your kids out of the house, the Quilters Convention might not be the best idea. Instead, you could take them to the Children’s Story Time and Discovery Walk at Wildwood Lake or the Family Explor-a-Story at the Madeline Olewine Memorial Library. If you did go to a First Friday, plan on going to to the Gallery Walk Sunday and want to make it a really artsy weekend, you could go to the first event in the Florestan Recital Project at Dickinson College. If you just want to go to a bar (believe me, I’m not judging) there’s a bluegrass tribute to Modest Mouse at Appalachian Brewing Company.

As I mentioned, Sunday is the Gallery Walk. It’s also the first day of the first ever Harrisburg Restaurant Week, which is something I’ll be talking about more next week. If anyone goes to the Gallery Walk or any of the participating restaurants, come on back and post a comment. I’m going to try to do both, but I feel like I might make it to the Gallery Walk and hit Restaurant Week Monday or Tuesday night. Have fun kids.