First Friday Family Fun: Teen science cafe, amusement park art, mini pumpkins, new treat shop

Friday is the first Friday of October and that means it's time for First Friday in downtown Raleigh when galleries, restaurants and museums offer special deals and hours.

Here's a round up of some of the activities suited for families, starting with our usual suspects. As always, check WRAL.com's Out & About calendar for more.  

Marbles Kids Museum now stays open until 7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month so you can play after hours and enjoy dinner at the new Pogo restaurant, if you'd like. The museum's IMAX Theater will be showing "Gravity 3D," the new PG-13-rated movie starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. And, if you're looking to enjoy an evening with just adults, you can sign the kids up for a First Friday Kids Camp, which runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Pre-registration required).

The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is, as usual, busy with all sorts of activities this first Friday. The museum and its Nature Research Center are open until 9 p.m. Among the activities: The museum's Teen Science Cafe returns for the year. It starts at 6 p.m. at the Daily Planet Cafe and features museum biodiversity lab researcher Arielle Parsons, who will talk about studying mammal populations and her work with raccoons. To mark the 56th anniversary of the Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik, the museum also will host a free screening at 7 p.m. of "October Sky," rated PG. The 1999 movie stars Jake Gyllenhaal and is based on a true story about a kid who wants to build is own rocket.

CAM Raleigh will be open until 10 p.m. Activities at the contemporary art museum include after hours access to the new exhibit, Surveying the Terrain, hands-on activities for all ages in the creation station and food trucks.

Artspace on Davie Street in City Market is busy with activities from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. They include viewing artists at work in more than 30 studios, along with pieces in four gallery exhibition spaces. They include the work of Becky Joye and Ray Duffey in Gallery One. Joye's focus is amusement parks. In another gallery, artist Pat Scull has created ceramic wall pieces that originated from visits to the insect museum in the entomology department at N.C. State.

The Cupcake Shoppe, 104 Glenwood Ave., offer its buy one, get one half off cupcakes deal on First Fridays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There's also free coffee. While you nosh on your cupcakes, you also can enjoy local artwork.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit, 170 E. Davie St.,offers free dessert with purchase of a barbecue meat plate and drink or one free kid's meal for ages 12 and under per paid adult meal of equal or greater value.

Another fun place to eat with kids around downtown is Dos Taquitos Xoco on Glenwood Avenue. It's open until 2 a.m. and includes a little train that will bring salsa and chips to your table if you're sitting in the booths. (We have some more downtown eating recommendations for families here. Let me add Benelux Cafe, which has some delicious waffles, to the list. They'll have live music and art on Friday too).

Nuvonivo, the new boutique for babies and kids on Hargett Street, will be giving away mini pumpkins just for stopping in to the store between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. They'll also be offering 10 percent off all of the fall apparel. 

Local Color Gallery will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an exhibit called "Games People Play." It features two artists' take on well-known games. Local Color is a co-op run gallery of local women artists.

The First Friday Morning Times Market at the Hargett Street coffee shop is 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday. The event features local artists and craftspeople selling homemade items. Kids can get involved in a live drum circle and hula hoop jam from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. There's live music and a local  beer tent. The Raleigh Times and Morning Times' restaurants also offer family and dog-friendly sidewalk seating. 

The Mahler Fine Art Gallery will have new paintings of live oaks and landscapes of Topsail Island by artist Chris Stephens. A reception with the artist is planned from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This one might be particularly fun for kids who are regulars to Topsail Island and might recognize some of the scenes.

Flanders Gallery will host music and new works by artists Derek Toomes and Andrea Myers. And at Blake Street Shops & Studios, they'll be celebrating the grand opening of a new sweets and treats shop called The Cupcake Stop Shop and Val's Creations, featuring cupcakes and chocolate, and a Balinesian art gallery. There will be wine for the adults and snacks for kids, along with music.

Ornamentea, the bead and craft store, offers a free project from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of each month.