Your guide to Raleigh's First Friday
It only happens once a month, but First Friday is a great way to see and experience downtown Raleigh. The next First Friday is this April 7.
Events run from 6 to 9 p.m., unless otherwise noted, and involve tons of galleries, restaurants and other venues in downtown Raleigh. All places participating in First Friday will have flags outside.
Our Best Bets for this month's First Friday:
First Friday at Twisted Oak Art Shop - Twisted Oak, located at 17 East Martin Street, is original art, prints and merchandise from an eclectic group of local artists. On Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., the shop will feature musical guests Dwight Hawkins and The Piedmont Highballers and accept donations for the Food Bank.
NCMA Virtual Reality Experience - Using 360-degree virtual reality footage, the North Carolina Museum of Art will celebrate its Ansel Adams: Masterworks exhibit with a virtual reality booth at The Morning Times First Friday Market. The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at 10 East Hargett Street.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraiser - Quercus Studio will be holding a raffle for an 18k gold and diamond ring with all proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Stop by the studio on Friday to enjoy a glass of wine and a treat from Lucette Grace while the raffle is wrapped up and a winner is picked.
There are so many more First Friday events, we had to make a list of them all.
Browse through the listings below:
Food and drink (All First Friday deals are 6-9 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
The Big Easy - Buy one Taste of Louisiana, get one free
BREW Coffee Bar - Live music, local artists, and $1 off local drafts
buku - $15 wine flights featuring a different wine region of the world each month
Caffe Luna - Free bottle of San Pellegrino with purchase of two entrees
Capital Club 16 - Half price select appetizers from 5-7 p.m.
Centro - $2 off all tequila flights
Crema on Fayetteville - Free cone with purchase of ice cream
Cupcake Shoppe - Buy one get one
Donato's Pizza - $5 off a second large pizza (coupon code #050)
Dos Taquitos Xoco - Free queso dip with the purchase of an entree and kids eat free if they dress like Frida Kahlo
Five Star - $5 appetizers and $5 glasses of wine
Hibernian - Specials change monthly
Irregardless Cafe - Half price bottles of Irregardless' fine house wine
Kimbap - 4 dumplings for $5 and half off select wines (open 5:30-10 p.m.)
Level Up Kitchen and Barcadium - $6 Boiler Makers
North Street Beer Station - $4 craft drafts
Pogo at Marbles Kids Museum/IMAX - Buy one, get one free Pogo Bites and $3 draft beer
Rum Runners - Free admission until 11 p.m., half off all shots, $3 beer special and $6 double Long Islands
Shish Kabob - Free hummus sampler and toasted pita with any gyro sandwich purchase
Solas - Special changes monthly
Sono - $2 edamame from 5-7 p.m. and a $7 feature cocktail
The Station at Person Street - Specials to be announced
Still Life - Drink specials include $5 Fireball shots, $8 Fishbowls, 1/2 OFF bottles of house champagne. Ladies receive free entry until midnight, ladies 21 and older are admitted free all night! Doors open at 10 p.m.
Taverna Agora - Specials to be announced
Tuscan Blu - 10 percent off any wine purchase
Videri Chocolate Factory - 10 percent off all chocolate products
Vita Vite - 10 percent off of all retail items from 6-9 p.m.
Woody's at City Market - Half price appetizers and wings from 4:30-6:30 p.m.; 15 percent off appetizers from 6:30-9:30 p.m.; $4 Market Bar Drafts, $4 Fireball, $5 Capt'n Morgan or Kraken Rums.
Other venues (All First Friday times are 6-9 p.m. unless otherwise noted)
110 Yoga, 444 S. Blount St.
What? Hot yoga studio
Alter Ego Hair & Nails, 119 E Hargett St., Suite 200
What? Hair and nail salon and art venue in a beautiful loft
Special: Monthly art exhibits and periodic music, dance performances, special events and product or tool specials
Amorino, 137 E. Davie St.
What? Authentic Italian gelato and hot drinks in an upscale ambience
The Architect Bar and Social House, 108 1/2 E Hargett St.
What? Bar and social house featuring craft beer, specialty cocktails, local music, and art
Art of Style, 19 W Hargett St.
What? Modern and chic mens + womens boutique venue
Bottega Hair Studio, 301 Glenwood Ave. (Hours 6-10 p.m.)
What? A hair salon with art openings every other month.
Special: Complimentary light food and beverages
BRASCO ///, 305 W Martin St. (Hours 8 a.m.-9 p.m.)
What? Award-winning full service creative design + marketing firm with local artists' exhibits
Briggs Hardware, 111 E Hargett St. (Hours 8 a.m.-9 p.m.)
What? Showcasing historical Briggs family hardware store art.
Capital City Law, 116 N Person St.
What? A general practice law firm with a modern approach to legal services
Capitol Smoke, 215 W Martin St.
What? Glass art from national and local artists, wall art, and the finest imported cigars
Church on Morgan, 136 E Morgan St.
What? A new faith community and venue for the arts
Circa 1888, 412 W Davie St.
What? Enjoy music and drinks after your art walk
City Market, 200 E Martin St.
What? Houses multiple First Friday venues
Special: Live music from March-November
City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville St.
What? City history museum featuring receptions and rotating art exhibits
Clark Patterson Lee, 415 Hillsborough St.
What? Full-service architecture, engineering, interior design, master plans and art gallery
Craft Habit Raleigh, 17 E Martin St.
What? Rotating schedule of novice-friendly make-and-take crafts
Deco Home, 19 W. Hargett St.
What? Deco's super-cool new home store
Deco Raleigh, 19 W Hargett St., Suite 108
What? A collection of unique and local decorative items
Special: Refreshments, entertainment and artist meet-and-greet
Devolve Moto, 304 Glenwood Ave. (Hours 8 a.m.-8 p.m.)
What? Moto & adventure lifestyle shop & cafe
Dram & Draught, 623 Hillsborough St.
What? A bar for the whiskey fanatic, the craft beer fan and the cocktail enthusiast
The Edison Lofts, 131 E Davie St.
What? Metropolitan, modern apartment living at the doorstep of downtown Raleigh
Feelgoodz, 206 S Wilmington St.
What? Natural, comfortable, and ethical footwear
Special: Changes monthly
The Gramercy Glenwood South, 401 Glenwood Ave.
What? New clubroom for rotating art exhibits and live music
Gypsy Jule, 207 W Davie St.
What? Exotic, down to earth store that combines the carefree life of a gypsy with the sophistication of the jetset.
HagerSmith Design, 300 S Dawson St.
What? Architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, historic preservation and art gallery
Hampton Inn & Suites Raleigh Downtown, 600 Glenwood Ave.
What? The premier boutique hotel in downtown Raleigh. Featuring art.
Heat, 400 Glenwood Ave.
What? Free athletic training class followed by music and cocktails
House of Swank, 315 S. Bloodworth St.
What? Home of the raddest NC and Raleigh themed t-shirts and swag.
Special: Featuring local artists and entertainment
HQ Raleigh, 310 S Harrington St.
What? Shared work space for entrepreneurs featuring work by CAM and Artspace
HUE, 300 W. Hargett St. (Hours 6-8 p.m.)
What? Vibrant urban apartment community.
The L Apartments, 205 W Davie St.
What? Downtown Raleigh living at it's finest featuring re-purposed art and sustainable living
LGBT Center of Raleigh, 324 S Harrington St.
What? A safe and welcoming resource center for the LGBT community and friends featuring monthly art exhibits
Link Apartments Glenwood South, 202 N West St.
What? Raleigh's newest, hip, downtown apartment community
Ma Allen Interiors, 1020 Glenwood Ave.
What? Interior design firm featuring top-of-the-line emerging Southern artists and complimentary beer & wine
Marbles Kid Museum (Museum open until 7 p.m.)
Special: Create | Innovate every First Friday night at Marbles as part of downtown Raleigh’s monthly art celebration ($5 per person, members play free)
Moon and Lola, 208 S Wilmington St. (Hours 6 -10 p.m.)
What? Upscale jewelry and accessory boutique
Special: 15 percent off everything in the store
Nest Raleigh, 414 Fayetteville St.
What? The Nest is downtown Raleigh's newest coworking office space
Special: First Fridays feature networking events
Oak City Cycling Project, 212 E Franklin St.
What? Independent bike shop selling new and used steel bike frames and fun
P.G. Werth's, 927 W. Morgan St.
What? Farm-to-table southern cuisine, local vendors, local artists
Port of Raleigh, 416 S. McDowell St.
What? Modern design goods from around the world, for home and lifestyle.
Special: Join us for wine and conversation and shop modern, design-driven, and artful goods for you and your home.
Quercus Studio, 201 S. Salisbury St.
What? Jewelry workshop and gallery
Raleigh Television Network, 310 W Martin St.
What? The city’s digital television network center
The Pour House Music Hall, 224 S Blount St.
What? Raleigh's premier live music venue presenting local and international bands nightly
Triangle Downtowner Magazine, 402 Glenwood Ave.
What? The Triangle's most popular magazine
Special: Enjoy local art, music and drinks
Raleigh Wine Shop, 126 Glenwood Ave.
What? Fine wine and provisions
Special: 10 percent off of bottle purchases from the WineStation and/or tasting wines to drink on-site or to go
Ramble Supply Co., 123 E. Martin St.
What? Home & Lifestyle Boutique supporting artists and makers with a focus on quality and design.
Special? Each First Friday Ramble Supply Co. will showcase a different artist or maker.
Retro Modern Furnishings, 300 W Hargett St., Suite 24 (Hours 12 p.m.-9 p.m.)
What? Vintage + Upcycled + Handmade Furnishings
Runologie, 401 Hillsborough St.
What? Free gait analysis, local art, beer, apps + discounts. Join us + keep moving.
Special? Free wine, beer, apps and special 1st of the month discounts
SkyHouse, Raleigh, 308 S. Blount St.
What? Your new premier high-rise apartment community in downtown Raleigh.
Stitch & Holly Aiken Bags, 20 E Hargett St.
What? Retail showroom of Raleigh handbag designer Holly Aiken
Special: 10 percent off all bags
Unleashed, The Dog and Cat Store, 329 Blake St. (Hours 10 a.m.-9 p.m.)
What? The best dog & cat supplies at the best prices
Videri Chocolate Factory, 327 W Davie St., Suite 100
What? Freshly-made chocolate and confections
Special: 10 percent off all chocolate products
Virgil's Original Taqueria, 126 S. Salisbury St.
What? Raleigh's newest taco joint
Art on display
There are also several art exhibits happening throughout downtown. The Downtown Raleigh Alliance has a list of the exhibits and a complete rundown of the galleries and museums participating in First Friday.
311 West Martin Street Gallery & Studios, 311 W Martin St.
What? Gallery featuring 20 working artists and regional artist exhibits monthly
Ann Marie Print Art and Blue Iris Salon, 711 N Person St.
What? Mixed medium original stencil art and unique wax works
Artspace, 201 E Davie St. (Open until 10 p.m.)
What? Visual art center with artist studios, exhibits and educational programs
Block Gallery, 222 W Hargett St. (Open until 7 p.m.)
What? Gallery exhibiting contemporary local artists
CAM Raleigh (Contemporary Art Museum), 409 W. Martin St. (Hours 6-10 p.m.)
What? Exhibitions on view, make and take art, DJs, food trucks, and more
Special: Free admission thanks to community sponsors
The Carter Building, 12-22 Glenwood Ave. (Hours 6:30-10 p.m.)
What? A collection of art studios, retailers, and service providers
The City Gallery, 118 S. Person St.
What? Vintage Church's gallery hosts art exhibitions, serves artists, and loves Raleigh
Gallery C, 540 N Blount St.
What? Contemporary and historic NC artwork and fine picture framing services
Linda Dallas' Art Studio, 606 N. Blount St.
What? The studio showcases paintings, prints, note cards, crafts and gifts.
Litmus Gallery & Studios, 312 W Cabarrus St.
What? Features local artists and open studios for touring
Local Color Gallery, 311 W. Martin St.
What? Co-op of women artists—fine art, glass, functional pottery, sculpture, and jewelry
The Mahler Fine Art, 228 Fayetteville St.
What? A full-service fine art gallery
North Carolina Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St.
What? Explore North Carolina’s past and learn about its people.
NC Museum of Natural Sciences Store and Nature Art Gallery, 11 W Jones St.
What? Nature inspired gifts along with NC artwork, pottery, and jewelry
Nicole's Studio and Art Gallery, 719 N Person St. (Hours 6-8:30 p.m.)
What? Fine art, art workshops, glass art, jewelry, and custom framing
Personify, 416 S Dawson St.
What? Exhibitions & music with N.C. artists and DJs in the newly restored historic Dr. Pepper Warehouse
Quercus Studio, 201 S Salisbury St.
What? Jewelry workshop and gallery
Studio R.E.D., 20 Glenwood Ave.
What? Working artist studio and gallery
Tipping Paint Gallery, 311 W Martin St.
What? Art gallery and artist studio—contemporary and traditional art
United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, 410 Glenwood Ave.
What? New location in Glenwood South exhibiting art curated by the Visual Art Exchange
Visual Art Exchange, 309 W Martin St.
What? Creativity incubator and gallery featuring emerging artists and a retail shop
Vita Vite, 313 W Hargett St. (Hours 12 p.m.-12 a.m.)
What? Wine bar and art gallery featuring wine, craft beer and artwork from Southern artists.
