Oct. 5th- the sky was cloudy and gray and rain fell softly in waves upon the buildings in Central Phoenix. The streets were full of people sporting the trendiest fashion: dark cardigans, jeans rolled around the ankles, glasses with heavy frames and a casual air of sophistication. Crowds were milling around the Phoenix Art Museum, whose boxy exterior hid the eccentric and vivid characteristics of its inhabitants. Being somewhat of a casual if not introverted observer, I was a little anxious to follow the crowd into the densely populated museum. However, my curiosity took over my anxiousness and I followed the throngs of people into the brightly lit museum where I soon discovered a world which both entranced and enthralled me.

This was my first First Friday, an event which celebrates Phoenix’s artists the first Friday of each month. The art galleries, concert spaces and restaurants around Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue and Central Phoenix offer special exhibitions, deals and discounts from 5:00 pm into late night. Although I only travelled around Central Phoenix that Friday, there was a trolley available which would freely transport people from each location in Phoenix.

During that night, the Phoenix Art Museum opened its space to many artists from the Valley. As soon as I entered through the doors, I heard an operatic tone extend through the museum’s entrance hall. The tone had emanated from an all-women mariachi band, who dressed in traditional garb and were serenading the crowd with songs in Spanish. The bright sounds of the trumpets harmonized with the classical melodies of the singers.

I moved through the crowds, browsing the quiet hallways of the museum. I encountered everything from the masterful works of the colonial period to miniature rooms no bigger than a screen and a dark room full of tiny LED lights, glowing around me like fireflies.

Soon, I found myself wandering through the administrative buildings of the art museum where an organization from the University of Arizona was holding a poetry reading. The poets, both women, were very accomplished, drawing both quiet laughter and somber silence from the crowd. Later that night, I found myself walking from one art gallery to the next, eating delicious lavender white chocolate ice cream at the Fair Trade Cafe and having a great time with my friends.

The next First Friday will be on November 4th. My experience was singular, but it doesn’t encompass the true nature of the fest. Going to First Friday can not only broaden your knowledge of art forms but also can help support many of the local artists in the area.  You may even traverse through art galleries down the street, savor some Pellegrino, consumed hors d’oeuvre and comment on the aesthetic of the ink-on-paper piece. Or you might just eat some cool brownies, see some great art and have an amazing time with your friends.