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Downtown is place to be first Friday
Feb 09, 2010 (The Brunswick News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
It is my nature to swim against the current, so when I received repeated invitations to join friends for the monthly First Friday in downtown Brunswick, I always politely refused, thinking it was just not my thing.
That all changed this past Friday.
My husband and I, motivated both by the current economic climate and a genuine desire to spend more time together, decided to give First Friday a whirl and treat it as a date night.
We thought it would be fun -- wandering through shops and galleries in downtown Brunswick, stopping for a bite and a sip or two and listening to some live music.
All free -- except for the meal.
Milling about town this particular Friday, at first, seemed like a bad idea -- shortly after work ended, Brunswick was under a deluge of heavy rain, which made walking anywhere an unpleasant experience. But that changed.
The first stop was at Art Downtown/Gallery 209, where an exhibit featuring digital illustrator ED Hose was opening.
Hose -- for those who are unfamiliar with her work or her identity as ED Hose -- has quite the sense of humor.
The exhibit's title was proof of that.
Tagged "Bacon Wrapped Double Happiness Served on a Crisp Bed of Awesome," and subtitled an "All You Can See" illustration buffet, Hose's art, is a riot of color and deals humorously and head-on with many themes.
An array of appetizers and wine was available, and Xan Nichols entertained with her music. But the art, music and food weren't the only attractions.
The star of the evening was the connectedness among gallery patrons, performers, exhibitors and others who were there just to see what was going on.
When the rain let up, the crowd made its way up and down Newcastle Street, where many of the shops and restaurants remained open later than usual.
One such stop was True Vine, a gourmet wine and beer shop that was hosting a tasting of some of its products.
In fact, at one point it was difficult to find a place to squeeze into to sample the offerings.
Across the street at the Ritz Theatre, another opening night reception was being held for an always popular exhibit.
The Georgia Artists with Disabilities touring exhibit, which makes stops in 80 communities around the state, has returned to the theater's art gallery.
All sorts of art, from paintings to sculptures, are featured in the lobby gallery.
As the evening that began at 5:30 p.m. wound down to its official 8 p.m. conclusion, attendees began dividing among the downtown restaurants, most of which had some form of live music.
And, although the majority of people in attendance were adults, families with children were also there.
After all, on the first Friday of each month, downtown Brunswick opens its doors for people to come in an be like family.
To see more of The Brunswick News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.thebrunswicknews.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, The Brunswick News, Ga.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax
to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave.,
Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
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