January First Friday picks: Arts, wine & more

The holiday season gets an unofficial extension with First Friday coming so close behind New Year's. We're not mad about it. Pickings are a little slim for Friday, Jan. 2 but here's what's going on.

From 2004 to 2008, photographer Jeffrey Stockbridge photographed deserted homes in parts of North and West Philly. Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine St.) is showing said photos until Jan. 16, but is hosting a First Friday reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The 14 newest associate members of 3rd Street Gallery (45 N. 2nd St.) will have individual pieces shown in a group show, "Assemblage: A Convergence of Art" at the gallery through the beginning of February with an opening reception from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Property management group Settle Down Philadelphia (34 N. Front St.) is throwing a party in their office from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free evening features music from locals Memphis Hat, beer and raffle drawings.

The Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway) knows how to throw a party. Honor of Dr. Barnes' 143rd birthday with music, art and fashion. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the museum will hold a trunk show from fashion designer Wale Oyejide while musical performances from M'Balia Singley and Luke Carlos O'Reilly and Friends will be scattered throughout the evening.

Got five bucks? Cool. Sample five wines — and some bubbly — from local wineries at Pinot Boutique (227 Market St.), starting at 6 p.m.

Seventeen LG Tripp Gallery (47-49 N. 2nd St.) artists have chosen work, including paintings, works on paper and sculpture, for a collective exhibition, holding a reception at 6 p.m.

Start 2015 on a comedic note with a selection of Philly's funniest at L'Etage (624 S. 6th St.) for their monthly First Friday evening of improv, stand up and more. Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts half an hour later.

If you didn't party hard enough on New Year's Eve, Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N. Front St.) is hosting a Fame Lust banger starting at 10 p.m. with tunes from DJ Suga Shay highlighting the best booty jams. Get there before midnight for $4 Stoli drinks and $2 Pabst.