October First Friday picks: Red Bull can art, parties & more

Grab an umbrella and some pals on Friday, Oct. 2 — First Friday adventures are waiting.

They grow up so fast. Celebrate the first birthday of N3rd Street, the section of North 3rd Street home to many tech, startup and creative agencies. These groups will convene in Liberty Lands Park (913-961 N. 3rd St.) for an afternoon party, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring interactive activities, games, live entertainment, drink and food and free Wi-Fi.

Mural Arts' "Open Source" project brings 14 artists to Philadelphia to create temporary site-specific works. To celebrate, an opening party will be hosted at Bok (1901 S. 9th St.) with a DJ set from Washed Out and additional performances from City Rain, The Living Sample and Ben Arsenal. Meet the artists, grab a drink, and revel in rooftop vibes. A VIP reception runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and general admission extends from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Back to the Future II had high hopes for technology in 2015. (How about those hoverboards?) At a talk at the Chemical Heritage Foundation (315 Chestnut St.), the accuracy of these scientific advancements will be discussed starting at 5 p.m.

History buffs, head over to Christ Church Burial Ground (5th and Arch Streets) for a look at how the yellow fever epidemic impacted Philadelphia in the late 1700s — including stopping by the resting places of those who are buried on the grounds. The hour-long tour starts at 5:30 p.m.

Just try not to dance at this party at the Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway). From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cuban duo Dos y Mas will perform followed by a talk on the museum's latest exhibit "Strength and Splendor: Wrought Iron from the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, Rouen." The evening will be hosted by Ramon Zayas of Telemundo 62.

Words, language — it can all get misconstrued. In "Coming to Terms," four artists provide visual media expressing communication and alternatives to the standard forms of language. Attend an opening reception at Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Photographer Jorj Bauer explores how the message of a photograph can change based on its physicality. What does a viewer get out of a picture on glass as opposed to a modern ink print? Black-and-white palladiotypes, kallitypes, inkjets, color gum bichromate prints, carbon prints, and casein bichromate on glass will all be on display at Gravy Studio (155 Cecil B. Moore Ave.). Get to the opening reception early (it starts at 6 p.m.) and take part in the artist's tintype parlor.

Artists from across the country submitted work in all disciplines — digital design, sculpture, animation, painting and more — with one inspiration in mind: a Red Bull can. Check out all the selected pieces at Dilworth Park (1 S. 15th St.) at an opening reception featuring a projection mapping installation from Klip Collective. Projected on the side of City Hall, the animated illumination will highlight the building's architecture in a new and exciting way. Don't miss it: The party runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Join Franky's Foxes for a bewitching evening at Franky Bradley's (1320 Chancellor St.). The drag troupe puts on a mysterious performance starting at 10:30 p.m. followed by an after-party with DJ Chris Urban.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.