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Arts & Entertainment

FIRSTfriday of Falls Church

It's Fun. It's Free. It's FIRSTfriday!

FIRSTfriday is the artistic pulse of Falls Church. More than 500 residents and visitors attend this citywide event every month to enjoy free artistic and cultural activities. “FIRSTfriday attracts more people to downtown Falls Church,” said Tom Gittins, founder of the year-round event. “People never used to walk on the streets of Falls Church. Now they walk along the sidewalks of Broad Street, from an art exhibit to a restaurant for dinner. We needed to take that extra step.”

As a City resident and the owner of Art and Frame of Falls Church, Gittins feels a strong connection to the local arts community. When he opened Art and Frame in 2001, artists started coming into the shop looking for a place to show their work. Gittins began hosting an art show at his shop every third Thursday of the month before switching it to FIRSTfriday. He also started reaching out to neighboring businesses to gauge their interest.

Gittins’ project has grown steadily over the past decade to include a broad sponsorship and participation by more than 20 local businesses, organizations and City departments and agencies. “Ten years later, we’ve had over 120 events with hundreds of artists, musicians and authors that are now a part of FIRSTfriday,” he said.

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Each participating venue offers its own unique event or special. Gittins will host a reception at Art and Frame highlighting the work of photographer Al Krachman. Mad Fox Brewery on West Broad Street offers a lunch special, Stifel & Capra on West Broad Street features an artist showcase and Red, White & Bleu on South Washington Street offers a free tasting, just to name a few.

“FIRSTfriday is a wonderful concept that reaches out to the community to patronize the local small businesses,” said James Roth, owner of Red, White & Bleu. “We have used this monthly occasion to promote our selection of craft beers by spotlighting a style or brand and offering a free tasting. The event has been a huge success and continues to attract novice and sophisticated enthusiasts alike.”

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Helene Safford, owner of Clay Café Studios, shares Roth’s sentiments. “Clay Café Studios has supported FIRSTfriday for Falls Church since its inception,” Safford said. “Our core business principles begin with supporting our community. FIRSTfriday is a wonderful way to say thank you to our regular customers and friends in Falls Church.”

Gittins said the popular event is a great marketing tool for local businesses and his goal is to make it even bigger. Last year, he introduced ArtALot. Every first Friday from May to October, the event will expand to include the parking lot at 111 Park Avenue. The 2011 lineup includes band performances, classic car shows, contests and 40 tents set up with local artists, craftsmen and musicians. “Heck, I wouldn’t mind if Park Avenue was completely closed and additional vendors and artists participated,” Gittins said of his goals for the near future. 

Expansion may be on the horizon, but FIRSTfriday is already providing the local community with an inside look at the arts & culture scene in Falls Church. Laura Connors Hull, producing director of Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church on South Maple Avenue, said that FIRSTfriday was the first citywide “art centric” event and it has become a “not to miss” occasion on everyone’s calendar.

"Tom Gittins created a welcoming and friendly gathering that puts the spotlight on many talented local artists that are working in our community,” Connors Hull said. “When I first began attending, Creative Cauldron was in its early stages of development.  It was a great place for me to meet people who were passionate about the arts, and a great many personal and professional friendships were forged at those gatherings.  Creative Cauldron frequently has a performance or program scheduled on FIRSTFriday, so people can enjoy a multi-faceted evening of art, performance and fine dining, right here in the Little City. ”

*All discounts available on FIRSTfriday only, just pick up a flyer or print one out and you’ll be good to go! 

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