Come Experience Auburn’s second “First Friday” event happening August 5th from 5 – 8PM
July’s event was a smash success, and August brings even more participants and interest. Each venue offers their own spin on entertainment and free or discounted refreshments or merchandise, contributing to this ongoing festival of art & culture.
Auburn’s First Friday is organized by Auburn’s Historic & Cultural Sites Commission and the Downtown Auburn BID. August’s community open house is going to be hosted by all of the following at their respective locations: Cayuga County Office of Tourism, the Center for Wellness, the Downtown BID, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center (SMAC), Seward House Museum, Cayuga Museum of History & Art, Speno Music, Beautiful Things, Swaby’s Tavern and Auburn Public Theater.
Cayuga County Office of Tourism (131 Genesee Street) will host an open house from 5 – 7PM, giving tours of their newly renovated office space. The office serves as the visitor information for the County. Refreshments will be served. www.tourcayuga.com
The Center for Wellness (1 Hoffman Street & Genesee Street) will offer 20% off any gift shop item excluding consignments, plus and a 90 minute massage for the price of a 60 minute, additional specials offered as well. www.thecenter4wellness.com
The Downtown BID (128 Genesee Street) will have the paintings of Tom Hussey on display, featuring six different scenes of Auburn’s downtown landscape, plus his other current works. Hussey will be on site offering a painting demonstration in front of BID’s offices. Postcards and posters of Hussey’s East Hill piece, featuring the Genesee Beer sign, are available for sale. The artwork of Todd Foster, another local artist, will also be on view, and refreshments will be served from 5 – 8PM. www.auburndowntown.org
Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center (205 Genesee Street) will offer free admission into the traveling exhibit, “New York Prints of Mind,” from Universal Limited Art Editions, featuring prints from renowned artists such as Jasper Johns. Additionally on view is an exhibition of digitally printed and dyed fabrics by Jane Dunnewold called, “Sacred Planet.” In Gallery Julius, visitors can view “Brian Roach: A Transgressive Look at Beauty,” large-scale photomontage. Guided highlight tours at 6PM and 7PM. www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/events/current.html
Seward House Museum (33 South Street) will feature live music from husband and wife duo Terry & Beth Beer Cuddy of Cast of Thousands, and tours of the historic home will be free of charge, and refreshments will be provided. The artwork of Annie Ryerson will be on display in the gift shop. www.sewardhouse.org
The Cayuga Museum of History and Art (203 Genesee Street) will be open from 5 – 8 with live music performed by Stevie Tombstone. All exhibits will be open, and there will be guided tours to the Case Research Laboratory, the birthplace of talking movies. The new Civil War exhibit, “The Cost of Freedom,” explores the experiences of local people during the war, both at the front and at home. The award-winning exhibit on Auburn Prison, “Both Sides of the Wall,” tells the story of the oldest continually-operating prison in the country. Stroll through, “A Child’s World” and the “Summer in the Finger Lakes” exhibits before stopping for complimentary refreshments. www.cayuganet.org/cayugamuseum/events.htm
Speno Music (3 East Genesee Street) will be offering discounts on instruments. Come tour their wide selection of merchandise for music lovers. spenomusicinc.com
Beautiful Things & Affordable Treasures, a new antique shop at 6 Seminary Avenue, next to Bee Line Auto, will be giving tours of their new shop.
Swaby’s Tavern (6 South Street) will offer a cool respite after visitors make the rounds to all the sites. Their kitchen will be serving half-price burgers and wings to First Friday patrons, plus drinks specials from 4 – 10PM. www.swabystavern.com
Auburn Public Theater (108 Genesee Street @ Exchange Street) will offer a free movie in their boutique cinema space. The film “The Greenhorns” will be shown at 5PM. This documentary explores the lives of America's young farming community - its spirit, practices, and needs. www.auburnpublictheater.org/cinema.html
First Friday maps designed by The Citizen detailing each month’s activities will be available at each stop, and signage will be posted outside participating venues during the event. For more information please contact the BID 315.252-7874.
