BY JEANETTE HURT

A DJ SPINS A DANCEABLE BEAT OUT ON THE SIDEWALK.

Just down the street, a local women’s roller derby group is hosting a bake sale. A man who eats fire demonstrates his abilities as passersby cheer him on. And dozens of artists set up shop, displaying their paintings, photographs, sculptures and other creations, both in galleries and in trucks parked along the street.

Welcome to First Fridays, Phoenix-style, where almost anything seems possible. Upwards of 10,000 people turn out every first Friday evening of the month, flocking to the city’s thriving downtown arts scene, located in three neighborhoods: Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue and the Warehouse District.

“I don’t think anyone could have ever imagined that it would become the event that it is today,” says Greg Esser, an artist and president of the Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation. “You talk about how amazing it is when the streets are that full of people and energy, but words can’t really describe it. You have to experience it. There’s no way to anticipate just how exciting it can be.”

Though First Fridays started in 1994, only in the last few years has it developed into such a cultural spectacle. It has become so popular that there are two additional monthly art events: Third Fridays, which are the mellower, creative cousin of First Fridays; and Saturdays After, a daytime family event.

“Third Fridays are our city’s best-kept secret, and that’s the thing that makes it charming,” Esser says. “On First Fridays, it’s hard to have conversations with the artists because all of the spaces are at capacity. That’s why Third Fridays were started.”

Artists typically enrich a city’s cultural experience, but for regular folk, it can be somewhat intimidating to just drop into a gallery. That’s why cities like Phoenix began having monthly or seasonal art events: to create a relaxed and fun atmosphere for art aficionados and newbies alike. Three other cities that host similar events include Atlanta, Indianapolis and Milwaukee.

IN INDIANAPOLIS, ANYWHERE FROM several hundred to up to 2,000 people flock to First Fridays, hosted by the city’s downtown art scene. The idea for the event was conceived six years ago by the Indianapolis Downtown Artists & Dealers Association. “About twice as many people come to the galleries on this Friday night than on the other three Fridays combined,” says Kevin Miller of IDADA.

One of the goals of Indy’s First Fridays is to introduce people to local artists. “It’s really a lively atmosphere. For out-of-town visitors, this is a great way to experience the color and the flavor of the city,” says Shannon Linker, director of artist services at the Arts Council of Indianapolis.

In Indianapolis, the event centers on the downtown gallery scene, as well as in the neighborhoods of Massachusetts Avenue and Fountain Square. “You might see illustrations from children’s books at one gallery, then catch some serious Hoosier landscapes down the street, and even see some very cutting-edge, contemporary digital art next door,” Linker says. “There’s a little bit of everything, and you can find art in every price range, whether it’s a $100 print or a $12,000 oil painting.”

IN ATLANTA, ART LOVERS come out every first Thursday evening, not Friday. Turner First Thursdays, sponsored by Turner Broadcasting, are held in the city’s downtown business district.

The event was started six years ago when a group of gallery owners got together and asked Central Atlanta Progress, the city’s downtown improvement district, to host the event. “Most galleries keep bankers’ hours, and a lot of the people who work downtown can’t visit a gallery during the day,” says Lynn Williamson, Central Atlanta Progress’ senior project manager. “During Turner First Thursdays, you can actually go into that gallery that you walk by everyday. It’s a lot of fun, and all of the galleries have their openings during the event.”

Atlanta’s art-centric evenings are a bit more subdued than the ones in Phoenix, with only about 500 people attending. But all of the galleries are within walking distance of each other, and most galleries offer refreshments of some sort.

Central Atlanta Progress highlights different galleries and happenings each month, and December’s First Thursday features a sale at every gallery.

“You go into a space and everything’s really beautiful, and you really like the art, but you can’t afford anything,” Williamson says. “That’s why we always have a sale in December. We call it ‘Gallery Hopping and Holiday Shopping.’”

IN MILWAUKEE, THE EVENT is called Gallery Night and Day. This weekend event is held quarterly, instead of monthly. For 20 years, the galleries in the Third Ward on the East Side have joined forces and opened their doors to the public for one Friday every season; the summer Gallery Night is typically the most popular.

“It’s kind of a block party atmosphere,” says Eva Berry, marketing manager of the Charles Allis and Villa Terrace art museums, which participate in the event. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to get out and about and to people watch. People wander from place to place, and at most galleries, there’s an opportunity to meet the artist whose work is featured.”

Anywhere from a couple hundred to more than one thousand people come to Milwaukee’s Gallery Night. It became so popular that a couple years ago, Gallery Day was added. Besides the dozens of galleries and shops that host shows, the city’s three art museums—Milwaukee Art Museum, Charles Allis Art Museum and Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum—offer free admission as well.

“If you wanted to, you could step out of work and start your evening immediately and just keep going until 10 or 11 p.m.,” Berry says. “When the weather’s nice, it’s just perfect.”

MIDWEST AIRLINES offers daily flights to and from Phoenix, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Milwaukee. Details can be found at www.midwestairlines.com.

ART TOUR GUIDE

Indianapolis: First Fridays are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. More than 25 different galleries participate, and numerous restaurants and shops also join in on the fun. There’s always an after party, typically held at one of the galleries. Usually a DJ plays, food is served and drinks are available for purchase. www.idada.org, 317-332-5612; www.indyarts.org, 317-631-3301

Phoenix: First Fridays and Third Fridays are held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. About 100 galleries, shops and restaurants participate in these events. It’s good to show up at around 5 p.m., and the scene usually cranks into high gear after 8:30 p.m. Saturdays After are held monthly, but the schedule varies. www.artlinkphoenix.com, 602-256-7539; www.rooseveltrow.org, 602-614-8727

Milwaukee: Gallery Night and Day is held quarterly; Fridays are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., while Saturdays the hours vary by venue, but are typically between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. More than 60 venues participate, and the event is sponsored by the Historic Third Ward Association and the East Town Association. The Charles Allis Art Museum also schedules Allis After Hours to coincide with Gallery Night. This free event features live bands, catered hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Free shuttles run every 15 minutes between the different art venues. www.historicthirdward.org, 414-273-1173; www.cavtmuseums.org, 414-278-8295

Atlanta: Turner First Thursdays are from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and seven permanent galleries are committed to being open for every event. A lot of downtown restaurants feature discounts and specials if you bring in a First Thursday map, including Dailey’s Restaurant and City Grill. www.atlantadowntown.com, 404-658-1877