We're big supporters of new emerging artists and thus we're really looking forward to seeing Northern Liberties' Projects Gallery open its 2008-09 exhibition season with Fresh! 2008. This invitational exhibition includes an impressive number of the city's emerging artists, including many recent graduates from various art programs. Selected by gallery Director Helen Meyrick because of her "immediate visceral response to their work," these artists bring sculpture, photography, painting and drawing to the show. Mayerick tells......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: Screenings Under the Stars: Get ready for Dark Knight with a screening of Batman Begins at the Great Plaza on Penn’s Landing (Chestnut and Columbus Blvd), 6:30PM (movie at dusk). Free Laughter on the Banks Schedule: See the classic Annie Hall in the great outdoors on the Schuylkill Banks (25th and Walnut), 8PM Find Out Why You Can Watch Movies on the Banks: Screening of Free the River......

Because July's First Friday falls on the nation's 232nd birthday, in addition to firecrackers, brews, hot dogs, and sliders, we also get to savor good art, as many of the Old City galleries stage their usual First Friday openings and extended hours. Note that some galleries will be closed on the 4th, so if you have a particular favorite that you always aim for, give them a call first to make sure that they will......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Bordellos Are Good: Opening reception for “Peep Show,” featuring work from five interdisciplinary artists examining eroticism, set in a space resembling a 19th-century bordello at Airspace (4013 Chestnut), 6-10PM. Free Firk It: Get to the only Friday the Firkinteenth of 2008, featuring 13 or more firkins of cask conditioned ale, at the Grey Lodge Pub (6235 Frankford), 12PM- when the firkins run out. Free + cost of......

Time again for First Friday gallery openings and receptions, and time to get crawling from gallery to gallery for a sip of wine, an eyeful of new artwork, and hopefully the chance to add some good artwork to our collections. First Friday is hard to beat as a once-a-month must-do for art lovers, art collectors, artists, and even tourists. Starting in Northern Liberties, Projects Gallery finally opens their collaboration with curators and uber art bloggers......

One of the first things many art-loving new arrivals to Philadelphia become addicted to is the ">First Fridays gallery crawl in Old City. With loads of good art openings, plenty of free or cheap white wine, a bite to eat here and there, and spectacular people watching opportunities, First Fridays is hard to beat as a once-a-month must do for art lovers, artists, and wannabees. We've already mentioned the opening of (In)Between at Wexler Gallery......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY InnaRae Guy: InnaRae Guy performs Rena’s Moan, 15 songs inspired by conversations with her grandmother while growing up, at The Philadelphia Society for Art, Literature and Music (5841 Overbrook Ave), 8PM. $10 Improv: Local improve troupe The N Crowd takes your suggestions at the Actors Center (257 N 3rd), 8PM. $10 Dressing the Muse: Night of poetry featuring readings by Autumn McClintock, Leslie Valdez, Lisa Grunberger, and......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: London Calling: Free dance party featuring Brit Rock from the '60s to today spun by DJs Jared Styles and Jim McGuinn at World Café Live (3025 Walnut), 6PM. Free (pre-registration required) Exit A: Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead, reads from his latest book Exit A at the Penn Bookstore (3601 Walnut), 7PM. Free Deep Breath: Introduction to Buddhist meditation presented by the Menlha Buddhist Center at the Ethical......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Famous Films II: The Secret Cinema presents a second installment of their Famous Films series, including A Trip to the Moon (you've seen clips, trust us), at the Moore College of Art and Design (20th and Race), 8PM. $7 Jeannie Gagne: Jeannie Gagne at the Unitarian Society of Germantown (6511 Lincoln Drive—West Mt. Airy), 8PM. $10 Cold: Absolute Zeros, Parsnip Revolt, and Dylan McGuire at Fergie’s Pub......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Some Art for the Wall: 5th Annual Emerging Artists and Emerging Leaders Art Auction, with entertainment by local guitarist Marisol Rampolla and an open bar, at Drexel University - Paul Peck Alumni Center (32nd and Market), 7PM. $10 There Are Some Who Aren’t?: Local author Lynn Hoffman reads from his novel bangBANG, the story of “a feisty Philly waitress,” at Molly’s Bookstore (1010 S. 9th), 7:30PM. Free......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Massive: WZT Hearts, Wet Hair, Secret Abuse, Nimby, Evan Miller, Teeth Mountain, and Prince Hand Vs. Prince Hand at the Rotunda (4014 Walnut), doors 7:30PM. $5 Celebration: Opening reception for A Celebration of Life and Art, works by the late Marge Peterson, at Highwire Gallery (2040 Frankford), 5-9PM. Free Reading: David Levithan reads from his new short story collection, How They Met and Other Stories, at Giovanni’s......

Fun around town, for $10 or less: FRIDAY Money Folders II: Second installment of series featuring the Philadelphyinz, DJ Gravity, and more at the Arts Garage (1535 Ridge Avenue), 10PM-3AM. $10 (women free before 10:30PM) Sing, Sing a Song: Choral Concert with Organ presented by the Delius Society at St. Mark’s Church (1625 Locust), 7:30. Free Art Is Primary: Opening reception for Red Yellow Blue, a solo show of artist Vincent McLoughlin, at AXD Gallery......