If the thought of another Friday night spent struggling to get the bartender’s attention at an overly crowded and sweaty bar or screaming to be heard above the din of top 40’s hits pulsing through blown-out overhead speakers has you down, rest assured that there are alternative nightlife options available here in Philly - ones that include neither fist pumping nor painstakingly-crafted $12 cocktails.

If your idea of an ideal Friday night revolves more along the lines of free wine, art appreciation, and intellectual conversation, mark your calendar now for the first Friday evening of every month and plan to head down to the Old City art district for the monthly gallery open house/ exhibit sneak peak known as First Friday. The Soho-like strip of galleries and event spaces between Front and Third and Market and Vine Streets serves as the epicenter of Philadelphia’s happening art scene, with 40-plus galleries packed densely among the cobblestone streets of the city’s most historic neighborhood.

April’s First Friday marked the debut show of the area’s most notable newcomer, Gallery309, an exciting addition to the already diverse and bustling Old City arts/culture scene. Owned and operated by Scott Wasserman as both a workspace for his thriving appRenaissance business and a stunning gallery/event space, Gallery309 is slated to host an array of exciting and cutting-edge events and exhibitions in the coming months:  beginning with its inaugural Cross Section solo show by Philadelphia-based Paul Romano’s, running now through the end of April. This month the multipurpose Gallery309 is participating in Gallery Night on April 15 (as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts) and holding the Cross Section closing party on April 30, just in time for May’s First Friday and the start of a new month of events, parties, and exhibits. If you’re into rubbing elbows with the movers and shakers of the Philly art scene while drinking wine and listening to alternative music long after gallery doors have typically been locked for the night, don’t miss Dead & Lovely- The Art of Kristen Margiotta, Emi Boz, and Gus Fink on May 5 at Gallery309 and check out the venue’s diverse events and offerings in the meantime on their website. Also, click here for more info.