November First Friday picks: Grand opening, vaudeville, art

Maybe we've gotten a little spoiled here with Halloween last week and First Friday this week, but we can't help but feel like the happenings are better than ever. Hit the town on Friday, Nov. 7; it's sure to be bustling!

You scream, I scream, we all scream for Piescream! The latest creation from Magpie and Little Baby's Ice Cream has resulted in a single-serve frozen pie in pumpkin praline and butterscotch bourbon. Pick one up from noon to 11 p.m. at both Little Baby's Ice Cream locations (2311 Frankford Ave., 4903 Catharine St.) and Magpie (1622 South St.) through Sunday, Nov. 9 — but don't count on waiting until the last minute, when supply runs dry, they're gone.

Bring the kids to this one: The newest children's toy store, Momo's Tree House (205 Arch St.), kicks up its heels for its grand opening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with face painting and hot apple cider. Shop the specialty play selections and come back on Saturday, Nov. 8 and Sunday, Nov. 9 for more opening weekend festivities.

Art in the Age (116 N. 3rd St.) brings the great outdoors to its shop with a pop-up market from Westerlind, an outdoors and camping goods showroom from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Items for sale include cycling apparel from Giro, bags from Kletterworks, unisex cotton/hemp clothing by Jungmaven, and camping gear from SnowPeak. Of course there'll be AITA and Spodee Wine cocktails.

A cabaret of local acts, including comedian Maggy Keegan and Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, help welcome the newest collection of visuals to the Barnes Foundation (2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway). The vaudeville-inspired night — with cocktails and bites to match — runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Two bodies of work by artists Peter Seprish — colorful, patterned, humorous approach to the wonderful smells of stinky feet, cat poop and other smells — and Anthony Kosiakowski — dreamlike, colorful, perspective-driven works — open with a 6 p.m.-to-9 p.m. reception at The Art Dept. (1638 Berks St.). Come for the art, stay for the drinks.

Six artists — Timothy Belknap, Stephanie Bursese, Kelsey Halliday Johnson, Sharon Koelblinger, Christopher Manzione and Kristen Neville Taylor — team up for a group exhibition, "Shift Your Weight," opening with a reception from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Vox Populi (319 N. 11th St.).

Power struggles between athletes, coworkers, romantic partners and family members are portrayed via photography, video, painting, collage, performance, short story, and even a three-course meal from artists from Philadelphia, Queens, Brooklyn, New York City, Austin and Chicago. "Hard To Please" opening reception takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Little Berlin (2430 Coral St.) and features a choreographed performance.

Bring your pooch to Center City Veterinary Hospital (37 S. 3rd St.) to celebrate center's fifth birthday. Get your picture snapped in the photo booth, win some pet product prizes, see work from artist Doug Didyoung, and munch on snacks (for both humans and pets). It all runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

A combination of 12 artists fuse their respective disciplines — whether it be sculpture, painting, photography or performance — into ideals of science, magic and perception through "Clarke's Third Law," opening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Space 1026 (1026 Arch St.).

End your night with the funk-R&B fusion that is Red 40 and the Last Groovement. They perform at 11 p.m. at FringeArts' (140 N. Columbus Blvd.) La Peg stage, capping off the evening in the grooviest way.