By Rebecca Chan
Station North wrapped 2011 with the last installment of their Final Friday series with an event aptly named, Final Final Friday.
Andre Robinson of Load of Fun Arts produced the event and brought together local notables such as comedian Jason Weems of Last Comic Standing Finalist fame and Joe Zucker/Zucker Studios illustrator of the original Hobbit and other fantasy novels. The UFO2012-Plastic Army show currently in the LOF Gallery provided an appropriately playful setting for what was to follow. The evening was punctuated by food libations from Station North Arts Café and delectable beats from DJ Just K.
Looking around at the audience on Friday, however, there was a healthy mix of first time Station North visitors, drawn to North Avenue by the opportunity to catch a free Jason Weems performance, and longtime Final Friday attendees alike taking in the show and laughing at the borderline appropriate jokes. Success!
Through the Final Friday events, Station North is trying to expand and diversify its audience by tapping into the thousands of people literally driving past us on North Avenue or Charles Street Friday at 5pm. It’s an effort to promote local talent, and to showcase the hub of activity in Station North that is at times overshadowed by the area’s rough reputation.
If these Final Friday newcomers and seasoned residents of Station North can laugh at the Baltimore-based comedy of Jason Weems at an event, then perhaps they can also start talking about the deeper issues facing Baltimore. At Final Fridays we hope that you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people, venture to new places and venues, and take in the talent that is found throughout Midtown Baltimore. And by doing so, hopefully we can contribute to the ongoing conversation about the things that we want to change in Baltimore, but also the things that are really great.
So, while December’s event was the final Final Friday of 2011, Final Friday is back this month on January 27th, and throughout 2012 in Station North. For more details visit: www.stationnorth.org. Hope to see you there!
