Independents' Day

Leave it to the alternative galleries to host an alternative July Fourth bash: Pirate, NEXT, Edge and Zip 37 galleries are celebrating the auspicious convergence of Independence Day (get it?) and First Friday with an All-Gallery Weenie Roast Picnic, taking place tonight from 6 to 10 p.m. and masterminded by hip event planner Dana Cain.

The agenda begins with live music and a clever progressive picnic, with a different course — and art exhibit — at each gallery, all located in the 3700 block of Navajo Street. Edge Gallery features the continuing Timmy Flynn’s Hardware Store; Louis Recchia’s work hangs at Zip 37; NEXT hosts works by Brianna Martray and Bonnie Johnson Stolzmann; and Pirate is helmed by painters Peter Illig and Jessica Kirkpatrick. Later, at 9:30 p.m., amid vicarious viewing of fireworks around the area, the belly-dance troupe Serpent Moon will jiggle mysteriously through a Synchronized Sparkler performance worth the price of admission, which is, after all, free. Sparks will fly.

For more information, hop online and go to www.pirateart.org, www.edgeart.org, www.zip37.com and/or www.nextgallery.us.
Fri., July 4, 6-10 p.m., 2008