A great eclectic collection of local artists. Friendly front desk receptionist. Fun to see some…read moreartists currently working in their studios. Inspiring experience.

I drove in from Charlotte area to attend a 'First Friday' event hosted by my daughter-in-law. Her…read moreand my Son live in New Hampshire so she came into town to for the entire month of July to paint and get prepared for the 8/1/25 event. Molly is a talented and experienced artist, primarily in oil and acrylic. They had invited about a dozen or so people from around CLT Region who came into town to see her and James since they live in NH. It was an interesting evening because it started raining hard just about 7p as the event was getting in gear. I'm sure it deterred quite a few from attending. There are two floors with other 'artist in residence' so it was a lively and diverse Friday crowd. I did make it 'upstairs' to meet Caitlin Cary, a local artist who has a studio there. Some may know here as vocalist/violin player with Ryan Adams formerly of the band Whiskeytown.

This art gallery is truly a hidden gem right in the heart of downtown. I've walked passed the front…read moredoor over two dozen times and didn't look twice, which I'm now kicking myself over. It's all thanks to Rod O. for his stellar review that I made my way to Adam Cave Fine Art and I can assure you I will return. The gallery itself is in an old building directly on Hargett Street (next door to Landmark Tavern). Walk up the old, creaky, wooden steps to a beautiful, open room with hardwood floors, bright natural lighting and paintings hung all around. The gallery consists of three separate rooms and has rotating exhibits every 1.5 months or so. The current exhibit, David Dunlop, is an incredible treat to view with beautiful nature and city scenes painted on aluminum with oils (exhibit on display until April 19th!) Although there were only a handful of people upon our visit, Adam Cave, the owner, was greeting everyone and interacting with them on a personal level. There was also complimentary cheese and wine being offered which was a very classy touch on a Sunday afternoon. I checked the website to see if there was a calendar of events so you'd know when they'd be offering these type of perks in the future, but didn't see any information. I did sign up for the e-mail per Adam's request, so hopefully I'll be updated on future events and exhibits through that. Adam Cave Fine Art Gallery is definitely a must visit during First Friday, and will now certainly be on my list (and it's so convenient to anyone already downtown!) I highly recommend giving the gallery a try, I guarantee anyone that appreciates art will appreciate the gallery and you can't help but feel you've stepped back in time as you walk up the flight of steps into a world of beauty in a beautifully restored building.

From the owner: Adam Cave Fine Art is a Raleigh, NC art gallery offering paintings, prints, and sculpture by over…read more25 regional and nationally known artists.

On this First Friday weekend, I had a chance to go by Litmus and see a friend's opening of her…read moreartwork exhibition with a small reception. Upon going there and finding out what they are doing for the artists in the area, I have to say I am a fan of their work and concept. Upon inspection in the inside, it is a very simple modest venue. Though it is not in an upscale category, it is a nice simple place for local artists to show their art and grow their talents. I say grow their talents because as you look around inside, you see what the "studios" part of the name is about. In the majority of the space, there are large stalls or mini-studios that are available to rent by local artists so they can have a private place to pursue their muse. Maybe their body of work has outgrown their home or they just need to be around their peers, but it offers a place for them to go and do their work in a environment dedicated for that purpose in whatever medium they work in. And when I found out these studio stalls were at a ridiculously low price per month, I was even more impressed. It appears that they are about giving a great opportunity to local up-and-coming as well as more experienced artists to make use of their talent and pursue their passion, as well as display the results when completed. Because of this, I am a fan of Litmus Gallery & Studios and wish them well in their endeavors.

Litmus is a a lovely gallery and artist co-working space on the backside of The Depot. It's easy to…read moremiss or even NEVER see, as its location doesn't bring in a lot of foot traffic. However, if you know where you look, you'll actually be surprised how convenient it is to the typical Depot activities [neighbors to Deep South and around the corner from The Junction Bar & Salon]. The space seems small from the outside and can be a little misleading, but once you're inside you have the option of starting in the small gallery space to the right, which rotates artists monthly, or walking down the narrow hallway to the back. You'll pass multiple rooms on your left and right that local artists have rented out as their studios. It's the same concept of 311 Gallery in Raleigh or The Golden Belt in Durham and they put on some stellar First Friday events [a table stocked with finger foods and LOTS of boxed and bottled wines!]. They've got all sorts of artists including someone who creates busts and clay modes that bring to mind work from the Greek and Roman period [there was also an advertisement requesting for NUDE models, so if that's your calling in life, here's your place!] Lots of photography, mixed media, pottery and paintings were in the mix and the space was welcoming although I noted that you had to begin the conversation if you want to learn about the space. Overall, a great space to add to your First Friday tour and a little hidden, which keeps the crowds down.

We had some time to kill and were looking for a non-chain coffee spot. This one was close by and…read morehad great reviews. So we decided to give them a try. We had a little difficulty finding it. GPS brought us to the parking lot behind the building. There isn't clear signage to direct you where to go. We managed to find our way up the stairs and into the building. There are a number of businesses located inside. Lucky Tree is super cute. It's set up to encourage working, with plenty of charging spots all around. There is a variety of seating, from long wooden tables to smaller individual areas. We ordered a chai latte and golden milk latte, both with oat milk. Both drinks were good. Fyi there is a separate entrance from the side that takes you directly to another smaller parking lot.

I decided to try this out for a quick coffee stop while in town for a conference. The service was…read morefriendly and quick! I tried the breakfast bagel bites, which were soft and warm. I loved the cheese on top! I was not a huge fan of the flavor the almond flour gave them but it was not overpowering. I would probably get them again! They had a lot of options as far as specialty lattes but I am glad I went with the Vanilla Maple. I was worried that the maple flavor would be too much but it complimented the vanilla well. The inside was VERY well decorated, and I would've loved to stay and do a little computer work! I could see myself coming by and sitting down for a quick brunch, meeting up with friends, or staying for a work session.

Although the museum was small, at least admission was free. I noticed that all of the paintings on…read moredisplay were created by artists who are from North Carolina which adds a local touch to the typical art museum.

This is a very small but charming free contemporary art museum in Raleigh. We really enjoyed the…read morelocal artists from Western NC featured during our visit. The space is intimate, which makes for a personal and unique experience. We're looking forward to their reopening and can't wait to check out the new exhibits. Definitely worth stopping by if you're in the area -- a true hidden gem!

Summary: 4.0 - Free and art go hand-in-hand here. If you like both, NC MoA is worth your time…read more Free admission to the NCMA to see art and history is a gift. If one doesn't mind the West Building (although new, it felt old to me), the different galleries containing historical art pieces (new and old, and very old) organized by continents are educational and surprisingly full of variety. The East Building (original one) hosts both permanent and limited-time collections. I've enjoyed a car exhibit, but my favorite limited-time exhibit featured Academy Award winner Ruth E. Carter's costumes for the movies "Black Panther", "Selma", "Amistad", and others. Her showcase exhibit was well worth the price of admission. A huge museum park provides miles of trails and places for picnics. If one plans accordingly, a series of trails connects all the way from the museum to downtown Raleigh! MISC Opened in 1956. Has pieces that originate from about 5,000 years ago (but thankfully it doesn't take that long to go through the museum). The museum is accessibility-friendly. A museum store and café are onsite. Tours are available. Outdoor concerts are on hiatus at the time of this review for "facility improvements." Be sure to check the museum's website for updates.

The North Carolina Museum of Art is free to visit, although special exhibits may have a fee. The…read moremuseum is divided into two buildings. The East Building is the original museum, and the West Building is the newer building. There are galleries in both that you can view. The East Building is on multiple levels and there is a glass elevator available with views to the letters outside that spell a message. I like that the museum has a variety of artwork to view, so you can see your favorites or explore and discover new pieces. With the redesigned building, some of the exhibits were made more interactive. I am still learning where my favorite pieces were moved, but I do enjoy finding new favorites as they try to showcase more of the collection.

Bev's is a jewel of a find. It touts many American artists whose original art allows the customer…read moreto find the exact style, colors and look that your design project requires. Their custom framing allows you to create the perfect piece to go above your fire place mantel or even above your master bedroom sitting area. We were very excited by the options available there and have told many friends about Bev's and look forward to using them again for future projects in our house.

Bev's Fine Arts has changed our world of art as we once knew it. Duck prints and wildlife art was…read morethe highlight of our wall decor until we stepped into Bev's world of fine art. We have learned and grown so much in our love for art which began with meeting Bev in her gallery one quiet afternoon years ago. The team at Bev's are passionate about what they do and that is reflected in the quality of service they provide to their customers. We discovered our own passion for art and Bev helped us enhance our wildlife prints by reframing them, allowing them to compliment other pieces of art we acquired over time. Bev also helped us create a nostalgic display of old, black and white, family photos which is a highlight of our home whenever family or friends visit. I can't say enough about the talent that is exemplified in the work done by Bev's Fine Art Team.

Bottom line: LaMantia Gallery is a nice and intimate gallery displaying art of the owner as well as…read moreothers, a great art resource for our area. The Deets: I had the pleasure of accompanying my friend Carley W. to a private event here at LaMantia Gallery recently. This location of LaMantia Gallery is located in Village District (formerly Cameron Village) near downtown Raleigh, with the first gallery being located in Northport, NY. This intimate gallery has a curated selection of not only artist/owner James LaMantia's art but other artists as well. I loved the art displayed here during the event, some of which I did take pictures of with the permission of the artist. I also got to meet Mr. LaMantia as well, and he was very welcoming and pleased in the interest in the gallery/his art. I had a great time discussing each item of art with my friend at that event, what we each saw in them and what new things we could discover together. It was a great experience, and I love this intimate gallery being available in our area.