Part of what makes Allentown such a unique and delightful part of Buffalo is the conglomeration of artists and galleries in the relatively small neighborhood—the kind of colorful, bohemian people and places that belie our city’s Rust Belt image and give us the eccentric, adventurous feel that keeps us going back to those narrow streets and little shops.

But it ain’t free! In order to keep Buffalo weird, to paraphrase a popular slogan in Austin, community support is needed. The next big opportunity to show that you care about the future of the arts in Allentown will come at 6 p.m. this Thursday at Studio Hart (65 Allen St., Buffalo) as the Greater Allentown Gallery Association hosts its second annual fundraiser. Admission is $5 and includes a musical performance by Buffalo blues-folk rocker Steve Woolsey. Wine and snacks will be available.

The Greater Allentown Gallery Association is the driving force behind the popular First Friday series, a monthly event in which neighborhood galleries, restaurants and clubs throw open their doors and welcome in the public for a special night of local art appreciation. The most recent First Friday event on Nov. 2 included nearly 20 establishments stretching from the 700 block of Main Street into the lower Elmwood Village.

For more information on First Fridays, visit the Allentown Association online.