By Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Oct 15, 2009 at 7:48 AM

OK, it's a little chillier than we all expected it to be this fall (if you can really call it that), but we're Wisconsinites and that means we don't let a little cold air stop us from doing things, right?

Friday, Oct. 16 is Gallery Night and there is lots to see, do and buy. Plus, get this, Gallery Night and Day features free parking in the Historic Third Ward parking structures located at 212 N. Milwaukee St. and 225 E. Chicago St.

Once you're parked, you can ride the Friday Gallery NightXpress for free, enjoying a five-stop route that takes you from the Third Ward to East Town and back. The 20-passenger bus makes a continuous loop from 5 to 9 p.m. with stops approximately every 15 minutes.

Here are a few places to check out. For a list of all the participants, go here.

Cramer-Krasselt
246 E. Chicago St.

C-K is getting in on Gallery Night again this quarter by screening videos of local musicians such as Pezzettino, as well as featuring performances from local artists Allen Cote (The Championship), Jay Flash, Robert Hansen, Trevor Irish (The Maze), Justin Rolbiecki (The Vega Star) and Erin Wolf (Group of the Altos). While you're enjoying the sounds, take a peak at the hanging art, featuring works by renowned local artists Andy DeWeerdt and Charles Dwyer.

All the music artists will be performing to benefit the Sojurner Family Peace Center. Additionally, Andy DeWeerdt will hold a silent auction for one of his pieces to also benefit the Center. The event is open 5 to 10 p.m. and is free.

Front Room Photography
2637 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

"Journey of the Elf" features paintings, drawings and wands by Todd Mrozinski, paintings by Renee Bebeau and mobiles by Melissa Mrozinski. The exhibit runs through Nov. 20 and the Gallery Night opening reception is open 5 to 10 p.m.

Retique
190 N. Broadway

If you haven't already checked out Goodwill's latest boutique in the Third Ward, this is your chance. From 6 to 9 p.m., enjoy original artwork created and produced by Goodwill clients while noshing on treats from Quality Candy and experiencing the "Be Beautiful Bar" presented by Blush Beauty.

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
273 E. Erie St.

Ten alumni converge to make their mark through a variety of materials and explorations in "Reconnection," a first of its kind exhibition of alumni work on view from Gallery Night through Dec. 12. If you like what you see, come back on Saturday for an artists' lecture from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Curated by John McKinnon, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Milwaukee Art Museum, and Jason S. Yi, a multidisciplinary artist and MIAD

The selected artists are: Joseph Bolstad '05, Paul Cowan '07, Jessica Kaminski '01, Mayuko Kono '05, kathryn e. martin '01, Boris Ostrerov '08, Nate Page '00, Laura Paulini '85, Dan Steinhilber '94 and Christopher Willey '04.

Foundations Faculty Chair, Reconnection offers a glimpse into contemporary art making from ephemeral installation work to painting with non-traditional tools like physics, gravity and chopsticks.

Hinterland
222 E. Erie St.

This Third Ward gastropub features local artist and photographer Luke Wein. OnMilwaukee.com's Maureen Post interviewed him back in May. Read the interview here.

BYO Studio
2246 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

Stop by this gallery space to check out local and regional artists and their creative expressions of change, transition, and transformation at a time of our collective change and transition. Owner Kerry Yandell says this of the exhibit, called "Defining: Moments" -- "Brief and immeasurable; an acute awareness of time and place, an observation of impermanence, change and transition. Often a memory...concise yet undefined until it has passed."

The exhibit is open 6 to 9 p.m. and features artists Stephanie Barenz, David Bugni, Carol CoCo Dittrich, Casey Kotas, Jill Trachte and Kerry Yandell.

Julie Lawrence Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.

As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”