Today in Lawrence: Final Friday, with an umbrella assist

Finally it’s here

It’s Final Friday, and you know what that means … or, maybe, you don’t. If that’s (unfortunately) the case, head around and about downtown from 5 to 9 p.m. to see the best of Lawrence’s creative community. Some highlights: steamroller printmaking and a new exhibition at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.; Geoff Benzing’s Retrospectoid at SeedCo Satellite, 840 Massachusetts St.; and a preview of “The Listeners,” a documentary film about suicide prevention hotlines from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cider Gallery of Fine Art, 810 Pennsylvania St.

But don’t forget …

… your umbrella. If you haven’t noticed, it’s rained a lot lately. So much, in fact, that as of Thursday night Lawrence had officially caught up with and surpassed its expected year-to-date precipitation total, according to the National Weather Service in Topeka. Not bad considering the area was way way off that mark only a few weeks ago. More help on that front today: Another half-inch of rain is expected to fall, and it’s going to be coming and going all day. On the plus side, temperatures will be warm, with a high just shy of 80 by mid-afternoon.

Something to curl up with

And if you’re looking for a calm way to come down from your Final Friday high on Saturday morning, pay the Kentucky Street level of the Lawrence Public Library a visit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Friends of the Library Book Sale is offering lots of great summer reads, with all children’s books just $1 and most adult items $2 or less.

Yesterday’s most-read

More May 29 events

FINAL FRIDAY

All events are from 5-9 p.m. unless otherwise indicated.

DOWNTOWN:

Watkins Museum of History, 1047 Massachusetts St.: Progress Report: Education in Lawrence in the Early 1900s, 5-8 p.m. This new exhibit explores the changes that took place in public education in the early 1900s and the forces that motivated those changes.

The Greenhouse Culture, 1001 Massachusetts St.: Artwork by Chuck Watson, Aaron Riffel and Isaac Riffel; live jazz music; refreshments! 6-9 p.m.

Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.: “The Innumerable Anxieties” exhibition by Patrick Duegaw; steamroller printmaking with artist-in-residence Tonja Torgerson; FInal Friday Street pARTy; live music 5-9 p.m.; Free State Festival Under the Stars: “American Graffiti” (1973), 9-11 p.m.

Extra Virgin, 937 Massachusetts St. “Summer Dreams…”, Artwork by Kathleen Anderson, Laurie Culling, Dian Hauser, Leta Strom, Peggy Mohr.

Minsky’s Pizza, 934 Massachusetts St.: A new collection by Iryna Stroganova.

The Roost, 920 Massachusetts St.: Paintings by Kelsey Yankee.

The Bourgeois Pig, 6 E. Ninth St.: S.R. Sadler and Mitch Meseke.

SeedCo Satellite, 840 Massachusetts St.: Geoff Benzing presents Retrospectoid (water color and acrylic paintings), 6-9 p.m.

Yantra Financial Technologies, 840 Massachusetts St.: Preview items for Van Go’s “What Floats Your Boat” event, including hand painted outdoor furniture, unbrellas, and yard decor.

Ten Thousand Villages, 835 Massachusetts St.: Exhibit by Susan Harris.

Essential Goods, 825 Massachusetts St.: Opening reception for exhibit “Oui!” by Paul Punzo.

Phoenix Underground, 825 Massachusetts St.: Opening reception for Jen Unekis, “Art and Life, Intertwined.”

Phoenix Gallery, 825 Massachusetts St.: Circus-themed works by artists Thomas Sciacca, Bryan and Andrea Ring and Kelly Aaron; music by Marvin and Cathy Hunt; food from Ten Restaurant.

Henry’s Coffee Shop + Bar, 11 E. Eighth St.: Exploring Australia: Photography by Curtis Morton, 6-9 p.m.

Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.: Local, national, and international artists in our gallery space.

Be Moved Studio, 2 E. Seventh St.: Ambedo: Works by Aaron Hannon, 6-9:30 p.m.

Throughout Downtown Lawrence: Lawrence Busker Festival, 5-11 p.m. Street performers with unusual or unique skills!

EAST LAWRENCE:

Lawrence Creates Makerspace, 512 E. Ninth St. (Ninth and New Jersey streets): Final Friday Art Party with Darrell Lea and art by area award-winning High School student artists, including Raegen Koepsel and Madeline Smith, 5:30-9 p.m.

The Dinner Party Project at The Depot Art Collective, 900 New Jersey St.: A Convergence of Familiar Fixtures: New Work by Members of The Depot Art Collective. The debut exhibition of a new collaborative studio and event space! Featuring works by Rebecca Dreyfus, Lindsey Kennedy, Avery Beck, Alycia Futrelle, and Emiy Kate Johnson.

Culinaria Food and Wine, 512 E. Ninth St.: Culinaria Food and Wine Supper Club with Exhibition by Molly Murphy.

Cider Gallery of Fine Art, 810 Pennsylvania: Preview of “The Listeners” – A documentary film about suicide prevention hotlines, 5-8 p.m.; also More Than Meets The Eye: Collaborative works by Jeromy Morris and John Sebelius.

SeedCo Studios, 720 E. Ninth St. #7: Resident Exhibition and Open Studios.

NORTH LAWRENCE:

Tooter and Tillaye’s, 644 Locust St.: Kim’s Kreations: Multimedia textile wall art, 6-10 p.m.

The Brewhaus, 624 N. Second St.: Opening Reception: Tom Mersmann, 6-9 p.m.

Other Friday events:

Lawrence Public Library Book Van, 9-10 a.m., Clinton Place, 2125 Clinton Parkway.

Mike Shurtz Trio featuring Erin Fox, 10:15-11:30 a.m., Signs of Life, 722 Massachusetts St.

Lawrence Public Library Book Van, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wyndham Place, 2551 Crossgate Drive.

Parks & Recreation Kickoff to Summer BBQ, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., South Park, Twelfth and Massachusetts streets.

Lawrence Public Library Book Van, 1-2 p.m., Peterson Acres, 2930 Peterson Road.

Perry Lecompton Farmers’ Market, 4-6:30 p.m., U.S. Highway 24 and Ferguson Road (in FastTrax Parking Lot), Perry.

Final Friday Art Tougeau Pre-Parade Street Party, 5-9 p.m., Downtown Lawrence.

Lawrence Busker Festival, 5-11 p.m., Downtown Lawrence.

Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Exhibition: Opening reception and tour, 5:30 p.m., beginning at Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

Fried chicken dinner, 5:30 p.m., Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

Lecture: “Design with Others” by David Perkes, 5:30-7 p.m., Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

VFW dinner, 6 p.m., VFW, 1801 Massachusetts St.

Bingo night, doors 5:30 p.m., refreshments 6 p.m., bingo starts 7 p.m., Eagles Lodge, 1803 W. Sixth St.

Kansas City Symphony Classical Series: Zukerman, Geller, Beethoven and Bach, 8 p.m., Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.