One of those reviews where I could just let all of the random and amazing photos I add do all of…read morethe talking. But that would be unfair to the whimsical petting zoo where the animals don't bite back! On any other day you might catch a curious glimpse of the artist's work caged behind a fenced in area. But on every First Friday the corner of 3rd & Arch becomes "alive" with a menagerie of goats, dinosaurs, monkeys, zebras, bullheads, octopi, and them some. The artist carefully crafts all of the above out of reclaimed metal, and they all come in sizes big and small ensuring that you can find a unique gift for someone whether you aim to pay $20 or $200+! During First Friday the sculptor is on hand to answer questions ranging from what scrap metal was used to create a t-rex, to what type of animals he's working on next, and he may even take requests. Fans of trinkets can browse through keychains or tinier animals; while those looking for larger goods can procure full-sized bull heads, giant dinosaurs, and more. While 3rd & Arch is his main Old City point, I have also seen the artist set up shop in the Piazza over the weekend before during special events. So be sure to keep an eye open during other special markets.

Metal Menagerie: "The Petting Zoo Where The Animals Don't Bite Back"…read more I visit Old City for First Friday fairly often. Each trip, I try to make it a point to swing by the corner of 3rd and Arch to see what Metal Menagerie has on display. I love how they take scrap metal and turn them into various animal artworks. I haven't made a purchase yet because my yard needs a lot more work before I'd consider adding a neat display piece. The sculptor is available for questions and seems more than willing to take requests. It is interesting to hear how he comes about getting the materials and the assembly efforts.

I came across here when Gemini Wolf had their CD release show in it about a month ago, and I was…read moredefinitely impressed by the art that was inside it. Not only will you find all kinds of art that you will like, you will also find plenty of art that you can afford, which is pretty rare for a Philly art gallery. While there were a few pieces that went for $100 or more, a lot of them also went for $50 or less. So you will definitely find something good to add onto your wall. Art@Sophi also has the occasional incredible concert, or art party that is always worth checking out.

Always an interesting exhibit - I am a fan of the center for industry-related events and their…read morestore.

This was the perfect venue for a recent work event my company hosted! The space was beautiful, very…read morewell located (steps from the Convention Center), and the staff was friendly and accommodating. I also liked that the main event space could be changed depending on the type of event you want to host. My company went with a simple cocktail reception, but the venue had the equipment to do more (podiums, AV equipment, etc.) This is a great venue for ANY kind of gathering, but there's no excuse to host an event anywhere else for companies participating in an event at the Convention Center. I can't recommend it enough!

High 5 Gallery is one of those cool new art spaces that I've known about for a little over a year,…read morebut took awhile to get to. But it's hard not to appreciate and get behind an art gallery that's owned by a talented female artist who works hard to set up monthly shows that follow a unique theme and feature some incredible local artists who aren't readily featured in other area galleries. That moment finally came when I went to see Off White, an intriguing exhibit that exclusively featured artist of color, and included my friend TelenitArt (https://www.facebook.com/telenitart/). Not only was it an impressive show that showcased a good range of artists who worked with several different mediums, but I was also impressed with how the bulk of the artists were on hand to answer questions and give tours of their work. This month's show left me in absolute of of the Pen & Stencil pop art of street artist KC Grummun, who gives historical figures and Rocky Balboa a punk rock twist among other things.But toss in other shows like the open house exhibit for the Women's Caucus for Philadelphia Art, and it shows their commitment towards bridging the artistic gap.

Visited the gallery and she was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. One of the best informative…read moregalleries in town.

This gallery is a must-visit when spending time in Lambertville. The director is a real pro. She…read moregave me an overview of Kelly's work and unique technique, as well as some cool history about the celebrity collaborations. There was also an interactive element that I haven't seen in a gallery before - I was able to scan codes on my phone for more info about the art. Stylistically I loved that there are some really bold, unique pieces as well as more subdued traditional ones, so the experience definitely evokes a range of positive emotions!

my husband and i just moved from an apartment into a house and needed new artwork to fill up the…read moreextra space. i had been to the merritt young gallery in ardmore, and found out that they just opened a new gallery in haverford, just called merritt gallery. i talked to one of the consultants, marcie, and made an appointment with her to bring artwork to my house! it's one thing to see the art in the gallery, but the fact that she brought it to my house really let me see the possibilities! marcie was really helpful and has a creative eye. she was able to suggest paintings that i originally wasn't so sure about, but now that they're here, we absolutely love them!!!

I have seen and heard about Merritt Gallery since I moved to the area about year ago, but this was…read moremy first time going inside. It is an impressive, contemporary space with a very wide selection of art including wall and free-standing sculpture. When asked for prices the range was quite wide from $900 to $50,000 (yes, $50k). Given some of the pieces displayed and artists represented I imagine that range goes well beyond $50k as names like Picasso, Matisse, and Warhol come up on their website. The gallery has three locations and represents around 175 artists meaning that what you see in store is only a very small sampling of their actual collection. Though I always am looking for new pieces for my collection, today I went in to have a small print framed. Caitlin, one of their consultants, ably showed me an incredible selection of frames ranging from contemporary to hand-carved, hand-detailed wooden frames worthy of the Louvre and works of art in and of themselves. Having chosen to forgo a mat (not needed with this piece) and a fairly simple thin frame, the price caught me off guard: $216. While the financial part of my brain said "no!" the artistic side said "give it a try." I paid the fee and was told my print would be ready in about two weeks. Caitlin offered to have it delivered to me and installed which I may take them up on. Conclusions: Merritt is a great gallery and framing shop. The price lowers my rating to 4.5 stars (I'm a budget conscious art collector). The only issue I had was when Caitlin and I went upstairs to figure out my invoice she left my print exposed on a framing table. I didn't think much about it till I had left, but I wonder when/if someone went down and secured the print from damage. This lowers my ranking to 4 stars. Otherwise a good experience.

This is a very nice space in the 'Arts District' of Philadelphia. During the course of the year…read morethey hold several 'Opening Receptions' for past, current and new artist. Many of the pieces of art are deep and meaningful without be too 'abstract'. Unfortunately I'm a regular working person and I cannot afford art with the average cost of $1500. There are some less expensive items and prints if you are short on cash, but nevertheless they are a very interesting gallery to visit. When you visit you are greeted with a warm welcome and assistance with any questions you may have. Additionally there are several art programs, classes and workshops offered by Brandywine. If you love art make this a stop on your rounds. The building is located next to the world renowned Clef Club and near many dining options. So stop by checkout some art, go next door to listen to a set and treat yourself to dinner. I will be worth it!

Its been a number of years since I've had artwork framed by Julia Umbehauer, but her ability to…read moreselect the right color matting and the right material for framing has made me a repeat customer. Very knowledgeable and experienced, and most importantly, very patient as I try to decide which of the options I like best. Pricing seemed high. I plan to return with 3 more pieces of work that need mounted, matted, and framed.

We had a few things framed here. We bought shatter proof glass for our memorabilia but the glass…read morewasn't shatter proof - disappointing. It cracked and then broke apart. The owner was nice and helpful but the price was incredibly expensive and the materials she used were not as good as she portrayed them to be. It also took way too long to get our orders finished.