October features lots of gallery shows plus Philadelphia Open Studio Tours

MANY PHILADELPHIA art galleries stay open later on the first Friday of the month. Some schedule special events on other days. Here's what's happening tonight and throughout the month.

This weekend also marks the first of two Philadelphia Open Studio Tours, a free opportunity to peek into artist spaces. Head East (of Broad Street) tomorrow and Sunday for Center City East, plus East Kensington, Fishtown, Northern Liberties Old City Queen Village, Bella Vista and South Philadelphia.

Head west of Broad on Oct. 19-20 for Center City West, Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, Fairmount, Francisville, Germantown, Manayunk, Roxborough, East Falls and West Philadelphia.

Self-guided tours are free. More at philaopenstudios.org.

Asian Arts Initiative.1219 Vine St., 215-557-0455, asianartsinitiative.org. "Skate Shop: Nin Truong and Youth Arts Workshop," "In Plain Sight: Isaac Lin." Through Oct. 18. First Friday 6-8 tonight.

Bridgette Mayer Gallery. 709 Walnut St., 215-413-8893, bridgettemayergallery.com. "Finding Infinity," Ryan McGinness, Oct. 9-Nov. 16. Reception 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday.

Clay Studio. 137-139 N. 2nd St., 215-925-3453, theclaystudio.org. "Fauna: Adelaide Paul and Linda Cordell," "Animal Instincts," and Jenny Mendes. Through Oct. 27. First Friday After Party, go behind the scenes with 12 resident artists 8:30-10:30 tonight. $10, includes refreshments.

Fleisher/Ollman Gallery. 1216 Arch St., 215-545-7562, fleisher-ollmangallery.com. Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, "Time Produced Non Better." Oct. 10-Dec. 7. Reception 6-8 p.m. Oct. 10.

The Gershman Y Galleries. 401 S. Broad St., 215-446-3022545-4400, gershmany.org. "A Touch of Glass," glass Hanukkah menorahs by 12 artists. Oct. 17-Dec. 8. Gallery talk 6 p.m. Oct. 30.

Grizzly Grizzly. 319 N. 11th St., 2nd Fl., grizzlygrizzly.com. "Catching Thread," Margo Wolowiec. Curated by Mary Smull. Through Oct. 26. Reception 6-10 tonight.

Kings Oaks Farm. 756 Worthington Mill Road, Newtown, 215-603-6573, kingsoaksart.com. "Art at Kings Oaks," various artists. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat.-Sun. and Oct. 12-13. Receptions 6-9 tonight and 2-6 p.m. Oct. 13.

Le Meridien Philadelphia. 1421 Arch St., 215-422-8200. Works by local artists and designers, curated by Gaby Heit.

LGTripp Gallery. 47-49 N. 2nd St., 215-923-3110, lgtrippgallery.com. "She," Knox Martin. Through Oct. 26. Reception 6-8:30 tonight.

Locks Gallery 600 Washington Square South, 215-629-1000, locksgallery.com. Elizabeth Osborne, "Luminous Gestures." Simon Lee and Eve Sussman, "A Side Window." Through Oct. 12. Reception 5:30-7:30 tonight.

Moore College of Art and Design. 20th Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-965-4065. Marlo Pascual. Tra Bouscaren, "New Works." Through Oct. 19. Conversation with Marlo Pascual, John Caperton and Micah Danges, 6 p.m. tonight.

Pentimenti. 145 N. 2nd St., 215-625-9990, pentimenti.com. Matthew Cox, "Heartthrobs, avatars, playboys and warriors." Andrew Graham, "Play on." Through Oct. 19.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens. 1020 South St., 215-733-0390, phillymagicgardens.org. "Audodidactic Ingénuism: Works from Coalition Ingénu Self-Taught Artists' Collective." Through Nov. 17. Reception 6-9 p.m. Oct. 11.

Projects Gallery. 629 N. 2nd St., 267-303-9652, projectsgallery.com. Craig Cully, "Ardent Proponents of Iridescence." Through Oct. 19. Reception 6-9 p.m. tonight.

Race Street Cafe. 208 Race St., 215-627-6181, racestreetcafe.net. "Night Explorations" Valerie Blassey. Through October.

Rodger LaPelle Galleries. 122 N. 3rd St., 215-592-0232, rodgerlapellegalleries.com. Nick D'Angelo, "Paintings Achromic: Compilation." Through Oct. 27. Reception 6-10 tonight. "Why I Hate Gallery Talks - A Gallery Talk," 2 p.m. Sunday.

Show of Hands. 1006 Pine St., 215-592-4010. "A Delicate balance," Jerry Bennett. Through Nov. 10.

3rd Street Gallery. 58 N. 2nd St., 215-625- 0993, 3rdstreetgallery.com. Third Annual Members Exhibition. Through Oct. 27. Reception 5-9 tonight.

Vox Populi 319 N. 11th St., third floor, 215-238-1236, voxpopuligallery.org. "Drawing Down the Moon," various artists. "The Benetton Series," Andrew Lampert. Through Oct. 27.