North Topeka Arts District is hosting its First Friday events, February 3, from 5:00 p.m.-- 8:00 p.m.  A new rental venue for parties and weddings, Serendipity, is having their grand opening and ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m. at 820 N. Kansas Ave.

Serendipity’s grand opening begins Friday at 4:00 p.m. but continues to Saturday. Food from local vendors, entertainment from local bands and a “Say Cheez” photo booth will featured at the open house.  For more on Serendipity, visit serendipitytopeka.com.

An open house will be held at NOTO Community Arts Center, 922 North Kansas Avenue.  The open house will feature a meet and greet with Saturday Arts Market.  Beginning at 5:00pm with performances from High Falutin’ String Band and Ballet Folklorico Ballet at 6:30pm, the meet and greet will give the guests the experience of the Saturday Arts Market by featuring Porubskys chili, vintage sodas, and an antique booth.

At the 5:30 p.m. presentation, they will announce three events:

• A recent major donation to the NOTO Arts District, for the continued promotion of NOTO and more incentives for local artists.
• NOTO Saturday Market will be open on a weekly basis beginning April till November, located under the Kansas Avenue Bridge.  The market will focus on juried fine crafts, art, antiques, vintage items, heritage foods, locally-produced foods. Potential vendors are encouraged to visit with organizers.
• The kick-off of a NOTO Saturday Market LOGO contest.  Artists are encouraged to submit up to three designs for the logo for the new market in the month of February, with a $500 honorarium to the winning designer.

NOTO began as part of the community’s desire to revitalize Topeka through the Heartland Visioning project and was developed to boost Topeka’s quality of life by creating an arts district. The project has taken off opening 11 new store fronts and gaining 30 new artists in just the last year.

For more information, visit notoartsdistrict.com.