First Friday gallery openings return in force to the city as the "new" art season unofficially starts with the September openings. We've already told you about Northern Liberties' Projects Gallery opening its exhibition season with Fresh! 2008. This invitational exhibition includes an impressive number of the city's emerging artists, including many recent graduates from various art programs. The First Friday artists' reception is tonight, from 6-9 p.m. Projects Gallery is located at 629 N 2nd St at Greene Street in Northern Liberties.

Over at Pentimenti, we're excited that Washington, DC artist Tim Tate is making his solo debut in Philadelphia. [Disclaimer: Tate is this Phillyist's good friend; I was his first art dealer back in DC and I still deal his work at art fairs. I also have his work in my private collection and stand to become fabulously wealthy one day.] If you want to see the future of content-driven, self-contained installation videos, don't miss this show—we won't! The opening reception is from 6 - 8:30 p.m. The Pentimenti Gallery is located at 145 North 2nd Street, just north of Elfreth's Alley.

At the F.U.E.L Collection, they open the season with a group show featuring paintings and drawings from twenty Philadelphia-based artists and we're especially looking forward to seeing the visually gorgeous works by Jim and Lynn Lemyre. You can preview all the works here. Opening Reception from 6-9 p.m. F.U.E.L. Collection is at 249 Arch Street at N. 3rd St.

As usual there will be some really superb paintings being exhibited at Artists' House. Look for Arcenio Martin Campos' brushy work to stand out. The opening is from 5-8:30 p.m. Artists' House is located at 57 North 2nd Street at Cuthbert St.

The Knapp Gallery introduces Egyptian artist and Fulbright recipient Bassem Yousri to Philadelphia with "The Yousri Scrolls" which will be the first opportunity for an American public to see this artist's marriage of traditional Egyptian papyrus to a modern contemporary context. The Knapp Gallery is located at 162 N 3rd St. between Quarry and Race Streets.

Kitty corner from Knapp, the Wexler Gallery will have new work by the very innovative furniture artist Matthias Pliessnig. This is this young artist’s first solo exhibition. Be prepared to question what is furniture and what is wood. The reception is from 6-8 p.m. Wexler is at 205 N. 3rd Street, corner of Race.

Near Washington Square, the Bridgette Mayer Gallery will have Alexis Serio's "Stillness." Opening Reception from 6:00- 8:30 p.m. The Bridgette Meyer Gallery is located at 709 Walnut Street, between South 7th and 8th Streets.