It’s fine to hit the downtown First Friday Trolley Hop without a plan. Park, wander in and out of galleries, grab a drink or dinner with friends and hop a TARC trolley from one end of downtown to the next and back—you’re sure to find something to catch your eye or ears.But with so many events and gallery receptions happening at once, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so every month we take a look at five don’t-miss art events happening during the hop. The Cressman Center: "Seeking Bob Thompson: Dialogue/Object." The University of Louisville's exhibition of paintings by this noted former U of L fine arts student will kick off with a talk by gallery director John Begley and co-curator Slade Stumbo at 6:30 p.m. Thompson, who died in 1966, was a fine arts scholarship student at U of L in the late '50s, and went on to a distinguished, if brief, art career. In 1998, Thompson's work received a retrospective at the Whitney Musuem of American Art, but his work remains largely unknown in Louisville. 100 E. Main Street. Dreamland Film Center: "Hell-Bent for Election." The Louisville Film Society's Nulu theater has been under renovation for the last few months, but they're opening the doors Friday night for an evening of election-themed animated shorts, including 1944's "Hell-bent for an Election" and the 1956 cartoon "Popeye for President." 810 E. Market Street. The Louisville Ballet: "Studio Connections." This annual showcase of classic and contemporary ballet takes place inside the Ballet's studio. Read the story here. 315 E. Main Street. Frazier History Museum: "An Evening with Poe." There may be last-minute tickets available to this very popular performance by Frazier historical interpreters, featuring the stories and poems of Edgar Allan Poe brought to life, with musical accompaniment. Read the story here. 829 W. Main Street. Louisville Visual Art Association: Open House. LVAA has relocated from their iconic headquarters in the historic River Road Water Tower building to an interim headquarters downtown. They're inviting the public to take a tour Friday afternoon of the new facilities, 3:30-4:30 p.m. 609 W. Main Street, second floor.
