Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  This month's First Friday venue included a Mutual of Omaha party in their parking lot.   The event featured Nokuthula,  which plays contemporary and traditional Afro-pop fusion dance music from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Nokuthula takes the traditional Zimbabwean marimba ensemble and shrinks it down, adding new sounds and instrumentation.

Andre Mallinger, who plays the marimba, says, "Nokuthula means Mother of Peace in the Ndebele language of Zimbabwe. We hope that our music helps to spread peace throughout the world."

The joyful sound of the African music left the bank's parking lot and spread across the highway to the shopping center. People driving past parked their cars and walked to the bank, lured by the music and the aroma of grilling hot dogs.

Ace Hardware owner Steve Culver donned his apron and turned the weenies every now and then, and Doc Joe Evans handed them out, free, to anyone who asked.

Soon the music moved some of the crowd to dance and at least one dog to howl in harmony with the marimba.

Bank president Susan Schneider said the event was a part of the First Friday series, but it was also a party to show their appreciation to the community for their support. The bank will soon be owned by Centennial Bank of Colorado.

As the party died down, First Friday visitors headed to First Street where restaurants and bars welcomed them. The Dandelion offered guests a selection of fresh homemade bread, fruit, cheese, and wine as they viewed watercolor artist Annie Thayer's new work and watched Beth Martin create her exquisite silver jewelry.

Martin says her grandfather Glenn Martin was a woodworker in Illinois. When he died, she inherited his tools. She now lives in Nederland and is putting her grandfather's legacy to work.

"I always liked working with my hands and made custom dog tags. Silver is too expensive for the dogs, so I began working with nickel and brass, which looks like silver."

Martin graduated with a degree in jewelry in 2000 and came to Nederland where she has been working ever since.

Her exquisite tiny aspen leaves, although common among Rocky Mountain Jewelers, are unique in design and size. She also uses her grandfather's special order stamps, making her work individual and unique.

As she chatted and worked, local musicians Silas Herman and Mackenzie Page of Gipsy Moon added their talent to the ambiance.

First Friday has become a tradition in Nederland, one that allows local businesses a chance to exhibit the wares, artwork, or culinary expertise that makes them special in our arts and music-famous town.