The forecast is partly sunny skies and high 80s for May’s First Friday Art Walk in downtown Elizabeth City. The weather alone should be enough to get folks out walking, but as with so many First Friday events before it, there’s a whole lot more.

In fact, this month marks the introduction of River City’s first public art installation, along side the numerous artists showing work up and down Main and Water Street.

At Red Rabbit Gallery, photographer Becky Morgan will be featured with photographs from the “Eastern Shores of North Carolina.”

Morgan was last year’s Arts of the Albemarle and Daily Advance Photography Show and Competition first place winner. Morgan is known for her work photographing children and babies.

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Around the corner on Fearing Street you can head over to Elizabeth City Bed and Breakfast where owners Ray and Maureen Donnelly will host the repurposed art of Amy Finn. Finn has a creative talent for taking something old and transforming it into something new again.

Back on Main Street, across from Red Rabbit is Muddy Waters Coffee House. Owners John and Audra Marx are promising a fun evening with a book signing, art show and coffee roasting demonstration.

Husband and wife Donna Colson and Doug Quinn make up the literary/art scene at the coffee house. Doug will be on hand to sign his latest installment of his children’s series, “The Adventures of Summer McPhee of Ocracoke Island.” The inspiration for the character Summer McPhee, local fifth grade student Summer Smith, will also be on hand to sign books.

Donna Colson is a well-known regional painter. She’ll be showing small oil paintings.

And there may even be some live music at Muddy’s.

Across the way at The Artist’s Collective in the old Southern Hotel building, the collective of more than 10 artists and artisans will be together for their vendor’s fair. And next door you can check out Serenity Studio Arts where artist/owner Sarah Hair will have local artists on display and offers a number of activities, including painting classes and pottery glazing and firing.

Up the street at Sydney’s Bistro you can see the work of artist Kelly Cameron on display. And next door, Cameron’s Color Studio will feature Art Cards Editions and Originals. These are trading card sized pieces of art that can be traded with other artists. Cameron invites folks to come in, sit down and create their own cards.

Nestled in between Sydney’s and the Color Studio is the Virginia Dare Arcade. Inside there you’ll find the Elizabeth City Yoga Studio.

The studio is an ideal place to show art and owner Lorie Taylor has been hosting artists for a number of First Friday events this past year. This Friday she’ll be hosting painter Susane Krueger.

Across the way at Gregg Shoes, you will find watercolor paintings and jewelry by John Mudra and Marlene Billedeaux.

And then inside Arts of the Albemarle you’ll have a number of events wrapped up in one building.

Arts of the Albemarle and The Daily Advance have once again partnered to bring you the Photography Show and Competition. This year’s guest judge is Norfolk, Va., photographer Robert Anderson.

The winning photographs will be revealed at 6 p.m. And on Sunday, in the Albemarle Life section of The Daily Advance, you’ll be able to view the winning entries and honorable mentions. You can also go online to www.dailyadvance.com and view the slideshow of current entries.

In the 516 Gallery at AOA, you’ll be able to see the work of ceramic artist John Peel, and painters Fred Saunders and Barbara Wachter.

Arts of the Albemarle is also public art central this week. Here you can find information about the moth boat unveiling (see accompanying story) that will take place at 5:30 p.m. up and down Main and Water Streets.

Across the street and down the block from AOA is Shay Leslie where a very special event will unfold. Shay Leslie is hosting “Heart for Art” where JC Sawyer art teacher Paul Foreman will be honored.

Shay Leslie has partnered with Tribal Sportswear to bring this honor to Foreman. He will be awarded a plaque for his work with children, and presented with a check for $250 to purchase art supplies for his classroom.

And to help celebrate Foreman, Port Discover will present artwork from his students.

Around the corner, Page After Page Book Store will host an artist and down the street, Museum of the Albemarle will be staying open, inviting kids to enjoy a creative session of historical dress-up in its Discovery Room.

For more information on First Friday, go to www.ecncart.com.