Get Out: Dance Your Way Into May

Good morning. It’s the first Friday in May, which means it’s First Friday tonight on the Main Line. Head to downtown Ardmore and dance, eat, shop and celebrate spring. Below are more details, along with the rest of the weekly rundown of weekend things to do. (Unless otherwise noted, more information can be had by clicking on the header links to start each Get Out item.)

First Friday Main Line. Tonight is the return of Dancing Down the Line, a.k.a. “Swinging into Spring,” for First Friday Main Line in downtown Ardmore. The Cricket Avenue Block Party will have ballroom, African drum, Broadway, belly dancing, Lindy Hop, swing and even belly dancing. The Gin Canaries Swing Band will be featured. At the Case Gallery, stop in to take in the Delaware Valley Travelling Art Show with local artist Karen Gotlieb. For a complete list of the evening’s art and dance activities, see about the event. When: Friday (5/6), 6-10 p.m. Where: Lancaster and Cricket Avenues, Ardmore. Cost: Free.

Linwood Park: Wonders of Water. There are no fountains, no streams, and no pools at Linwood Park. No matter, because “a current of watershed awareness does run throughout the design,” say organizers of this event, described as an afternoon of “water investigation” with watery scavenger hunts, live insects from nearby creeks, and more, sponsored by the Lower Merion Conservancy. When: Saturday (5/7), 3-4 p.m. Where: Linwood and Athens Avenues, Ardmore. Cost: Free.

Sensory Garden Ribbon Cutting. With more than 3,000 native plants, shrubs and trees to stimulate the senses, the revitalized Sensory Garden will officially open with this ceremony. The presentation, co-sponsored by Lower Merion Township and the Ardmore Rotary, will be followed with a performance by the Melmark School handbell choir, the Joybells, and garden tours. When: Monday (5/9), 5 p.m. Where: 1505 Remington Road, Wynnewood. Cost: Free.

Bet On The J. The Kaiserman Jewish Community Center invites you to participate in the 3rd Annual “Bet on The J,” an evening of casino-style gambling, including simulated horseracing, food and drink, music, prizes and more. The evening will help raise much-needed funds to support the 2011 Philadelphia JCC Maccabi Games, including needs-based scholarships for Jewish teens who comprise Team Philadelphia. When: Saturday (5/7), 8 p.m.  Where: Kaiserman JCC, Robert Saligman Campus. 45 Haverford Rd., Wynnewood.

Lower Merion Police Open House. Tour the Township Administration and Public Safety buildings, and see a Police K-9 exhibit. Between visiting the Fire Prevention Trailer and getting a blood pressure screening, Freckles the Clown will be face painting and doing those balloon animal things, and to keep Freckles in line, Darth Vader from “Star Wars, along with a few of his Storm Troopers, will be keeping order while the regular police go about showing off their department. There will be information on the Pennsylvania Freemason CHIPS Child ID Program, Main Line Health and ElderNET, refreshments, bicycle helmets for sale, and you can get a look at police, fire, ambulance & public works vehicles. When: Saturday (5/7), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (rain or shine) Where: Township Administration Building; 75 E. Lancaster Ave., Ardmore. Cost: Free.

Narberth Sidewalk Sale and Circus. Narberth is having its own First Friday scene tonight (starting at 5 p.m.), and a sidewalk sale runs all day today and through tomorrow. But the big action for Narberth this weekend (and for “Nearberth,” as borough Mayor Tom Grady likes to call the rest of Lower Merion) is the Circus. From noon through 4p.m., the Narberth Business Association will be running “kiddie trains” (fun for the kids; equally fun for the dads who volunteer to drive them) on Haverford Avenue, from downtown Narberth to the Circus and back. When: Shows are scheduled for 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Where: The Narberth playground at Windsor Avenue and N. Wynnewood Avenue. Cost: $8 per person (proceeds benefit the Narberth Community Library). You can get your Circus tickets at Borough Hall (next to the playground) or call (610) 664-2840.

Main Line Arts Center: The Annual Fine Arts Sale runs through May 25. The show features 2-D works and sculpture by 50 accomplished artists—many of them local—including Gillian Pokalo of Ardmore, Bryn Mawr’s Monique Lazard, and Barbara Glickman of Bala Cynwyd. Time: Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: 746 Panmure Rd., Haverford (just off the south side of Lancaster Avenue, across the street from Wendy’s). Cost: Free (admission, that is—if you’d like to bring home any art, bring your credit card.)

Mother’s Day ‘Endless Brunch’ Buffet. Mom, and perhaps Dad even more so, will likely enjoy an unusual take the whole Mother’s Day restaurant scene—an all-you-can-eat buffet. Verdad Restaurant and Tequila Bar in Bryn Mawr will have a whole roasted suckling pig (a nice prelude to summer barbecues) and stations featuring turkey, prime rib, omelets and frittatas. And could this be the year that you finally do tequila shots with your ma? When: Sunday (5/8), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Verdad is at 818 West Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr. Cost: $24 per person (plus tax and tip).