C.J. Johnson had it right. On a Friday night when the weather is perfect, the music is good and the food is a longtime favorite, the Second Street Festival in Jackson Ward is a good place to be.

So Johnson, 55, was standing on Marshall Street with a fish dinner in a Styrofoam container, listening to Johnny Houston & The Legends play classic R&B at the Kickoff Dance Party, and counting himself lucky to be back at Richmond's historic African-American center.

"I'm from Richmond," he said. "This is part of what makes it work. You see a lot of old friends and make a lot of new ones. It's a good place to relax and get something good to eat."

A few blocks west on Marshall and Broad streets, old friends and new ones had a different reason to gather: art openings at more than a dozen galleries for the monthly First Fridays Artwalk.

Even the artists were wandering from gallery to gallery. Anthony Wyatt had left his own work in "Red, Black & Pink" at the Visual Art Studio to check out photographs by Chris Verene at the ADA Gallery.

Wyatt's 6-year-old son, Owen, was feeling inspired: "I draw good pictures," Owen said, and he was sure there would be a place to hang them some day.

At Gallery5, it was opening night for a three-day Carnival of 5 Fires. Instead of free admission as usual, the gallery had a $5 charge to hear music downstairs, see the Suspended Disbelief Marionette Theater and similarly subversive art upstairs, and watch fire twirlers and magicians outside.

Carnival events continue tonight at 7 with "Something Wicked" offering live performances, a freak costume contest, carnival games and a dance party. Tomorrow, All the Saints Theater Company's Spaghetti Dinner Theater begins at 7 p.m. with a charge of $8 to $15 for dinner and show.

The Second Street Festival hits its stride today and tomorrow with four music stages, children's activities, food and a marketplace. Music and activities continue today from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

Even the opening night dance party made room for a little serious business. Since the deadline for registering to vote in the November election is Monday, the campaign for Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Joseph R. Biden Jr. set up a voter-registration table. In a little more than an hour, about 15 voters had registered.

Unveiling of a new festival poster by Larry "Poncho" Brown revealed a colorful tribute to the musical heritage of the event, now in its 19th year.

For most of the crowd, the festival was a time to reconnect.

Shawn Stanley, 38, who lives on the outskirts of the city, came with her mother and her 10-year-old son, Markus.

"We have a lot of friends who used to live in this area," Stanley said. "My mom used to work for Consolidated Bank.

"I brought my son to get a little bit of 2 Street. He's never been here."
Contact Katherine Calos at (804) 649-6433 or kcalos@timesdispatch.com.