If the warm weather was not enough, a group of Marywood University architecture students hoped their temporary pavilions positioned around Courthouse Square for First Friday would encourage more people to walk around Scranton instead of driving.
"Pedestrian lifestyle is important," 29-year-old student Ryan Bogedin said. "We're trying to promote that in the community and have people get out of ⦠cars and get them back onto the streets so they can enjoy the city."
Mr. Bogedin's four-person group joined 21 other students who designed and built pavilions using sustainable design and construction practices to put classroom concepts to work in lessening harm to the environment.
The pavilions used solar panels and reused materials donated from local businesses.
Mr. Bogedin, a Tunkhannock resident, said his group picked a visible spot on North Washington Avenue, and members hoped a path that lights up at night will draw walkers to the pavilion's central bench, which was to be illuminated by flood lights under the seat.
Nearby on Spruce Street, a different project featured scattered, abstract-looking furniture that 21-year-old student Mike Stauffer of Nesquehoning described as symbolizing a campfire-style setup in nature. Students hoped people would use the furniture in whatever way came naturally, like they might sit on rocks or trees.
The group constructed a lounge chair that contained ports with which people could charge cellphones or tablets.
A couple blocks away, visitors like Madeleine Bunavage, 20, of Tunkhannock, browsed artwork by Keystone College seniors at ArtWorks and Afa Gallery on Lackawanna Avenue.
Ms. Bunavage, a Keystone sophomore who plans to display her own work for the event in two years, said she tries to come to First Friday whenever possible to soak in the local art scene.
Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com