A celebration of food will complement current exhibitions at Lubeznik Center for the Arts’ First Friday @ 5 after-hours open house on March 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

Visitors to the Center will have an opportunity to taste a variety of local and organic items ranging from pasture raised meats to pastries and learn more about food and food production.

“I believe that letting farm animals live and behave as naturally as possible produces the healthiest most flavorful meat and eggs,” says Leonard Pressel of Grandpa’s Farm.

“We chose the name Grandpa’s Farm to help explain how we raise our animals. We tell everyone we do it the same way our grandpa did.”

Pressel sells eggs and meats at Farmer’s Markets in season and will be sampling his hickory smoked ham at Lubeznik Center’s First Friday event.

Complementing Pressel’s offerings, Green Farms Agronomics and Mycology will bring samples of their all-natural, locally grown microgreens and grasses as well as scaled versions of their novel “vertical gardens.” With a focus on providing healthy and affordable produce grown in a vertically-oriented, sustainable manner, they’ll be discussing eco-friendly and efficient growing methods as well as future crop availability.

Chef and food blogger Toni Snearly of foodjustsayin.com, LOVES talking food. “Recipes, chefs, organic living, the food system get me going and you’ll start to wonder who pulled my string and how it can get cut short,” says Snearly.

From recipes to cookbooks to famous chefs, Food (Just Sayin’) covers a wide variety of topics, all revolving around food. Snearly’s belief system for both her blog and a home-based organic bakery go hand in hand emphasizing whole, natural and organic foods and lifestyles.

In addition, Shoreline Brewery will provide locally brewed beverages, musician Joshua McClain will perform throughout the evening and a trunk show of one-of-a-kind pieces combining sterling silver, glass and enameled copper will be featured in the Center’s popular Gallery Shop.

First Fridays @ 5 offer a great way to view art, including the Smithsonian Institution’s Earth from Space, in a casual, social setting.

Doors open at 5 p.m. (CT). Admission is free. Visit www.lubeznikcenter.org for more information or phone (219) 874-4900.

Lubeznik Center for the Arts is located at 101 W. 2nd St., at the lakefront in Michigan City, Ind.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Galleries are closed on Mondays.