The San Jose Museum of Art anchors the downtown art scene with a solid permanent collection of modern and contemporary art, as well as changing exhibitions that reflect the cultural and technological makeup of Silicon Valley. On the third Thursday of each month, visitors can explore the galleries after work with evening hours until 8pm and reduced admission after 5pm. Thursday evenings tend to attract a dynamic crowd, with everyone from gamers to poets coming in to enjoy the art. Three times per year, the museum hosts ArtRage, a Thursday evening program that features music, cocktails, and creative activities related to current exhibits. 110 S Market St, San Jose, CA 95113 408.271.6840 Open late until 8pm on the third Thursday of each month.

Mountain View’s Computer History Museum guides visitors through the history of computing from the abacus to artificial intelligence, with detours to play Pong and see the original Apple Computer. On Friday nights, the museum offers extended hours until 9pm, so tech workers and others who don’t get enough of their computers during the day can stop by after work to peruse over a thousand computer-related artifacts in the museum’s collection. Starting at 5pm, visitors enjoy food trucks and live music outside; and at 7pm, the museum offers a docent-led tour of their exhibit, "Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing." Friday nights at the Computer History Museum tend to attract both an after-work crowd from nearby companies and families from all over the Bay Area. Admission is half-price after 6pm. 1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 650.810.1010 Open late until 9pm on Friday nights.

The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is a gem of a museum in the South First Area (SoFA), San Jose’s burgeoning arts district. ICA uses its three galleries to present challenging and visually engaging exhibits from contemporary artists, many of which utilize new technologies or address current social issues. The museum is open until 10pm on the first Friday of each month (except July and January), which coincides with South First Fridays, a monthly evening of arts and culture in the SoFA district. In addition to free admission to the galleries, guests can enjoy ICA Live!, a monthly live contemporary performance by various artists. ICA also presents a number of Talking Art programs, including panel discussions, artist talks, and exhibition tours, during evening hours throughout the year. 560 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 408.283.8155 Open late until 10pm on the first Friday of each month (except July and January).

The Cantor Arts Center, on the Stanford University campus, is home to a diverse body of work that includes a large collection of bronze sculptures by Rodin (you know, "The Thinker" guy), contemporary Bay Area art, and a wide-ranging selection of Native American, African and Oceanic art. On Thursday evenings, visitors can check out both the permanent collections and traveling exhibits until 8pm. As always, admission is free. 328 Lomita Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94305 650.723.4177 Open late until 8pm on Thursday evenings.

The Anderson Collection at Stanford University holds an impressive private collection of modern and contemporary American art, housed in an airy gallery that is a work of art itself. On Thursday evenings, the Anderson Collection stays open until 8PM, and on the last Thursday of each month they offer their Last Thursday at the Anderson series, live programming that has included film screenings, yoga, hands-on art, and musical performances. Thursday nights draw a diverse audience, with students, professors, the local community, and families all coming together to enjoy an evening of art. Admission is free. 314 Lomita Dr, Stanford, CA 94305 650.721.6055 Open late until 8pm on Thursday evenings.

The Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara is a fantastic community museum that features contemporary and historical works with a focus on artists from the Bay Area. The Triton stays open until 8pm on the third Thursday of every month, and offers a quarterly lecture series that often coincides with the third Thursday hours. Parking and Admission are free. The Triton also offers a monthly performance series called Triton Free Fridays, in collaboration with the City of Santa Clara's Cultural Commission and supported by the Santa Clara Performing Arts Foundation. These free events, held from 7:30pm to 8:30pm, give visitors the chance to enjoy the galleries while listening to live music or watching a dance or theatrical performance. 1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA 95050 408.247.3754 Open late until 8pm on the third Thursday of each month.

The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, located in downtown San Jose’s South First Street arts district (SoFA), is a trove of traditional and new textile-based art. On the first Friday of each month (except January and July), visitors can peruse the collections until 9pm. Admission to First Fridays is “pay what you can” until 7PM, and free from 7pm until 9pm. The evening hours coincide with South First Fridays, a monthly evening of arts and culture in the SoFA district. 520 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 408.971.0323 Open late until 9pm on the first Friday of each month (except January and July).

MACLA, in downtown San Jose, is a contemporary art space that features Latino artists who are creating new visual, literary and performance art. In addition to staying open until 7pm every Wednesday and Thursday, MACLA offers free Friday night performances at 7pm on the first Friday of each month (except January and July), as part of the South First Fridays event in the SoFA arts District. Upcoming performances include live music, poetry, hip-hop and dance. 510 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95113 408.998.2783 Open until 7pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and open late on the first Friday of each month (except January and July).