SANTA CRUZ -- Downtown seems to be holding its own, even if there are a few empty storefronts to fill.

A total of 18 galleries are participating in the First Friday Art Bus Tour, which includes a Westside route from 2-5 p.m. and a downtown to the Tannery loop from 5-10 p.m.

New attractions include FroYo, a family-owned yogurt shop at 1010 Pacific Ave. and the artists' collective Studio 109 at 109 Locust St.

Kyung and Sang Ahn, originally from Korea and owners of the Circle Market, opened FroYo, modeling it on the Pinkberry craze in Los Angeles. Their daughter, Elizabeth, 19, a student at Cabrillo College, is the manager.

Customers can pick their own toppings for a cup of frozen yogurt and pay 39 cents an ounce.

"I love it," said Isa DeCossy of Eye Q, who is partial to mochi, a topping of tiny sweet rice cakes.

The art tour includes a new location for Santa Cruz County Bank. The bank's green-certified headquarters at 720 Front St. hosts a solo show by the late Manuel Santana, the 2008 county artist of the year, from 6-8 p.m.

Visitors also will find a friendly game of pool at Surf City Billiards at 913 Pacific Ave., formerly the Attic. Also open is So Fresh, a new clothing retailer at 911 Cedar St., owned by Jack Beran and Matt Iles.

JR Technie, the toy shop, has vacated 111 Locust St., and a couple of businesses have relocated.

With the departure of Gelato Mania, one side of the courtyard is empty.

But around the corner, JP Correa of the Vinocruz wine shop said his summer business was "gangbusters," thanks to European tourists. His shop is showing new works by Claire Lerner for the Friday art tour.

Mayor Ryan Coonerty was downtown Thursday afternoon giving Rep. Sam Farr a tour of NextSpace in the former County Bank building at Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue, newly open to freelancers for rentals.

Afterward, he popped into Studio 109, a colorful venue where the walls range from "trustworthy green" and "inspiration blue" to red, signifying passion, and semolina, signifying happiness.

Photographer and collage artist Linda Cordy asked about plans to fix the sidewalks, which is what her insurer wants, and suggested hanging banners on Locust Street to highlight the galleries there.

"Good idea," the mayor said, adding that a proposal to buy a Zamboni-like sweeper for sidewalks will come before the City Council on Tuesday.

Among the artists featured at the studio: Thomas Mantle. He moved to Mission Street, where he has more room to make jewelry.

More second-story office space is available due to the sluggish economy, and more will come on the market with the completion of the Rittenhouse building at 1367 Pacific Ave. The retail space at two newly completed buildings, 2027 North Pacific Ave. and 2030 North Pacific Ave., also remain empty.