Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Committee announced recently the 2017-2018 Equity Jeff Award nominees, and Paramount Theatre in Aurora, with its Broadway Series productions, earned 10 nominations for outstanding performance, direction, and design in Chicago theater last season. Paramount was the only Chicago theater to land two nominations in the highly-competitive category
The Alley Art Festival on Water Street Saturday in Aurora provides many vendors on a 80-degree-plus day, one day prior to the Ukulele Festival. Click here to see more photos. Jason Crane/The Voice
Roots Aurora, the free community block party, which celebrates the cultural richness of Aurora, will be 5 p.m.to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at the Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora. Roots Aurora is a community celebration of dance, music, art and food, presented by non-profit organizations and community leaders.
Carillonneur for Naperville, Tim Sleep, plays Aretha Franklin songs Saturday to honor the Queen of Soul who died Thursday, Aug. 16 at the age of 76. The Naperville Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower has 72 bells and is on the Riverwalk in downtown Naperville. The Moser Tower was built in
The Sierra Club Valley of the Fox will meet 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at the Batavia Public Library where we will welcome Carolyn Burnham of the Batavia Environmental Commission. She will discuss the current efforts of the BEC and other affiliated groups such as river clean-ups, Fabyan Woods Restoration
Batavia Public School District 101 will welcome eight inductees into its fourth annual Hall of Honor at Batavia High School Thursday, Sept. 20. The BPS101 Hall of Honor was initiated by the Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence and BPS101 to promote pride in Batavia Public Schools and to honor alumni,
The Holmstad’s annual Bazaar is one of Fox Valley’s most anticipated events. Now in its 41st year, residents are putting final touches on all of the unique items they sell to the public when the community will open its doors at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Shoppers will have a
By Marissa Amoni – They could be Aurora’s power couple, but they don’t technically live in Aurora. Rebekah Axtell and Josh Schultz might reside a bit south of Aurora in Oswego, but their love for Aurora and its residents runs deep. Axtell and Schultz are currently working on a project
The Oswego Police Department is looking to hire quality, professional, and career-oriented individuals for the position of police officer. Application deadline is noon Friday, Aug. 17. Starting salary is $59,401, and if already certified as a police officer in Illinois $61,183. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age
By Deena Sherman – One of Aurora’s best kept entertainment secrets turns 40 this year! Although everyone knows about the Paramount Theatre and all the huge, wonderful productions there, few realize there is a little community theatre just around the corner on Water Street Mall called Riverfront Playhouse. It has
Members of the recently-formed City of Lights Ukulele Society perform a song prior to the Aurora City Council’s unanimously approving its request to be host to the City of Lights Ukulele Festival, Sunday, Aug. 26 on Water Street and Downer Place on the recently-renovated Water Street Mall. Jason Crane/The Voice
Visitors have been entranced by the painted Bulldog statues on the streets of Batavia this Summer. During this month, they will see a different side of one of the bulldog artists with an exhibit of Katie Drum’s illustrations on display at the Batavia Public Library. Her series of illustrations examines
Vance Bennett of Elgin prepares to take down an artistic photo of his display at the Elgin Art & Soul on the Fox Saturday, Aug. 4 in preparation for the next day’s show on Riverside Drive in downtown Elgin. Carter Crane/The Voice
The SciTech Hands On Museum in Aurora provided educational blocks at the Stolp Avenue Block Party Friday for children to use as a part of the First Fridays, Friday. One girl draws attention with her colorful maneuvers. The art and music festival will return Friday, Sept. 7 to downtown Aurora.
The West Aurora Concerned Citizens Neighborhood Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15 at West Aurora Plaza 5th Ward meeting room. This month’s meeting will be an open discussion to address any topics, concerns, or issues the group may like to address. For more information call Pat Malin
John Ross, president of Kiwanis Club of Aurora, left, and Kiwanian Jenna Hahn, right, welcome Katie Arko, vice-president of Development for the Paramount Theatre in Aurora at the Kiwanis Club of Aurora Tuesday at the Prisco Center in Aurora. Arko gave an update on the School of Performing Arts, Paramount
Cantigny will celebrate French culture, and the park’s special connection with France, at upcoming back-to-back events: • French Picnic Under the Stars, Saturday, Aug. 11, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.. Guests will have Cantigny Park in Wheaton all to themselves for an evening of food, wine, live music and stargazing.
Downtown public art creates serenity, controversy, in Aurora Bikes in Bloom, left; Batavia Bulldogs Unleashed, center; and Naperville Has Heart.
Public art often is taken lightly. However, public art can add the touches to communities which brings togetherness, a light touch, and offers a serious vein of accomplishment. Even controversy can be found in discussions of what is art and what is the symbolism? Public art in three downtown communities,
Studiously captivating: The focus of the individuals at Sunday’s annual Geneva Arts Fair is fine art photography along Third Street. Carter Crane/The Voice
