First Fridays will celebrate women during Women’s History Month in March. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the suffrage movement and Aurora Downtown will honoring the milestone with a Woman Up! theme March 6.
Several venues will be open to the public for a night of art, music, and more in downtown Aurora. Free trolley rides run throughout downtown from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Santori Public Library of Aurora, 101 S. River Street, will start its Aurora League of Women Voters and Kane County Audubon Society exhibits. Aurora League of Women Voters celebrates 100 years of suffrage with an historical display, and Kane County Audubon Society welcomes Spring with the Birds of Illinois photo exhibit. An all-woman horn ensemble, Alloy Horn Quartet, will perform. Attendees can stop for a photo at the First Fridays Woman Up! photo booth. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Public Art, 20 E. Downer Place, will celebrate women with a ShePunk Fest that includes a punk show lineup along with poetry, zines, art, and flowers. $5 suggested donation to benefit Mutual Ground. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will be open with “Happy Little Drawings,” a solo show featuring Larry Law and his collection of happy little drawings. See them here before they find their way into a book in an independent shop somewhere in the Midwest. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Balderas Beauty Salon, 25 N. Broadway, will be host to “The Woman Show” to feature photography by TotyPix, DJ music, face-painting, and live body painting by Jose Art. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery, 6 W. Downer Place, will feature women in the arts with a student art showcase featuring Rosary High School. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gary Brown Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will feature artist Andrew Zabela-Zabelin, a master oil painter. All are welcome to sign the large Women Up! art board drawn by Gary Brown in honor of the centennial year of women’s suffrage in America and the 19th Amendment. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Crystal House, 59 S. LaSalle Street, will open with paintings of Chaz Nieponski. The engraving shop will offer free engraving on Aurora memorabilia. Open until 9 p.m..
• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will be open with “The Pink Show.” 7 p.m. to midnight.
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York Street, will feature “Woman Up Irish Bound” with music by Cindy Chase and Jim O’Connell. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will be host to an all-woman showcase of musicians featuring Olivia Ports, Michelle Curiel, Charmaine Makeda, and Mayor’s Kids. 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m..
• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will have live music performed by Jake Mack and new art presented by the Aurora Art League. Aurora Women’s Empowerment Foundation (AWE) will be in attendance. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will feature the music styles of Demi Clara and art by Rich. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, will have American Tribal Style Sisterhood Cooperation featuring Camelia Danza Tribal. The group-improvisational style of belly dance fosters sisterhood, cooperation, and unity. Starts at 7 p.m..
• The Hope Chest, 34 N. Lincoln Avenue, will be open with “The Fruit of Her Hands Prov. 31:16.” Half off all merchandise. Free coffee pour overs and gift basket giveaways. Shop arts and crafts by women. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Bureau Gravity, 56 S. LaSalle Street, will be open for a chance to see the new Smart Aurora Opportunity Gallery, tangible possibilities for creating a safer, better-connected and more prosperous Aurora. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Fonda mi Pueblito, 31 N. Broadway, will be host to Fonda Modelos Show which will feature woman business models. Buy one taco, get one free. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will have “Be a Part of History: Photo Station,” a chance to put yourself in firefighting history at their photo station. Visitors can make use of props and dress-up uniforms to create their own firefighting photo with the museum’s brick building backdrop. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Society 57, 100 S. River Street, will be open late. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street, will be open for the Vintage Shop Hop with 15% off the entire shop. Open until 9 p.m..
• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton Street, will debut its 22-foot-tall aluminum rocket starting at 6 p.m.. Children are invited to explore how women have had an impact in STEAM through hands on activities. Girl Scout Troop 4785 will sell Girl Scout cookies all evening plus student art form Rosary High School and Marmion Academy. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Yetee Station, 102 E Galena Boulevard, will be open with a special offer. All $10 admission purchases will get a bonus day pass to take home for another free visit to the arcade. Open until midnight.
• I of the Angeles, 217 E. Galena Boulevard, will be open with “Reiki and Tarot Night,” and feature Taroista and Reiki practitioner Maria De Los Angeles. Try both in 20 minutes for $20. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will be open with special pop ups by The Borough Bookstore featuring woman-themed selections and House 423 with a line of curated boutique styles for women. Local singer Julie Elzerman will be in the house from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Woman Up themed T-shirts and mugs from Send Me a Dream Shop will be available for purchase. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street, will be open with Firestone Walker Brewing Draft Night and $5 pours. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Avenue, will feature “Self-Care Practices for Moms” from The Perch. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Boulevard, will celebrate its woman-owned company with a meet and greet with Amy Morton and company executive chef Debbie Gould. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, will be open with “Tropical Relaxation.” Relax with soothing sounds of the ukulele, chair massages, and create a sandy air plant container. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
• Victoria’s Vintage Flair (formerly L & L Vintage), 30 N. Broadway, will be open with Ladies Night Open Mic. Participants can express themselves. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, will feature All Out Records with a selection from empowered women artists and bands. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 8 N. Broadway, will have “Women Business Owners and Women Empowerment.” The owners of Tendaji Body Oils, The Unruly Artist, and Allure Candle Company will be on hand with demos, samples, and giveaways. Safe Passage will have a mini workshop where the community can attend and make “woman up” empowering and encouraging cards for residences and their families at Safe Passage in DeKalb. 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..
• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River Street, student organization Latinos Unidos “Know Your Rights” information and discussion on voter rights, immigration issues, and family planning. Information will be available free of charge to the community. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..
First Fridays maps are available at all venues. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown