Something witch-like will be in the air at First Fridays, Friday, Oct. 4. It will be a night of art, music, and tarot-card readings, and a sneak peek at Chicago restaurateur Amy Morton’s new restaurant, Stolp Island Social, in downtown Aurora.
There will be food trucks at the First Fridays Food Truck Food Court from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Water Street Square across from City Hall. Vendors include Harvey’s Fire Box, Burritoville, Red Hot Chicago, and Z’s Sandwiches.
Visit several venues will be open to the public. Free trolley rides from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Arcana Studios, 5 1/2 W. Downer Place, will be open with “Something Witchy,” a pop-up art show and tarot readings from witches: Roz Anomaly, Kittens of Industry, Queen of Marigold. Tarot readings cost $20. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Boulevard, will open its doors for the first time for “With a little help from our friends,” a sneak peek and hiring fair. Guests are invited in for a glimpse of Amy Morton’s new restaurant, get some snacks, and maybe a job. Starts at 5 p.m..
• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River Street, will have “Late Night Arts and Jazz,” an evening of student art, ceramics, silk-screen printing, music, and refreshments. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
• Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Avenue, will be host to “And The World Will Know,” a trivia game focused on social media for students older than age 11 and parents. The school will have pop-up shops which will feature area artisans, as well as guided tours of the school every 20 minutes. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..
• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be open with a grand opening celebration with raffle prizes and live music by Joe Eddy Brown, Ron Gurka, and Robert Walker. Gary Brown’s mixed-media, drawings, and photography art creations will be on display. 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.. Ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m..
• Balderas Salon, 25 N. Broadway, will present “The Superhero Show,” with artist Ana Vonzee. Live body painting by Jose, free face-painting for kids, free food, and drinks, DJ music, raffles, and free shirts for the first 10 individuals to arrive. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will have “It Came From ArtBar: The B-Horror Show,” a creeping nightmare from the depths of Aurora area artists. 7 p.m. to midnight.
• David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, will open with shows on all three floors. Aurora Public Art will have “100th Anniversary of the Aurora Art League” on the Third Floor. Aurora Historical Society will present “Quilts: Art, History, Community” and “Aurora in 1969” will be on the first and second floors. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will be host to “Goetic: It’s October! Let’s do Witchy stuff!” featuring Lucky Eye Ink. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing and Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will present Yellow House Artists with original oil pastels. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Santori Library: Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River Street, will have “Culinary Curiosity and Global Celebration,” an exhibit share experience featuring cooking and food preparation artifacts from around the world. The Library will celebrate the life of Justice Sonia Sotomayor as author of the Aurora: United We Read selection, “My Beloved World.” Music by Chicago Latin Groove. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will be open with a brew and view Movie Night. Movie will start at 8 p.m. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will be open with live music from Daniel and The Sparrows and new art in the Brick Gallery from Chris Hodge. Enjoy new Fall drinks. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, will feature a corn roast and music by Soul Karma. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will be open with a night of music with J. Higgins and a new art display by Aurora area artists Anton and Preston. Stop in for fall drink specials. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will have an open mic in its live room and will record it. Attendees can play or just listen, take tours of the studios, meet the engineers, and learn about the studio. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• G.A.R. Memorial Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will be open with “Aurora in the Civil War.” 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Fonda mi Pueblito, 31 N. Broadway, will be open with $1 tacos and live music. Until 9 p.m..
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street, will continue its grand opening celebration. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Avenue, will have “Follow the Footsteps to Fun,” a photo op and crafts for kids. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• I of the Angeles, 217 E. Galena Boulevard, will feature a $10 special on tarot readings. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• PreMil, 46 W. New York Street, will have “Latin Night.” $3 entrance fee. 7 .m. to 10 p.m..
• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 8 N. Broadway, will be host to “Spectacular Spellbound Soirée.” Come by The Cotton Seed to start the Halloween month with free make and take wizard wands, music, and light desserts. There will be 15% off Fall and Halloween decor. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will open with live music by sister duo Julie Elzerman and Rachel Santillian, Fall cocktail tastings, and a live mural. Jessica Grabowski will finish the Wyckwood Wings mural live. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will open with its start to Fire Prevention Week. Attendees can explore the museum at no cost. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street, will have “Kwaktoberfest and Taco Partaay.” Pauwel Kwak, a popular Belgian beer company serves drafts in very distinct barware, will be in-house for draft specials and fun giveaways starting at 5 p.m.. Because October 4 is National Taco Day, Gillerson’s will celebrate with tacos after 8 p.m. with $5 taco flights, a $5 taco burger, and $5 taco-seasoned wings.
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, will be open to include performances, dancing, vendors, massages. There will be tribal bellydance, shop vendors, and check out the yoga studio. $1/min massages. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, will be open with “Boos and Baubles Fall Market.” Pricked Finger Felt teams up with Offbeat Thrift and Vintage to bring you kitschy Fall decor and a curated selection of pre-loved clothing and accessories. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery, 6 E. Downer Place, will be open with Charlie’s Scoops Ahoy. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
First Fridays maps are available at all venues. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown