First Fridays will be back with art, music, and more items in interest to the public in Aurora Friday, Feb. 7. The popular event will celebrate its eighth year when it returns after one month off. Several venues will be open to the public for a night of art and culture in downtown Aurora.
• Stolp Island Social will join the First Fridays lineup with a Roaring 1920s cocktail party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Amy Morton’s new location at 5 E. Galena Boulevard will have a scratch cocktail list, $10-$12, of Prohibition Era-inspired cocktails to ring in the new decade.
• Aurora Public Art, 20 E. Downer Place, will have artist Rita Grendze with “Everything I should’ve,” a solo exhibit, sculptural installation and drawings. The opening reception at First Fridays will include interactive public art projects. The show will run through March 21. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Waubonsee Community College Aurora Downtown campus library, 18 S. River Street, will have High School Invitational Ceramics Exhibition and Jazz Ensembles. There will be wheel-throwing demonstrations, cafe art exhibit, and free T-shirt printing in the cafe space. Free refreshments. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be host to “Twice. Drawings of Doubles for the New Decade,” a gallery show to feature artist Mays Mayhew’s contemporary figurative line drawings. Joe Eddy Brown will perform live acoustic music. Participation in an “Artists in Love Quiz” can win a Valentine treat. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will be host to a Modern Goth art show. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will present The ArtBar’s “The Robot Show” from 7 p.m. to midnight. The popular First Fridays photo booth will be onsite until 9 p.m..
• Balderas Beauty Salon, 25 N. Broadway, will have “The Pastry Show.” Decorate cookies and paint a cake. Live body-painting by award-winning body painter Jose Art. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• The Hope Chest, 36 N. Lincoln Avenue, will open with a half-off sale of all merchandise in their newly-remodeled store. Kristie Bleers will display her artistic photography, for purchase, along with other forms of art. Aethereus Media will show select photographs available for purchase. Kari Foulk will create coffee pour overs (while supplies last). There will be a picture-drawing contest for children under 10. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, will have live music by Mirabelle Skipworth and new art by Joshua Schultz. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub and Restaurant, 28 W. New York Street, will feature musician Jim O’Connell. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Gremlen Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, will have an open mic competition. The prize will be two free hours of studio time. Limited spots available. Sign up by sending to jillian@gremlenstudios.com. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• L & L Vintage, 30 N. Broadway, will feature live music by Johnny King, an aspiring singer who recently moved to Aurora from San Diego. He will sing acoustic covers of a few of his favorite songs. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will cure Winter blues with tunes from Nick Wiesner and art by Elizabeth Santana. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Fonda mi Pueblito, 31 N. Broadway, will celebrate “Tardeada” or happy hour with buy one taco, get one free. Attendees can take free picture with mariachi sombrero and music. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton Street, will be open with free exploration and a science show at 6 p.m.. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street, will feature Kernel’s Gourmet Popcorn when they set up shop inside Warehouse 55, and they will have a special Valentine’s Day treat to offer. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, will feature “February 15: One Year Later” a commemorative tribute to the 2019 Henry Pratt tragedy and will have a mini-exhibit of “African American History in Aurora.” 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Paramount School of the Arts, 20 S. Stolp Avenue, will have “Valentine’s for Everyone,” a craft-making opportunity for both kids and adults. Visitors can make a Valentine from the heart for all their special individuals. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Avenue, will have story time with “Jesus Little Parables of the Kingdom.” 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Do or Dye Designs, 24 S. Stolp Avenue, will offer a family photo session that includes three digital E-mailed images for $10. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Society 57, 100 S. River Street, will be open late with a full service coffee bar. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will have “Love is in the House,” a night of spreading kindness and love to feature handmade wooden hearts from Real Happy Space available for purchase. Lisa from ElleJae Designs will be in the house. Live music from Olivia Ports, will start at 6 p.m.. Valentine’s Day treats will be available for purchase from Wild Flour Vegan Bakery. 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Branch Gardens, 77 S. Lake Street, will be host its first Poetry Night and will feature Aurora Poet Laureate Karen Christensen and others, as well as a guitarist throughout the night. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will have a Valentine’s fire helmet craft. Children can make the helmet into a Valentine’s Day card or into a headband hat. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
• Gillerson’s Grubbery, 33 W. New York Street, will be open with “UFC Your Lagunitas,” and feature $5 drafts of Lagunitas and UFC Gym, a new gym opening in North Aurora will offer tickets to to win a 70-inch Apple television. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 12, Pricked Finger Felt. Artisan Megan Schmidt will be in house to sell some of her felt creations. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• PreMil, 46 W. New York Street, will have an Albracci X Saint Toby Pop Up. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
First Fridays maps are available at all venues. A free trolley will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown