By Marissa Amoni –
First Fridays in Aurora will be filled with art, music, and food Friday, May 3. First Fridays is Food Truck Festival 2019 this week with more than two dozen food trucks parked on Benton Street. There will be several venues open to the public for a night of art, food, and culture in downtown Aurora. It’s free, and it’s rain or shine.
The following locations will provide for an artful night in downtown Aurora:
• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River Street, Arts and Music Showcase, 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..
An evening of arts, music, and more: Purchase one-of-a-kind pottery; print a free, silkscreen T-shirt; pick up a copy of the student-published “Horizons” magazine, and learn more about the Arts at Waubonsee. Music will be provided by Waubonsee’s Big Band, Jazz Combo, Steel Drum Band, and Chamber Choir. Art exhibits will be open for viewing in the library and cafe areas. Free refreshments will be provided.
• HealthMarkets, 41 W. New York Street, Nate Velasquez – Digital Media, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m..
• Golden Fox Studios, 52 W. Downer Place, second floor, Open Studios: Gerardo Madrigal, Joan Paco, Lisa Gloria, Live art demonstration and new works will be on display, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, Jason DeLancey – Rusted & Reused, 6 p.m. to midnight.
Pop-up art show featuring local artist and curator Jason DeLancey will be exhibiting works of original photography, collage, and digital artwork.
• ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 Broadway, Let’s Be Bad Guys, 7 p.m. to midnight.
A plethora of vile depictions of villainy will be on display.
• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, Imagined Realities: Chris Hodge, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Gary Brown Art Gallery & Studio, 7 S. Broadway, Welcoming Spring – Honoring Nurses, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Celebrating spring in Aurora with Fine Art, including multi-media and scratch board, created by artists Gary Brown and Christina Snider; live music by Karla Howard (singer/songwriter/performing artist); a special honorary recognition gift will be given to any nurse in attendance.
• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, The Art of Emergency Care, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Visitors can explore the newest exhibit, The Art of Emergency Care, from the National EMS Museum. The whole Museum will be open.
• Good News Barbershop + Media Studio, 14 W. Downer Pl. upstairs, Good Vibes feat. Art and music, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Balderas Beauty Salon, 25 N. Broadway, Artist: Cassandra Baez, 5 p.m. to 8.30 p.m..
Music and food plus free face-painting and live body-painting by Jose Art.
Music will be available at the following locations:
• Millennium Plaza, 21 S. Stolp Avenue., Joybird 6 p.m., Todd Kessler 7:30 p.m.
• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York Street, Live music from Dan Becker, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
•Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 18, Open until 9 p.m., Happy first Birthday: A one year birthday celebration, Tredwell will have a full menu with great music, drink specials, and raffles! DJ BUTtTer: will play great music all night.
• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Place, Mini Sessions and Studio Tours, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Those in attendance can get a taste of what goes into an actual recording session at a professional studio. The public can tour the studios and participate in mini-recording sessions and play a song on one of the keyboards, or just get into the vocal booth and sing! Visitors are welcome to make music!
The evening can be complete with food, and photos by visiting the following locations during First Fridays.
• Food Truck Festival, Benton Street 30 food vendors parked along the Benton Street bridges., 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Payton’s Photography, 14 W. Downer Place (entrance on Stolp), 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Come for a fun May Flowers Photo! One free digital photo on the adorable May Flowers Backdrop!
• Aurora Historical Society at the Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Aurora Story on the second floor: A walk-through history of Aurora; Saturday, May 4 will be the closing day of the Memorial Crosses exhibit commemorating the victims of the February 15 Pratt Company shooting.
• Sergio Furniture, 36 W. Downer Place, Catrinas of Aurora, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Avenue, Spring Into Life!, free, little, plant to visitors., 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Arcana Studios, 5 1/2 W. Downer Place, Poetry Reading & Storytelling, 8 to 11 p.m..
Poetry Reading & Storytelling at Arcana for First Fridays. Arcana studios will open at 8 pm. Performances by featured readers will begin at 9 p.m. and an open mic will follow. The magic of this intimate, living room styled venue that is newly opened in Downtown Aurora will be on display.
• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Pl., 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Yoga, Belly Dance, Hoop Dance, Massages, Vendors.
Come to the second floor to meet independent instructors, see belly dance and hoop performances, hang out in an aerial yoga hammock, get a chair massage ($1/min.), and browse our amazing vendors!
• PreMil, 46 W. New York Street, PreMil Grand Opening, noon to 9 p.m..
Grand opening event with music, art (feat. Yesenia Del Toro, Deltizzle, Adriana Vongkorad), comedy.
• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place., Ste. 16, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Eye Candy Bake Shop will be popping up at Wyckwood House with a variety of gluten free and vegan treats to purchase! Live music from Olivia Ports, 6-8:30 and cocktails from Amy Song Ceramics!
• Legacy Nutrition & Fitness, 77 S. River Street, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Art & Fitness Hosted by Them Bad Apples and Legacy Nutrition & Fitness. Music by Funk and Soul Collection.
Erin Jones Joseph is an artist and jewelry-maker. Erin’s work is miniature in size but bold in color and design. Her artwork is created from colored paper, acrylic paints, canvas and wood. Her miniature artworks are in private collections in and around the Chicagoland area. instagram.com/dioramascapes.
• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton Street, SPARK Play Learn Connect, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
SciTech Hands On Museum will be a partner with SPARK to bring community organizations and agencies together to help share their resources to help the community. In addition SciTech Hands On Museum will have limited access to the museum for free!
• Do or Dye Designs, 24 S. Stolp Avenue, Karaoke, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Karaoke. Raffles. Pop-up shop pureskin and refreshments.
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place Ste. 12, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Home Decor by Leslie Jenner: Beautiful hand made decorations, jewelry, and what not made by the famous Leslie Jenner.
• Collier Community Center, 36 S. Stolp Avenue, Save Our Youth Fundraiser CatFish Fry, Catfish dinner, $10, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Two free trolleys will be circling downtown Aurora throughout the evening. It’s always a great night to kick off the busy events season for Aurora Downtown and Aurora.
For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
— Aurora Downtown