Last month, I wrote about a full year’s lineup of downtown events. This month, I will give details of all the new and fun things to do and places to visit on a regular basis in downtown Aurora.
Oftentimes, we fall back on our usual routines and favorite spots instead of trying what’s new to us. Here’s a list of newer destinations to experience downtown in Aurora.
• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Boulevard. This Parisian-inspired art gallery and cocktail lounge is warm and welcoming. Featuring custom cocktails and weekly live jazz, French 75 is quickly becoming Aurora’s newest favorite old haunt.
• Society 57, 100 S. River St. It’s a hip coffee shop and an of-the-moment event space, but it’s the community partnerships that make Society 57 shine. Featuring local roaster Modest Coffee and the drool-worthy Katic Breads, the historic building opens up on occasional Saturdays to Art and Market, an indoor seasonal market.
• The Venue, 21 S. Broadway. Aurora’s live music listening space is exactly what a group of locals dreamed up. The Venue boasts superb sound, a bar featuring wine and craft beers, and patrons can bring in their own food. Indoor shows feature comfortable seating and bistro tables. Outdoor shows are held in the adjacent park where movies will join the summer lineup.
• Warehouse 55, 55 S. Lake Street. Featuring dozens of vendors, Warehouse 55 is a treasure trove of fun vintage and antique items as well as mid-century furniture. The two-story building also houses Blissful Blooms, a flower shop that wows.
• Yetee Station, 11 N. Broadway. A new arcade with some beloved games is now open in downtown Aurora. Yetee Station is a free play arcade, so you pay to enter and then play all the games as many times as you’d like all day long.
• Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Aurora, 1 W. New York Street. Featuring 10 75″ HDTVs, 12 65″ HDTVs, and a 14-foot screen, it’s a no-brainer to sit in one of their comfortable recliners, grab a drink at the bar, grab a bite to eat, and watch your favorite game.
• Children’s Discovery Room at Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway. The second-floor interactive space was curated specifically for our younger visitors and is a big hit with a firefighter dress up station, puppet theater, and tons more.
• Other fun things to do include a downtown margarita tour with stops at La Quinta de los Reyes, Tecalitlan Mexican Restaurant, and Altiro Latin Fusion. Or a coffee tour with visits to Tredwell Coffee and Endiro Coffee in addition to Society 57.
• It’s fun to be a tourist in your own city. I urge you to spend time downtown and come have fun.
Marissa Amoni is the manager of Aurora Downtown, a group of business and property owners in Special Service Area One. Keep up with downtown happenings by following Aurora Downtown on Facebook. auroradowntown.org.