First Fridays in Aurora will celebrate the start of Spring along with National Poetry Month, Friday, April 7. Here are sites in downtown Aurora which will be in action with events and items to see:
The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River Street, will have a Spring sale plus coffee sampling with Brewpoint Coffee. Additional pop ups and artists will be present from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, 3rd FLR (inside Aurora Business Center), welcomes everyone to celebrate Spring with butterfly crafts for all ages from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will be host to a poetry festival and open mic from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hear live poetry readings by the A-Town Poetics. Enjoy poetry activities, crafts, and more for all ages.
Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Pl. upstairs, will be open with a poetry and story open mic starting at 7 p.m.. Come with a tale to share or listen and support others as they share their unique view.
G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will feature “A Salute to Service: Poems by Aurora’s Deputy Poet Laureate Quentin Johnson.” A poem contest for ages 12 and up will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Food trucks will return for the season on May 5 for Aurora Downtown’s Food Truck Festival.
Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup includes more than 30 venues with activities for all ages.
Aurora Historical Society and Aurora Public Art at The DLP, 20 E. Downer Pl., will have Aurora’s Own Ruth Van Sickle Ford, an exhibit featuring her life story and borrowed paintings on the first floor. Aurora Art League Show on the third floor from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will feature art and artists set up in the cafe for art viewing, discussion, and purchasing from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m..
Superjumbo Records and Collectibles, 102 E. Galena Boulevard, will unveil a new screen-printed poster by artist Chris Hodge. Open from noon to 9 p.m..
If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Avenue, will open its new show, “Two Sisters, Paint and Print: A collection that highlights the diversity in the art of Anne Von Ehr and Mary Shoemaker.” 7 p.m. to 10 p.m..
McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River Street, Suite 108, will feature artist Geli Inks plus a special menu by RKN TCO from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be open with “Poetry in Art,” a show of original art creations including retro and antiques available for purchase from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Avenue, will feature mixed media artist Ruth L. Poor from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place upstairs, will have “The Sandbox Collection,” and feature experimental pieces, odds and ends, bits and bobs, medium and smaller pieces of the artists’ work from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Bouelvard, will be open with new works by David Hettinger plus a special First Fridays craft cocktail from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Sergio Furniture and Catarinas Aurora, 36 W. Downer Place, will be open with handmade Mexican Art until 9 p.m..
Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River Street, will feature live music with singer and songwriter Grant Milliren from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
The Venue, 21 S. Broadway (entrance on Water Street Mall), will host a $5 suggested donation show with Pete Jive from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m..
Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will have live music by Nick Scarpinato from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will feature live Spanish rock by Damian Rivero from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m..
Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will be host to Retrospect, playing songs from Motown to today’s hits from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York Street, will have a dance night until 1 a.m..
The Polished Peach Spa, 5½ W. Downer Place 2nd floor, will be open with special waxing deals from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Unveiled Studio, 5½ W. Downer Place 2nd floor, will offer “Pay Your Age” boudoir micro sessions from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Ages 21 and over only.
Alice’s Corner, 37 W. New York Street, will feature a special deal for the evening. Buy three empanadas, get one free from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Boulevard, will debut the cocktail of the month, named after a literary giant plus they will host an interactive poetry engagement from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will welcome visitors to explore the museum and purchase tickets for the third annual Meat Raffle on May 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m..
Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will be open with art and music from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m..
The Cornucopia Tea and Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will be host to “Sip n Shop,” with special purchases and a rewards card until 9 p.m..
Society 57, 100 S. River Street, will host cocktails and bites from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m..
Huge Witch, 31 W. Downer Pace. 2nd FLR (inside Aurora Business Center), will be open with tarot, oracle, and astrology readings from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Premil, 46 W. New York Street, will host a storewide sale from noon to 8 p.m..
FNBO, 140 S. River St. STE 112, will have photos with the Easter Bunny plus crafts and Sabino Creek pop up from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information and a complete map of First Fridays locations, visit www.auroradowntown.org.
—Aurora Downtown