Bubble lettering reminiscent of the groovy 1970s announced the 11th annual Downtown Aurora Art Fair on May 21 and 22 above a line drawing of a stretched overhead awning and large, leafy trees shading artist booths and the outlines of attendees on Water Street Mall. The yellow poster’s black-ink-lettering also
Alley Art Festival, an afternoon of local art, celebrated its 16th and final year along Water Street Mall and Downer Place on the last Saturday of August. This is the fifth and final in a series about the event that ended this year. We had a beautiful day for the
Alley Art Festival will be an afternoon of local art along Water Street Mall and Downer Place on the last Saturday of August, August 29. This is the third piece I’ve written in a series about the event that is ending this year. In the June issue, I wrote about
Alley Art Festival is an afternoon of local art along Water Street Mall and Downer Place on the last Saturday of August. This is the second in a series about the event that is ending this year. Sixteen years is the sweet spot for me. I thought of ending Alley
It’s the end, kind of. I like to think of it as a beginning for something else, but it will be the end of Alley Art Festival as an afternoon of local art along Water Street Mall and Downer Place on the last Saturday of August. This is the first
I’m excited to get a headstart on summer this year. For me, that means squeezing in lots of local events as the weather warms up. I am partial to art and music events, but I also make room for plant sales, markets, and supporting small businesses. I’m already having to
Join in around the table at Yellow Bird Books, 34 S Stolp Ave, Aurora, and create your own collage cards Thursday, April 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Making collage cards is a great expression of creativity, as well as a calming and pleasurable activity – and they make wonderful
It can be fun to be a tourist in your own town. With Spring Break coming up, it’s the perfect opportunity to explore Fox Valley towns and enjoy the area as a visitor might. There are so many things to do right in our own backyard. Maybe you didn’t notice
Cathy Hayen is retiring from the City of Aurora government at the end of February. You might not know her by name, but you know her by the gardens, baskets, and planters of vibrant colors that have transformed downtown Aurora over the years into a seasonal paradise. In 2014, Hayen
When First Fridays in Aurora started in the fall of 2013, the tagline for the event was “art, music and more.” The event grew into a must-attend, thriving epicenter of culture thanks to the commitment to art at the forefront. As First Fridays added offerings and more venues over the
As the year winds down, it can be reinvigorating to start planning the year ahead. A new year full of hope with new possibilities and lots of fun. Along with a blank calendar and longer days to fill up. In 2026, I hope you’ll join me at some of these
I didn’t know it at the time, but this is the last of a three-part series on grief, and losing my mother. I first wrote about her death from uterine cancer in the May issue of The Voice. Then in August, I wrote about her Celebration of Life. Finally, at
The Venue, 21 S. Broadway in downtown Aurora, will present a free movie screening of “The Birds” in time for Halloween Saturday, Oct. 25. Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” is among the greatest and most well-known horror movies of all time. Starring Tippi Hedren, the classic Technicolor film is based on
Gosh are we lucky. This past weekend, my husband, Max, and I supported eight local businesses and took in some local art. There’s often so much to do in the Fox Valley area that we have to pick and choose as it’s impossible to do everything. This weekend was not
We all need connection. Whether we are self-proclaimed introverts or extroverts, we all need to connect with other humans. Even if we profess to love pets or animals more than our counterparts. Social connection is the key to living a longer, happier life. With that in mind, it seems like
My family and I recently hosted a Celebration of Life for my mom, Jill. We had a wonderful afternoon on La Quinta’s new all seasons patio. Many people filled the room. Lots of friends were there along with several of my mom’s coworkers from the flooring industry in which my
There’s something about a custom poster. They catch your attention taped to a window or door. They get us excited about what’s ahead. It’s eye-catching and anticipatory. It’s also not AI. For 15 years, Alley Art Festival has commissioned local artists to create posters for the year’s event on the
Some things are priceless. One of those things is pride in community. It would be hard to put a price tag on feeling valued, welcome, and respected. Although I only attended a few flag-raisings held by the city in downtown Aurora, I always saw their worth for many reasons. The
No guilt, my mom said. She didn’t want me to feel any guilt for her fatal diagnosis. I told her that I felt guilty, or maybe just naive, that I didn’t encourage her to get her pesky gastrointestinal problems looked at sooner. She had been complaining of digestive issues for
Alley Art Festival celebrated World Art Day April 15 with an art workshop at Mutual Ground in Aurora. Aurora artist Cherylyn Gnadt guided a dozen participants in making HERO inspiration cards. Mutual Ground is celebrating 50 years and Alley Art Festival is celebrating 15 years, so I met with Mutual
