RFP. Those are three letters that I learned about in my career as an arts and community organizer. Not only did I learn what they stood for (Request for Proposal), but I learned their importance. I’m in no means an expert on RFPs, however I know that they can be...
It’s that exciting time of year when we can look forward to all of the upcoming Spring and Summer events in the. Aurora and the Fox Valley areas. They are great places to get out and enjoy good, community, events. This year, make sure to add these to your calendar...
It was Leslie Knope who created the concept of a girl’s day of fun with the February 13 Galentine’s Day from the popular Parks and Recreation TV series on NBC-TV. The power that one fictional character can have is incredible. The fictional world often gives more power to women than...
Winter is here and the days will get longer. That’s hopeful for us in the Midwest. We must stay hopeful when cold, Wintry weather is upon us, but alas Spring and Summer are around the corner. To keep hopeful, it helps to have a list of local to-do items. Luckily,...
It’s November, the month of gratitude, and I am grateful for this wonderful community. As the events coordinator and later as the manager of Aurora Downtown, I am grateful for all of the support I received in my former roles from the community. I resigned from the downtown organization this...
It’s nice to have a place where everyone knows your name. When I first moved back to Aurora after living in Tucson, Ariz. for a decade, that place for me became River’s Edge Cafe. I would often visit the friendly cafe on Downer Place with my toddler in hand, and...
This column is a shout-out to volunteers. I was recently part of the organizational team for Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry’s annual Harvest Dinner. The five-course dinner in mid-August showcases food harvested from Marie’s Garden across the street from the Pantry on Highland Avenue. Incredible dishes are then created by local...
In February, I wrote in The Voice on celebrating five milestones that honor Aurora’s history and its forward momentum. The milestones highlight the growth, legacy, and community that help our City to thrive. Aurora embodies those three words in spirit, but there’s a story that brings them to life. That...
Summer is here. Officially. It’s time to get serious about getting out in the community and enjoying Summer events. Sunday, June 25, Aurora Public Art will be host to Asphalt Mural Fest from noon to 6 p.m. at Downer Place and Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora. It’s a free event...
With temps up, Summer seems all ready to be here. I’m ready for Summer fun, and my calendar is filling up quickly with events to help me enjoy the longer days. Here’s where I’ll be this Summer, so I thought I’d share these community events that shine the light on...
This Summer will be a great time to spend more time in downtown Aurora. Aurora Downtown, a nonprofit group of business and property owners downtown, will be host to a dozen event dates to add to your calendar June through September. One big perk is they are all free. First...
Aurora Downtown will seek an executive director to replace the organization’s manager. Formed in 1975, the downtown group was most recently run by current manager Marissa Amoni, who took on the role of manager a handful of years after originally being hired as the group’s event coordinator. Amoni recently resigned...
As the only boutique with a liquor license in Aurora, Wyckwood House has created quite a buzz over the last year since opening up last May at 80 S. River Street. The lifestyle boutique in downtown Aurora features both women’s and men’s apparel along with cards, gift items, and home...
We rise through legacy, growth, and community. This year, Aurora Downtown will celebrate five milestones that exemplify that truth which honors our City’s history and its forward momentum. 10 years of First Fridays Aurora has a long tradition of celebrating the arts. Prior to First Fridays, the Aurora ArtWalk was...
The last Tuesday of January (January 31 this year) is National Vacation Planning Day or NVPD. According to the U.S. Travel Association, “It is a day to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the whole year at the start of the year, and inspire them to use those...
This year saw 11 storefronts filled in downtown Aurora, plus two that joined existing tenants. Of the 13 businesses, eight are new, four relocated, and one reopened. • 1881 Electric Cycle Company opened at 1 E. Benton Street in the Spring. The electric bike shop features a showroom of various...
Here are holiday events in Aurora: • Art and Market Aurora: Saturday, Nov. 19, Dec. 10, and 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Society 57. An indoor holiday market is back at Society 57 for three Fall dates. Free to enter! • Winter Lights: Friday, Nov. 18 from...
I work in the same office building with Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, which means I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to work closely and collaborate with them as well as my other office mates including Invest Aurora, Women’s Business Development Center, Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,...
There was a time not too long ago that many amazing businesses didn’t exist downtown Aurora, and artists beautified the windows and started pop ups and festivals. It’s nice to see so many businesses here now and investing in downtown Aurora. It’s really mind-blowing when you think about it. In...
Open air concerts, movies under the stars, outdoor dining. Ah, the glories of Summer. In downtown Aurora, we’re lucky to enjoy river views and blooming rain gardens, too. This Summer, Aurora Downtown’s outdoor movie series returned with two movie selections at two locations in June, July, and August. The series...
