LO C AL CU LTU R E
S U MMER 2013
art poetry recipe comic calendar introducing: javi featuring: jon schratz
THE BICYCLE ISSUE
Issue 13
free
Downtown Auroran www.downtownauroran.wordpress.com
Dottie Brackett
Marissa Amoni Publisher and Editor
As I write this note, gas prices hover around $4.39 in
Aurora. It seems like a good reason to ride a bike. Not only do bicycles save us money, but they are good for the environment, our bodies, and our minds. So why doesn’t everyone ride a bike instead of drive a car? There are the obvious and understandable reasons, like a long commute or too many kids. Of course, some people take those excuses and make them reasons why to bike, like many Fox Valley bike commuters who use the time to exercise and unwind, and parents who use bike trailers and bike seats to haul their family as part of a lifestyle choice to save money and to help the earth. Maybe people stay away from two wheels because they fear the unknown. One friend recently told me that she’s not used to biking in urban areas. Some drive their children to school because they think it’s the fastest way. Others might not be familiar with the equipment and rules involved in bicycling; or are afraid to ride on the street. It’s fun to be recognized as the mom who pulls the trailer with her vintage blue Schwinn. But I want others to join in on the fun. I know many do. I know there is a cult of cyclists out there, but I want it to become mainstream. I want all of my friends to pull their kids in trailers. I don’t want to be the only bike at the bike rack. I think we’re all lucky to live in a fairly bike-friendly area. The Fox Valley is a great place to ride bikes on trails and on many streets. More bike lanes, more signage, more bike parking, and bicycle education (including bicycle repair and safety classes) could encourage more people to hop on bikes in the area. I know that I’d like to see a bike lane on Downer Place from Constitution on the West Side through downtown Aurora to Broadway, but the city already completed the Downer streetscape without the addition of a bike lane. Batavia’s Wilson Street is another street where bikes could ride happily in a marked bike lane. There are lots of opportunities, as one city employee put it. I love my bike; it’s the only sensible option for clean, inexpensive traveling. If you’re not a bike rider, then I hope that you’ll give it a chance this summer. If you already pedal, then keep on riding. My husband, Max Balding, and our son, Guy, travel in style in downtown Aurora. They always get lots of attention when Guy travels in the front-mounted iBert seat that we inherited from my brother.
Frank Patterson
See you downtown!
Fre e d o m
f ro m
Pa i n
Dave Sobotka at Kelmscott Communications Graphic Design Tony Scott Max Balding Amy Roth for the Aurora Public Library Copy Editors Frank Patterson Don Picton Contributors Advertising and Submissions: E-mail downtownauroran@gmail.com. Fall/Winter Issue deadline: Oct. 11. On the Cover: Photo by Marissa Amoni Downtown Auroran (DTA) is a local independent operation. We are focused on the downtown and its success – especially the burgeoning arts and culture movement. Opinions are encouraged and expressed, but they are not necessarily those of DTA. Downtown Auroran magazine is published three times a year, and over 2,000 copies are distributed free of charge throughout downtown and select locations in the Aurora area. Share it and recycle it, or add it to your collection. Join us on Facebook! Fall/Winter 20132014 issue is available November 1. Please support the businesses that support us. Keep it local! Copyrighted 2013
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Downtown Auroran
Summer 2013
Tree in Sugar Grove
John Heinz
index
c over st ory
By Mary Rodriguez, Aurora
Biking in Aurora Marissa Amoni
page
6
features Sun Over Downtown Aurora Jason DeLancey
A u ro r a n Wo rd s
page
4
DTA Profile: Javi
page
11
A r t i s t P ro f i l e
An Early Education Music and Movement Program For Infant through Age 5
Historical Notes
page
15
Table of Contents
420 W. Downer Pl. Summer 2013
4 5 6 9 9
Downtown Auroran
auroran words locust report cover story downtown voices book review
10 comic 11 artist profile 12 recipe 13 culture shock 15 historical notes
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Auroran Words Runner’s High
Deodorant Haiku
Thomp, thomp. Beat, beat. In. Out.
Deodorants and Antiperspirants never Seem to work on me.
By Maggie Gibson
By T.J. Jones
T.J. Jones lives in Montgomery. He works with developmentally disabled adults in Aurora, and in his spare time collects weird things like velvet paintings, lawn gnomes, and mustache-faced pottery.
The path is endless mind racing stopped. Solace beams light in breaking clouds after mounds of dim.
Stolp Island By Kristin LaTour
The hum settles in an even paced sanctuary of ocean waves blessing my spirit like sun rays. The bliss match takes hold lighting glee tenfold. Spreading the happy blaze, I look up to give praise.
You’ll find me where the river splits and stone women hold torches to guide the way under bridges and along brick alleyways. Every island is a gallery’s for water’s sculpting, the waves pressing grass south and placing bits of silver paper, red cans and blue glass, symbols for something we cannot decipher. It’s coincidence as much as confluence, random atoms already familiar. Remember when we were like water and a wheel? Gears and belts turning together to make wood plane smooth, to turn grain into flour? Our heads spun with the deliriousness of love like fish seen underwater. Or, were we like parrots, our feathers brilliant under incandescent light, not knowing how long our lives would be? I’ve been gone some time. Bury your anger under the river oak. Light a match and wander west. You’ll find me at that simple split, under the fire of electric lamps. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Say a blessing. Hold out your hand.
The common shown glower sprouts up like a flower until its teethy petals Shine brightly like a medal. With each steady gait the pleasure vibrates. Exploding in a spasm of satisfaction.
Kristin LaTour has lived on Aurora’s East Side since 2004 and loves watching downtown’s evolution into a vibrant, art-loving place. She teaches at Joliet Jr. College and holds an MFA from the Stonecoast Writers’ Program. You can find more about her poems and books at her website, kristinlatour.com.
And at that clock strike everything is all right. Thomp, thomp. Beat, beat. In Out. Maggie Gibson, of Oswego, grew up in Aurora and now works as a graphic designer at Aurora Fastprint. She enjoys great lyrics, getting her heart pumping, and reading to her kids. She thinks up most of her poems while driving to work.
Tree in Ireland By Mary Rodriguez, Aurora
Town & Country
Dave Richert
Fox Valley Home Team, Inc. 1128 Prairie St. Aurora, IL 60506 www.WestAuroraHomes.com
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Direct: 630.906.7266 Fax: 630.559.3051 drichert@remax.net www.Fox ValleyHomeTeam.com
Downtown Auroran
Summer 2013
The L o c u st R ep o r t Reporting the News and Gossip in Downtown Aurora •T he Light of The Heart: A Community Art Therapy Project is creating a “Mural of Love” on the back patio of River’s Edge Café at 14 W. Downer. The mural is a 96-square-foot community collaboration that answers the question, “What do you love?” It is being created by artists of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. The mural will be a pure representation of love in its finest form, according to Melissa Hedlund, who runs the local non-profit. The Mural of Love will be unveiled during Alley Art Festival on August 31. To be part of the project or for inquiries, contact Hedlund at 630-486-4078 or mhedlund@ thelightoftheheart.org. • J imi Allen, of Jimi Allen Productions, purchased the Coats Building, a three-story, historic structure at 56 S. LaSalle St. in downtown Aurora. Since the acquisition, Allen and his team have “put hours and days and weeks of blood, sweat and tears into the mammoth task of cleaning up 15,000 square feet of space to get it prepped for a major build-out.” Construction is slated to start this summer and by this fall, Allen’s goal is to open Gravity Building, the first suburban coworking complex in the Chicagoland area. Allen says, “We are excited to be a part of the coworking phenomenon that is sweeping the nation.” Check out www.gravitybuilding.com. •T he Yetee moved to 110 Cross St. adjacent to The Mausoleum Gallery over the winter. Mike Mancuso, the head yetee, is currently preparing the industrial space for a gallery show in late July. •R estaurant Row update: Batavia-based Aliano’s is still on board to occupy the former Bacci Pizzeria spot along New York Street’s Restaurant Row. Landlord Vernon LaVia said it could take several months before Aliano’s Ristorante opens up next to Chef Amaury at 33 West. •N ew businesses: VARA Design opened at 15 W. Downer and celebrated with a champagne bash in mid-June. The design studio and gallery features contemporary design and local artists on occasion; they plan on opening to the public on second Fridays starting in July. Knightsbridge PME School of Cake Decorating is getting closer to opening up in the old bank building at 35 N. Broadway. The cake decorating school out of England is the first to open in the U.S. If These Walls Could Talk, a new frame shop and gallery at 32 N. Stolp Ave., opened in June on the ground VARA Design is Megan Paul and floor of the historic Dana Lundin. Find them at 15 W. Keystone Building. The Downer. owners said they plan on having first Friday art openings featuring local artists. Summer 2013
• T wo Brothers Roundhouse is now roasting their own coffee on premises and serving gourmet coffee and espresso drinks. The restaurant at 250 N. Broadway opened up a new coffee and beer bar at the end of June that serves exclusive Two Brothers beers that aren’t available anywhere else. The new café also offers an array of baked goods and small plates throughout the day. •R iverEdge Park is open. After opening in June, the park is quickly becoming one of Aurora’s treasures. From the cool, contemporary pavilion to the ample seating and bicycle parking, RiverEdge Park can easily be described in one word: impressive. Check out the varied summer lineup and more at www.riveredgeaurora.com. • An array of edibles is growing up on the rooftop behind River’s Edge Café this summer. The café got in on the rooftop gardens trend thanks to employee Jared Mead. Mead, along with some friends, built several garden boxes and filled them with soil and plants this spring. Café owner Beth Standish hopes to pick fresh produce from the second-story garden this summer. •D owntown parking update: The meters are gone. Do a happy dance, but make it quick. Jared Mead up on the roof You might get a ticket. Heavy behind River’s Edge Cafe. parking enforcement aside, the downtown community is so far pleased with the new parking plan. There are still a few kinks to work out like the barely visible three-foot parking signs on some streets and the obscure color-coded parking lots, but Joe Hopp, the city’s master maintenance man said it’s a work in progress and they’ll have to adapt it as issues arise. Not having to reach for pocket change? Priceless. • I n May, Waubonsee Community College came to an agreement to sell its old campus at Galena and Stolp to Gorman & Company. The $1.5 million purchase agreement will bring mixed-use residential and retail development to the historic former campus. Gorman & Company is a leader in downtown revitalization projects and is interested in opening up the development to artists. The closing is expected in January 2014. •F inally, a group with some good sense could be taking advantage of all that the old Elks Club building at Stolp Avenue and Benton Street has to offer. The City of Aurora received a proposal from Batavia Enterprises (they developed the property and are the landlords for Water Street Studios) to purchase the Elks Building on South Stolp Avenue. The city commented that the proposal served as a starting point for negotiations, which are ongoing. • A list to like on Facebook: If These Walls Could Talk; City of Aurora, IL; Culture Stock; RiverEdge Park
Downtown Auroran
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Cover Story
AURORA By Marissa Amoni
Riding
a bike downtown is no different than riding it anywhere else as far as safety is concerned. Ride on the right; follow traffic laws and obey traffic control devices; correctly use lights and reflectors and wear bright, reflective clothing when riding at night. It is against city ordinance to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk downtown. – City
of
Aurora
on bicycling downtown
In the summer of 2009, Aurora’s City Council approved an 80-page
Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for the city of Aurora. The city was looking at establishing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee that fall or winter. Then nothing happened. Downtown Auroran Magazine asked Dan Ferrelli, director of media relations for the city of Aurora, about the state of cycling in Aurora. Where is the city at right now with promoting itself as a bike-friendly city? With a decline in property values due to the housing bubble and resultant recession, the property tax levy is barely sufficient to sustain longstanding operational costs, such as police and fire protection. Add to this a nearly 50 percent drop in gaming revenues as well as a significant reduction in city staff and the result is a much longer timeline to implement desirable bicycle improvements within the city of Aurora. Nonetheless, the city has made significant progress in promoting or enabling biking in Aurora. The Waubonsee Community College upper and lower river walks and the underbridge connection at Galena Boulevard have enhanced the connection through downtown for both bikers and pedestrians. A long span of bike path behind the River Street Plaza, delayed by the recession and untimely death of the developer, is now under construction. This was prioritized by the city as part of the original development agreement. Additionally, the city has developed engineering plans and has applied for a grant to provide a second access route to the Route 59 train station that will simplify bicycle access to the commuter station. What happened with the plan to put a bike lane on Prairie Street? We heard rumors. The plan for a demarcated bike route along Prairie Street is scheduled to be implemented next year as part of an integrated plan complementing upcoming improvements at Aurora University. There aren’t any bike lanes downtown or in the surrounding area. What gives? There are several viable routes to and from the downtown and the Fox Valley Park District riverfront bike paths via wide and relatively calm streets, such as Prairie Street, LeGrande Boulevard, Garfield Avenue and West Downer Place, as well as Benton Street and Downer Place on the East Side. The recent decision to make the downtown portions of Downer Place and Benton Street two-way has slowed down traffic and made those streets more suitable for biking, with only the Downer bump-outs, which were a high priority of the Downer stakeholder group, creating a minor impediment.
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Jennifer Trudo
Biking in
Why wasn’t a bike lane integrated into the new Downer Place? It seemed to be the perfect time for it. In reality, the redesign of Downer Place has actually made the street safer for bicyclists because vehicles are traveling at slower speeds. Also, with one lane of travel in each direction, rider visibility has also improved. Downtown Aurora has some bike parking. Any plans for more? To encourage bicycling throughout downtown, bicycle parking has been added at several locations over the past few years including on the west river trail near Ballydoyle, on the east river trail in two locations – near La Quinta restaurant and Rotary Plaza, and off River Street near Paddle and Trail. The city also added bike loops to the concrete stools in Water Street Mall. Coinciding with the city’s new downtown parking plan, bike racks will be installed in most of the city’s downtown public parking lots. We will also be looking at strategic locations off the downtown streets making sure that bike racks do not interfere with the pedestrian ways. The bike racks will be of similar design to what is already in place in the downtown. This year, the city doubled bicycle parking at the Aurora Transportation Center plus added racks at RiverEdge Park. The city will also be adding bicycle parking at Millennium Plaza and in parking Lot C along Middle Avenue this summer. There are about 10 city-owned bicycles sitting in a storage room inside of a city-owned building. What’s the story? A few years back, a group of employee volunteers implemented a green bike program, which allowed city employees to check-out refurbished bicycles. In response to the downturn in the economy, the city reduced its workforce by nearly 185 employees through layoff and voluntary attrition. As a result, demand for the program waned. More recently, the city partnered with L.I.F.T. to allow it to open Culture Stock in the building used for bicycle storage. The city would be open to seeing the green bike program reactivated by interested employees, but we would also have to consider potential security concerns of Culture Stock. How is the city’s bike plan going? As for where cyclists should ride, the city has a bike-pedestrian plan and is hoping to continue to move it forward in the near future. Also, in 2007, the League of Illinois Bicyclists produced a preferred biking map for the city of Aurora which will need updating. Ed Barsotti, the executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists, worked with the city on the preferred biking map. What is the future of bike-friendly initiatives and infrastructure in Aurora? The city of Aurora remains committed to enhancing and promoting bicycling as a sustainable mode of transportation in Aurora. Nonetheless, economic realities – limited time and money - do limit our roll-out plans. The city simply does not have the funds to have staff singularly focused on bicycle policy and programming. Instead, Mayor Weisner has encouraged city departments to consider and prioritize bicycle and pedestrian needs in their everyday plans and programs.
Downtown Auroran
Summer 2013
THE PROFESSIONAL: ED BARSOTTI, 47
Why do you ride? There are a lot of benefits to riding a bicycle. For many years, my wife, Laurie, and I only needed one car for two people, so we saved a lot of money. Bicycling helps me be alert and ready for work; I’ve never had a cup of coffee, I never needed that to wake me up. Bicycling keeps me very healthy. I also get a rush from biking, and enjoy seeing different sights. Do you bike commute? I intentionally picked where I lived (on Aurora’s Far East Side) so I could bike commute. It was a very important part of my life. When I worked at Fermilab, I would bike year round using the Prairie Path. When did you first become interested in bicycling? It was when I had a paper route in Batavia. What is the mission of the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB)? In general, it is to improve bicycling conditions in Illinois, work on policy issues and make roads more bike friendly. We work for more trails. We go to Washington D.C. as bicycle advocates. We are a watchdog for how funding is spent in Illinois. We’ve also been involved in legislation and education. Currently, we are working to unveil a new website, www. bikesafetyquiz.com, which focuses on bicycling in Illinois; it covers every relevant law and safety techniques. How has LIB been involved with bicycling in Aurora? LIB was a consultant for the city and helped with a variety of things, like reviewing the bike plan, creating bicycle maps, and bike to Metra guides. We also make recommendations for improvements in infrastructure and assist with education, which included looking at the city’s bike plan. We also give our recommendation for upcoming road projects. Recently, we have not done as much with Aurora. How can Aurora be more bicycle friendly? Implementing the bike plan and on road bike ways is number one, and develop a network to get from Point A to Point B. Improvements could be done, like closing some of the gaps and improving routes. The city can be more aggressive (in promoting bicycling). The key to that is having a bicycle commission. It’s a way to have accountability. How does Aurora stack up among other large cities? I think that some of the comparable towns have been more aggressive in the past few years. Cities like Champaign and Evanston have done more, but because of Aurora’s budget crunches, a lot of this was left on the table. In order to attract the creative class and young professionals, bicycling is a very important part of that, being a vibrant 21st Century community. Really, it’s a fairly small investment that has good economic return for a city as it tries to attract young professionals. I hope that Aurora can move forward. I think we can do more. Anything on the horizon as far as LIB and the city of Aurora are concerned? I’d love to see us partnering with the city to get the word out to residents. I think there are some things that could be done on an educational level as well. I’m hoping that the bicycle advisory commission is something that the city adopts; it is key to making progress. Barsotti has served as the executive director of the League of Illinois Bicyclists since 2001. He helped the city of Aurora install 36 ‘U’ bike racks around the downtown a few years ago; some have been removed recently during street improvements.
THE ARTIST: NATE MILLER, 40
What do you ride? I ride a road bike. It’s a GT from the early 2000s. Why do you ride? I ride because it is great to be out in the elements (sun, rain, wind) and it makes getting to work or traveling around the city fun. Biking allows me to see and experience people and places in a much more connected way than driving. I can say hi or stop and talk to people if I want
Summer 2013
and
also take pathways that cars cannot access. Biking from work also gives me a good space to transition from work life to home life and vice versa. Do you bike commute? I have been commuting since I was a kid. I rode my bike to school starting in elementary school through high school. I also had a bike as my main transportation in college and commuted to Chicago for many years using a bike and public transport. How long is your current bike commute? My current commute is about seven miles one way, which is about 20 minutes of riding. What do you like about biking in Aurora? I enjoy the variety of trails and differing scenery. I enjoy riding by the river, it is a great resource and “get away” in the middle of a city. Do you experience any difficulties biking in Aurora? Where there are not trails to ride on, it can be interesting to find a good street route on the bike. Downtown Aurora in particular has four-lane roads that are too narrow for the automobile traffic let alone room for bicycles. How can Aurora improve as a bicycle-friendly community? Create marked bike lanes on the roads in a system that works with the trails already in place. Miller is the arts director at Triple Threat Mentoring in downtown Aurora. He and his wife, Jean, recently welcomed their daughter, Ella, into the world, and their son, Lucas, is seven years old. Five years ago, Miller started BiRP (Bicycle Repair Program) out of Triple Threat Mentoring. BiRP gives the city’s youth a way to earn a bicycle while learning how to repair and maintain it. He is also involved in Soopah Team, a BMX racing team. The team races at a BMX track in Elgin, but Miller and a group of others are collaborating on trying to get a track built in downtown Aurora (Find Aurora Extreme Sports Park on Facebook). “The interest in BMX and bicycles in Aurora is huge,” Miller said. He added, “Downtown Aurora is a fun place to ride and visit; I would love to see more bikes out.”
THE FATHER: ERIC WEIS, 31
What do you ride? I ride a Diamondback bike that I bought at Performance Bicycle out on Route 59. Why do you ride? I ride to be active. I also make the challenge to put less than 3,000 miles on my car each year. That gives me the satisfaction of knowing I am saving money on gas, but also getting myself around on my own power. I also like to take my kids out for rides. We go all around town together. Last year I safely fit three kids on my bike with a child seat in front and trailer in back. I hope to add a tagalong bike this year to be able to take all four around with me wherever I go. They love the chance to get out and ride around. It makes a day of running errands much more enjoyable for them. Plus, I get my exercise in during the process. Do you bike commute? I have been commuting regularly for two years. Before that, I had an older mountain bike that I commuted with every once in a while, but I didn’t ride much. It has been much easier with the new bike with a rack in the back to carry my stuff. How far is your commute? I ride four miles each way. What do you like about biking in Aurora? I enjoy the bike paths. I enjoy the ease of getting through downtown to different places. I enjoy living with so many stores accessible to me where biking is a quick and easy way to get things. Are there any tricky spots on your commute? I do not like riding on Liberty between Eastern Avenue and County Line Road. It has gotten better over the years, but people still drive much too quickly by me with no concern for me as a biker. What could Aurora do to help bicyclists? On non-residential streets I would like to see wider shoulders to give riders options for using more main roads. Weis has lived in Aurora his whole life. He is a fourth grade teacher at Nancy Young Elementary. Weis and his wife, Melissa, have four children: Madeline (5), Hannah (5), Charlie (3), and Lucy (1).
Downtown Auroran
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Downtown Auroran
Summer 2013
D ow n t o w n V o ic es On Your Left
Book Review
By Jon M. Schratz
It’s 5:30 in the morning, I can see the sun peeking in through
the basement curtains like a leaky dam that’s about to burst as I sip my coffee while checking various cycling blogs, news, and Facebook. The coffee is warm and sweet; I neurotically check the weather as if some kind of possessed amateur weatherman to see the temperature and look for any chances of rain. I finish my coffee and finally decide to go for a ride. Still feeling a bit sluggish from being hit with what felt like garbage truck full of dandelions, causing my seasonal allergies to flare up the day before.
Finally, I’m out the door and rolling down the driveway with the same joy and happiness I felt the first time I roll down my parents’ driveway with no training wheels when I was four - the freedom, the hum of the wheels on the pavement, and the amazing feeling of flight. Having spent most of my life in Aurora, I still pass many of the same places I rode as a child: schools, neighborhoods, and playgrounds.
Jon M. Schratz
Once all my gear is on and I’m deep into my second cup, I go to grab my road bike off its hook only to find out it’s got a flat. What?! I check the time 6:30! Where did the morning go? No time to mess with it while my better half is still sound asleep. I grab my cyclocross bike, kind of a road bike with mountain bike tires and brakes, off its hook and run up the stairs with it.
Growing up around Aurora University, the neighborhood kids and I would tear around the quad on our BMX bikes. Sometimes there’d be construction at the University and we’d build jumps after the workers would leave for the day. This was the time period before the internet and hardly anyone had even a Nintendo. I think we were the last generation to actually play outside, all day, every day. I head to the Gilman trail, a trail that goes from the inflatable sports dome in Montgomery to Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove. I ride the trail smiling and raising a hand at those other earlier birds using the trail to run, walk, or bike. The trail is my highway outta town to get to the open empty country roads that lay just west of Aurora, miles of country roads in the Illinois’ wasteland, to really let my legs power up and get some good training in, but not today. Today I’m heading to ride some limestone and single track tucked away in some unknown woods just off of Hankes Road. As I turn off the path into the grassy field leading into the woods, I can feel the cool wet morning dew splashing upon my sun baked legs. It’s early, but the sun is up and warm like a fresh pair of jeans straight out of the dryer. Even though I’ve done this off road route more times than I can remember, each time feels like a new adventure of exploration. With a flick of my wrist, I find a gear more suitable for the uneven, unpaved, ever changing terrain. I can hear my heart in my ears pounding away like some bad house music. My back is warm from the sun; my legs are wet from the morning due. The sky is blue and clear, I’m alive and I’m happy. I’m happy to not be in my cubical farm of an office, and I’m happy to be riding my bike in my home, Aurora. Jon M. Schratz is an avid bicyclist and recently completed the Gravel Metric and the Almanzo 100 endurance bicycle races held on gravel and dirt roads. Schratz grew up in Aurora and worked at various bicycle shops in the Fox Valley area throughout high school and college. He currently resides on the East Side of Aurora with his girlfriend, Susan Guinnane, and their three cats, Peanut, Oliver, and Meatball. He has plans to compete in the Chicago Cyclocross Cup series in the fall. Summer 2013
Downtown Auroran
french revolutions:
cycling the tour de france By Tim Moore
As an avid cyclist (one who is either
riding, thinking about riding, or planning the next bicycle ride or new destination for riding) and a librarian, I especially appreciate Tim Moore’s book French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France. If you are familiar with the author Bill Bryson and his best-selling book A Walk in the Woods about his very amateurish attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail, then you may very well enjoy Tim Moore, a Brit from across the pond, who describes in hilarious detail his attempt as a pedal-challenged novice to ride all the scheduled stages of the 2000 Tour de France in advance of the actual race. Written with typical British wit, selfdeprecating humor, and trenchant observations of both his physical preparedness for attempting the most grueling cycling event in the world and the madness that epitomizes “le Tour,” as it is colloquially named, this book might have you laughing so hard as to fall off your seat, bicycle or otherwise. In addition to being a wry and uniquely British take on the most prestigious French sporting event and its environs, Tim Moore includes fascinating “truth is stranger than fiction” details of the colorful history of the Tour de France, including great winners, poor losers and incidents both astounding in their depravity and reckless to the point of absurdity. Move over Bill Bryson. Tim Moore, at great personal risk, just might overpass one type of bipedalism with another that has a uniquely humorous British/ French spin.
--- Ron Pauli, Aurora Public Library West Branch coordinator 9
More than a cup of coffee... a place for minds to meet! Homemade soups, sandwiches and baked goods TRY OUR DAILY SPECIALS!
River’s Edge Café
10
Downtown Auroran
14 W. Downer, Ste. 18 between River and Stolp 630.897.3343 theriversedgecafe.com
Summer 2013
A rt is t P r o file DTA profile: Javi
Javi credits L.I.F.T. Aurora, the organization behind Culture Stock, for his community involvement. He especially credits Nicole Mullins and Adam Bracero, the executive director and president of L.I.F.T. Aurora, respectively.
Interview by Frank Patterson
J avi
is a local artist who, like Prince, Cher, and Madonna, prefers to go sans last name.
When asked why, he smiles and shrugs, “Everyone just knows me as Javi.” Having lived in Aurora for about three years, Javi has been actively involved in the community for only the last few months, but he has accomplished much in that short span. His achievements include organizing two open mic comedy events at Culture Stock bookstore, circulating a petition for raising backyard chickens at the Aurora Green Fest, participating in The ArtBar -- a pop-up art gallery that showed up monthly at Two Brothers Roundhouse throughout the last year – and organizing Hecho en Aurora, an Hispanic art festival that took place on Water Street Mall on the last Saturday in June. Why an Hispanic art festival? Many Hispanic artists aren’t aware of the opportunities they have, and some, particularly the graffiti artists, don’t find a lot of support, according to Javi. “And I think their art is very valid,” Javi said. Javi believes Aurora’s Hispanic festivals, including the Fiestas Patrias and Day of the Dead festivals are important, but adds that they celebrate the past. Hecho en Aurora celebrates “where we are now,” he said.
He said they’ve been mentors to him. “They see something in me; they put their time in me. We’ve had a lot of meetings about Hecho and they’ve helped to guide me.” As for the future of Hecho en Aurora, “I see it as a yearly event and I see myself continuing to support these people and promote them,” he said. “My big vision would be integration. Not just race but styles. I wish other artists would know about each other. Have everybody know each other and deal with each other, because there are so many great talents in Aurora, we could be a Mecca for art.” With a smile he added, “We already are.” Hecho en Aurora, an art festival showcasing Hispanic artists, happened for the first time June 29 on Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora.
Hecho en Aurora includes artists of every stripe, including artists who deal in body paint and tattoos. Javi, who received his artistic training at the College of DuPage, said the creation process has been a struggle. Working 46 hours a week at a blue collar job affords him little time for his creativity, and he has been coping with a degenerative cornea condition which has affected his sight. “My vision wasn’t at a point where I could make art. I’ve been through a couple doctors and I’ve found a couple good ones and my vision is now as good as it’s been since I was in junior high. So, I can see again. So, I can make art again.”
“...there are so many great talents in Aurora; we could be a Mecca for art.” – Javi
“I know I’m never going to be a big-name artist. My work is not going to change the course of art history. That’s OK. I do it for me. There’s something in me that needs to make art. People have things that are important to them; people have things that they believe in. I believe in art.” Spotting someone at the next table while we talk, Javi blurted, “You can’t go twenty feet without running into an artist in Aurora.” He acknowledged Brittany Tripp, an artist featured in the “Women We Love” issue of Downtown Auroran magazine. “I love the artists,” Javi said. Summer 2013
Downtown Auroran
Mention this ad and receive $1 off any book! Check our Facebook page for free community events 43 E. Galena Blvd.
Books. Music. People. Culture. 11
5th ANNUAL
Grill Fries
Contributed by Kate Purl – west of downtown Okay, so they are not really fries in the fried sense. I get it. But they get crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, they look like steak fries, and they are really good. Throw these on the grill while the entree is cooking and enjoy an easy, delicious side dish with your meal. Serves: 4-6
HISTORIC AUTO ROW CAR SHOW
Ingredients: • 1.5 pounds russet potatoes • 2 lemon wedges • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1.5 teaspoons salt • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste Method: Scrub potatoes and cut into long triangular wedges (six wedges per potato for medium-sized potatoes). Each triangle will have two cut sides and one skin side. Toss potatoes with lemon juice and olive oil, add spices, and toss again. Place wedges cut-side down on a grill over medium-high heat and cook for about four minutes until lightly browned. Flip onto the other cut side and repeat. Move wedges to an area of the grill with indirect heat and cook on the skin side until potatoes are tender when pierced with a sharp knife. This should take about 6-8 minutes, but may be longer for thicker wedges. Serve alongside your favorite grilled entree. Southwest variation: Substitute lime juice for the lemon juice, and then add 3/4 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. cumin, and 1/2 tsp. garlic powder. When she’s not busy making homemade chocolate syrup, Kate Purl frequents Aurora’s Farmers Market in search of ingredients. Purl whips up creative and healthful recipes for her family of four on a regular basis and chronicles the fun on her blog: thereluctanthippie.wordpress.com.
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Downtown Auroran
Sunday, Aug. 25 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Antique, Specialty Cars and Trucks
FREE to
spectators! 6 3 0 . 8 9 6 . 0 1 8 1 w w w. l a s a l l e - a u t o - ro w. o r g
Summer 2013
C u l tu r e S h o c k JULY
4TH OF JULY PARADE Thurs July 4 at 10 Watch downtown come alive in a sea of red, white, and blue. Step off at River and Benton streets. aurora-il.org 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION Thurs July 4 at 6 Celebrate the 4th with a Bruce Springsteen tribute band and fireworks. Free. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com SHAKESPEARE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE Tuesdays July 16, 23 & 30 at 7 Midsummer Theatre Troupe presents Shakespeare. Free. Two Brothers Roundhouse. twobrothersroundhouse.com THE TRAGICALLY HIP Sat July 20 at 8 The Canadian band will rock you out with guitar-driven riffs and incredible lyrics. $32. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com STORYTIME AT THE CAFE Mon July 22 at 11 The Aurora Public Library hosts an off-site storytime for children with books, dancing, and fun, plus a free treat. Free. River’s Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer. No reg. needed. aurorapubliclibrary.org AURORA PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL AND PARADE Fri July 26, Sat July 27 & Sun July 28 at 11 Celebrate over 40 years of Puerto Rican pride! Parade is Sunday at noon at Benton and Broadway. RiverEdge Park. (630) 631-9270. auroraprcc.org
AUGUST
TEEN TALENT SHOW COMPETITION Sat Aug 10 at 2 5th annual teen talent show sponsored by Aurora Public Library. Free. Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. aurorapubliclibrary.com. STORYTIME AT THE CAFE Mon Aug 19 at 11 The Aurora Public Library hosts an off-site storytime for children with books, dancing, and fun, plus a free treat. Free. River’s Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer. CHERYL HOLZ ART EXHIBIT Fri Aug 23 from 6 to 9 Gallery 44 artist Cheryl Holz shows her nature-inspired collage work. Free. Art Gallery at Allen & Pepa Architects, 121 W. Benton St. DOWNTOWN ALIVE! FULL MOON FEVER Fri Aug 23 at 7 Have fun with a Tom Petty cover band. $5. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com AUTO ROW CAR SHOW Sun Aug 25 from 11 to 3 Annual auto show on historic LaSalle Street open to cars 1975 and older. Spectators free. LaSalle St. between Benton St. and Downer Pl. lasalle-auto-row.org.
DOWNTOWN ALIVE! GET THE LED OUT Fri Aug 30 at 8 A Led Zeppelin tribute band that gets it right. $8. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com ALLEY (ART) FESTIVAL Sat Aug 31 from noon to 5 Amazing summer art spectacular. Local art, music, performances and more. Open to everyone. Free. Water Street Mall between Downer Pl. and Galena Blvd. next to City Hall. Alley Art Festival on Facebook.
ART AT CITY HALL: STUDENT WORKS Thru Oct 11 Student artwork from five Aurora high schools is on display on all five floors. Open Mon-Fri, 8-5. City Hall, 44 E. Downer Pl. aurora-il.org RIVERFRONT PLAYHOUSE Call for current schedule. Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 Water Street Mall, is a 90seat, not-for-profit theatre located next to City Hall on the Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora. $12-$15. (630) 897-9496. Reservations recommended. riverfrontplayhouse.com
SEPTEMBER
ONGOING EVENTS
FIESTAS PATRIAS Sat 14 & Sun 15. Parade at 11 on Sunday A two-day music festival recognizing our local Hispanic heritage and culture. Free. RiverEdge Park. Fiestas Patrias Aurora on Facebook.
OCTOBER
STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN: ITALIAN Fri Oct 4 from 5 to 8 Mini-exhibit, food, and music presented by Aurora Historical Society. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurora-il.org
LIMITED RUNS & SHOWINGS
UP FROM BEDROCK: RESTORING THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC MEMORIAL MUSEUM, POST 20 Thru Sept 20 Photos of G.A.R. on Downer being restoration. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurora-il.org CONFLICT ZONE: PHOTOS BY CIVILIAN AND MILITARY JOURNALISTS IN IRAQ AND AFGANISTAN Thru Aug 2 Intense photos from war zones, this rare exhibit will make you think and feel. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurora-il.org PARAMOUNT’S GRAND GALLERY: PALETTE TALK ARTISTS Continuing An exhibit of the locals who meet at Jake’s Bagels on Saturday mornings under the guidance of artist George Shipperley. Free. Paramount Theatre’s Grand Gallery, 2nd floor, 23 E. Galena Blvd. paramountaurora.com THE AURORA STORY Continuing The Aurora Historical Society exhibit on the 2nd floor of “The DLP” tells the history of Aurora with vintage treasures and more. Open Wed-Sun, noon to 5. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurorahistory.net
DAMES Every Monday from 9:30 to 11 Join other Downtown Aurora Moms Engaged in Society with or without kids. Drink coffee and chat while the kids have fun in the play corner. River’s Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Pl. Suite 18. MUSIC MONDAYS Mondays from 6 to 7 Local musicians perform in the bookstore. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. Culture Stock on Facebook. CLASSIC MOVIE MONDAYS Mondays at 7 Great, classic movies every Monday. $1. Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. paramountaurora.com AURORA LANGUAGE TABLE Wednesdays from 6 to 7 Practice English and Spanish in an informal setting. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. Culture Stock on Facebook. STORYTIME Thursdays at 10:30 Stories and crafts for little ones...courtesy of Ms. Karen. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. Culture Stock on Facebook. DAAM! First Thursday of the month at 7:30 Join artists of all kinds at informal Downtown Aurora Arts Mixers. Various locations in downtown Aurora. Everyone is welcome. Find the Downtown Auroran group on Facebook for more information. AURORA’S FARMERS MARKET Saturdays from 8 to noon Enjoy fresh produce and a whole lot more. Aurora Transportation Center. Friends of Aurora’s Farmers Market on Facebook. LOUCHE PUCE MARKET Second Saturdays thru Sept. from 9 to 4 Find vintage treasures and fun one-of-akind items as vendors set up along Water Street Mall ala flea market style. FREE. Water Street between Downer and Galena next to City Hall. Find Louche Puce Market on Facebook. Email louchepuce@gmail.com for vendor information.
Need more art and culture?
Visit our blog at downtownauroran.wordpress.com and click on the EVENTS tab to view Marissa’s Calendar.
Summer 2013
Downtown Auroran
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t o h 9 9 5. fresh ande pizza! larg Ice! $
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Fri e s e e h ve C
We ha
Featured in The Pizza Issue of Downtown Auroran Magazine!
On the corner of New York and Lake Street in downtown Aurora
Annie’s Om Towne Fitness yoga and pilates in downtown Aurora 14 W. Downer Pl., upstairs 630-234-4928
Breathe...you’re Om now.
PAUL & BILL’S
Auto Service & Car Wash Complete Automotive Repair and Towing 300 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora 630-896-4213 www.paulandbills.com 14
Downtown Auroran
Summer 2013
Hi s t o r ic a l N o t e s By John Jaros, Aurora Historical Society
Bicycling was a sport for hardy young men in the 1880s, when the high-wheel bicycle
was in vogue. By the late 1880s, the Safety Bicycle came into being -- with two evensized wheels. This opened up cycling to a whole new group of people, including women. Because of this, bicycling exploded in the 1890s, becoming both sport and a serious form of transportation for people. Photos courtesy of Aurora Historical Society.
Fitzpatrick Properties, LLC rental properties
Adrienne Sandman Property Manager asandman@yahoo.com
481 Willow St Sugar Grove, IL 60554 Summer 2013
(630) 631-2686
Downtown Auroran
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Birch Trees By John Burke
IN THIS ISSUE Poems by Maggie Gibson T. J. Jones Kristin LaTour Grill Fries by Kate Purl On Your Left by Jon Schratz Photos by Mary Rodriguez Jason DeLancey Jennifer Trudo Submit your work to downtownauroran@gmail.com