FREE LOCAL CULTURE SPRING 2016 ISSUE 22
FEATURING DESIREÉ FRANKLIN, AMY MURPHY AND MORE + THE HISTORY OF THE ROUNDHOUSE
ART RECIPE CALENDAR COMIC
Downtown Auroran www.downtownauroran.com Marissa Amoni Founder, Publisher and Editor Kelmscott Communications Graphic Design
I
was lucky enough to be part of the first outdoor ArtBar when Two Brothers Summer Festival was the Hop Juice Fest in 2012. Lisa Green asked Jeanne Norris and me if we wanted to set up a community booth to boast about all of the things happening in downtown.
Tony Scott Copy Editor Kate Purl Frank Patterson Don Picton Jason Arthur Contributors
It seems like such a long time ago, so it’s hard to even remember what we had going on then. But we were probably telling folks about Culture Stock, Alley Art Festival, and Louche Puce Market to name a few. First Fridays was yet to come.
Teresa Millies Special Assistance Advertising and Submissions: (630) 674-2099 m@downtownauroran.com Cover by Desireé Franklin
In the four years since that fun, sunny day in the Two Brothers’ parking lot, so much has happened. So much has grown from that exciting early-June afternoon. Chris Bauler (see Cover Story) put it well recently when he said that Lisa Green planted the seeds and created an inspiring event with The ArtBar. Green’s seeds are still growing, and a massive First Fridays team has grown as an offshoot from them. The ArtBar is a place where artists can also branch out. Many artists get their first chance to show work at The ArtBar; others are challenged by the varied monthly themes. It’s a welcoming place for the community to support the arts, as well. To say it best is to say it in their own words, “ArtBar is passion and imagination. ArtBar celebrates the power of the human condition. Most importantly, ArtBar is a living, breathing community: artists and musicians, individuals, families, single parents, people of various faiths or none at all. We have become a family of our own with a common love of the arts, things eccentric or bizarre, and our city of lights, Aurora, Illinois.” Long live The ArtBar. See you downtown!
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Downtown Auroran (DTA) is a local, independent operation. We promote and support local arts and culture while advocating for a vibrant downtown. DTA is published quarterly and distributed free of charge throughout downtown and select locations in the Aurora area. DTA is printed in Aurora, Ill. by Kelmscott Communications. Join us on Facebook! Please support the businesses that support us. Shop local! Copyrighted 2016 Pantone’s “Green Flash” is one of the Top 10 colors listed in their spring fashion color report. “Green Flash calls on its wearer to explore, push the envelope, and escape the mundane, radiating an openness that combines with the rest of the palette in unexpected but serendipitous ways. The popularity of this brilliant hue is representative of nature’s persistent influence even in urban environments, a trend continuing to inspire designers.”
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ind e x
Ar tist Pro file
By Frank Patterson
page
DESIREÉ FRANKLIN
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cov e r stor y
page
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Hi s to r ic al No te s The Rou nd hou s e
page
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Ta bl e o f C o nt ent s
MARCH 4 | MAY 6 | AUG 5 | OCT 7
Spring 2016
Downtown Auroran
4 Comic
10 Recipe
5 Locust Report
11 Historical Notes
7 Artist Profile
13 DTA Q&A
8 Cover Story
15 Calendar
3
Girl Toys IN MEMORY OF MANY... IN HONOR OF ALL.
MEMORIAL DAY
PARADE
MONDAY, MAY 30, 2016
Pre-Parade Program | 11:30 a.m. Parade Step-Off | 12:00 NOON
p Jason DeLancey lives on Aurora’s West Side and works mostly
Parade Reviewing Stand at G.A.R. Memorial Hall 23 E. Downer Place, Aurora
in downtown Aurora. DeLancey keeps it old school with his film camera, but he is fully immersed in the digital era. He displays both photographs and digital art at The ArtBar and elsewhere.
www.aurora-il.org • 630-256-INFO
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T h e Lo c u st R e p o r t Reporting the News and Gossip in Downtown Aurora Karademas Management, the owners of Leland Tower and the Elks building, bought Midtown Pub and Grill and are revamping it into Leland Legends, a new restaurant that will offer lunch and dinner in a lighter, more family-friendly environment. Hospitality managers Lauren Jones and Janine Schroeder are working around the clock in anticipation for an early May opening. Next up is a renovated second floor featuring the Sky Club restaurant along with performance and event space. New Year’s Eve party plans are underway after Helen Nowak pitched the idea to throw a bash downtown to herald in the New Year. Nowak is the property manager for Karademas Management and she wants to see the downtown come alive with activities at Leland Tower and elsewhere. Nowak is currently brainstorming with community members on what the night should look like. If NYE is your thing, then give her a shout. David Lewis retired from the Aurora Regional Fire Museum in February. Lewis co-founded the museum with former executive director, Deborah Davis. Lewis served as the museum curator and was on the board of directors. The museum board said Lewis’ “dedication and passion in preserving the history of the Aurora and surrounding fire departments within the walls of the museum will truly be missed.” The board recently hired Brian Failing, of Lisle, as the new, part-time executive director. Wednesdays at the Plaza returns this summer for 10 weeks to Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue starting June 15. Local and regional acts will perform free concerts thanks to generous sponsorships from Alderman Mike Saville and local business owners. The evening concerts are from 6 to 8 p.m. and often a food truck is in attendance. Visit downtownauroran.com for a complete lineup. Alley Art Festival returns this summer on the last Saturday in August to Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora. All local artists are invited to apply to sell their art or wares at the outdoor festival. Email m@downtownauroran.com to reserve a spot. Poetry in Public Places is back this spring. Cultural Creatives worked with various groups to hang poetry by local poets in visible locations throughout downtown. Several large posters are up in kiosks and windows for passerby to read.
Aurora Campus. They are planning a launch party on July 23. Visit aurorafilmfestival.com for details. Oxie Affordable Optical is now open at 131 W. Galena Blvd. Owner Mia Corriea is hosting an open house during First Fridays on May 6. Corriea brings her expertise and chic eyewear to downtown. RiverEdge Park is adding land and some huge shows this summer. The Park announced some great shows ahead of schedule this year including Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, The Temptations and The Beach Boys, and Hollywood Vampires (feat. Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper and Joe Perry). Add in “Weird Al” Yankovic and a full lineup of concerts and festivals for a lively summer along the Fox River. The new sign is up. Comfort Suites at 111 N. Broadway is officially now a Holiday Inn Express and Suites. The hotel worked with Invest Aurora to get a grant that assisted in rebranding efforts that included a renovated exterior. Water Street Mall might be brighter at the end of this summer if the city is able to secure a grant they applied for this spring. The grant could pay for decorative lighting along the pedestrian walkway as well as for an updated look at Millennium Plaza. The old VNA Building on Downer Place is now gone. In an agreement with the city, Shodeen demolished it in early April. Eventually a new development along with a Riverwalk will fill the leveled spot just east of the river. The quarterly Pop Up Shop brought to us by a collaboration between Aurora Downtown, Invest Aurora, and the City of Aurora is returning to Leland Tower on May 6 during First Fridays. The Pop Up invites local artisans to sell their wares and be part of the downtown community. Artisans are invited to email Justin Root at jroot@aurora-il.org to apply for a space on August 5 and October 7. A list to like on Facebook: Aurora Mural Project, Gillerson’s Grubbery, The ArtBar. n
Aurora Film Festival is being launched this summer thanks to the efforts of Bob Lockwood, a local videographer. Lockwood meets with a group of volunteers to plan the newbie fest on the first Friday of the month at 9 a.m. at Waubonsee Community College Spring 2016
Downtown Auroran
t An old mailbox is back home
where it belongs at Leland Tower in downtown Aurora. Scott Christoffel, owner of Scott’s Vintage, is working with Helen Nowak to find original items that were once housed in the historic landmark. On June 3 during First Fridays, Leland Tower hosts “History of Blues” presented by Christoffel. “He has worked tirelessly so that we can tell Aurora all we have discovered about our beloved Leland,” Nowak said. 5
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Downtown Auroran
WORK HAPPENS HERE. JOIN US. mcowork.com Spring 2016
DTA Profile: Desireé Franklin Interview by Frank Patterson
Aficionados of The ArtBar might already be familiar with the work of Aurora artist Desireé Franklin. Franklin has been an exhibitor at The ArtBar since 2013’s The Absinthe Show. “The ArtBar was my first show,” Franklin said. “I tried to get into The Masquerade Show but I didn’t get in. The next show was The Absinthe Show and I got into that one,” she said. Now, in addition to exhibiting, Franklin is on The ArtBar committee. “I do all the posters,” she said. “We have artists that we’ll choose (to do the artwork) and I do the design for it.” Recently, Franklin had her first solo show at The Light of the Heart, a not-for-profit community art therapy project based in downtown Aurora. “I tried to do all new stuff for that show,” Franklin said. Franklin’s art is recognizable, but not easily described. She works in a range of media and styles, including papercutting, photo manipulation, watercolor, ink, and computer graphics, a technique she taught herself. Her art embodies light, color, and often has a feminine theme or a feline theme. “I really love cats,” Franklin said. She owns three: Toshi, a Bengal, and Ying and Yang, American shorthairs. Franklin became interested in art as a teenager: “I started reading manga comics. I was like, I can draw this. I know I can.” “My dad got me into anime,” she said. “He and I would stay up late and watch Adult Swim. It was kind of a nice bonding thing.”
Franklin is deeply devoted to her art. “I’ll do one (art piece) every day, even if it’s small,” she said. Franklin said she can work up to twelve hours on a single piece. “Maybe even longer. It just depends,” she said. Art is Franklin’s only occupation, other than assisting at the senior living center that her mother manages, and where Franklin and her parents live. The seniors there are “really supportive,” of her art, Franklin said. Some of them attended her show at The Light of the Heart. For Franklin, who suffers from anxiety and major depression, making art is not strictly a business: “People see my stuff and get inspired and feel better about their situation and themselves. That makes me more happy than making a bunch of money.”
Her favorite piece hangs in The Light of The Heart, “and that means a lot to me,” she said. “Their clients go in there and they see that every day and it helps inspire them to cope with what problems they have.” “I try to use a lot of color because I feel like my mind can be so dark sometimes. I try to bring out the light that I wish my mind could put together,” Franklin said. n
Editor’s note: Franklin designed this issue’s cover for Downtown Auroran Magazine. Spring 2016
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Words by Marissa Amoni Photos by Lauren Vago and Jason Arthur
Javi Terrazas Curator/Creative Director, Roz Anomaly Co-Creative Director, Gail Maldonado Director of Logistics, Teresa Millies Director of Communications, Orion Deligiannis Co-Curator, Desireé Franklin Design Director, Jeff Millies Webmaster, Ellis Maldonado Head Writer, Lisa Green Founder isa Green says she’s “just the gramma” when asked about her current role with The ArtBar, a popular pop-up art gallery in Aurora that helped launch the local First Fridays scene.
Green headed about seven shows with some help from area artists Leif Rogers and Brian Busch before she passed the torch to Javi Terrazas in September 2013 with The Beer Show.
Located at Two Brothers Roundhouse adjacent to the tavern that houses a stage and highboy tables, The ArtBar has been active on the first Friday of the month since 2012.
Terrazas now runs The ArtBar with assistance from a team of eight members who assist with poster design, curating, web content, and more. The Dream Show on April 1 showcased 58 artists. In total, The ArtBar has orchestrated almost 40 shows since its inception and they’ve organized a few, smaller shows at various locations in Aurora.
Green first got artists together for The ArtBar during Two Brothers Summer Festival that year because Chris Bauler, entertainment coordinator for Two Brothers Roundhouse, had some extra space on the side. “It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but in the fall, Chris and I started talking about moving it indoors and doing it once a month,” Green said. “We started November 1 with The All Saints Show. The Roundhouse had an unused area adjacent to the tavern and the brothers thought it would be a nice community cooperation to let us set up there. It turned out to be pretty great for everybody, and then got a lot bigger as time went on.” 8
Artist Ian Little recalled his entry into The ArtBar world after being introduced to Terrazas, “My first show was The Toy Show in 2014. In an odd set of serendipitous circumstances, Javi Terrazas met me through a friend at a party. A few days later, a friend of mine liked an old picture of a painting I posted to Facebook years prior. Javi, my new Facebook friend, noticed it on his feed and went through my old work and gave me some generous likes and comments. He dug my style and invited me to ArtBar. The rest is history.”
Downtown Auroran
Spring 2016
Little said his favorite theme was The Red Show from this February. “It challenged me to push myself as an artist and resulted in a very emotional piece of work that helped me grieve in the wake of David Bowie’s passing. And so many others felt connected to it that I hardly feel as though it’s mine anymore. It belongs to the community in a way I have always hoped I would with my work,” he said. Teresa Millies has been involved with The Artbar from close to the beginning and she now acts as director of communications. Millies calls the art at The ArtBar “high quality low brow.”
show ever. I was extremely nervous and extremely honored to be counted among the artists at that show. And I'm still extremely honored to be counted among our very talented group of artists,” Millies said. As for Green, who now performs with local musical group Pawnshop and writes contemporary romance novels, she says The ArtBar is just what she hoped it would be. “But bigger and cooler than I could have done,” she said. “It's taken on a huge life of its own and I can't wait to see what they do with it.” n
"The ArtBar is my family. It’s a night a month that we can get together, be ourselves, share interests, and swoon over each other's talent. We encourage, push, and congratulate each other,” she said. Millies said she doesn’t have a favorite show. “It’s like a time warp; every show is as fun as the last show. They keep getting bigger and becoming more and more challenging for the committee,” she said. The ArtBar introduced a sales table recently where they have prints for sale from that night’s show. Millies said the art now “flies out the door.” “My first show was the second in ArtBar history with Lisa: The 6 x 6 Show. It was my first art Spring 2016
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Bowie
Easy Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies Contributed by The Reluctant Hippie
I stumbled across this recipe while thumbing through a cookbook published by the St. Anne's Society at Holy Angels Church in the late 1970s. I wouldn’t have given it a second glance, but it had a cute title (“I Can’t Believe It’s a Cookie”), and I saw that the byline was Tari Hankes, a longtime Aurora resident and my neighbor. I know that Tari is a baker and chef of great talent, and the recipe seemed to be idiot-proof: A few lines of instructions and three ingredients. Blammo. Those three ingredients do not contain any gluten, so these cookies would work for our GF friends. Even better, it was a recipe before "gluten-free" was a thing. The standards for flavor and texture were a lot higher; it didn’t have to be “a good gluten-free cookie.” It had to be a good cookie. Period. The gluten-free nature of the recipe would become icing on the cake almost 40 years later. This is a tasty recipe that is insanely easy to prepare. p Ian Little is an artist living in Crest Hill, Ill. Little focuses
primarily on finding humorous ways to capture serious thoughts, experiences, and emotions. Most of his days are filled with being a father and working for a marketing research and analysis company while figuring out how much sleep to sacrifice so that he can make art in the wee hours.
Yield: About 20 cookies Ingredients: 1 cup natural,
unsweetened peanut butter 1 cup sugar
Get poked. Get healthy. Inner Harmony Acupuncture
383 W. Galena Blvd. (inside Sculpted Image)
Mavis A. Bates, L.Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist NCCAOM Board Certified (630) 605-9244 myinnerharmony.com
(plus a little extra for sprinkling, if desired) 1 egg
Method: 1. P reheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking pans with parchment paper or grease your cookie sheets. 2. B eat the peanut butter and sugar until the mix gets a little fluffy and the sugar is completely incorporated. 3. B eat in the egg. 4. R oll dough into about 20 little balls. Press each one to flatten it as you place them on the cookie sheet. Sprinkle with extra sugar, if desired. 5. B ake 12-15 minutes until the bottoms start to brown. (The tops and edges will not turn golden. At least not before the bottoms are charred and inedible.) 6. R emove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Carefully transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely. Kate 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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Historical Notes: The Roundhouse
B
efore it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q), the now-famed Roundhouse started as the Chicago and Aurora Railroad.
The oldest limestone roundhouse in the country, the Roundhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the first railroad roundhouse built in the U.S.
Levi Hull Waterhouse designed the Roundhouse, which was constructed in 1856 out of limestone from Batavia. Waterhouse is also known for building the Hobbs building in downtown Aurora. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) details the beginnings of the Roundhouse in a report from 1988 when the Aurora Transportation Center was opened.
ASME wrote, “The new shops had cost $150,000 and included seven buildings: A roundhouse 264 feet in diameter and 18 feet high above grade, a machine shop measuring 180 feet in length, 50 feet in width and 32 feet in height, a blacksmith shop, a car shop, a paint shop, a carpenter shop and an engine room surmounted by an 85-foot chimney. The 40-stall full circle roundhouse was built of stone, wood and wrought iron. The original 22-stall
“On February 12, 1849 Lorenzo D. Brady, a member of the Illinois legislature from Kane County in which Aurora was located, obtained a state charter to establish the Aurora Branch Railroad. The creation of the Aurora Branch Railroad was a matter of survival for the city. A. C. Gibson, Benjamin Hackney, Charles Hoyt and Stephen Gale joined with Mr. Brady as the railroad’s first management. Without the efforts of these men, the roundhouse probably would not exist, and the city of Aurora and the CB&Q would have had significantly different histories. As traffic on the Aurora Branch Railroad increased, so did the rail car and locomotive equipment. In 1850, a temporary structure served as depot and shop near the site of the roundhouse. After completing the mergers allowed by the 1854 charter, the need for a shop site became critical. First report of the roundhouse construction in Aurora was given in the September 14, 1855, issue of the Aurora Beacon. The roundhouse and shop complex grew to become the major repair and construction site for the CB&Q during the late 1800s. As many as 2,000 workers were employed at this location during periods of peak activity.” According to The Babuk Report, “Roundhouses were initially facilities where railcars would be stored, then eventually facilities where locomotives would be serviced. They were designed to fit into the tightest of spaces. A locomotive would drive onto a turntable that would turn, pointing the locomotive – or railcar as it was – onto a track that led to the appropriate service bay. Though most roundhouses were simply arcs, some roundhouses were near complete circles. The latter types surrounded the turntable with almost 360 degrees of service bays, the leftover being a ‘slot’ that locomotives would drive through to approach the turntable.”
section of 1855-56 has dressed limestone walls as do the 8-stall addition of 1859 and the final 10-stall section of 1866.” Walls measured 18-feet tall and featured rectangular windows and red brick with iron columns and circular arches. The ASME report noted that most of the arched doorways supported by cast-iron frames were modified over time, and “information about the turntable is scant since it was removed from the roundhouse in about 1925.” In 1868, the Chicago and Aurora Railroad merged with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. At the time, railway traffic was booming and over the next 50 years, the Roundhouse worked on diesel engine passenger Zephyrs and passenger cars, such as Pullman sleeping cars and the first dome car featuring sky lights. Increased automobile production in subsequent years led to a decline in rail traffic in the mid-20th century, and the Roundhouse and shops closed in 1974 with many being demolished shortly after. In 1995, after being vacant for over 20 years, former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton purchased the building along with business partners and reopened it in 1996 as Walter Payton’s Roundhouse after a major renovation. The Payton family cut ties with the Roundhouse in 2010, and the Roundhouse filed for bankruptcy in 2011.
Continued on page 12
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Green
Growing Greener Everyday!
Saturday, June 11, 2016 Prisco Community Center, Aurora, IL
Saturday 10 - 4pm Free for All Explore and Enjoy
Children’s Eco-Village! Bats! Bees! Chickens! Art & Music! Community Trade Show with 100+ Exhibitors Learn to Save $$$ with efficient and clean energy! Organic and local food for your family!
Historical Notes: The Roundhouse, continued from page 11
In the spring of 2011, Two Brothers Brewing acquired the thennamed America’s Historic Roundhouse and quickly reopened the 70,000-square-foot complex as Two Brothers Roundhouse.
For Information, to Sponsor or Exhibit: info@auroragreenfest.com (630) 708- 6589
As Two Brothers Roundhouse, the restaurant and event facilities continue; a cafe and small-batch brewery have been added. The Roundhouse became home to The ArtBar in 2012, and it continues to be a top destination in the area. n
www.auroragreenfest.com
Render
Custom Framing & Gallery
100% Archival Quality Friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and experienced Framers Artwork, Photos, Memorabilia & More... p Lauren McBee Schmitt is fairly new to the area and is trying
to learn about and get involved in the local art scene. She very recently became active in The ArtBar.
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wallstalk@itwct.com
32 S. Stolp Ave. Aurora, IL 60506 www.wallstalkframing.com Sun: 11AM - 5PM | Mon: CLOSED | Tue thru Sat: 9AM - 7PM
Spring 2016
DTA Q&A: Amy Murphy What do you do?
I am a digital artist and an art educator from Naperville. And I love anything vintage or kitschy! I began my art career as a graphic designer and an art director (magazine publication, marketing firm, freelance). After discovering a love for teaching design, I went back to school to pursue another degree in art education. When I’m not teaching, maintaining a household, playing with my kids, or checking for monsters under the beds, I am creating digital works of art combining my own photography with images from my vintage postcard collection.
When did you first enter The ArtBar and what was the theme? My first piece submitted to the ArtBar was for The Death Show in October 2014.
Describe your process for creating art to show at The ArtBar.
Describe your style.
My digital art style can be described as historically wacky.
What is your favorite ArtBar theme so far?
I really enjoyed The Red Show. It was very openended for interpretation. I also enjoyed The Fear Show (April 2015). After exploring the idea of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, I decided to create works that showcased Aviophobia and Leporiphobia. n
Sometimes my ideas for The ArtBar hit me instantly, while other times ideas will pop into my head during most random moments like filling my car with gas or brushing my teeth. In the past, I have been inspired by lines in a Twilight Zone episode and quotes from my children. After my idea is in place, I start to gather my resources, scan in postcards, and take photographs. I always look for humor and clever connections for my viewer to discover. And I always enjoy challenging myself by placing creative constraints on my work. I believe with limitations comes great success.
How would you describe The ArtBar?
The ArtBar is a celebration- an art party! It is eclectic, casual, and super fun – a place where awesome people can experience art.
What kind of artist are you when it comes to showing your art?
When it comes to creating and displaying art, I feel that I am more of an introvert. I will often work slowly, observe, carefully think, and reflect when making art decisions.
What medium do you prefer?
Digital art. In addition to using the computer as an art tool, I also enjoy photographing various objects and landmarks with my cameras that range from a DSLR to a Kodak Duoflex (and various cameras in-between). I still work in a traditional darkroom and use Polaroid cameras. I create and scan my own collages, drawings, found objects, vintage postcards, and photographs. Lastly, I combine all of these original elements together to create my digital works of art.
Spring 2016
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Find your next place!
Adrienne Sandman Broker Miscella Real Estate
630.631.2686 asandman8@yahoo.com
SUPPORTING THE ARTS
From volunteering at area events to supporting the local arts, community involvement has been an integral part of Old Second since 1871. We wouldn't know how to do business any other way. 25 area locations! 1-877-866-0202
Learn more: oldsecond.com 14
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Member FDIC
Spring 2016
C al end ar APRIL EL DIA DE LOS NINOS
Sat April 30 from 1 to 5 Join in the Latin American tradition of celebrating children. Free. Spring Street Parking Lot at Lincoln Avenue.
PICNIC AT THE PLAZA
Sat April 30 from 11 to 2 Come down for lunch during Downtown Saturdays. Order from a food truck or a nearby restaurant. Millennium Plaza, 15 S. Stolp Ave. auroradowntown.com
MAY FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL/DOWNER PLACE BLOCK PARTY
Fri May 6 from 5 to 10 Local and regional food trucks join First Fridays as Downer Place turns into an outdoor party. Around the corner, Bones Jugs headline at Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue. Free. auroradowntown.com
DOWNTOWN AURORA TASTE
Tue May 10 from 5 to 9 Several tasty downtown eateries participate in the annual Taste hosted by the Exchange Club of Aurora. To purchase tickets call (630) 415-1263. exchangeclubofaurora.org
FOX VALLEY GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE
Sat May 14 from 8 to noon Amazing prices on all types of plants and garden decor. Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway. foxvalleygardenclub.com
AURORA KITE FESTIVAL
Sat May 21 from 10 to noon Frank Patterson wants to fly a kite with you. Bring your own kite. Free. Behind Jake’s Bagels, 220 N. Broadway.
AVAC ARMED FORCES DAY CAR SHOW
Sat May 21 from 11 to 3 A downtown car show kicks off Vets Week in Aurora. Free. $15 entry fee for vehicles. Lot W, 309 S. River St.
Spring 2016
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE
Mon May 30 at noon Step off at Benton and River streets. Pre-parade ceremony starts at 11:15. aurora-il.org
JUNE TWO BROTHERS SUMMER FESTIVAL: LORD HURON & COLD WAR KIDS
WEDNESDAYS AT THE PLAZA
June 15 to Aug 17 from 6 to 8 Live music brought to you each Wednesday for 10 weeks this summer. Free. Millennium Plaza, 15 S. Stolp Ave. downtownauroran.com
JAZZ OCCURRENCE
Fri June 3 and Sat June 4 Two days of live music and great beer. RiverEdge Park, 205 N. Broadway. twobrothersbrewing.com
New exhibit The Aurora Public Art Commission brings the 3rd annual jazz exhibit to the 3rd floor of The DLP. Open Wed-Sat, noon to 4. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurora-il.org
MID-AMERICAN CANOE & KAYAK RACE
FLAVORS OF AURORA: STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN - JEWISH
Sun June 5 from 9 to 3 Paddle down the Fox River from St. Charles or Batavia to Aurora. Ends at McCullough Park at Illinois Ave. and Lake St. (630) 966-4527. foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Through June 4 Guest curator Marilyn Katz shares over 150 years of Jewish history and culture in Aurora. Open WedSat, noon to 4. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurorahistory.net
AURORA GREENFEST – FESTIVAL ECOLOGICO
THE AURORA STORY
Sat June 11 from 10 to 4 Kids EcoVillage, Local Market and Trade Show brings common sense solutions to renew Fox River Valley. Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave. auroragreenfest.org
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-Sat, noon to 4. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurorahistory.net
20th ANNIVERSARY OF BLUES ON THE FOX
ART AT CITY HALL
Fri June 17 from 6 to 10 and Sat June 18 from 2 to 10 Enjoy two days of incredible Blues performers at Aurora’s outdoor amphitheater and park. The Robert Cray Band and Tedeschi Trucks Band headline. RiverEdge Park, Aurora. riveredgeaurora.com
LIMITED RUNS & SHOWINGS AURORA’S FARMERS MARKET
Ongoing Aurora’s City Hall features works of art on every floor. Open Mon-Fri, 8-5. City Hall, 44 E. Downer Pl. aurora-il.org
WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?
May 13 thru June 11 A satirical comedy on popular fan culture, Hollywood and the ad industry. $12–$15. Riverfront Playhouse, 11–13 Water Street Mall, (630) 897-9496. Reservations recommended. riverfrontplayhouse.com
Sat June 11 to Oct 15 from 8 to noon Fresh produce, nutrition demonstrations, artisan wares, music, and more. Aurora Transportation Center, 233 N. Broadway. New website coming soon!
Downtown Auroran
ONGOING EVENTS M.U.S.I.C. MONDAYS
Mondays from 6 to 7 Local musicians perform on stage in the bookstore. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. M.U.S.I.C. on Facebook.
CLASSIC MOVIE MONDAYS
Mondays at 7 Great, classic movies every Monday. $1. Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. paramountaurora.com
DAAM!
First Thursday of the month at 8 Join artists of all kinds at the informal Downtown Aurora Arts Mixers. Visit Downtown Auroran Magazine on Facebook for locations. Sponsored by Downtown Auroran Magazine. downtownauroran.com
FIRST FRIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN AURORA: MAY 6, JUNE 3, OFF IN JULY!
First Friday of the month Art is alive in downtown Aurora. Enjoy several art openings in one glorious night. Various venues in downtown, including If These Walls Could Talk, Paramount’s Grand Gallery, New Hites Studios, The Yetee Gallery, Allen and Pepa Architects, The DLP, and The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse. auroradowntown.com
Need more art and culture? Visit:
downtownauroran.com and click on Marissa’s Calendar for all the best local events.
15
2016 / 2017
season
Be a part of our world.
©Disney
Join us for our biggest se ason y et.
BUY 2 SHOWS GET 2 SHOWS
FREE
BROADWAY SUBSCRIPTION PRE-SALE: ONLY THROUGH MAY 8 Join us for our biggest season yet. All tickets $29 or less. Pre-order your subscription before the general public and secure the best seats possible only at ParamountAurora.com.
PROUDLY S P O N SORED BY:
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
23 EAST GALENA BOULEVARD, AURORA
tickets
630.896.6666 or PARAMOUNTAURORA.COM