Block party planned in downtown Aurora – Chicago Tribune

2022-08-02 15:35:42 By : Ms. Judy Huang

A previous downtown block party organized by the Aurora Downtown group attracts a crowd to Aurora's city center. This year's downtown block party in Aurora is set for Friday evening. (David Sharos / The Beacon-News)

The Aurora Downtown group’s annual Stolp Block Party returns this Friday in the city’s downtown as part of the organization’s First Fridays event.

Beginning at 6 p.m., the space between Downer Place and Galena Boulevard will be closed off in order to showcase live art as well as food trucks, all presented against a backdrop of live music, event organizers said.

Manager of Aurora Downtown Marissa Amoni said the party is returning in its usual format following a cancelation due to the pandemic two years ago and a back-to-school type program offered last year.

“We offered this before the pandemic for a few years and then we paused it during the pandemic, followed by the back-to-school party so now we’re returning it to the regular First Fridays Stolp Block Party,” she said. “I think what’s exciting about this year is that we have live art at this event and music and several food trucks joining us. For the first year Tapville Social is joining us with their mobile kiosk so people can have beer and wine and walk around the block party. It will be a real festive event.”

Amoni called the upcoming party “a last hurrah of summer as people are going back to school soon” as well as a chance “to get together with the community.”

“We have over 30 participating businesses for First Fridays so people can stop at the block party and then walk around downtown and see a lot of live art and music as well as sidewalk sales for August’s First Fridays as well as Waubonsee is having a back-to-school event,” she said. “It’s nice to have great participation downtown and I think the people in the community recognize this kind of last hurrah of summer.”

Live music returns at the Millennium Plaza gazebo, Amoni said, and will feature School of Rock Geneva at 6 p.m. and A Sure Thang, an R&B band, at 8 p.m.

“First Fridays is a great chance to highlight art and live music and our businesses downtown and we just keep growing it,” Amoni said. “We just opened Craft Urban recently which is on Stolp and the owner of Stolp Island Social Amy Morton will be offering samples outside the restaurant.”

Food trucks scheduled to appear Friday include Grumpy Gaucho, Holy Pierogi, Home Run Hot Dogs and Lemonade, Strawberries BBQ, Snow Cone Sisters, My Funnel Cake and Culinary Gangster, all parked along Stolp Avenue.

Nonprofit organizations including the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, AID, Cosmopolitan Club and Waubonsee Community College will be set up with community information at the event.

Locations taking part in First Fridays this Friday include:

Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will host Soulmate Series, local artist Shelby Anderson’s painted series, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio and Mark Radina Stained Glass, 7 S. Broadway, will feature outdoor art displays from 5 to 9 p.m.

If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will host an indoor gallery from 6 to 10 p.m.

La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will feature La Sociedad D’Paul Music and a Hornitos Paloma tasting from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will feature live Spanish rock with Damian Rivera from 6 to 8 p.m.

Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will have live music from 8 to 10 p.m.

Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, will be open with live music, art displays and a barista in front from 5 to 9 p.m.

Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will feature live music by Downtown Charlie Brown, starting at 9 p.m.

Amy Morton’s Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will host a live jazz trio and will also feature special cocktails and fine food offerings from 7 to 10 p.m.

Culture Stock, 122 W. Downer Place, will host Respect the Mic spoken word poetry open mic and a sidewalk book sale from 8 to 9:30 p.m.

Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will host a “pay-what-you-can” barbecue cook-off courtesy of Indivisible Aurora’s community fridge project in partnership with Endiro from 5 to 9 p.m.

1881 Electric Cycle Company, 1 E. Benton St., lower level, will be open with jazz from The Holding Music along with a sidewalk sale and e-bikes available for test rides from 7 to 10 p.m.

French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will feature a special cocktail crafted specially for First Fridays from 2 p.m. to midnight.

Fox Valley United Way, 44 E. Galena Blvd., and Aurora Fastprint, 54 E. Galena Blvd., will both host a 100th birthday celebration for Fox Valley United Way from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

SUPERJUMBO, 105 E. Galena Blvd., will be open with discount Yetee surplus from 2 to 9 p.m.

The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will be open with Banana Pudding Twist, Annelies Cookies and Lang’s Cookies, Izzy B’s Art and Henna Art and Sophisticated Press sharing publishing information from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

McCarty Mills Taproom and Bottleshop, 140 S. River St., will have Hip Hop hosted by Curtis of Good Morning Aurora, Chicas Tacos, a performance by Justin Wise and Cruz Ocho and featured artist Pierre Lucero. The venue is open until 11 p.m.

G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will feature music performed by The Town Band, and a new exhibit about Aurora’s 145-year-old G.A.R. Hall, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host salsa lessons at Kathryn’s Place and QT3 Systems at the southwest corner of Stolp Avenue and Downer Place from 6 to 8 p.m.

Lauren Underwood for Congress Field Office, 112 E. Galena Blvd., will be open for a meet and greet with Underwood and her team, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Cornucopia Tea and Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will be open for visitors to enter to win a gift basket door prize and a tea special from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 Water Street Mall, will host Directors Workshop - One Act Performances, which will include live short performances of one-act scenes written by local playwrights, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Ave., will offer activities and book sales from 6 to 8 p.m.

Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, upstairs, will be open with Magnolia Belly Dance at 7:30 p.m., as well as chair massages and tarot readings. I of the Angeles will be there plus there will be a meet and greet with Business Collective and live music with Mo Pippy from 5 to 9 p.m.

Offbeat Thrift and Vintage, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will feature a sidewalk sale where participants can shop for metaphysical wares or get a tarot or astrology reading from 5 to 9 p.m.

Wyckwood House Boutique and Bar, 80 S. River St., will be open with pop-ups featuring Jeannine’s Jems and Cherylyn Mixed Media Artist from 5 to 9 p.m.

Waubonsee’s Back-to-School Bash, Hoyt Avenue, will offer free school supplies and treats. There will also be a storytime with bilingual children’s author Beatriz Cantu, a kid-friendly Imagination Station, fall registration assistance plus the Steel Drum Band performs from 5 to 8 p.m.

All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 10, will host a summer sale from 6 to 9 p.m.

Aroma Roots Bath and Body and Obsidian Clothing, 32 N. Broadway, will host an area to create your own air plant for $10 and a soap sale from 5 to 9 p.m.

Undisputed Vintage, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 8, will be open with live screen printing by Macappeal on vintage T-shirts, from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information, go to www.auroradowntown.org.

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

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