Outdoor concerts, food trucks, pop up shop at First Fridays May 6
Before summer officially kicks off, First Fridays is throwing a party that is going to set the bar high. On May 6, the monthly celebration of downtown culture adds a block party with food trucks and live music, and the Pop-Up Shop returns.
Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 7 to 10 p.m.
First Fridays in Downtown Aurora invites the community to enjoy art, music, food, theater and more on the first Friday of the month.
All events are free and art is for sale. For information, a list of First Fridays specials at participating businesses, and for a map of venues, visit www.auroradowntown.com.
The Downer Place Block Party features a Food Truck Festival from 5 to 10 p.m. with a dozen food trucks parked just west of Stolp Avenue. Live music featuring The Ron Porter Trio and Bones Jugs will be around the corner at Millennium Plaza on Stolp Avenue.
The quarterly Pop Up Shop is back from 6 to 9 p.m. at Leland Tower, 7 S. Stolp Ave. About 15 local artisans will sell their wares in the historic building.
First Fridays, a night of art, music, and culture at a variety of venues in downtown Aurora, also features two student art shows, three open museums, and several art openings.
Pick up a free First Fridays passport at any venue for a full map of participating venues or visit the welcome table at the block party. Return the punched passport at the last venue visited for a chance to win a First Fridays goody bag filled with gifts from downtown businesses.
In May, these venues are open for First Fridays.
• Oxie Affordable Optical, 131 W. Galena Blvd., celebrates their grand opening with an open house from 5 to 9 p.m.
• River's Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, celebrates their second anniversary with cake, photography by Tim Perroud, and live music with Dan Becker from 5 to 7 p.m. and The Simple Teller from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., features art by Jennifer Toshack, terrariums by Zach Toshack, and live music by Elissa Sophia Metropolis on the deck from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Emergent at Metropolitan Coworking, 14 W. Downer Place, opens "Past Matter," a solo show by artist Stephen Signa-Aviles, from 6 to 9 p.m.
• David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, offers three floors of exhibits from 6 to 9 p.m. Aurora Historical Society presents "Flavors of Aurora: Stirred, Not Shaken - Jewish," an exhibit honoring Jewish history and culture in Aurora, and "Aurora Story" on the second floor. Aurora Public Art Commission hosts the third annual Jazz Occurrences on the third floor.
• PME Cake Supplies and School of Cake Decorating, 35 N. Broadway, is teaching patrons how to make their cakes, cupcakes, and cookies pretty from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., opens "Unveiled," photography by Richard Sperry from 7 to 11 p.m.
• Fox Valley Homebrew, 14 W. Downer Place. Ste. 10, is open with a free brewing workshop. Visit www.foxvalleyhomebrew.com.
Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., hosts an art show with students from Washington Middle School from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Rocktown Adventures, 107 Spruce St., is back with free paddle rides from 6 to 8 p.m.
• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, features "The Urban Show," a pop-up art show featuring local artists. Vibes N Stuff, hip-hop music featuring a handful of performers, is in the tavern from 6 p.m. to midnight.
• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., and Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, are open with free admission from 6 to 8 p.m. SciTech hosts a postal carrier exhibit and a STEAM exhibit is at the fire museum.
• Leland Tower, 7 S. Stolp Ave., hosts the Pop Up Shop with local artisans selling handmade wares from 6 to 9 p.m. West Aurora High School's first National Art Honor Society art show begins at 7 p.m.