Escape from the ordinary at Aurora ArtWalk

The fourth installment of Aurora ArtWalk will serve up a heaping bowl of sculpting, strumming and painting with a side of pulled pork, all washed down with a pint of Guinness.

Known locally as "Restaurant Row," the stretch of New York Street between Route 25 and Route 31 in downtown Aurora will be filled with Fox Valley artisans painting, sculpting, drawing, reading, belly-dancing and singing from 2 to 7 p.m.

Each site will feature a combination of music, performance arts, visual arts, exhibits and refreshments from establishments on the ArtWalk route including Comfort Zone Barbecue, Ballydoyle Irish Pub, La Quinta De Los Reyes and 33 West Trattoria as well as the Paramount's North Island Center, Hollywood Casino and the DeCleene Gallery Space.

"We really try to set it up so the venues each have some form of visual art and some performances," said spokeswoman Melissa Mercado, who is also a member of the Cultural Creatives, a group of artisans and businesses organizing the event.

"It's important to mix things up so folks get a taste of all of these talented people we have in the area," she said.

Batavia jazz fusion guitarist Dave Ziffer is playing his first ArtWalk and is excited to be performing at Comfort Zone, 37 W. New York St.

"I'm not sure what to expect from the whole event but I am really looking forward to having new people be aware and take an interest in what I play," he said. "I am profoundly different from most music acts they'll see so it's going to be a good time."

In all, more than 40 artists are expected to exhibit and perform, including the Arts of Life, Inc. The group will exhibit visual artwork as well as perform music on the Copley stage of the North Island Center. Arts of Life, Inc. features people with and without disabilities creating an artistic culture to realize their full potential.

"Every exhibit or performance is always fantastic and from mixing it up on Restaurant Row to bringing in Arts of Life, we think we stepped it up a notch this time," Mercado said. "It's all about making people understand that Aurora is an arts-friendly community with room to grow."

The juried exhibition will award cash prizes for Best Visual Artist & Best Performance Artist. The judging panel will include Karen Kulzer and Bob Ferraris of Fox River Academy and T.D. Clark, professional musician and recording artist. ArtWalk attendees also will be asked to participate in determining a People's Choice Award for both visual and performance prizes. Ballots will be available at all venues.

For details on the Aurora ArtWalk, visit AuroraArtWalk.com