Aurora's First Fridays March 4 to feature chili cookoff to benefit Community Fridge

Aurora Downtown announces the lineup for First Fridays on March 4. Celebrating its 10th season of bringing art, music, and more to dozens of downtown storefronts, First Fridays welcomes everyone to explore the growing arts and culture scene.

Visitors can tag #firstfridaysaurora and @downtownaurora on Instagram to enter giveaways.

Nearly two dozen venues will be open this Friday with the following offerings:

• Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will host "36," a solo show by Aurora artist Shelby Anderson, with a raffle for a $36 gift card, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will feature "Petite Paintings with a Punch" with smaller paintings by David Hettinger, Daniel Mundy and Hope Ashworth. It will be open until midnight.

• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be open with updated gallery staging, new art by Gary Brown, Mark Radina and Kip Pasta and antiques from 5 to 8 p.m.

• ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will host "HERstory: A Celebration of Women's History Month Through Art" from 7 p.m. to midnight

• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will present live music from Sonic Soul at 9 p.m.

• La Quinta De los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., will feature live music from La Sociedad D'Paul and $8 house margaritas from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will feature live Spanish rock, courtesy of Damián Rivera, from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 18, will host Girl Scouts with cookies outside from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit the coffee shop from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will feature live music by Cecy Santana and monthly specials from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will feature live entertainment from guitarist Ryan Worthy from 7 to 9 p.m. and Marco from 9 to 11 p.m.

• Aurora Public Library, 101 S. River St., will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Gleeson Irish Trio performing. Virtual reality equipment and a lucky craft will be on hand from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Superjumbo, 102 E. Galena Blvd., will be open with a "Re-Re Opening" as the retro toy store introduces a line of vinyl records from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will partner with Indivisible Aurora for a chili cookoff from 5 to 8 p.m.

• McCarty Mills Taproom and Bottleshop, 140 S. River St., will be open with art, food and music: Smileys BBQ and featured artist Rogue 1. It will be open until midnight.

• G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will host The Smithsonian's "Righting A Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II" from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place at David L. Pierce Art and History Center, will host "Portraits of the Past" with dozens of oil and photographic portraits from the 1840s to 1980s from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open with a "Smoke Alarm Showdown." Play ring toss and have the chance to win a smoke alarm (while supplies last) from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, upstairs, will feature music by The County Line along with massages for $1/min. I of the Angeles will be open for shopping from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Wyckwood House, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 16, will feature live music from Dan Becker, who will perform Irish music and more from 6 to 8 p.m. They will also host Busy Bee Custom Creations with unique custom wood creations from 5 to 9 p.m. Offbeat Thrift and Vintage will offer a coat sale downstairs.

• Society 57, 100 S. River St., will be open with cocktails and bites from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, will host a "1,000 Paper Cranes Memorial." Help fold origami cranes to create a community memorial to commemorate two years of the pandemic from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Hope Chest, 34 N. Lincoln Ave., will feature a Storewide Sale (exclusions apply) from 4 to 7 p.m.

For a complete map and participating venues, visit auroradowntown.org.