Aurora's First Fridays celebrates spring, poetry

Aurora's First Fridays is celebrating the start of spring along with National Poetry Month on April 7.

The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will host a spring sale plus coffee sampling with Brewpoint Coffee. Additional pop ups and artists will be present from 5 to 9 p.m.

The Perch, 31 W. Downer Place, 3rd floor (inside Aurora Business Center), welcomes everyone to celebrate spring with butterfly crafts for all ages from 5 to 8 p.m.

Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will host a poetry festival and open mic from 6 to 8 p.m. Hear live poetry readings by the A-Town Poetics. Enjoy poetry activities, crafts, and more for all ages.

Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, upstairs, will be open with a poetry and story open mic starting at 7 p.m. Come with a tale to share or listen and support others as they share their unique view.

G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place,, will feature "A Salute to Service: Poems by Aurora's Deputy Poet Laureate Quentin Johnson." A poem contest for ages 12 and up will also be held from 5 to 9 p.m.

Food trucks will return for the season on May 5 for Aurora Downtown's Food Truck Festival.

Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup includes more than 30 venues with activities for all ages.

• Aurora Historical Society and Aurora Public Art at The DLP, 20 E. Downer Place,, will host Aurora's Own Ruth Van Sickle Ford, an exhibit featuring her life story and borrowed paintings on the first floor. Aurora Art League Show on the third floor from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will feature art and artists set up in the cafe for art viewing, discussion, and purchasing from 7 to 11 p.m.

• Superjumbo Records and Collectibles, 102 E. Galena Blvd., will unveil a new screen-printed poster by artist Chris Hodge. Open from noon to 9 p.m.

• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will open its new show, "Two Sisters, Paint and Print: A collection that highlights the diversity in the art of Anne Von Ehr and Mary Shoemaker" from 7 to 10 p.m.

• McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River St., Suite 108, will feature artist Geli Inks plus a special menu by RKN TCO from 5 to 10 p.m.

• Gary Brown Art Gallery and Studio, 7 S. Broadway, will be open with "Poetry in Art," a show of original art creations including retro and antiques available for purchase from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will feature mixed media artist Ruth L. Poor from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, upstairs, will host "The Sandbox Collection," featuring experimental pieces, odds and ends, bits and bobs, medium and smaller pieces of the artists' work from 5 to 9 p.m.

• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will be open with new works by David Hettinger plus a special First Fridays craft cocktail from 4 p.m. to midnight

• Sergio Furniture and Catarinas Aurora, 36 W. Downer Place, will be open with handmade Mexican Art until 9 p.m.

• Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will feature live music with singer and songwriter Grant Milliren from 5 to 9 p.m.

• The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will host a $5 suggested donation show with Pete Jive from 8 to 11 p.m. Use the entrance on Water Street Mall.

• Tavern on Broadway, 24 N. Broadway, will host live music by Nick Scarpinato from 8 to 10 p.m.

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

• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place,, will host Retrospect, playing songs from Motown to today's hits from 9 p.m. to midnight.

• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., will host a dance night until 1 a.m.

• The Polished Peach Spa, 5½ W. Downer Place, 2nd floor, will be open with special waxing deals from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Unveiled Studio, 5½ W. Downer Place, 2nd floor, will offer "Pay Your Age" boudoir micro sessions from 6 to 9 p.m. Ages 21 and over only.

• Alice's Corner, 37 W. New York St., will feature a special deal for the evening. Buy three empanadas, get one free from 4 to 9 p.m.

• Amy Morton's Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will debut the cocktail of the month, named after a literary giant plus they will host an interactive poetry engagement from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will welcome visitors to explore the museum and purchase tickets for the third annual Meat Raffle on May 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will be open with art and music from 5 to 9 p.m.

• The Cornucopia Tea and Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will host "Sip n Shop," with special purchases and a rewards card until 9 p.m.

• Society 57, 100 S. River St., will host cocktails and bites from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Huge Witch, 31 W. Downer Place, 2nd floor (inside Aurora Business Center), will be open with tarot, oracle, and astrology readings from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Premil, 46 W. New York St., will host a storewide sale from noon to 8 p.m.

• FNBO, 140 S. River St. STE 112, will host photos with the Easter Bunny plus crafts and Sabino Creek pop up from 5 to 9 p.m.

For more information and a complete map of First Fridays locations, visit www.auroradowntown.org.

Aurora Downtown is a nonprofit group of business and property owners within Special Service Area (SSA) One that works to achieve a healthy and thriving downtown for all to enjoy.