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First Fridays on Feb. 3 kicks off 10th year with 'Love Local' theme

Now in its 10th year, First Fridays will celebrate its local roots with events featuring local artists and musicians on Feb. 3. The popular, monthly celebration starts its season in February and runs through December with the exception of July.

"What started as a night featuring a handful of art openings has grown into a downtown-wide arts and cultural open house frequently boasting more than two dozen offerings and sometimes up to 40," said Marissa Amoni, manager of Aurora Downtown, who helped start First Fridays with a group of business owners in 2013.

Amoni said that February's First Fridays is locally themed to honor the local arts scene that has helped downtown to grow over the last decade.

Aurora Downtown's Marissa Amoni and a group of business owners started hosting the First Fridays events in 2013. Courtesy of Amy Nelson

Aurora Public Art will host "Our Mentors," a show featuring longtime local photographers Donnell Collins and Perry Slade. The show opening will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on the third floor of the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place.

Artesan Lofts Art Gallery, 2 S. Stolp Ave., will present a photography show featuring local photographers Rick Evers and Marshall Garcia-Granados from 6 to 9 p.m.

Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place upstairs, will host "From Aurora with Love," a local artist showcase. The show will focus on Aurora landmarks, local flavor, and Aurora-themed art from 4 to 9 p.m.

The Venue, 21 S. Broadway, will bring local songwriter and musician Chad Watson to the stage. Watson will be playing a rare solo show for a suggested donation price of $5 from 8 to 10 p.m.

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

Throughout downtown, the First Fridays event lineup includes 30 venues with activities for all ages. In addition, Love Local Days will feature specials at select locations through Feb. 14.

• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, will have on view a special Pratt exhibit featuring five crosses and memorabilia commemorating the workplace tragedy from 6 to 9 p.m.

• If These Walls Could Talk Custom Framing & Gallery, 32 S. Stolp Ave., will open "Street Life," a solo show featuring photographer Nolan W. McCants, from 7 to 10 p.m. A street level view around the world shows the beauty hidden in plain view. Runs through March.

• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, will celebrate 2/3/23 by featuring the most famous 23 of all time, Michael Jordan, from 7 to 11 p.m.

• French 75 Gallery and Lounge, 56 E. Galena Blvd., will offer a special cocktail called Aurora in Bloom from 5 p.m. to midnight.

• Nuna Ceramics, 77 S. Lake St., will host "Vivid Delight: Jacey Sage Art Show," along with wheel-throwing demos, from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Waubonsee Community College, 18 S. River St., will present the Oswego East Jazz Combo. Free, limited edition silk-screen T-shirts and pottery wheel throwing demonstrations from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., will host "For the Love of Dance," featuring West African dance and live drum experience by Ayodele Drum and performances by AKA Dance. Guests can also make a ribbon wand from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Altiro Latin Fusion, 1 S. Stolp Ave., will present DJ Omarin from 8 to 10:30 p.m.

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

• Aurora Tap House, 134 W. Downer Place, will feature live blues with The Hurricane Project from 9 p.m. to midnight.

• Tredwell Coffee, 14 W. Downer Place, will be open with live music from Nick Wiesner and a plant pop-up by Aurora's Nide Jardin from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Zen Loft Wellness Center and I of the Angeles, 6 W. Downer Place upstairs, will be open with a multitude of offerings including $1 per minute chair massages, $10 minute mini-tarot readings, an opportunity to hang in hammocks, open jam with Mo Pippy, and live music featuring local students' "works in progress" from 4 to 10 p.m.

• McCarty Mills Taproom, 140 S. River St., Suite 108, will present Emo Night featuring emo classics and a special menu by RKN TCO from 5 to 10 p.m.

• G.A.R. Museum, 23 E. Downer Place, will host "Through Calm and Tempest: 145 Years of Aurora Historic Memorial Hall" from 5 to 9 p.m.

• Latrice Murphy Design and Photography, 62 S. River St., will be open with a special photo deal from 5 to 9 p.m. Photos with Love will welcome visitors to take a photo using a special studio backdrop with friends and family ($20).

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, will be open with a Fire Sale featuring new items in the museum store and some clearance priced merchandise from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Wyckwood House Boutique and Cocktail Bar, 80 S. River St., will host live music featuring Josh Goodman. Bonded By Babes and Bros will be on site with permanent jewelry until 9 p.m.

• I of the Angeles, 6 W. Downer Place upstairs, will offer Sound Bowl Healing and tarot guidance from 4 to 8 p.m. Tarot ($20 or $25 per couple) plus 14% off gifts for loved ones.

• Amy Morton's Stolp Island Social, 5 E. Galena Blvd., will feature a First Fridays Phenomenal Cocktail from 5 p.m. to close.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., will be open for First Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m.

• The Cornucopia Tea & Gift Shop, 63 S. Broadway, will feature Valentine's Taste and Shop. Try teas and enjoy a Valentine's Special: free Long Grove valentine chocolates with purchase of a tea set. Open until 9 p.m.

• Society 57, 100 S. River St., will host Square1 Detroit Pizza, The Luxure Jazz Trio, and Carly Palmer Art Exhibit from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., will offer Margarita Night: Enjoy a variety of margaritas until midnight.

• Huge Witch, 31 W. Downer Place located inside Aurora Business Center, will host its grand opening. Come see the Tarot Reading Room. Spend $40 on merchandise, get a free reading from 1 to 9 p.m.

• Pure Skin Solutions, 26 S. Stolp Ave., will be open with Exfoliation, Music and Refreshments. Discounted hand ($25) and lip ($20) exfoliation and acoustic melodies of Ever, a local musician from 5 to 8 p.m.

• Premil, 46 W. New York St., will host FIFA, Friends and Food from 5 to 9 p.m. Stop in for a 32-person FIFA tournament and some hefty prizes. Top 3 take home $1,000, $300 or $100 of merch. $50 to play.

• The Cotton Seed Creative Exchange, 64 S. River St., will be open with Love for Art and Music from 5 to 9 p.m. DJ GAB, Artist Teresa Marie, and Fresh Gems for your teeth. 10% off selected merchandise.

• Chupacabra Puerto Rican Kitchen, 31 N. Broadway, will host an Aroma Roots pop up with handcrafted bath and body essentials, Valentine gift boxes, and wax melts from 4 to 9 p.m.

• Superjumbo Records, 102 E. Galena Blvd., will be open with a Mini Yetee Warehouse Sale featuring overstock Yetee products at clearance prices from 2 to 9 p.m.

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

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