Great things are happening in downtown Aurora! Please send updates for the July 2008 newsletter to info@auroradowntown.org.

Fridays & Saturdays May 23- June 28 at 8:00 pm

(no shows June 13 & 14)

Not With My Daughter by Jay Christopher

Location: Riverfront Playhouse,  Water Street Mall (the theater is directly behind city hall)

Under the direction of Gene Scheffler and Pamela Rowe, NOT WITH MY DAUGHTER is a farce that tells the story of Will Gray, a 40-something swinging single who has a few more romantic encounters on his plate than he can handle.

For more information check out: www.riverfrontplayhouse.com 
Reservations by calling 630-897-9496/ Adults $15; Sr Cit/Students $12

June 1 at 3:00 pm

Glenn Miller Orchestra

Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Boulevard

Tickets: $26.50, please call the box office- (630) 896-6666 or go to www.paramountarts.com

June 7- July 3

SciTech “Art In Science” Exhibition

Location: 18 W. Benton St.

Hours: Monday- Saturday 10:00 am- 5:00 pm & Sunday noon- 5:00 pm

SciTech Hands-on Museum holds its first “Art In Science” exhibit with a display of “Origane,” a unique art form created by Lane Allen, A.I.A., noted Fox Valley architect. Origane is Japanese for “folding metal” as Mr. Allen applies the traditional rules of Japanese paper folding (Origami) to metal sheets, producing unique sculptures with a traditional Japanese look.

Admission: $8.00 each for children and adults. There is a $1 off coupon at www.scitechmuseum.org

Off street parking available at Downer & Stolp, and for free parking, bring your ticket to the front desk to be validated

June 12 at 5:30 pm

Books and Bread Book Club

June 12th - The Great Awakening by Jim Wallis at Tavern on the Fox, 24 N. Broadway Ave.

July 10th -  Trespass:  Living at the Edge of the Promised Land by Amy Irvine

August 14th - Where Have all the Leaders Gone? by Lee Iacocca

September 11th - People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

October 10th - People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

November 13th - The God of War:  A Novel by Marisa Silver

December 11th - Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortensen and David Oliver Relin

The Books and Bread Book Club meets monthly at downtown Aurora restaurants at 5:30 pm. Contact Karen Christensen (kchristensen@aurora-il.org) to be added to the email list, and for location information.

June 13 at 7:00 pm

Open Mic Night

Location: Bag and Brew- 18 W. Downer Place

Bring your instrument and sing your heart out, poetry and spoken word also welcome! This is your chance to shine! Sign ups start at 6:30 p.m., and the event is hosted by Zechariah McGhee.

June 13 at 5:00- 8:30 pm 

Opening Reception: Preston Jackson, Sculptures

Admission to opening reception is free.

Location: David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, third floor gallery.

Preston Jackson creates bronze figurative work, monumental stainless steel and bronze sculpture and small abstract pieces as well as two-dimensional work. Jackson’s large-scale outdoor sculptures and smaller bronze pieces have been exhibited widely throughout the United States.

Off-street parking available at Downer and Stolp, and for free parking bring your ticket to the Museum Shop to be validated.  For more information please contact the City of Aurora Public Art Commission www.aurora-il.org or 630-906-0654.

 June 13- July 13

Exhibit: Preston Jackson, Sculptures

Location: David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, third floor gallery.

Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sunday Noon-4:00 P.M. 

Preston Jackson creates bronze figurative work, monumental stainless steel and bronze sculpture and small abstract pieces as well as two-dimensional work. Jackson’s large-scale outdoor sculptures and smaller bronze pieces have been exhibited widely throughout the United States.

Suggested Donations: $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for students and seniors

Off-street parking available at Downer & Stolp, and for free parking bring your ticket to the Museum Shop to be validated.  For more information please contact the city of Aurora Public Art Commission www.aurora-il.org or 630-906-0654

June 13 at 6:00- 10:00 pm

Show Opening: Dirk Fletcher and Tim Arroyo

Admission to opening reception is free, donations are welcome

Location: Blues Alley Art Gallery, 37 S. Stolp Ave.

The show will run through July 4.  Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10:00 am- 3:00 pm or by appointment, 630-966-0911.

Tim Arroyo, a Chicago native currently residing in the Pilsen neighborhood of the city near 18th Street and Racine has work displayed in the Las Cruces Museum of Fine Art (Las Cruces, NM), and the Lyceum Theater Gallery (San Diego, CA).

Dirk Fletcher, has more than twenty years experience in corporate industrial photography, and is chairman of the Digital Photography Department at Harrington College of Design. Fletcher graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography in California, in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial/Illustration Photography. After moving to Chicago over ten years ago he established a freelance business and served as staff photographer at the Museum of Science and Industry, until he was asked to launch Harrington's new commercial digital photography program in 2004.

June 13 & 14

Blues on the Fox

June 13        

6:45 pm - Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater

8:30pm - Elvin Bishop

June 14        

3:00 pm - Hix Brothers’ Junior All-Stars

4:00 pm - Corey Harris

5:30 pm - Bettye LaVette

7:00 pm - Marcia Ball

8:30 pm - Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Location: Downtown Aurora, IL 60505 on Galena Avenue (between River & Broadway)

FREE parking in the Stolp Avenue Parking Deck and all municipal parking lots and curbside meters in the downtown area. The festival is TOTALLY FREE!  NO tickets required!  Bring a lawn chair, NO coolers or recording devices are allowed! 

Visit www.bluesonthefoxaurora.com or call 630.844.4731 for the event line up!

June 20 at 6:00- 10:00 pm

Downtown Alive       

Hotel California 7:00 pm – This National Eagles Tribute Band faithfully and accurately reproduces the sound of The Eagles studio recordings while recreating a classic sound which undeniably transcends the boundaries of Rock, R&B, and Country while delivering a modern, action packed performance that brings this timeless music into the new millennium.

Location: Downtown Aurora, IL 60505 at Downer Place & Stolp Avenue

FREE parking in the Stolp Avenue Parking Deck and all municipal parking lots and curbside meters in the downtown area. The festival is TOTALLY FREE!  NO tickets required!  Bring a lawn chair, NO coolers or recording devices are allowed!

More Info: Visit www.downtownaliveaurora.com or call 630.844.4731

June 23 at 7:30

The Guild

Location: Backthird Audio, 67 S. Stolp Ave., Aurora

The Guild is a monthly gathering of musicians, producers, promoters - anyone involved in music at any level who's looking to connect with others in the area who are on the same road. We share a drink and socialize, then typically come together for a group conversation or presentation. The Guild typically meets the 4th Monday of every month, though there are exceptions. Visit the Backthird Blog, www.musicispeople.com

June 26 at 7pm

The 77s in concert

Location: Backthird Audio, 67 S. Stolp Ave., Aurora

Tickets: $18 in advance – tickets will not be sold at the door. Visit Lo-Fidelity Records to order tickets.

This is an up-close and personal, full-band show with the 77s (Mike Roe, Mark Harmon and Bruce Spencer, with Dave Leonhardt) in the live room at Backthird Audio.

June 26 at 7pm

The Fox Valley Philharmonic "Salute to America"

Location: Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Boulevard

The Fox Valley Philharmonic will be performing a patriotic concert "Salute to America" to celebrate independence day on June 26th, 2008 at The Paramount Arts Center. Aurora's very own community orchestra will be joined by 50 choral members from across the Fox Valley. That same evening the Philharmonic will be holding a Gala in the Grand Gallery where 16 "Painted Violins" will be auctioned off. Appetizers, entertainment, cash bar and raffle items will be part of the pre-concert gala. Tickets for the gala as well as tickets for the concert are available by calling 630/879-8018.

June 27 at 6:00- 10:00 pm

Downtown Alive       

August 6:45 pm - A horn-driven Rock & Roll, Soul, and Rhythm & Blues band, with a hint of jazz thrown in for good measure. With its 7+ piece horn and 7 piece rhythm sections there are few bands that match their powerful on-stage presence.

Dickey Betts & Great Southern 8:30 pm - Dickey Betts is a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band.  Along with being one of the most influential guitar players of all time, he is credited as both writing and singing the group's biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man". Having helped define the genre, Dickey Betts & Great Southern continue to tour and break new ground in the grand tradition of great Southern Rock.

Location: Downtown Aurora, IL 60505 at Downer Place & Stolp Avenue

FREE parking in the Stolp Avenue Parking Deck and all municipal parking lots and curbside meters in the downtown area. The festival is TOTALLY FREE!  NO tickets required!  Bring a lawn chair, NO coolers or recording devices are allowed!

More Info: Visit www.downtownaliveaurora.com or call 630.844.4731

June 28 at 10:00 am

Sears House Trolley Tour

Location: 53 N. Broadway, Aurora Regional Fire Museum

Aurora is home to one of the largest collections of Sears Homes.  Please join the Aurora Preservation Commission on a Trolley Tour of Aurora’s Historic Sears Homes.  The tour will begin with a short presentation on Aurora’s Sears history.  There is no cost for the tour, but please call to register, 630-844-3648.

Saturdays June 21 to September 27, 7:00 am to Noon

Farmers Market

Location: Parking lot at the Aurora Transportation Center, 233 North Broadway

Sci-Techs’ Dr. Shawn’s Science Adventure Camp

Let SciTech provide first-class educational fun for your kids ALL DAY LONG!
Dr. Shawn's Science Adventure Camps run from 9:00AM to 3:00PM.  
You can extend the learning and the convenience through our special Before Care and After Care programs.
Now you can drop off your kids off at 8:00AM and pick them up as late as 5:00PM. (Additional fee required.)

For more information check out: http://www.scitechmuseum.org/brochurehome.html

ARTWorks Summer 2008 Courses

ARTWorks is a fine arts career exploration initiative in which high school students work with professional artist/mentors from a variety of fields. Only students who attend Aurora high schools are eligible. The minimum age for participation is 16. The classes, which are free of charge, are held for the full 18-week semester and students receive credit from their high school and from Waubonsee Community College.

ARTWorks was initiated under the principle that although students must be encouraged to pursue their dreams, a successful job-training program must also provide them with the resources to make informed and realistic decisions. Check out the following summer courses: Drawing, Design, Public History/Historic Preservation, and Television Production 1

For more information contact Rena J. Church, Director, Aurora Public Art Commission, (630) 906-0654, rchurch@aurora-il.org or check out www.aurora-il.org/publicarts/index.php