Downtown Auroran www.downtownauroran.wordpress.com Publisher and Editor Marissa Amoni Graphic Design and Printing Kelmscott Communications Copy Editors Tony Scott Max Balding Contributors Frank Patterson Advertising and Submissions:
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hanks for picking up an issue of the “Best of Aurora!� We are so excited to bring you what our readers have decided are the best picks for restaurants, hair salons, parks, festivals, and more. Our method was simple; we put up an online survey and shared it on Facebook, as well as via email. We are grateful for the many responses, and the winners are taken directly from the online survey. We checked and rechecked the votes, and we are proud to share the results with you. I hope that you will hold onto this issue and use it as a resource when guests come to town, or when you are looking to try out a new restaurant or mechanic. As the second largest city in the state, Aurora has a lot to offer and many places to explore. I encourage you to diverge from your common path and visit a shop or a museum in Aurora this weekend. Aurora is rich with fun activities, delectable food options, talented artists and musicians, and architectural delights. Perhaps this issue will help you get reacquainted with the City of Lights. Whether you live in Aurora or periodically enjoy its big city appeal, I want you to enjoy the best of Aurora.
E-mail downtownauroran@gmail.com. Fall Issue deadline: September 5. On the Cover: The Best of Aurora by Mike Mancuso Downtown Auroran (DTA) is a local, independent operation. We promote and support local arts and culture while advocating for a vibrant downtown. DTA is published quarterly, and over 2,000 copies are distributed free of charge throughout downtown and select locations in the Aurora area. Share it and recycle it, or add it to your collection. #dtamag Join us on Facebook! Fall Issue 2014 is available in October.
See you downtown!
Please support the businesses that support us. Keep it local! Copyrighted 2014
Architecture
Museums
Family Fun
Dining
Summer!
View our online itineraries for staycation ideas. 2
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EnjoyAurora.com Summer 2014
index
c over st ory
The winners are revealed! page
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features page
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A r t i s t P ro f i l e
Historical Notes
page
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By Frank Patterson Table of Contents 4 comic
13 historical notes
5 locust report
15 recipe
6 cover story
17 culture shock
11 artist profile
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Auroran Words Hot Tea Haiku
Puesta del Sol
By Naomi Samaris
By Robert Klein Engler
Cry out in the air Hot steam fills your kettle up You demand a lot
Es la hora del descanso. Las sombras más largas caen por el altiplano. Año tras año he andado estos caminos de polvo. Miro el cielo profundo. El amor, qué abierto. Su corazón, qué cerrado.
Naomi Samaris is fond of tacos, and she likes music from the early 2000s. Her American dream involves backyard chickens and tall sunflowers.
The Wishing Pennies By Charlotte Delight Vanderlip
Robert Klein Engler lives in Des Plaines, Illinois and sometimes New Orleans. Many of Robert’s poems, stories, paintings and photographs are set in New Orleans, the Crescent City. Visit him on the web at RobertKleinEngler.com.
I often through my wishing pennies look, I see brown gnomes and fairy castles gold; I see flowers, fairies and the brook, But most of all I love the singing of the brook. Charlotte Delight Vanderlip wrote “The Wishing Pennies” on November 21, 1911. Charlotte was the daughter of prominent banker Frank Vanderlip. From the collection of Aurora Historical Society.
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The L o c u st R ep o r t Reporting the News and Gossip in Downtown Aurora • A storefront is coming soon to The Yetee, the cool in-house t-shirt printing shop at 110 Cross St. Owner Mike Mancuso is prettying up the first floor Yetee Gallery to make room for t-shirt and merchandise displays. The gallery opens up on select evenings for art shows, and is sometimes part of First Fridays in Downtown Aurora. Mancuso wants to print locally-inspired tees and incorporate designs from local artists at the shop. Look for a late summer opening. Visit “Yetee Gallery” on Facebook. theyetee.com • Restaurant Row update: If Italian food and gelato sound good to you, then keep supporting the businesses currently on West New York Street, and more could follow. But to avoid jumping the gun, the city, the landlords and the private/public partnership are keeping mum at this time with nothing to report. But rest assured that the Row is not being ignored. • Sylvia Washington is creating a lush paradise outside of her building at 205 W. Galena Blvd. Washington, the owner of Green Buddha Life Sustainability Center, didn’t let space limitations keep her from bringing green things to her building. Passerby can view a three-pallet, tiered, living vertical wall adjacent to the entrance, and she plans on more vertical gardens on the back of the building soon. Washington recently invited local artists to display recycled works of art in the first floor’s eco-arts gallery and hosted an open house on World Environment Day. • New downtown stores include Most Dope and Vic’s Vapes; both storefronts are located on Broadway and specialize in electronic vaporizers, or e-cigarettes. YM Boutique opened in the beginning of June at 5 W. Downer Place. The boutique specializes in chic apparel and accessories for women. • It’s been a very busy six months for Seize the Future Development Foundation. The public/private partnership will continue focusing on downtown development and growth with the recently approved Downtown Finish Line Grant Program, a streamlined grant program overseen by Seize the Future. Eligible properties will be mixed-use, with commercial space on the first floor and residential on upper floors. Grants for twenty percent of the rehabilitation cost up to $75,000 will be available. The annual budget for the grant program is $500,000 and the program will run through June 2018. Contact Ashley Sarver for more information at sarvera@investinaurora.org.
the acquisition of the land owned by Curbside Limited. The longtime Aurora company is moving to 260 S. Highland Ave. Happy scream for cooperation. • LaSalle Street update: Jimi Allen’s Gravity Building is undergoing a facelift this summer as façade renovation is underway at the planned coworking space. Allen said that a fall opening date could happen yet. Across the street, Milwaukeebased Dryhootch continues in its fundraising efforts to open a coffee shop, social healing space, and resource center for veterans at 59 S. LaSalle St. They are currently working with an architect to sketch out renovation plans that will include a lighter and brighter space with more natural sunlight and accessible bathrooms. Dryhootch hopes to open its doors sometime this fall. dryhootch.org • If Water Street Mall is a little shadier this summer, then artist Gaiter Tee’s project to cover the pedestrian walkway with umbrellas was a success. Tee, owner of Rotten Apple Studios in downtown Aurora, went to the city with the colorful idea this spring and quickly started fundraising efforts with Seize the Future lending a hand with the donation collection. The installation is expected to be up all summer long. • Summer festivals: This is the summer issue, so this is what you need to know. Hang out on Water Street Mall on July 12 for Louche Puce Market, and then come back on July 20 for On the Wall – Blackbooks and Breakbeats, an urban arts festival. Repeat that on August 9 for Louche Puce and August 30 for Alley Art Festival. On August 24, head east to LaSalle Street for their family-friendly Historic Auto Row Car Show, then return to Water Street Mall on September 13 for the last Louche Puce Market of the season. On September 20, join local musicians as they band together at Banding Together III for a good cause at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Visit our online calendar for more. • Downtown hashtags: #dta #firstfridaysdta
#dtaurora
#downtownaurora
• The Elks Club building is ready for its close-up. After eliciting Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for the Mayan-inspired downtown landmark, Seize the Future said they received three proposals (one from Aurora Cultural Creatives, and two from private developers). The applicants now have until the end of August to submit proof of funding and finalized development plans for the building at Stolp Avenue and Benton Street. The Elks Club is currently being used by the Paramount Theatre for its second-story grand ballroom, which they have repurposed into rehearsal space. Ballet Folklorico also practices on the building’s ground floor. • New library update: With the new library opening less than a year away, the pieces (and walls) are quickly falling into place. An entrance on Lake Street is now being planned on a parcel of land currently occupied by ice cream trucks. Superhero Seize the Future came in to save the day and assisted the city with
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They’re the places you can’t live without, the sights you love to see, the sweet morsels you long to taste, and the things you tell your friends about. We asked our readers to vote on the best that Aurora offers and here are the results. Drum roll, please!
E a t i ng & Drink ing BEST LUNCH Winner: River’s Edge Cafe Runner-up: Two Brothers Roundhouse Third Place: Jake’s Bagels
BEST CHINESE Winner: New China Hut Runner-up: Hong Kong Restaurant Third Place: Shan Li’s
BEST DINNER Winner: Two Brothers Roundhouse Runner-up: Ballydoyle Irish Pub Third Place: Basils Greek Dining
BEST DESSERT Winner: Banana Split (Caramel Cashew Creation) Runner-up: Two Brothers (Chocolate Cake) Third Place: La France (Flan)
BEST MEXICAN Winners (four-way tie): Jalisco Taco’s Tecalitlan Mexican Restaurant Pancho’s Family Restaurant La Quebrada Restaurant Runner-up: La Quinta de los Reyes Third Place: Taqueria Muniz
BEST MIXED DRINK Winner: Chef Amaury at 33 West Runner-up: Ballydoyle Irish Pub Third Place: La Quinta de los Reyes
BEST GROCERY Winner: Prisco’s Fine Foods Runner-up: Cermak Market Third Place: Wurst Kitchen BEST BREAKFAST TO TAKE GRANDPARENTS Winner: Mother’s on Galena Runner-up: Aurora Pancake House Third Place (tie): Nikarry’s Restaurant Colonial Cafe
BEST APPETIZER Winner: Two Brothers Roundhouse (nachos, pretzel, cheese dip) Runner-up: Ballydoyle Irish Pub and Restaurant (spinach dip, chips) Third Place: Don Walker’s Sandwich Center (fried mushrooms)
BEST BREAKFAST Winner: Aurora Pancake House Runner-up: Jake’s Bagels Third Place: Blueberry Hill
Chef Amaury at 33 West Winner Best Upscale
Two Brothers Roundhouse Winner Best Dinner
Doughballs Runner-up Best Pizza
Amy and Joe Petit River’s Edge Cafe Winner Best Lunch
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BEST PLACE TO DRINK AFTER WORK Winner: Two Brothers Roundhouse Runner-up: Ballydoyle Irish Pub Third Place: The Web Tavern
BEST COFFEE Winner: Two Brothers Cafe Runner-up: River’s Edge Cafe Third Place: Starbucks
BEST PIZZA Winner: Ach-N-Lou’s Pizza Pub Runner-up: Doughballs Pizza Third Place (tie): Gourmet Pizza Spizzico To Go BEST UPSCALE Winner: Chef Amaury at 33 West Runner-up: Two Brothers Roundhouse Third Place: Luigi’s House
BEST DELI Winner: Prisco’s Fine Foods Runner-up: Jake’s Bagels Third Place: Reuland’s
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Art a nd Mu s ic S c e n e BEST GALLERY Winner: The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse Runner-up: If These Walls Could Talk Third Place: The Yetee Gallery BEST MUSEUM Winner: SciTech Hands On Museum Runner-up: William Tanner House Museum Third Place: Aurora Regional Fire Museum BEST ARTIST Winner: Don Picton Runner-up: Cers Third Place: Maureen Gasek
BEST WAY TO SPEND A FRIDAY NIGHT Winner: First Fridays in Downtown Aurora Runner-up: Music at Two Brothers Roundhouse Third Place: Music at Ballydoyle Irish Pub
Cattleprod Winner Best Band
Don Picton Winner Best Artist
BEST MUSICIAN OR BAND Winner: Cattleprod Runner-up: The Kevin Trudo Third Place: Andrea Dawn
Sh o ppin g BEST SPECIALTY STORE Winner: Culture Stock Runner-up: Nicole’s Hallmark and Gifts Third Place: Aroma Roots
Culture Stock Winner Best Specialty Store
BEST THRIFT Winner: Thrift and Dollar Runner-up: Community Thrift Third Place: Village Discount BEST PLACE TO BUY CLOTHES Winner: Chicago Premium Outlets Runner-up: Carson’s Clearance Third Place: Westfield Fox Valley Mall BEST REASON TO TRAVEL TO TRI-CITIES Winner: Kiss the Sky, Batavia Runner-up: All Chocolate Kitchen, Geneva Third Place: Bien Trucha, Geneva
BEST THING ON ORCHARD RD Winner: Panera Bread Runner-up: Home Depot Third Place (tie): Pockets Starbucks
Kiss the Sky Winner Best Reason to Travel to Tri-Cities
S e r vic e s BEST PLACE TO GET A HAIRCUT Winner: Big Boss (men) Calla Lily Salon (women) Runner-up: Hair Cuttery (men) Sculpted Image (women) Third Place: Great Clips (men) Hair Cuttery (women) 8
BEST PLACE TO GET PAMPERED Winner: Calla Lily Salon, Spa and Victorian Tea Room Runner-up: Sculpted Image Third Place (tie): Queen Nails The Skin You’re In
BEST FITNESS Winner: Vaughn Athletic Center Runner-up: Annie’s Om Towne Fitness Third Place: Aurora Yoga Center
Downtown Auroran
BEST MECHANIC Winners (four-way tie): Paul & Bill’s Service Center Whitt Brothers Garage Boys Motor Car Services A C Automotive Services
Summer 2014
C ity L if e BEST PLACE TO FIND A HIPSTER Winner: Two Brothers Roundhouse Runner-up: Culture Stock Third Place: Downtown Aurora Arts Mixer (DAAM) BEST LANDMARK Winner: Leland Tower Runner-up: Paramount Theatre Third Place: Northgate sign
BEST ARCHITECTURE Winner: Paramount Theatre Runner-up: Elks Club Building Third Place: West Side homes BEST WAY TO SPEND A SATURDAY Winner: Thrift stores Runner-up: Trails Third Place: Farmers Market
BEST SPORTING EVENT TO PARTICIPATE Winner: Roller Derby at Aurora Skate Center Runner-up: Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race Third Place: Color Vibe 5K at RiverEdge Park
BEST THING TO DO WITH VISITORS Winner: Paramount Theatre Runner-up: Architectural Tour Third Place: Two Brothers Roundhouse
BEST PLACE FOR DOGS Winner: Lincoln Park Runner-up: Fox River Trail Third Place: Phillips Park BEST THING TO DO WITH TODDLERS Winner: SciTech Hands On Museum Runner-up: Blackberry Farm Third Place: Phillips Park
Leland Tower Winner Best Landmark
BEST THING TO DO WITH TEENAGERS Winner: Roller Derby at Aurora Skate Center Runner-up: Classic Movie Monday at Paramount Theatre Third Place: Luigi’s Pizza
O ur P ic ks
Blues on the Fox Winner Best Festival
BEST FESTIVAL Winner: Blues on the Fox Runner-up: Two Brothers Summer Festival Third Place: Alley Art Festival
BEST PARK Winner: Phillips Park Runner-up: Lincoln Park Third Place: Jericho Park
Reader Submis si on s
BEST DYNAMIC DUO: Tim Rater and Jim Corti at Paramount Theatre
BEST DOWNTOWN STOREFRONT REMODEL: VARA Design
BEST PLACE TO HULA HOOP: Water Street Mall in Downtown Aurora
BEST PLACE TO BUY EGGS: Ed & Judie’s Egg Farm
BEST BAGELS: Jake’s Bagels
BEST DOUGHNUTS: Harner’s Bakery
BEST POPCORN: Kenny Corn
BEST KARAOKE: Miss Lee’s Lounge
BEST LIVE THEATER: Paramount Theatre
BEST HIDDEN PARK: New Haven Park
BEST SUSHI: Momoya
BEST PUBLIC SCULPTURE: Isaac2 (aka Swimming Stones)
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD: Tanner District
BEST LIVE MUSIC: Music Mondays at Culture Stock VARA Design Advertisers in bold indigo.
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A rt is t P r o file DTA Profile: Roz Anomaly Interview by Marissa Amoni
My artwork is very chaotic,” said Roz Anomaly when I sat down with her in the courtyard at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. Anomaly, of Aurora, has been on my radar since the very first Alley Art Festival in 2010. Anomaly, 28, has participated in every Alley Art Festival since, and although she has graduated from cutely sinister hair bows for young girls to decoratively creepy urns and bone jewelry, I know I can always count on Anomaly’s effervescent personality and maybe even her horned black top hat. Anomaly’s friendliness might to contradict her dark artistic style, she said she’s always been interested “darker things.”
seem but in
“I’m a fan of the shock factor,” she said with a smile. The shock value in Anomaly’s art is working for her, too. It got her a gig designing cat urns for Artisurn.com, an online urn company that features handcrafted urns for people and pets. Anomaly also continues to build up her niche market with the artwork she shows monthly at The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse and elsewhere. She saw firsthand how many kindred spirits she has at this year’s Convergence 20, a goth convention in Chicago. Anomaly was part of the crowd instead of standing out. “I’m kind of used to being the weird one,” she laughed.
Anomaly grew up loving Barbies and dinosaurs, and she would draw animals and “strange or creepy monster things.” But after her mom died when Anomaly was 14, she said, “Art was my savior.”
Anomaly continues to seek out what is “weird” or “gross” and metamorphosing the once living into art. Whether it is an animal skull mounted to a piece of carved wood, or a small heart pendant molded out of clay, Anomaly’s art is compelling and her fantastically dark pieces take on a life of their own.
Anomaly, who lived with her dad growing up, said she was hugely inspired by her dad’s affinity for horror movies and heavy metal music. And her pet cat that would bring in dead birds can be credited for her developing an interest in animal bones, fur, feathers and blood.
Summer 2014
self-taught except for a couple of classes here and there. She laughs that her friends think of her first when they see a dead carcass on the road.
Anomaly spent her spring vacation digging up a deer carcass that she buried in the woods by her 70-year-old aunt’s house in Arkansas.
“It’s my passion,” she said. “(Art) gives me purpose. Creating things gives me purpose.”
“It’s become a fascination,” Anomaly said of her somewhat recent hobby of animal preservation. She is admittedly not squeamish and she is almost completely
I’m a fan of the “shock factor. ”
Anomaly designed The ArtBar poster for June’s Freak Show. Keep up with Roz Anomaly’s art on her Facebook page “Roz’s Oddities.”
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By Alice DuBois Alice DuBois lives in Geneva amongst a grove of old oak trees with her boyfriend, artist Timothy Campbell, and their cat Little Behemoth; they moved from Evanston to be near nature and bike trails. DuBois recently had a solo show at Limestone Coffee and Tea in Batavia. Her favorite Akira Kurosawa movie is “High and Low.” And favorite artists include R.B. Kitaj, Roberto Matta, and her boyfriend.
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Books. Music. People. Culture.
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Hi s t o r ic a l N o t e s
Downtown Theatres By Frank Patterson
O
n a Monday night, you can still catch a movie in downtown Aurora. At 7 p.m. on most Mondays, the Paramount Theater at 23 E. Galena Blvd. shows classic films as part of its Classic Movie Monday series. The films shown have included such greats as To Kill a Mockingbird, The French Connection, Lawrence of Arabia, Cooley High and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, as well as cult favorites The Goonies and The Breakfast Club. The Paramount may be the perfect place to see a movie. The admission, at just $1, is affordable for almost anyone. One can munch on popcorn or candy treats from the concession stand and sip a soda or even a beer while watching the film.
The Paramount Theatre opened in 1931 in downtown Aurora.
And the historic theater is magnificent. Not too long ago, locals could catch a movie at one of the many movie houses in downtown Aurora. The downtown theaters were all within a couple blocks of each other, with the Paramount and the Tivoli on Galena Boulevard and the Isle around the corner on Stolp Avenue. The Paramount was by all accounts, the grandest of all, but the others were also very popular.
The Paramount Built by visionary J. J. Rubens, the Paramount was originally to be called “The Venetian,” as it was to incorporate Venetian elements within its Art Deco decor. Rubens hired nationally-renowned theater architects C.W. and George L. Rapp to design the theater, but prior to construction,
The Aurora Theater Company was purchased by the ParamountFamous-Lasky Corporation, and the exotic name was dropped in favor of the one we all know today. The $1 million dollar building -- the first in Illinois outside of Chicago to feature air conditioning -- opened on September 3, 1931, with much fanfare. Dignitaries were in attendance, an organist was flown in, and telegrams poured in from Paramount Studio stars, including Claudette Colbert, Sylvia Sydney and Janet Gaynor. The theater served as a movie theater for decades. Frank Musaraca, of Las Vegas, remembers seeing “Blackboard Jungle” there. During the scene in which the song “Rock Around the Clock” plays, the “kids” in the audience danced in the aisles to the annoyance of the ushers. Jodeen Gates-Simmons recalls, “On Saturdays, there would be raffles on your ticket numbers and you could win things. I won a giant Slo-Poke once, and I remember I was too shy to go get it in front of everyone, so a kid from our neighborhood went up and got it for me.” The decades eventually took their toll on the theater. By the mid-seventies, the murals on the walls had faded and dirt and grime had built up. In 1976, the Paramount was purchased by the Aurora Civic Center Authority and the firm of D’Escoto and Associates was hired to oversee its restoration. Conrad Schmitt Studios restored the theater’s interior to its original grandeur, working from black and white photographs. The completely restored Paramount Arts Centre, now a performing arts center, reopened on April 28, 1978. Continued on page 14
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Historical Notes: Downtown Theatres Continued...
The Isle The Isle at 21 S. Stolp Ave. was a smaller theater, with seating for about 780. It opened in either 1937 or 1938 in the former Moose Building, and had a small balcony with a large lobby as well as a free standing box office. In the late 1970s, it switched programming from English language to Spanish-language films. The Isle closed in 1983 and was razed five years later. Millennium Plaza now stands in its place.
The Fox The Fox Theatre, 24-28 E. Downer Pl., opened in 1910 as a 1,800seat theater for silent movies and live vaudeville shows. In 1915, Fox Theatre owners Frank Thielen and Jules J. Rubens opened the Sylvandell Dance Hall, adjoining the Fox Theatre to the north, with an entrance on what is today Galena Boulevard. In 1919, the owners undertook a major remodeling project, converting the Sylvandell Dance Hall into the 2,250-seat Rialto Theatre. The Fox Theatre was also improved at this time, and the buildings along Downer Place were united with a new façade. The Rialto Theatre was destroyed by fire in October 1928; the Fox Theatre was condemned and demolished in 1930, and in place of both theaters, the Paramount, “The Showplace of the Fox River Valley,” opened in September 1931.
The Tivoli Theatre hosted popular entertainers in its second-floor ballroom.
The Tivoli The Tivoli at 35 W. Galena Blvd. was built after the disastrous Rialto Theater fire of 1928. The Tivoli opened that same year, and, like the Paramount, was designed by the Rapp brothers.
The New Fox Theatre opened in 1936 on the site of the old Aurora City Mills at 54 E. Galena Blvd. (currently where Aurora Fastprint is located). It was another Rubens venture, part of the Great States Theater chain that included the Paramount, Tivoli, and Fox. It closed in 1951 and was converted to commercial use.
A 1937 article on local theaters states that when built, “it was thoroughly modern, fire proof and comfortable in every way, but its 1,200 seats were insufficient to meet the swelling patronage.” It was also the first local theater built with the capabilities of showing the new sound films: “the Tivoli was the first theater, not only in Aurora, but in the Fox Valley to be equipped with reproduction machines that exhibited thenew sound films clearly and naturally.”
Briefly, there were several other downtown theaters in the early days, but one was especially prominent in the mid-1920s. The Strand movie theater, at Broadway and Benton Street, opened in 1915. It was converted from the old Grand Opera House (built in 1891). About a year after the Rialto fire, The Strand burned down in October 1929.
After the Rialto Theater burned, the Sylvandell Bowling Lanes (previously in the basement of the Sylvandell building) moved to basement of the Tivoli Theater building.
Today, the Paramount Theater is again an attraction. Its Broadway Series brings people from all over Chicagoland to downtown Aurora.
On the second floor of the Tivoli building, above the lobby, was the Stardust Ballroom. In the 1960s, it featured popular entertainers like Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong; in the early 1970s, bands like Styx frequented the place.
The Paramount is also the only place in Aurora where the public can regularly view a motion picture on the big screen today. All the local movie theaters seem to be just beyond our city limits.
In the late 1970s, Spanish language films were shown there. The theater closed in 1981 and was demolished in 1983. Some of the decorative terra cotta piers can be seen in Mundy Park, the downtown park that lies between the Water Street Mall and Broadway.
A New Era
But for a couple of hours on a Monday night, movie fans can reminisce about the days that film took center stage in downtown Aurora. Editor’s note: A special thanks to Cathy Cutter and her son Bruce for their research, and always to John Jaros and the Aurora Historical Society for their vast knowledge and good record keeping.
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Garden Vegetable Hummus Contributed by The Reluctant Hippie
Whether you pronounce it “hoo-mus” or “hummus,” you’ve likely enjoyed this Mediterranean treat. The chickpea (or garbanzo bean) delicatessen is enjoyed by all no matter how you say it, and it’s high in protein and a great source of iron and vitamin C, as well as folate and B6. This summer, head down to Aurora’s Farmers Market and grab a few veggies for this delicious and healthful treat. Enjoy it with bread from Katic Breads or Great Harvest Bread Company; both have booths at the market.
Triune Heart By Sondra Sula
Sondra Sula is an Aurora artist who recently wrote about her conversations with God in “Dialogues with the Divine.” The book covers her conversations with God over a 10-year period. Many of the images that Sula paints come to her from her spiritual practices. Sula recently showed work at the Earth Day Artifacts Show at Culture Stock in downtown Aurora.
Ingredients: • 2 cups chickpeas, cooked to tender or canned. Drain, but reserve liquid. • 1/4 cup cooked carrot • 1/4 cup caramelized onion • 1/4 cup sautéed or roasted red pepper • 1/2 cup tahini • 1/4 cup olive oil • 1 small clove garlic • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • Juice of 1 lemon • Pinch of salt • Pinch of freshly ground pepper • Sriracha sauce, to taste. Directions:
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Keep the chickpea water to the side. Puree the rest in a food processor, adding chickpea water as needed to reach desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning. Kate Purl whips up creative and healthful recipes for her family of four on a regular basis and chronicles the fun on her blog: thereluctanthippie.wordpress.com.
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Dmitri By Chris Evans
Chris Evans, of Aurora, had his first solo show at The Yetee Gallery in June. His Wes Anderson-themed art show included favorites like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Jason Schwartzman. Evans is well known locally for his blind contour drawings.
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C u l tu r e S h o c k JULY
4 OF JULY PARADE Fri July 4 at 10 Watch the streets of downtown come alive in a sea of red, white, and blue. Step off at River and Benton streets. aurora-il.org TH
4 OF JULY CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS Fri July 4 from 5 to 10 Celebrate the 4th with plenty of festivities at RiverEdge Park or McCullough Park in Aurora. Free. aurora-il.org TH
LOUCHE PUCE FLEA MARKET Sat July 12 from 9 to 3 Second Saturdays bring vendors of all things cool to the pedestrian brick alley known as Water Street Mall. Peruse antiques, collectibles, and more. Water Street Mall between Downer and Galena. louchepuce@gmail.com ON THE WALL – BLACKBOOKS AND BREAKBEATS Sun July 20 from noon to 6 A daytime, outdoor celebration of hip hop culture produced by Aurora Cultural Creatives and Them Bad Apples. Water Street Mall, auroraculturalcreatives.com STORYTIME AT THE CAFE Mon July 21 at 11 The Aurora Public Library hosts an off-site storytime for children with books, dancing, and fun, plus a free cookie. Free. No reg. needed. River’s Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer. aurorapubliclibrary.org AURORA PUERTO RICAN FESTIVAL AND PARADE Sat July 26 & Sun July 27 at 11 Celebrate over 40 years of Puerto Rican pride! Parade is Sunday at noon at Benton and Broadway. RiverEdge Park. (630) 631-9270. auroraprcc.org
AUGUST
DOWNTOWN ALIVE! AMERICAN ENGLISH Fri Aug 1 at 7 A must-see Beatles cover band that always wows the crowd. $3. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com TEEN TALENT SHOW COMPETITION Sat Aug 9 at 2 6th annual teen talent show sponsored by Aurora Public Library. Free. Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. aurorapubliclibrary.com LOUCHE PUCE FLEA MARKET Sat Aug 9 from 9 to 3 Second Saturdays bring vendors of all things cool to the pedestrian brick alley known as Water Street Mall. Peruse antiques, collectibles, and more. Water Street Mall between Downer and Galena. louchepuce@gmail.com STORYTIME AT THE CAFE Mon Aug 18 at 11 The Aurora Public Library hosts an off-site storytime for children with books, dancing, and fun, plus a free treat. Free. River’s Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer.
Summer 2014
AUTO ROW CAR SHOW Sun Aug 25 from 11 to 3 Annual auto show on historic LaSalle Street open to cars 1975 and older. Spectators free. LaSalle St. between Benton St. and Downer Pl. lasalle-auto-row.org ALLEY (ART) FESTIVAL Sat Aug 30 from noon to 5 Amazing summer art spectacular. Local art, music, performances and more. Open to everyone. Free. Water Street Mall between Downer Pl. and Galena Blvd. next to City Hall. Alley Art Festival on Facebook. ROOTS AURORA Sun Aug 31 from 1to 8 A celebration of many cultures with food, music, art and more. $3. RiverEdge Park. riveredgeaurora.com
SEPTEMBER
FIESTAS PATRIAS Sat 13 & Sun 14. Parade at 11 on Sunday A two-day music festival recognizing our local Hispanic heritage and culture. Free. RiverEdge Park. Fiestas Patrias Aurora on Facebook. LOUCHE PUCE FLEA MARKET Sat Sept 13 from 9 to 3 Second Saturdays bring vendors of all things cool to the pedestrian brick alley known as Water Street Mall. Peruse antiques, collectibles, and more. Water Street Mall between Downer and Galena. louchepuce@gmail.com BANDING TOGETHER III Sat Sept 20 at 7:30 A musical event benefiting the A Plus Foundation for West Aurora Schools. Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway. OTHER WORLD COMIC CON Sat Sept 27 and Sun Sept 28 at 10 Aurora’s first comic convention brought to you by Rotten Apple Studios. $10 day pass/$15 weekend pass. North Island Center, 8 E. Galena Blvd.
LIMITED RUNS & SHOWINGS
JAZZ OCCURENCE Thru Aug 23 Aurora Public Art Commission presents an impressive lineup of visual artists inspired by creative music on the third floor of The DLP. Open Wed-Sat, noon to 4. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurora-il.org THE AURORA STORY Continuing The Aurora Historical Society exhibit on the 2nd floor of The DLP tells the history of Aurora with vintage treasures and more. Open Wed-Sat, noon to 4. Free. David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 E.Downer Pl. (630) 906-0650. aurorahistory.net
ART AT CITY HALL: MIDWEST COLLAGE SOCIETY Thru Jan 15 Aurora’s City Hall features works of art on every floor in various mediums. Open Mon-Fri, 8 to 5. City Hall, 44 E. Downer Pl. aurora-il.org RIVERFRONT PLAYHOUSE: SQUIRREL LAKE Aug 1 thru Sept 6 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 Water Street Mall, is a 90-seat, not-for-profit, community theatre located next to City Hall on the Water Street Mall in downtown Aurora. $15-$17. (630) 897-9496. Reservations recommended. riverfrontplayhouse.com
ONGOING EVENTS
M.U.S.I.C. MONDAYS Mondays from 6 to 7 Local musicians perform in the bookstore. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. M.U.S.I.C. on Facebook. CLASSIC MOVIE MONDAYS Mondays at 7 Great, classic movies on most Mondays. $1. Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd. paramountaurora.com AURORA LANGUAGE TABLE Wednesdays from 6 to 7 Practice English and Spanish in an informal setting. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. Culture Stock on Facebook. STORY AND CRAFT TIME Thursdays at 10:30 Stories for little ones and a craft, too. Free. Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd. Culture Stock on Facebook. DAAM! First Thursday of the month at 8 Join artists of all kinds at the informal Downtown Aurora Arts Mixers. Chef Amaury at 33 West, 33 W. New York St. Sponsored by Downtown Auroran Magazine. downtownauroran. wordpress.com FIRST FRIDAYS IN DOWNTOWN AURORA: AUG 1 & SEPT 5 First Friday of the month at 6 Art is alive in downtown Aurora. Enjoy several art openings replete with food, music and drinks in one glorious night. Various venues in downtown, including If These Walls Could Talk, Paramount’s Grand Gallery, VARA Design & Studio, The Yetee Gallery, Allen and Pepa Architects, The DLP, and The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse. auroradowntown.com
Need more art & culture? Visit:
downtownauroran.wordpress.com and click on the calendar tab for an updated list of events. Downtown Auroran
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Downtown Auroran
Summer 2014
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STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES We’re passionate about the clients and communities we serve. We feel it’s important to take a deep breath and focus on what’s important in life. That’s why Old Second values any opportunity to support the arts in our community.
28 area locations! 1-877-866-0202 www.oldsecond.com Member FDIC