Visit Nikarry's Restaurant at 1055 N. Lake Street in Aurora!
Tecalitlan Restaurant
“I make a good living; it’s a decent living. There’s a lot of opportunity [here].”
Head to Tecalitlan at 35 S Broadway in downtown Aurora.
Legacy Nutrition & Fitness
“If I moved away, I think I would come back. I’d want to grow my family here. This is where my roots are.”
Visit with Aurorans at Legacy Nutrition & Fitness at 77 S River Street in downtown Aurora.
Bookmobile
“The old library [on Benton Street] is the one I’d go to. When I was going to Bardwell, the Bookmobile would show up. To a kid that didn’t have much, reading a book was my escape...it meant a lot.”
Learn more about the Bookmobile and Aurora Public Library services at: https://www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/Bookmobile-13413
Parkside Lanes
"I retired 10 years ago, so I've been bowling [at Parkside Lanes] about 10 years.
"I've been bowling with these guys for maybe three or four years now...I love it. As a senior citizen, I can do some exercise here; good people my age to mingle with, get new stories, new perspectives on people's lives.
It's nice to be able to...sit down with people your age that you've got a lot in common with, talk about your aches and pains."
Check out all that Parkside Lanes has to offer.
Mitch, Eola Community Center
“I’ve lived in Aurora since 1988. My wife goes to the Paramount shows, so we’ll go downtown and hit the restaurants there.
I’ve been a member [at the Eola Center] since 2009. This particular place right here, it’s “Eola Community Center” but it really is a community—I know so many people...my kids went to Waubonsee Valley High School, my wife is a member here, my son comes here; it’s a good family experience. [My wife] uses the library and used to work in the daycare, too.
[My wife] is from Wisconsin, I’m from Minnesota. We were just gonna’ be down here for 5 years...but we’ve got roots here now in Aurora; it’s a great place to raise a family.”
You can visit Mitch at the front desk of the Eola Community Center, part of the Fox Valley Park District.
Lorelai, Do or Dye Designs
I used to live [in Aurora], but I still work in the area. I still come back to visit the businesses because I think the eclectic mix that is in this specific neighborhood is pretty rare.
I was living in downtown Aurora when [Do or Dye] first opened up, so I saw the owner design everything, pick out the mirrors, and build it from the ground up. I really fell in love with it when I came in for a standard trim and one of the girls brought in a whole case of tamales...on the same day I went to do early voting [at the Kane County Clerk’s Office] and the same woman at the booth recognized me. She was asking me how I’d settled in.
That’s not replicated anywhere else, where else am I going to get that?
Ursula, Stolp Ave., Downtown Aurora
I just love bookstores. When I walked in [Yellow Bird Books], I stood by the doors for a minute and just sniffed it all in... I just love the smell of books.
The architecture [on Stolp Ave.] is just amazing. If you notice, the streets aren’t grid-like; there’s something to walking off a beaten path. You don’t know what you’re going to find. I like to wander.
Peruse the shops and wander down Stolp Avenue in downtown Aurora. Stop into Yellow Bird Books along the way!
Adaline and Lina - Mother & Daughter, Society 57
I love the loft vibe--[Society 57] has a city, urban vibe to it. It’s spacious, it’s locally owned. We also like some of the shops down here. They’ve had art fairs down here, and we also go to the Paramount Theatre a lot. It’s a nice vibe—and you don’t have to drive all the way to Chicago to get it.
Leslie, East Aurora High School Class of 2017
“I live in Tinley Park now, but I always come back to visit.
I was really involved in sports, so when [District 131] has alumni events, I always come. Especially the soccer alumni events. I remember when [students] used to hang out with people from all sports over at Phillips Park and play volleyball over the summer. We’d do tournaments, it was fun.”
Once a Tomcat, always a Tomcat!
Matthew, Atrevete Cafe 1888
“I think we do a good job of fostering community here. We hire some of the people next door at Weston Bridges and it’s always packed on the weekends with regulars.
One of the workers from Western Bridges, his name is Mike, he told me that this place is really good for the community...and that made me really proud to work here. The passion that Jeff [owner of Atrevete] brings and the community this place brings is why I love it here.”
Next time you’re at Atrevete Cafe 1888, check out Matthew’s recommendations - the Club Croissant and the Graham Cracker Latte!