Nathalia Holt, author of “Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars” and “Cured: The People Who Defeated HIV” will appear at Aurora University’s Crimi Auditorium on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

FEB. 2

Cristian Pastorello on Piano, Aurora University’s Crimi Auditorium, 1347 Prairie St., Aurora, 7:30 p.m. Register online. Information: (630) 844-4924,

First Fridays Aurora, Downtown Aurora, Enjoy a night of art, fun, music, dance, and community at local businesses and venues in downtown Aurora on the first Friday evening of the month. Multiple venues in downtown Aurora open with art, music, and more. Free entrance, free art viewing, free trolley rides, free fun. For more information and for a map of participating venues call (630) 256-3167.

Mom & Son Date Night, Pottawatomie Community Center – Multipurpose Room, 8 North Avenue, St. Charles, 6-8 p.m., $16 resident, $24 non-resident. A parent must be registered for this event. One parent may accompany multiple children from the same household. Advance registration required. Fee is per person. A light dinner of pizza, salad and Cars themed treats will be provided. Information: www.stcparks. org or call (630) 513-6200

NEVERTHELESS: Women Depicting Women Reception, Aurora Public Art Commission, 20 E. Downer Place, Aurora, 5-9 p.m. A n invitational exhibit of paintings, photographs, and installation by ten female artists The Aurora Public Art Commission will host the opening reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the commission’s Third Floor Gallery, 20 E. Downer Place. Visitors can view the exhibit for free during the opening reception and every Wednesday through Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. through March 11. Information: (630) 256-3340.

FEB. 2-4

Dry Powder, Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main Street,  St. Charles, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.  By Sarah Burgess directed by Sean Hargadon. Information: (630)  587-8521 or visit www.steelbeamtheatre.com

FEB. 5

Lecture: Jane Davis “Ethical Considerations”, Aurora University’s Perry Theatre, 349 S. Gladstone Ave., Aurora, 7 p.m. The lecture will explore the realities of applying those ethical considerations in a government-run animal shelter environment with limited resources. The constraints of various shelter types will be described. Case studies from both companion and large animal populations will be described, and attendees will be challenged to work through some actual cases together. Register online for this free lecture. Information: (630) 844-4924.

Find Your Voice and Maybe Even a New Career, Waubonsee Community College, 4S783 Rt. 47 – Bldg A, Rm 152,  Sugar Grove, 6-8 p.m. Explore the fun, rewarding possibilities of the voiceover industry in this very unique experience! Discover current trends, the different types of voiceovers and tools for success. Then, take a shot at voicing a real script. Your expert, a professional voice actor from Voices For All, will take notes and offer coaching to improve your delivery. You’ll receive a more complete professional evaluation later. $49. Only 12 spots available. Information: (630) 466-2350.

Wine & Canvas at the Farm, Blackberry Farm, 100 S. Barnes Rd., Aurora, 6:30 p.m.  Pinot Noir meets the palette as an instructor guides you through your own custom canvas creation. Bring a bottle of your favorite wine, snacks, a few friends and enjoy a lively, social and creative night out. Must be 18. Information: (630) 892-1550.

FEB. 6

Arcada Silent Film Night: The Sheik Accompanied Live by Jay Warren on the Historic Arcada Organ, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles, 7:30 p.m. Information: (630) 962-7000 or visit www.arcadalive.com

FEB. 7-MARCH 18

Cabaret – Live at the Paramount, 23 E. Galena Blvd. , Aurora. This is one of the most well-known Broadway musicals of all time, and it’s because of the extraordinary songs, universal appeal and a spellbinding story that still holds true in today’s world. Nominated for a total of 26 Tony Awards over three decades and winning a total of 12 including Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical, Cabaret is exactly what musical theatre should be: entertaining, enlightening, provocative, edgy and a continuing reflection of our own lives. Information: (630) 896-6666.

FEB. 8

Rocket Girls: The Unsung Heroes of NASA w/ Nathalia Holt, Aurora University’s Crimi Auditorium, 1347 Prairie St., Aurora, 7:30 p.m. Holt is the author of “Rise of the Rocket Girls: The Women Who Propelled Us, from Missiles to the Moon to Mars” and “Cured: The People Who Defeated HIV” and a former fellow at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard University. “Rise of the Rocket Girls” tells the stories of women, known as “human computers” who broke the boundaries of both gender and science and offers a unique perspective on the role of women in science: both where we’ve been and the far reaches of space to which we’re heading. Information: (630) 844-4924.

FEB. 9

The City of Lights Comedy Night, La Quinta de los Reyes, 36 E. New York St., Aurora, 7 p.m. Be entertained with a sophisticated night of comedy featuring actor and comedian, Schmitty B. Enjoy Mexican cuisine and cocktailsbefore and during the show. After the show there will be music and dancing. No cover. Part of a series of shows that will bring a new energy to Downtown Aurora. Information: (630) 859-4000.

The Soul Papas at the Roundhouse, Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora, 9 p.m. Chicago’s premier party band, specializing in R&B, Soul, Blues and Rock for all ages. With influences such as Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Stevie Wonder, Sam and Dave, Van Morrison, Aretha Franklin. No cover, must be 21. Information: (630) 264-2739.

Parent’s Night Out!, All Things Art Studio, 1106 W. Main Street, St. Charles, $30 per child, $25 for second & third, & $20 for fourth or more children from the same family, 6-8:30 p.m. FNA includes three hours of art projects and seasonal crafts, structured games and activities, and a featured “Arts Friend” each month. Information: (630) 360-1401 or visit  www.allthingsartstudio.com

FEB. 9-11

The Old House New House Home Show, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main Street, St. Charles. The Mega Center and Ballroom will be brimming with displays from 300 award-winning contractors, talented designers, creative craftsmen, national brands and industry innovators. Information: (630) 515-1160.

FEB. 10

Winter Wonders , Campton Community Center, 5N082 Old LaFox Road , Campton Hills. A cure for winter blahs with indoor and outdoor activities for all ages! The free spirit sled demo team will perform, meet Huskie dogs. This event will take place with or without snow.  Information: www.villageofcamptonhills.org or call (630) 584-5700.

FEB. 11

Loft 28 West Bridal Show, 28 W. New York St., Aurora, 1-4 p.m. Inaugural bridal show to showcase a  new event space. This show is the first in a series that will offer a unique opportunity to meet wedding design staff and help prospective brides make plans. Information: (312) 315-1525.

Grass Roots, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap and the Cowsills, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles, 3 p.m. Information: (630) 962-7000 or visit www.arcadalive.com.

FEB. 13

Love Songs by Jenna Constable, Montgomery Village Hall, 2008, 200 N. River St., Montgomery, 10 a.m. Constable will sing familiar love songs from every decade back to the 1940’s. She  is a vocalist who has been singing in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years. The monthly Senior Lunch and activity will begin at 11 a.m.There is a $4 cost for the lunch and pre-registration by February 6th is required. Information: (630) 896-8080.

FEB. 15

Trek with a Naturalist, Aurora West Forest Preserve, 40W032 Hankes Rd., Aurora, 3:30 p.m., free (registration required). This monthly program is designed for those who like active hiking. Each month features an invigorating hike at a different forest preserve. The naturalist will interpret the ecology of the preserve during the hike. This program is for ages 18 and above. Information: (630) 232-5980.

PechaKucha Batavia Night, Fermilab’s Ramsey Auditorium, Kirk Rd. & Pine St., Batavia, 7 p.m., $5. PechaKucha means “chit-chat” in Japanese. PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images (slides), each for 20 seconds—a total of only 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format keeps presentations concise and fast-paced; the images advance automatically and you talk along to the image. Information: (630) 840-2787.

Journalist Sam Weller, ECC Writers Center Reading Series, Arts Center, Building H, Room H142, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, 7:30 p.m., free. Weller is the two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning, authorized biographer of legendary writer Ray Bradbury and an associate professor in the Department of Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago. He is also a former Midwest correspondent for Publishers Weekly magazine.  Weller’s personal essays have appeared in the Paris Review, Slate magazine, and on the National Public Radio program All Things Considered. His forthcoming collection, “The Shadows Behind the Trees”, will be published in 2019 and he is currently at work on his debut novel. Information: email Rachael Stewart at rstewart@elgin.edu.

FEB. 18

Waterline Writers Poetry Reading, Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St., Batavia, 7 p.m., $5. Each event is a unique opportunity to hear diverse, talented writers reading original published and not-yet-published work. If you are a writer, it’s a place to share your very best with an enthusiastic audience.  Information: (630) 777-6474 or email waterlinewriters@gmail.com.

FEB. 22

How Plants Are Better at Just About Everything than Humans, Waubonsee Community College Auditorium, 4S783 State Rt. 47, Sugar Grove, 7 p.m., free. This engaging talk will look at how plants are better at all sorts of things, including extreme living, working with others, changing the planet and even enslaving the human race to their will. Free event. Information: (630) 466-2360.

–Kane County Calendar of Events Feb. 2 – Feb. 22–